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Music is a powerful elixir. Studies show that it can reduce stress and depression, ease pain, boost motivation and cultivate connection. This edition of the SoCo Correspondent features stories about the use of music in two innovative programs at the Sonoma County jail and Juvenile Hall. The initiatives – one involving The Juilliard School of music in New York – are already achieving some impressive results. We also have important updates on the county’s efforts to combat racism, improve transportation for bicyclists and pedestrians, protect homes from wildfires, and more.
Be sure to tell friends, colleagues and family members about this newsletter and urge them to sign up for the SoCo Correspondent so they can receive it directly, normally on the first and third week of each month.
¿Está interesado en leer sobre lo que hace el Condado de Sonoma dos veces al mes? Este boletín estará disponible en español. Regístrese aquí para suscribirse a nuestro boletín, el SoCo Correspondent.
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Hope and healing through music | |
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A recent music class at Sonoma County’s Main Adult Detention Facility.
Please join us on Zoom on March 25 for a special concert by musicians with New York’s famed Juilliard School, who will be performing original pieces composed by people incarcerated at the Sonoma County jail.
For the last seven weeks, eight people at the jail have been learning how to compose and perform classical music through an innovative partnership between the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office and Project: Music Heals Us, a Connecticut nonprofit; Five Keys Schools & Programs, a San Francisco nonprofit that operates a high school inside the jail; and Juilliard’s extension division.
Sonoma County is only the fourth county in California to host the Music for the Future program, which is designed to educate and encourage inmates while promoting healing and building compassionate communities. Incarcerated people learned music composition, music theory, score-reading and how to play stringed instruments during the program, which included a one-week in-person residency with Juilliard musicians and six-week remote class. Participants in the program, who ranged in age from 19 to 68, received credits that could be applied toward a high school degree.
Liana Whisler, a retired correctional lieutenant who oversees the program for the Sheriff’s Office, described its transformative impact during a recent episode of the county’s SoCo Chat podcast series.
“They never realized in their life that they were capable of actually composing a piece of classical music,” Whisler said. “It has given them hope for their future. It is so amazing to see the light in their eyes and just the transformation in their behavior. … They are learning to express their emotions in a way they've never been able to do in their entire life.”
Juilliard musicians will perform the students’ compositions at 8:30 a.m. on March 25 in a free public concert that will be livestreamed on Zoom. The public is welcome to attend.
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Racism declared a public health crisis by Board
of Supervisors
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Tina Rivera, left, director of the Department of Health Services, provides powerful
insight into the impacts of racism during the March 12 Board of Supervisors meeting.
The numbers paint a disturbing picture of our community.
The lives of Black people in Sonoma County are 10 years shorter, on average, than any other racial or ethnic group. Black and Latinx children are 2.5 times more likely to live in poverty than their white counterparts. Black people are 2.3 times more likely to lack health insurance than white people, while Latinx people are 4.1 times more likely to have no health coverage.
These disparities are the result of practices that have evolved over centuries but are still baked into the way our society is structured, creating systems that unfairly advantage white people and disadvantage people of color. There’s a name for it: structural racism. And it is impacting the health of our community.
Last week, the Board of Supervisors unanimously declared racism a public health crisis, joining nearly 40 other jurisdictions in California that have passed similar resolutions.
“Our county has taken some critical steps towards addressing the health disparities that exist in our community, and we need to continue to focus on how we move the needle in a measurable way going forward,” said Supervisor David Rabbitt, chair of the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors.
Tina Rivera, director of the Department of Health Services, told the Board that centuries of racism continue to impact the health and well-being of communities of color, and thus, our entire community.
“Racism perpetuates health inequities throughout our region,” Rivera told the Board. “Our county has a responsibility to deal with this issue in order to improve overall health for our residents. It is important that we publicly and we openly acknowledge that racism exists, that racism has significant consequences, and it is critical for there to be changes in our institutional systems to fight these historical inequities.”
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Sonoma County airport to refurbish runway | |
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Charles M. Schulz - Sonoma County Airport will shut down one of its two runways for up to 16 hours in May while crews replace a deteriorating drainage culvert and refurbish a section of pavement.
