African American Community Service Agency

Help our community by stepping up to get vaccinated when it’s your turn. Find out if you’re currently eligible for a #COVID19 vaccine by visiting www.sccfreevax.org Let’s do this together!

We are looking for individuals to donate their time to the African American Community Service Agency! The AACSA is offering fun, COVID safe, volunteer opportunities all throughout February! #Volunteer We have community outreach, office support, and CARES volunteer opportunities available. We welcome families, student groups/organizations, corporate volunteers, and individuals. Sign up at https://sjaacsa.volunteerlocal.com/volunteer/ or contact the AACSA Office Staff at 408-292-3157 or [email protected] for more info!

New things can be scary, especially with things that are unknown. But vaccination is not new, and has helped humans fight infectious diseases for centuries. Help put #COVID19 on the list of infectious diseases we have overcome: Get vaccinated when your turn arrives.

Join the AACSA in partnership with the National Pan-Hellenic Council-Silicon Valley Chapter, SJSU Black Alumni Network and more for our Black Community Welcome event with DJ Quam TOMORROW, Jan 29th at 6-8pm on Zoom! The Santa Clara County Black Community will bring greetings from various Community Based Black Organizations, conduct break outs with games, answer questions and provide connections to make this place we call home a place to live and thrive. Register at bit.ly/blackwelcomescc!

Join us for Civic Engagement

Help us reach our goal of 500 PEOPLE! We want to hear from you! Take this 2 minute survey so that the AACSA can learn directly from the source, the policy priorities of the community we serve. This survey is important because we can better understand what our community already knows about policy and advocacy, how engaged our community already is and will allow us to continue our efforts to increase our community's access to information, educational opportunities, and opportunities to support policies that uplift our people. Fill out the survey here: bit.ly/aacsapolicysurvey

Know your COVID-19 risk when out shopping. As customers, we can all do our part to reduce the risk of transmitting the virus while shopping for essential items.

Have you voted? Or do you have a #PlanToVote? You can still cast your vote-by-mail ballot, track your ballot, and see the moment it’s counted! Sign up at WheresMyBallot.sos.ca.gov! #VoteSafeCA

Join the African American Community Service Agency (AACSA) for Community Healing with a keynote address and Q&A featuring Dr. Joy DeGruy on November 2 at 4:30-6:30pm on Zoom! This event will focus on the intersection of racism, trauma, violence, and American chattel slavery and include improvement strategies in the areas of intergenerational trauma, mental health, and social justice. Register for the event here: http://bit.ly/AACSACommunityHealing

Support local restaurants and businesses safely by ordering takeout, delivery, or dining outdoors! When dining out, remember that outdoors is safer than indoors. What are some of your favorite local restaurants? #supportlocalbusinesses

Meet Kim Young, MSW, LCSW! @dopeblack_socialworker Kim Young is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over a decade of experience working alongside at promise youth, families, and communities. She is on a mission to eliminate suffering for Black youth by fighting to eliminate barriers to dreaming, increase youth visibility, and create pathways to opportunities. Tomorrow AACSA’s Leadership Academy presents Healing Amongst A Revolution featuring Kim at 6:30-8:30pm on Zoom! ...Participants of this event will process and explore Black centered healing concepts, explore various forms of advocacy, and reimagine the future of Black liberation as well as provide tips on a path forward. ALA Leadership Academy participants can RSVP by emailing [email protected]! #SJSUAlumni

It’s 10 days until Election Day!! It is imperative that you vote in this election whether it is by voting early, dropping your ballot in a ballot box, or voting at a polling place on November 3. Make a plan and let your voice be heard! #MyVoiceMyVote

Welcome the newest member of #TeamAACSA Name: Oladotun "Dotu" Hospidales Title: Programs Coordinator Favorite Color: Black... Hometown: Los Angeles, California What you studied in college: Political Science & Public Relations Dream Vacation: Puerto Vallarta, Mexico Favorite Quote: "You may live in the world as it is, but you can still work to create the world as it should be..." - Michelle Obama Why did you choose AACSA? It has been a dream of mine to be able to serve and work on behalf of my community. I am grateful for the privilege and the opportunity to give back but am even more excited to work alongside such a diverse group in breaking barriers, bridging gaps, and building towards progress.

Every monster needs a mask this Halloween. Consider incorporating a cloth mask into your costume to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Keep in mind, doubling up on a costume mask and cloth face mask can make it hard to breathe so choose the one that will best protect you and your loved ones.

Congratulations to our Executive Director, Milan Balinton for receiving the inaugural Patricia A. Gardner Changemaker Award from the Silicon Valley Council of Nonprofits 2020 Impact Awards!! #BeOurGuest2020 #SVCN Rita Holiday stated in her nomination of Milan, With the tragic murder of George Floyd and the uprisings of protest that followed, Milan was called on a as Black leader in Santa Clara County to respond and offer guidance to the City’s and County’s response. Milan... consulted with elected officials in producing solutions that best aligned with AACSA’s mission to preserve the dignity and culture of a diverse African American Community and to provide services that promote full participation for all. To ensure real long-term change, Milan is spearheading the establishment of an Advocacy/Policy Department at AACSA which will seek to undermine and disrupt policies that have created racially-based disparities in income, home ownership, health, education, and employment. #TeamAACSA See more

TOMORROW is the first day of early voting weekend! Cast your #vote this weekend at the Registrar of Voters Office in San Jose! Let your voice be heard #MyVoiceMyVote If you are having any issues voting, report them to the California Secretary of State here https://www.sos.ca.gov//publications-and-r/voter-complaint or text Vote to 81380

Out in the community and into places and spaces sharing about Aacsa Silicon Valley! Thank you to MemSQL for supporting our mission, creating space at your company and inviting our Executive Director Milan Balinton to speak to your sphere of influence.

Tomorrow at 6pm on Zoom, we are providing an opportunity to learn more about the 2020 CA Statewide Ballot Measures with our Policy & Advocacy Coordinator, Helen Kassa! Our team has held various candidate and policy forums, conducted voter registration and education, led the My Voice My Vote Campaign, census outreach and more. We seek to make the voting process easy and palatable for all. Register here: http://bit.ly/AACSAVoterEducation The African American Community Servic...e Agency (AACSA) is inspired and excited about seeing our envisioned Policy and Advocacy division come to fruition. Due to the lack of representation of Black and Brown communities in policy and advocacy here in Santa Clara County, we are hopeful to create a space where everyone can be informed and make their voice heard. *The AACSA's endorsements of CA state propositions are the official recommendations of the organization. These are our suggestions for what we believe to be the best choices for the needs of our community. However, we encourage everyone to do their own research and come to their own conclusions

How do I keep myself and my family out of the hospital? The flu shot is an effective and safe way to help prevent severe flu symptoms and hospitalization. Thousands of lives are saved every year in the United States because people like you got their annual flu shot.

The African American Community Service Agency (AACSA) is inspired and excited about seeing our envisioned Policy and Advocacy division come to fruition. Due to the lack of representation of Black and Brown communities in policy and advocacy here in Santa Clara County, we are hopeful to create a space where everyone can be informed. Here is an opportunity to learn more about the 2020 CA Statewide Ballot Measures based on our opinion and what we think is best. We seek to make the voting process unique and palatable for all. #MyVoiceMyVote *The AACSA's endorsements of CA state propositions are the official recommendations of the organization.These are our suggestions for what we believe to be the best choices for the needs of our community.However, we encourage everyone to do their own research and come to their own conclusions.