COVID-19 Community Report - Episode 2 - March 20, 2020

In Episode 2 - March 20, 2020 - we heard from Superintendent John Bowes of the Davis Joint Unified School District (DJUSD), and visited with community organizer Kate Mellon-Anibaba, founder of the incredibly active Covid-19 Yolo Community Response Group on Facebook.  Click on title above to stream this episode.

Superintendent Bowes reported DJUSD is actively working on both short and long-term strategies to provide home-learning instruction online.  These two phases of instruction will be posted later today on the DJUSD website, social media page, and sent via email.  The issue of the digital divide and equity is being addressed by working to provide Chromebooks and internet access to those in need. Also discussed were how the school meets and does business during this time, which Bowes called "a paradigm shift."

Community organizer Kate Mellon-Anibaba spoke about the large-scale collaborative effort involved with curating wide-ranging resources daily on the Facebook Group page Covid-19 Yolo Community Response. Nearly 20 community members with varied expertise administer various categories of information, as well as continuing their "day jobs" and family responsibilities.  Mellon-Anibaba extended a welcome invitation to join the effort or to request specific resources. 

Confirmed guests for Tuesday, March 24 include Elizabeth Gray, Central Services Manager for the Yolo County Library, and Davis Poet Laureate James Lee Jobe. Next Friday, we'll hear from Yolo County District 2 Supervisor Don Saylor, as well a representative from Yolo Public Health. Lots more in the works for future show.

Thanks for tuning in. Stay safe & well. Here are the resources I've been mentioning on the show:

                      Resource Listings for COVID-19 Community Report (in progress, added to each week)

ARTS & MUSIC

Davis Live Music Collective is a non-profit, volunteer organization formed to curate, organize, host, and promote diverse, high-quality concerts in Davis. CA. They have this to say about their project, “A Song A Day: Music Bringing Hope”—

In the midst of the fear and uncertainty many are experiencing these days, we hope to help bring some light and hope to everyone while also supporting our local musicians. While we are staying safe by staying home, we would like to share a song a day here and on our social media channels starting Monday, March 23.

They invite local musicians to submit a video recording of a song, either recorded in quarantine, or a favorite recorded with their bands prior to social distancing recommendations. The DLMC will share songs on its social media channels and direct the viewers to ways they can support musicians at this time when they’re losing income. Bands can send videos to eunah@davismusicfest.com Preferred video formats: mp4 or Youtube/Vimeo links

BUSINESS

Davis Chamber of Commerce: There’s an astonishing amount of information on social media about the impact of the pandemic on small businesses, especially restaurants and bars. Community members in Davis, Woodland, and Winters have put together resource list of who is open, who’s adapted to providing grab & go, home delivery or curbside. There are too many to mention, but efforts are underway to collate info through local chambers of commerce.

Downtownnorcal: Davis resident Heidy Kellison is volunteer blogger working to highlight and support local businesses through her blog, downtownnorcal.com. Through her Facebook page, also called Downtownnorcal, she’s been going live from local businesses to highlight their struggles at present, and how some are adapting to the crisis and finding new ways to do business as usual.

COUNTY SERVICES

Library: All branches of the Yolo County Library will remain closed through April 5. If you borrowed items, they will be automatically renewed and late fees will be waived. You can return library materials when our branches reopen. Visit https://yolocountylibrary.org to access digital resources 24/7. Library staff will support a centralized phone line, 530-757-5593, Monday-Friday 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. to assist with account questions and access to digital materials.

FOOD

Davis Farmer’s Market: There was some confusion when the Market announced earlier this week that its Picnic in the Park social on Wednesday evenings was cancelled until May 13. While the bands, bouncy houses and food vendors won’t be there, the farmers  are. Winter hours will continue until further notice, and those are Wednesdays from 3-6 pm, and Saturdays from 8am-1 pm.

Market manager Randii Macnear said the booths have been spaced further apart, and they continue to follow standards from the state and county health department, which are updated almost daily. Many farmers are now offering prepacked grab & go options.

Even under statewide Shelter in Place measures, markets are exempt, and an important part of our food security.

Yolo Food Bank: Winters City Councilmember Jesse Loren reported on Facebook today that 70 boxes of food were delivered to Winters Senior Apartments alone. The food bank is delivering food to many who are now shut in. They are in urgent need of people to help deliver food, and they have many other needs as well. Call them at  (530) 668-0690, or visit yolofoodbank.org.

Davis Night Market is open with new rules to conform to social distancing. The nonprofit provides free food for people suffering from food insecurity and hunger. Market organizers said that many people have benefited from the food they distribute, and they believe they’re covering basic needs for an important number of them. They’ve decided to continue holding the Night Market on Tuesdays and Thursdays in Central Park with some modifications. They ask people to observe the following: If you need food, come. If you don't need to, please do not come. Social distancing will be observed, and participants are asked to leave the park immediately after receiving food. You can find Davis Night Market on Facebook and Instagram.

MEDIA

Station management at KDVS 90.3 FM, the campus radio station at UC Davis that boasts a huge regional broadcast footprint, announced March 18 it was shuttering the station for the foreseeable future. They don’t have automation, and with the campus shut down, they can’t come in to manage operations. DMA’s staff is reaching out to them, however, FCC rules may limit how we can help them. I’ll update this item when I can.

Davis Media Access: The March 19, 2020 school board meeting is available at djusd.tv In the March 20 interview, Superintendent John Bowes indicated the DJUSD Board of Trustees are in discussion about how to hold meetings at this time, and have them be open. City of Davis media staff records and DMA airs and archives the school board meetings. DMA also operates DCTV and  KDRT 95.7 FM.

SCHOOLS

DJUSD will continue to serve meals to children from Monday, March 16 through Friday, April 3.  Breakfast and lunch service will be available to children under the age of 18, Monday through Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the following sites:

Montgomery Elementary- 1441 Danbury Street, Davis, CA 95618

Harper Junior High- 4000 E. Covell Blvd., Davis, CA 95618

Davis Senior High- 315 W. 14th St., Davis, CA 95616

Patwin Elementary- 2222 Shasta Drive, Davis, CA 95616

Meal packages will include lunch for the current day and breakfast for the next morning.

The CA Dept of Education has developed the CA Meals for Kids mobile app to help families find nearby California Afterschool and Summer Meal Program Sites. It’s accessible on iOS, Android, or Microsoft devices and available wherever you download mobile apps. The Emergency Meal Sites section may be used during unanticipated school closures. I’m sure yet about its availability in languages other than English, but I will contact them. Questions to cdemobile@cde.ca.gov

PUBLIC HEALTH ORDERS

Yolo County Supervisor District 4 Jim Provenza shared on Facebook this morning that at this time, the County is enforcing Yolo County’s order. County Counsel is researching whether or not there are any conflicts with the Governor’s order and, if so, how to handle it. For now, he said, everyone is safe if they follow Yolo County’s order. Find the order and more spotlighted at https://www.yolocounty.org/

NON-PROFITS

International House Davis is conducting a community survey to gather information on immediate needs to inform virtual programming and community activation. They also have a nice community resource list going. You can find both at their website, internationalhousedavis.org.

The Davis Vanguard is also conducting its own survey and offering a somewhat different resource list.

I’ll continue connecting with local schools, churches, businesses, elected officials, non-profits and so on to provide local information. Please send announcements to me via the Covid-19 Community Response show page at KDRT.org.