The $600,000 project will complete improvements requested by the Federal Aviation Administration following its annual inspection at the Santa Rosa airport.
“Each year, airport officials and Department of Public Infrastructure personnel coordinate work to complete projects identified in this annual inspection report and within a timeframe agreed upon by the FAA,” Airport Manager Jon Stout said. “The safety of the public and employees is the county’s top priority, and we can rest assured that the quality of the travel experience at STS will continue to be world-class.”
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County celebrates Community Resilience Program on third anniversary of ARPA | |
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Three years ago, as the nation reeled amid a global pandemic, President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act, providing $1.9 trillion to help the nation recover. Sonoma County, which received $96 million in ARPA funds, decided to try a new approach with the money.
The Board of Supervisors set aside a little over $40 million of the ARPA funds for community-based organizations working to support under-resourced communities – including Black, Indigenous and People of Color – who were most disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. In all 24 organizations were selected to fund an array of critical programs, including emergency food, housing, broadband connectivity, financial assistance and mental health services.
“Many people fell through the cracks in our safety net. We needed to mend them in strategic ways using these federal funds,” Alegría De La Cruz, director of the county’s Office of Equity, said in a recent video explaining the impact of the program. “ARPA is really about investing in an equitable COVID recovery in Sonoma County.”
Most of the funding allocated to the community-based programs will be spent by the end of 2024. An online scorecard that enables the public to examine data on the performance of ARPA-funded programs will be updated by mid-April.
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County opens Chipper program early to reduce
wildfire risk
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Sonoma County’s free Residential Curbside Chipper Program is launching early this year in an effort to reduce residential wait times, expand service, and mitigate the risk of wildfires.
The Chipper Program, administered by Permit Sonoma’s Fire Prevention Division, is designed to help residents create defensible space around their homes and reduce vegetation along important access routes. Properties in unincorporated Sonoma County are eligible to receive up to two hours of complimentary chipping, with the potential for a second visit as well. Visits are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis.
“By reducing vegetation and creating defensible space around structures, property owners play an active role in helping their communities stay safe,” said Supervisor David Rabbitt, chair of the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors. “Don’t wait to take advantage of this free county program.”
Having 100 feet or more of defensible space has been demonstrated to help save homes in the event of a wildfire. Thinning vegetation on access roads can also provide safer and more efficient access for residents and firefighters.
In 2023, the program served more than 800 properties. Those interested in participating are encouraged to apply as soon as possible and begin preparing their homes by following program guidelines.
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Juvenile Hall opens new music studio | |
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The Free Voices music studio at Juvenile Hall.
Sonoma County’s Juvenile Hall has opened a new music recording studio with the goal of promoting self-expression, positivity and wellness among youth detained at the facility.
The studio includes industry-standard microphones and recording software as well as three acoustic/electric guitars, one electric guitar, several keyboards, one electric bass and an electronic drum set. Future plans include wind and brass instruments.
“Music is an outlet for expression and emotions,” said Daniel Flamson, a division director with the Sonoma County Probation Department. “It provides an educational opportunity and introduction into the world of music, and it helps push the creative boundaries that our residents occasionally impose on themselves when they are housed in a detention facility and somewhat afraid to come out of their shells or show vulnerability. More importantly it’s something they want to do.”
The Probation Department opened the studio in January with an initial equipment budget of $25,000 and an ongoing budget of $150,000 annually for a consultant/producer, equipment and additional hardware and software. Admission in the program is incentive-based and a motivation for youth within the facility. Several youth have already recorded songs in the new studio, which was named Free Voices following a facility-wide naming contest.
The Probation Department is seeking musicians and community volunteers who would like to work with the program.
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Get the inside scoop at SoCo Chat | |
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Supervisor Susan Gorin, right, and Sonoma County Communications Manager Paul Gullixson record an episode of SoCo Chat.
Where can you go to hear directly from county leaders about matters of public importance? The answer is right at your fingertips. Subscribe to SoCo Chat, the county’s new podcast series on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music and YouTube. Recent guests and topics of discussion have included:
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Supervisor Susan Gorin, who represents the 1st District on the Board of Supervisors, talks about fire dangers, Los Guilicos Village in Sonoma Valley, the future of Sonoma Developmental Center and other key issues facing her district.
