RUBICON PROGRAMS INC. SINCE 1973.

E-news for October 2005
2500 Bissell Ave, Richmond, CA 94804
www.rubiconprograms.org
510 235 1516

In this issue:
1) Rubicon Programs Assists Hurricane Katrina Evacuees
2) You’re invited! Rubicon’s Grand Opening in Berkeley on November 3
3) Halloween – Rubicon Style
4) Participant profile: Katrina Cobb
5) Rubicon’s Benita Harris Speaks at Forum on Sustainable Organizations

1) Rubicon Programs Assists Hurricane Katrina Evacuees

Half a dozen people from New Orleans rode in the back of trucks from the hurricane devastated Gulf Coast to the Bay Area in order to find shelter and safety with extended family members. Their stories are horrifying, much like what we have all read and seen on TV.

Once they arrived here, however, they found out about Rubicon Programs and have found jobs, housing, and a way back to a ‘normal’ life. At Rubicon Berkeley, in coordination with the City of Berkeley’s Katrina Center, we have found housing for 6 families who are Katrina evacuees. And Richmond's Career Center has helped 4 people find jobs.

One of the evacuees is “very grateful for being alive and … has done amazing things. She is now going back to school to further her medical education,” said Cassandra McElveen, a Rubicon vocational coordinator at our Richmond Career Center. “When she comes to Rubicon she is always smiling and saying how blessed she is to be alive. She really wants to thank us for lending an ear and helping her with transportation to get to her appointments.”

To learn more about our programs, click here.

2) You’re invited! Rubicon’s Grand Opening in Berkeley on November 3

Join Honorary Co-Hosts Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates and Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson, a distinguished Honorary Host Committee, and the Rubicon Board of Directors on Thursday, November 3, 2005 from 8:30am-10:00am to officially open our doors in Berkeley

The event will be held at our new offices at 1918 Bonita Avenue, close to the heart of downtown Berkeley. It will be a lively event complete with official ribbon cutting, delicious Rubicon coffeecakes, tours of our programs, press, and community and business leaders.

NBC11’s Christien Kafton will serve as the MC of the event! Come be part of the event live so you don’t have to wait until the 6:00 news to see what’s happening in Berkeley! Event sponsors are Andronico's Markets, Union Bank of California, Contra Costa Times, and Green Leaf.

To get the scoop, click here

3) Halloween – Rubicon Style

Designed to enchant small ghouls and ghosties, this delicious cake contains fresh apples, pecans and spices combined with whole eggs, fresh butter and other natural ingredients. Enhanced with a cream cheese filling and frosting, the cake is finished with a “web” of handmade caramel sauce and serves 12–18.

What’s more – it’s a Williams-Sonoma exclusive!

Buy it online by clicking here

4) Participant Profile: Katrina Cobb

ImageKatrina is a Bakery Assistant at Rubicon Bakery.

(The Chocolate Peanut Butter is her favorite.)

“Rubicon gave me my independence,” she says. Personal challenges with addictions and a traumatic attack on the street one night was a tipping point for making a change.

Rubicon helped her get her life together again. She got clean and sober. She found a place to live in Rubicon-owned apartments. And she graduated from our bakery training with flying colors.

“Now I have a job,” she says, “and a way to take care of myself.

5) Rubicon’s Benita Harris Speaks at Forum on Sustainable Organizations

State Senator Don Perata and Assemblywoman Loni Hancock recently sponsored “Making It Real! Maximizing Resources to Sustain Organizations” on September 23 in Oakland, CA. And Rubicon’s Benita Harris was invited to speak on a panel about economic development. Over 200 people attended the event to learn about how to use both public and private funds to build sustainable nonprofit organization.

Because of Rubicon’s diverse funding sources – which include federal, state and local government funding, earned income, and private donations – Benita was able to share a unique perspective with the attendees.

What does Rubicon do?
We help people who are low-income, homeless, and living with mental disabilities live independent lives by providing jobs, housing, legal services, career development services, mental health counseling, and money management services. We run two social purpose businesses, Rubicon Bakery and Rubicon Landscape Services, and from which 100% of net proceeds support our programs.

Rubicon Programs Inc is 31 years old, has served over 35,000 men and women, has created thousands of jobs, and provided hundreds of homes.