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News and Editorials SILICON
VALLEY CONFERENCE FOR COMMUNITY AND JUSTICE Though The Name Changes. The Focus And Charter Remain The Same "40 Plus One" San Jose, Calif., September 28, 2005--Effective this month, the local chapter of the National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ) becomes an independent organization under a new name, Silicon Valley Conference for Community and Justice--SVCCJ. The organization's charter and zeal will continue in their effort to eliminate racism, bias and discrimination through educational and conflict resolution programs. Key program emphases will continue including several youth diversity education activitiess, Interfaith Dialogues, and community crisis intervention The SVCCJ is also the administrator for Santa Clara County's Victim Witness Assistance Center, which will remains unchanged. The move toward an independent status has been in discussion for a year between The National Conference for Community and Justice and its 34 satellite offices, of which Silicon Valley was one. The decision to go it alone was finalized when the umbrella organization directed the regional offices around the country to become separate, independent non-profit corporations, and then announced the closing of its national offices after 78 years. "We have been active in the Silicon Valley for 40 years - our programs are highly successful - and we will continue to be just as active for the next forty years," said Gordon Yamate, VP & General Counsel, Knight Ridder, and Chair of SVCCJ's Board of Directors. "Citizens of the Valley will benefit from this change, because we will be even more effective in offering our programs, and it will be with the same enthusiasm and passion as always." said Reverend Paul Locatelli, President of Santa Clara University (and past Board Chairman of NCCJ Silicon Valley Region.) "We look at our new independence as '40 plus 1,'" said Bart Charlow, President of SVCCJ. "Our independence means we are not restricted by a national agenda and can initiate, fund and support programs that are most meaningful to the local community." Also continuing unabated is the SVCCJ's Martin Luther King Student Writing/Art/Multimedia Program held on Dr. King's birthday and involving more than 3,500 students from the East Side Union High School District's 12 schools. Nor will there be any changes to the annual SVCCJ Exemplary Community Leadership Awards Gala fundraiser, held every spring at the San Jose Fairmont, honoring prominent citizens from business, government, education and the community who have devoted their lives and careers to improving human relations. About SVCCJ The Silicon Valley Conference for Community & Justice has led the fight against bigotry, racism and exclusion in the Bay Area and Northern California for 40 years. The organization empowers people of diverse backgrounds to build just communities where each person is treated with respect and understanding. Each year and through a variety of programs, SVCCJ reaches 20,000 victims of crime, 14,000 youth and educators, 500 community volunteers and leaders and engages more than 300 faith leaders in innovative educational programs throughout the Silicon Valley. SVCCJ is located at 777 North First Street, Ste. 220, San Jose, California. Please visit http://www.svccj.org for more information. Bart Charlow |
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