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Bert Whitaker, director of Sonoma County Regional Parks, on the latest changes and activities available in our regional park system.
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SoCo Chat Roundtable – A conversation about recent Sonoma County news including a new recording studio at Juvenile Hall, relief funding during emergency events, a new satellite office in west Sonoma County, and the use of dogs to detect invasive pests at Lake Sonoma.
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Jennifer Lake, 211 director for United Way of the Wine Country, on a comprehensive database where you can get information on emergencies, health care, social services and other resources.
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Marcos Suarez, program manager for business diversity services with the county’s Economic Development Board, on the county’s first-ever resource fair for farmworkers.
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Supervisor David Rabbitt discusses the year ahead and his new role as chair of the Board of Supervisors for 2024.
Upcoming SoCo Chat episodes will feature discussions with Brian Whipple, operations manager for Sonoma County Animal Services; Barbara Lee, director of the county’s Climate Action & Resiliency Division; Sharon Debenedetti and Ron Chestnut, members of the Sonoma County Civil Grand Jury; and Jon Stout, manager of the Charles M. Schulz - Sonoma County Airport.
Listen for a chance to win a SoCo Chat coffee mug by answering the trivia question of the week.
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Vamos a Nadar celebrates 20 years of water
safety education
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Two decades ago, Sonoma County Regional Parks began offering free water safety classes in Spanish for families with young children. The program, known as Vamos a Nadar – Spanish for “Let’s go Swimming” – was designed to save lives.
“For years, there were 12 to 15 drowning deaths each summer along the Russian River,” said Bert Whitaker, director of Regional Parks. “According to information from the coroner’s office, the deaths were primarily 18- to 24-year-old Latino males who didn’t know how to swim.”
In one of the first multi-organization task forces in Sonoma County, Regional Parks partnered with the Red Cross and the county Department of Health Services to create Vamos a Nadar. The program had a simple message: Don’t be afraid of the water, but learn how to swim in it safely. Since then, it has reached more than 3,000 young people. An initial workshop educates both parents and children on how to be safe around water. Each family also receives a coupon for additional swim lessons at the local pools for a reduced price of $15.
“We needed to ‘normalize’ learning how to swim, how to be safe around the water – both in pools and open water,” said Rosiris Guerra, who worked with the Red Cross and is one of the founding members of Vamos a Nadar. “Learning to swim should be viewed as a life skill. If we can teach people to swim at a young age, if we can educate adults about how to be safe around water, then we can affect change on the generational level. It’s the only solution that makes sense.”
The 2024 schedule is now available. Parents can register at SoCoParks.org/Nadar.
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Supervisors review plans to improve transportation for bicyclists and pedestrians | |
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Over the last 10 years, the Board of Supervisors has invested more than $185 million of discretionary funds to upgrade 520 miles of county roads. This commitment has improved more than a third of the 1,368 miles of roadway maintained by the county, funding large-scale paving projects, pothole repair, brush cutting, bridge retrofits and other projects.
But cars aren’t the only priority. Under the county’s five-year Strategic Plan, the Board of Supervisors expects to invest $5 million on new pedestrian and bicycle amenities and road maintenance guidelines that improve transportation for bicyclists and pedestrians.
At its March 12 meeting, the Board reviewed the cost and timeline for projects that improve bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, discussed potential funding sources and examined practices in other California counties. County staff is expected to return to the Board in June during budget hearings with additional project requests, potentially including measures to slow vehicle traffic using road signage, pavement markings, vegetation enhancements, lane narrowing or other modifications.
The Board directed key agencies – including Public Infrastructure, Regional Parks, Permit Sonoma and the Sonoma County Transportation Authority – to form a committee to design, plan and coordinate the funding and delivery of priority projects. Supervisors also asked staff to develop an online resource hub of active transportation projects, making it easier for the public to track the county’s efforts.
“I have been at the front of this effort for decades in Sonoma County,” said District 1 Supervisor Susan Gorin. “We know that road users are more likely to choose active transportation when they feel comfortable walking, running, and biking on roads or paths. That’s why I’m encouraged that the Board of Supervisors remains committed to augmenting bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure in District 1 and throughout the county consistent with our Strategic Plan.”
