Community Poetry Circle meets
WATSONVILLE — The Watsonville Community Poetry Circle with Magdalena Montagne is held the third Tuesday of every month at 6 p.m. in the Watsonville Main Library Meeting Room, 275 Main St.
Participants will write poems in a supportive and creative space. It is open to all ages and levels of poets.
The next event will be held April 18.
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Wells Fargo announces nonprofit donations
WATSONVILLE — Wells Fargo & Company announced that in 2016 the company donated $584,250 to 60 nonprofits in Monterey and Santa Cruz counties.
Donations in Watsonville included $25,000 to Digital NEST, $56,000 to El Pajaro Community Development Corporation, and $15,000 to Second Harvest Food Bank.
Wells Fargo team members in the two counties volunteered 1,470 hours with nonprofits, schools and community organizations, and by donating nearly $80,000 of their personal dollars to causes they are passionate about.
“Wells Fargo has a rich history of community support across the company and, in particular, the North Central Coast,” said Ernie Pineda, area president, Valley Coastal Market. “We have personal connections to the people in our communities — many of whom we proudly call our customers — and we see first-hand the broad spectrum of challenges they face. Through our philanthropic donations and volunteerism, each one of our team members at Wells Fargo is personally and deeply committed to improving our communities by making better opportunities possible.”
Last year, Wells Fargo granted $60,000 to Agriculture and Land Based Training Association (ALBA). The funds helped ALBA’s Farmer Education and Enterprise Development (FEED) program launch 15 new farm businesses, assisted 40 farmers in obtaining or renewing their organic food safety certifications, provided market access to 50 beginning farmers, as well as graduated and transitioned 35 farmers off ALBA land.
“ALBA’s FEED program leverages the farming background, work ethic and entrepreneurial drive of the region’s agricultural laborers,” said Nathan Harkleroad, ALBA’s outreach and education program manager. “These funds helped us strengthen our services, and lead to more successful independent organic farmers and employment opportunities for our community by empowering aspiring farmers to make the jump from fieldworker to entrepreneur.”
