Teen Techs Preparing to Open for Buisness in Pixley, CA

Wayne Clark introduced three members of the Pixley Teen Tech Squad, Juan Anaya, Jose Casillas, and Narciso Fernandez. Maria Fernandez, Jesus Nunez, and Joseph Dean Perryman are the other members of the Squad. They spend 72 hours in basic training and then, 8 hours a month in the community, helping residents with computer problems, including repair. The program is now under the sponsorship of The Pixley Foundation. The Teen Technicians, will be providing a variety of sevices for the community. Support our program, donations will help maintain the life of the program. We hope to develope a long lasting relationship with the people of Pixley.

PRESS RELEASE

THE PIXLEY FOUNDATION

P.O. Box 894

Pixley, CA 93256

pixleyfoundation@sbcglobal.net

Contact Person: Jim Morehead, President Board of Directors

(559) 757-3259

Pixley Community Center Project

On June 16^th the Pixley Community took a giant step towards building their Technology & Education Community Center. The Pixley Foundation received the deed to the vacant parcel behind Pixley Food Mart after purchasing the land from Joan Soares Bell and her husband Frank who now reside in Visalia, where Joan is Director of Religious Education for St. Mary’s Catholic Church. She inherited the land from her parents, John & Opal Soares, longtime Pixley residents and worked with the Foundation in the land purchase to support this important project and continue her family’s legacy in the community.

The Community Center will be anchored by a Community Resource Center featuring the ‘Pixley History Project” displaying historic photos preserving Pixley’s past and a Community Technology Center providing public computer access and technology training opportunities for families, senior citizens and all ages. The site master plan includes development of additional buildings & offices for community based organizations that provide additional services to our residents. The Foundation is working with CSET to relocate some of their services to the center. All buildings and parking areas will be designed with complete access for the disabled and handicapped.

Even though there are still months of final planning, permits and work by contractors to be done, the Pixley Community Center project will be coming later this year. A ground-breaking ceremony for the community will be held when the site plans are completed and ready to be unveiled. Announcements will be posted throughout the community when the date is set.

This project would not be possible without our funding partners and project supporters, County of Tulare Redevelopment Agency, USDA Rural Development, AT&T Foundation, Tulare County Library, Great Valley Center, Supervisor Pete Vander Poel, Congressman Devin Nunes and Pixley community organizations and residents too numerous to name. Each one of these agencies, organizations and individuals have supported our project in different ways beginning with the early “dream” planning stages and will be guiding us throughout construction in anticipation of a great community celebration upon completion.

The Pixley Foundation meets the second Monday of each month at
5:00 p.m. in the Albert Dung, Jr. Community Room next to the Sheriff’s Substation.

The Pixley Foundation-Making it Happen!

The Pixley Foundation is Making it Happen for Pixley!

Changes are in the works and the Pixley Foundation is leading the way! Working to build a much needed and overdue Community, Technology and Education Center that will improve the lives of the community.

Working with partners and stakeholders from the community, private, non-profit organizations, businesses, county and federal agencies to bring much needed infrastructure to Pixley.

Although a lot has been done to get this far but we still have more to achieve. We need your help! Our community needs a safe and healthy community and you know the saying "It takes a Village".

If you want to be part of a positive change or want to be part of "Making this happen"... get involved and help make a difference in your community!

How can you help?

• Attend the Pixley Town Council meetings to get regular updates every last Monday of the month.
  
  
• Ask your County Supervisor Pete Vander Poel for his support. Supervisor's Vander Poel email is pvanderpoel@co.tulare.ca.us or call 559.636.5000
  
  
• Call your Congressman Devin Nunes and remind him to continue to support Pixley. Congressman Nunes can be contacted by visiting his website http://www.nunes.house.gov/ or contact him at his Visalia office located: 115 North Church Suite 208 Visalia, CA 93291 Telephone 559.733.3861 or Fax 559.733.3865
  
  
• Volunteer your time to the Pixley Connect Program
  
  
• Donate your tax deductable contributions to the Pixley Foundation

For more information contact:

María G. Velásquez - velasquezmg@sbcglobal.net

Teens Assisiting The San Joaquin Valley Partnership

The San Joaquin Valley Partnership is working with Pixley Connect to promote jobs and education for adults in the San Joaquin Valley. With the support of Great Valley Center and the Pixley Foundation the Teen Tech Squad has been assisting with the recruitment in Kern County Delano, CA and hands on technologically documenting progress. The Tech Squad has been:

• Video graphing and photographing classes and achievement ceremonies in action.
  
  
• Assisting the instructor with classes by setting up class materials.
  
  
• Operate the computer giving the instructor more time to work directly with the adult students.
  
  
• Assisting with getting media releases and interviewing students.
  
  
• Complete and edit final videos and Power Point for classes. Check out the Video.

Pixley Teen Tech Squad

It has been an exciting time for the youth of Pixley AKA Digital Connectors. With funding from the Califonia Consumer Protection Fund The Teen Tech Squad have been working hard and continue to build their technology skills and in addition building relationships witht he community. Over the past several months the Teen Tech Squad have:

• Worked with Tulare Adult School to recruit parents to attend Computer Literacy Classes.
  
  
• Attended Tulare Adult School School Board meeting to advocate to keep the Adult Computer Literacy classes in Pixley. As a result Tulare Adult School voted to continue classes in Pixley!
  
  
• Provided community with great customer service and technology assistance such as helping set up new DSL modems, setting up computers and programs, trouble shooting and diagnosing computers.
  
  
• Home visits and one to one help for the elderly.
  
  
• Produced a video for the local Chamber of Commerce for their annual entry at the 2009 Tulare County Fair. Congratulations to the Pixley Chamber! They won First Prize on their booth entry! Check out the video...

Helping the Community

In English:

Durring the years Pixley Connect has helped our rural community in many aspects. Pixley Connect has been a valiable resource to this community in helping low income families, technology needs in the community, and also helping in organizing projects.

For 3 years, Pixley Connect has been a vital part of the community and continues to be to this day. With several programs overseen by Pixley Connect, there has been a quite amount of success. Such success can be seen the literacy programs that distribute computers to families that have never owned or used a computer in their life.



We hope that Pixley Connect can continue there hard work in the community.

En Espanol:

Durante los años Pixley conecta ha ayudado a nuestra comunidad rural en muchos aspectos. Pixley conecta ha sido un recurso valiable a esta comunidad en familias de ayuda del sueldo bajo, a las necesidades de la tecnología en la comunidad, y también a la ayuda en proyectos de organización.

Por 3 años, Pixley conecta ha sido una parte vital de la comunidad y continúa siendo a este día. Con varios programas supervisados por Pixley Connect, ha habido absolutamente una cantidad de éxito. Tal éxito se puede considerar los programas de la instrucción que distribuyen las computadoras a las familias que nunca han poseído o han utilizado una computadora en su vida.

Esperamos que Pixley conecte pueda continuar allí el trabajo duro en la comunidad.

Pixley Connect: An Important Factor

During the recent years, Pixley Connect has had a great impact in the community that have brought up results. More of the community has become more involved with technology thus narrowing the digital divide and prospering all areas of people's lives.



The Pixley Connect Program started 3 years ago when AT&T gave a check for 600,000 dollars to upstart programs that have helped the community grow and prosper.