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Help shape the county’s response to climate change | |
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What should the county prioritize as it develops a comprehensive plan to address climate change? We want your ideas.
Take a short online survey by April 30 to shape the county’s Climate Resilience Comprehensive Action Plan, which will help the county prepare for climate-related disruptions and recover from their impacts. Share your priorities, along with your ideas on the challenges and opportunities for initiatives that could improve the county’s response to floods, wildfires, droughts, power outages, sea-level rise and other impacts of climate change.
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Public gathering area under construction at Tolay Lake Regional Park | |
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For thousands of years, Native Americans traveled to Tolay Lake for tribal ceremonies and healing. This fall, the park that overlooks its shores will begin hosting a new generation of celebrations and community events in a public gathering area now under construction next to the group picnic site.
The $1.86 million project, which broke ground last month, is the first major infrastructure project under a partnership between Sonoma County Regional Parks and the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria. In 2022, the tribe and the county agreed to jointly manage the 3,400-acre park southeast of Petaluma.
“This project is a testament to our collective commitment to conserving Sonoma County's natural beauty, acknowledging our rich cultural heritage, and enhancing the quality of life for all residents,” said District 2 Supervisor David Rabbit, who represents the area.
The 1.5-acre gathering area will feature terraced seating and an open-air stage with views overlooking seasonal Tolay Lake and the park beyond. ADA-accessible pathways will wind through landscaping featuring plants of cultural significance to the tribe.
“This beautiful Coast Miwok landscape will provide a place for all people to celebrate events and learn about nature,” said Greg Sarris, chairman of the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria. “We're pleased to work with Sonoma County Parks to create an accessible gathering place that reflects our Native American traditions of sharing stories and meeting with our community.”
During construction, the group picnic area, Cardoza Road Trail and a portion of West Ridge Trail will be closed. Equestrian parking is available in the main parking lot.
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Nominate a local woman or girl for a Spirit Award | |
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The Commission on the Status of Women is now accepting nominations for the fourth annual Sonoma County Spirit Awards.
This year, the Spirit Awards align with the national theme for Women’s History Month by honoring local women and girls who advocate for equity, diversity and inclusion. Nominees must be a woman or girl, age 14 or older, who lives or works in Sonoma County. Applications are due by April 15. Five finalists, one from each supervisorial district, will be honored at the commission’s June 13 meeting.
The awards will highlight local women and girls who set clear examples of cultural humility and respect by amplifying the voices of people who are marginalized based on race, gender, sexual orientation, immigration status and/or socio-economic status.
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Public invited to comment on Koi Nation
casino project
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The U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs is now accepting public comments on an upcoming Environmental Impact Statement for the Koi Nation of Northern California’s proposed casino resort project southeast of Windsor.
The federal agency is inviting the public to identify potential issues, concerns and alternatives that have not yet been raised during its review of the proposed Shiloh Resort and Casino Project. Written comments will be accepted through April 8.
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Adopt the pet of the month | |
Find room to grow with a county job | |
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The county currently has more than 80 job openings posted on its website, but how can you improve your chances of landing one?
Sign up for the next Start Here! class, which provides an overview of the County of Sonoma’s job application, examination and selection processes. The two-hour virtual class will be held at 5:30 p.m. on April 25.
The free class is intended for the public, whether you are looking for a new position now or planning for a future employment opportunity. Participants will learn how to submit a thorough application, best practices for the interview and examination, and much more.
Contact us at careers@sonoma-county.org to register for the April 25 class or sign up for our mailing list to be notified of future classes.
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Support your community by getting involved | |
Get involved with local government
Make a difference in Sonoma County! Local government thrives when passionate individuals like you step up to serve. There are countless opportunities for you to get involved and play a crucial role in shaping the future of our beloved Sonoma County. Check out the current vacancies:
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Emergency Medical Care Council: Improve emergency medical care, oversee and maintain the system, and coordinate long-term planning for public education and injury prevention.
Your involvement can make a significant impact. Take the first step and explore how you can contribute to a brighter future for Sonoma County.
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Volunteer and employment opportunities | |
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Getting outside and enjoying the county | |
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