Inclusion Upgrades

Devin-Norelle, a gender-fluid trans activist and writer who lives in New York, told the Daily Beast, “In general, I hate using the restroom because I’m such a feminine- or androgynous-looking person, I get a lot of looks. There was a time where I was very concerned about my own safety…I’m putting myself at risk when I’m walking into the men’s restroom and I’m putting myself at risk when I’m walking into the women’s restroom.”

These are very real concerns facing many of our LGBTQI friends.  As a result, the Administrative Council voted at the last meeting to update all the restrooms in the church to “Gender Neutral” restrooms.  This is just one small way that we can continue on our path to being a progressive and inclusive church.  By making our restrooms Gender Neutral, we are telling our building users that we accept you for who you are and you should feel free to be yourself. 

Over the next few weeks you will see the signs and there will be some minor upgrades to the restrooms themselves, however for the most part there will be no change.  The bathrooms will remain single use and will have locks on the doors for the privacy of everyone.

Sofia Nelson, an attorney practicing in Detroit, Michigan told The Daily Beast, “We’re just talking about people – who could be your child, your friend, or your co-worker – wanting to do something super basic that we all have to do: use the bathroom.”

This is all we want to do too.

CROP Hunger Walk Is Coming

For the past nine years, many congregations and individuals have walked to raise over $60,000.00 for 4 local agencies and one international agency at the CROP Hunger Walk of Vallejo (CROP is Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty).  This year the walk will be May 6th and will start and finish at the beautiful waterfront in Vallejo, CA. Registration starts at 9:30 with the 3K walk or run at 10:15am. The four local groups are; Amador Street Hope Center, Food Bank of Contra Costa & Solano, DePaul Women’s Center and American Canyon Family Resource Center and the international agency, who is our sponsor, is Church World Service. You can check out www.cws.org to read about CWS and what they do throughout the country and overseas.  Please check out www.crophungerwalk.org/vallejoca for more information or to donate.

Throughout the month of April, four local Vallejo and American Canyon restaurants will help the hunger walk raise money. They will donate either 10 or 20% of your meal ticket to the walk when you present the flyer when you make your purchase. They are the following;

Rubio’s, 173 Plaza Drive, Vallejo Tuesday April 4 2 PM to 8 PM

The Habit 118 Plaza Drive, Vallejo Tuesday & Wednesday April 11 & 12 3 PM to 9 PM

Los Cantaros 3427 Broadway St, American Canyon Tuesday April 18 10 AM to 9 PM

China Wok 512 Sacramento St., Vallejo Tuesday April 25 11 AM to 9 PM

You can find the flyers at www.facebook.com/vallejohungerwalk .  

I hope you can help out.  If you would like to help out either by walking, donating, joining or forming a team, please let me know by calling 707-694-6274. Each step we take, we help those who are in need. Whether it's serving a meal, giving away food, helping with taxes, finding someone a job, helping with interviews, or just plain listening, the CROP Hunger Walk of Vallejo raises the funds needed to do all these and more. Please join in the fun!

CROP Walk Activities

  On Saturday, March 25th, First Christian Church of Vallejo will present the Pickle Creek String Band to help four local agencies help those in need.  All proceeds will go to these groups;  Amador Street Hope Center, Food Bank of Contra Costa & Solano, DePaul Women’s Center and American Canyon Family Resource Center.  Each group works with people and families in the county and beyond. Whether it's helping with taxes or it’s distributing food or it’s serving a hot meal, each group is dedicated to help those who are less fortunate.

  The concert will start at 6:30 with the doors opening at 6:00.  Bluegrass, old time/Appalachian, Irish/Celtic, folk and American ballad are all the types of music you will be hearing.   Tickets are $10.00 min donation for adults and for students a can of food.  Refreshments will be served during the concert.  This will be the third annual concert to help us start thinking about the 10th Annual Hunger Walk of Vallejo which is on May 6th.  If you need more information on the concert, please call me at 707-694-6274.  If you would like to donate toward these agencies, please visit www.crophungerwalk.org/vallejo.