16 Desk Item.Item #16 - Interim Community Center Service Providers
PREPARED BY: Jenna De Long
Deputy Town Clerk
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● (408) 354-6832
www.losgatosca.gov
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: 05/07/2024 ITEM NO: 16 DESK ITEM
DATE: May 7, 2024
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: Laurel Prevetti, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Approve West Valley Community Services, Counseling and Support Services
for Youth, and AWO as Potential Community Service Partners to Provide their
Respective Services at the Interim Community Center
REMARKS:
Attachment 2 contains public comment received between 11:01 a.m. on Monday, May 6, and
11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 7, 2024.
Attachment previously received with the Staff Report:
1. Statements of Interest from Prospective Service Providers
Attachment received with this Desk Item:
2. Public comment received between 11:01 a.m. on Monday, May 6, and 11:00 a.m. on
Tuesday, May 7, 2024.
From:Folake Phillips
To:Clerk
Subject:Public Comment Item #16
Date:Tuesday, May 7, 2024 12:34:10 AM
[EXTERNAL SENDER]
Hello,
Kindly add my comments below for inclusion in a desk item. Thank you.
MY COMMENTS
My name is Folake Phillips. I am the founder and executive director. I am pleased, on behalfof our nonprofit AWỌ, to have submitted a Statement of Interest respectfully requesting to
become a prospective Community Partner with the Town and provide services to thecommunity at the Interim Community Center, also known as the Adult Recreation Center,
located at 208 E. Main, Los Gatos. We are doubly pleased that the Town of Los Gatos isseeking to expand its offerings and support to the community and its nonprofits. We have been
based in Los Gatos since inception in 2020 and continue to serve the community and itssurrounding areas including Campbell, San Jose, Saratoga, Monte Sereno and beyond. The
Vision of AWỌ is to achieve a more inclusive and representative world by focusing on theunheard stories of individuals within society to build a more collective understanding about
ourselves.
To deliver our innovative HUEmanity programs, we use education and awareness supportedby the arts and culture. The art forms we use to support our efforts are storytelling, music and
dance. We are well vast in implementing community engagement events, public education andawareness events that promote community conversations, dialogue and different perspectives
from black, indigenous, ethnic, urban, and rural artists and speakers, who come from diversebackgrounds and use their life experiences to inspire, empower and model how to break down
barriers and bring healing to local communities. Myself and Debra Crenshaw, our ExecutiveProgram Manager have a combined work experience of over 60 years in delivering
community engagement events and programming, and school programming in the US, Nigeriaand UK. Our core team of instructors and artists are versatile and work really well with all
ages. They have a combined 100-120 years experience in community engagement work allacross the globe. Currently, we are actively in search of a local music therapist to join our
team.
I must share a story that touched me and is a contributing factor to why we remain driven.With permission from her to share, a community member who has lived here in Los Gatos for
over 30 years suffered in silence, felt isolated and was greatly discriminated against after herhusband passed away well over 15 years ago. This woman migrated from Ethiopia and is a
homeowner. She was treated badly and mostly by people she knew. Neighbours and someformer "friends''. At the height of the harassment, threats and some loss of her property as
experienced from these so-called neighbours, she said she really felt lonely, unsafe andsuffered from anxiety for so many years. She felt there was no outlet or resources closeby and
didn't really trust anyone at that point. I would probably feel the same way. I felt so sorry tohear she had gone through so much and was navigating it all without any support. This should
never have to happen to anyone amongst us. There is so much tension in the land at this timeand the pandemic's effects are only just rising to the fore. We want to help the often unheard
amongst us. Those whose untold stories and sufferings go unnoticed for a myriad of reasons.
ATTACHMENT 2
We want to address existing gaps in our community with a systemic lens. We want to be a partof the solution.
AWỌ, through its Wellness for Huemanity Program, proposes an innovative approach to
improve individual wellness, community health and quality of life through shared narratives,engaging interactive activities and experiential learnings related to boosting health and
emotional well-being. Our Wellness for Huemanity Program aims to accomplish healthand social goals such as improving mental wellness, reducing stress and tension and
alleviating pain. In addition to its healing potential, we focus on magnifying themessage of diversity, inclusion, equity, belonging and lived experience. We believe when
people think collectively, can creatively collaborate and are introduced to newcultures, ultimately, they enhance and expand their understanding, appreciation and respect of
diverse communities and perspectives. Participants in our program will explore their ownidentities and intersect with those around them. Services we provide will help individuals
recognize the role diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging and lived experiences play inenhancing
community cohesion and building strong local communities. For the first time and in astructured setting, if this opportunity is given, we will be providing not just a one time
experience per event but a continuum of collective experiences over a period of time andthrough weekly or biweekly sessions. This is a next level development for our Town, and for
our community engagement services to the community. With additional space, if given the chance,
we automatically expand and enhance our service offerings and reach those amongst us thatoften fall through the cracks. I hope we can collaborate with you. Thank you in advance of
your consideration.
Warmest Regards, Folake Phillips
Founder and Executive Director AWỌ1484 Pollard Road Suite 242
Los Gatos, CA 95032M: 408-221-3430
E: folake@awocenter.orgW:www.awocenter.org