News
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — In a major collaborative effort to ensure student safety, the Rotary Clubs of Kelseyville, Lakeport, and Clearlake have joined forces with Lake County School Districts to launch a pilot protection initiative against sex trafficking and exploitation.
As part of the collaboration, the Rotary Clubs have secured the necessary funding and leadership to license the Polly Klaas Foundation’s expert "Social Media Safety Education,” or SMSE, program.
In turn, the local school districts are acting as the operational hub for this initiative, generously providing campus facilities, childcare and dinner to ensure every family can attend these critical training sessions.
Local leaders concluded that Lake County is vulnerable to exploitation. With statistics showing that 85% of missing children are runaways — many lured by adult predators online — the schools and Rotary agreed that immediate, united action was required.
“The urgency to act is clear, and Rotary is stepping up to lead this vital effort,” said Kelseyville Rotary President Michael Contos.
Clearlake Rotary President Zabdy Neria added, "I am incredibly grateful to be surrounded by such supportive partners from across the lake as we join this urgent fight against child exploitation. Parents in our community are actively seeking guidance and support to get the crucial message across to our vulnerable youth: that danger is, tragically, often only a click away."
The collaboration goes beyond simple presentations; it empowers students to protect one another.
The pilot launches with assemblies at Kelseyville Middle School in late January, where trained high school students will teach sixth, seventh and eighth graders under the supervision of the Polly Klaas Foundation.
Contos added, "We are proud to pilot this program in Kelseyville. By empowering our High School students to teach middle schoolers, we can foster a culture of safety. Kids listen to their peers.”
Public events to offer dinner, education
To support families, the participating schools are removing barriers to attendance. The Rotary Clubs and Schools invite their students, families and staff to five presentations held throughout January.
All events begin at 5:30 p.m. and include dinner, education, childcare and door prizes.
The planned events are:
• Thursday, Jan. 8: Kelseyville/Lakeport at Kelseyville High School.
• Tuesday, Jan. 27: Middletown Middle School.
• Wednesday, Jan. 28: Upper Lake/Lucerne at the Middle School.
• Thursday, Jan. 29: Konocti Unified (English) at Obsidian Middle School.
• Friday, Jan. 30: Konocti Unified (Spanish) at Obsidian Middle School.
"Educating the parents of our young adults may be the difference between life or unspeakable heartbreak," said Lake County Rotary Area Governor Mark Lipps.
Ciara Shuttleworth, executive director of the Polly Klaas Foundation, emphasized the importance of this partnership. “It is no longer that a predator might come in through an unlocked door; what we address now is how to keep your children safe in their own bedrooms through online safety education,” she said.
The Rotary Clubs of Lake County thanked county sSupervisors EJ Crandell and Jessica Pyska for their support. A special thank you is also extended to the Lake County schools for donating the venue, dinner and staff for these meetings. Redbud Health Care District has joined in supporting this effort as a major sponsor.
For more information on this project, please contact Kelseyville Rotary at
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- Written by: LAKE COUNTY NEWS REPORTS
CLEARLAKE, Calif. — More than $52 million in grant funding has been awarded to revitalize communities and address homelessness, benefiting 53 counties statewide through 90 new projects, through federal Community Development Block Grants and 2024 Emergency Solutions Grants.
The city of Clearlake and North Coast Opportunities are among the awardees, announced by the Governor’s Office.
Clearlake will receive a $2.5 million planning and technical assistance grant.
“We’re delivering for our communities — full stop,” said Gov. Gavin Newsom. “Whether it’s housing, infrastructure or homelessness services, we’re stepping up and standing shoulder to shoulder with local leaders to make sure they have what they need. These grants are about strengthening neighborhoods and ensuring communities across California can thrive, while preserving the pride people have in the places they call home.”
The funding through the 2024 Community Development Block Grant, or CDBG, awards will fund 38 projects in 20 counties and provide more than 160,000 Californians with improved sewer and street infrastructure, public facilities, and recreational opportunities.
Gov. Newsom announced that an additional $14.3 million in federal funds went to 52 projects across California serving 25 counties through 2024 Emergency Solutions Grants, or ESG, giving local governments and service providers yet another tool to support regional solutions to homelessness. Both federal programs are administered in California by the California Department of Housing and Community Development, or HCD.
“For more than 50 years, Community Development Block Grants have been a key tool for creating housing and economic opportunity in American communities,” said Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency Secretary Tomiquia Moss. “From food banks to fire protection equipment, HCD is making these awards to help meet the critical needs of Californians and expand access to opportunity.”
CDBG awards included 18 grants totaling $4.6 million for public service activities such as advocacy for children in the court systems, operation of shelters for survivors of domestic violence, housing and shelter navigation for people experiencing homelessness, support for veterans experiencing behavioral health challenges, and nutrition and food access for seniors, as well as support for food banks, transportation, and utility assistance for low- to moderate-income Californians.
“The CDBG grants awarded this year will foster improved quality of life for low-income Californians in rural communities in every corner of the state,” said HCD Director Gustavo Velasquez. “From the North Coast, to the colonias, our stewardship of federal funding will transform infrastructure and uplift some of our most vulnerable residents, building a stronger, more equitable California future.”
Examples from the CDBG awards include:
• An economic development grant for a business assistance loan program in Crescent City ($1.5 million)
• A homebuyer-assistance grant for a program in the City of Ukiah ($1.5 million)
• Six public facility improvement projects including parks and community centers ($18 million) in Capitola, Corning, Eureka, Firebaugh, and Oroville, as well as Imperial County.
• Three infrastructure projects including sewer and street improvements ($9.9 million) in Dinuba, King, and Marysville.
• Nine planning and technical assistance grants ($2.5 million)in Clearlake, Dinuba, Oroville, Shasta Lake, Weed, and Willows, as well as Imperial and Solano counties.
HCD also made 52 ESG awards serving 36 counties totaling $14.3 million to California counties and service providers to fund local solutions to homelessness. With ESG funding, recipients can:
• Engage individuals and families experiencing homelessness
• Improve emergency shelters for individuals and families experiencing homelessness by supporting operations and essential services for shelter residents
• Rapidly rehouse individuals and families experiencing homelessness
• Prevent families and individuals from becoming homeless
North Coast Opportunities received $280,486 in ESG funding for work in Lake County.
- Details
- Written by: LAKE COUNTY NEWS REPORTS
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