Kacie Stratton, founder and executive director of The GreenHouse Community Enrichment Center, had a very exciting day. Kacie is my daughter, so you can only imagine the day I had!!!!!
Mayor-Elect Kevin Johnson Joins Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
Sacramento Mayor-elect Kevin Johnson today joined Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and youth volunteers at the GreenHouse, a community enrichment center located in the Gardenland/Northgate neighborhood of Sacramento, to help assemble Thanksgiving meals for local low-income families.
"The volunteers at The GreenHouse are working daily to strengthen our community," said Mayor-elect Kevin Johnson. This is what coming together to improve our community is all about. As mayor I am looking forward to continuing to work with organizations like the GreenHouse.
The visit exemplifies tonight's "Together We Can," a swearing-in ceremony that will focus on the community coming together to bring about effective change and public action to improve the lives of all Sacramentans.
The GreenHouse offers after-school tutoring programs, summer camp opportunities, a youth group for teens, affordable sports participation, and skill-building workshops and serves a neighborhood of over 550 children living on one square block: the most kids per capita than any other block in the greater Sacramento area.
"I am very happy to visit Greenhouse today to see firsthand all the terrific work happening through this program. I personally want to thank all the volunteers who are giving back to their community and providing their local youth with constructive alternatives," said Governor Schwarzenegger. "Greenhouse proves that California's most precious resource is the compassion and generosity of its people. Our state's desire and will to serve is why I created the first cabinet level position to harness this incredible resource. And, I urge every Californian to build on the great example Greenhouse in providing and make this coming holiday not just a holiday of thanks, but also a holiday of giving."
The GreenHouse was started by Executive Director Kacie Stratton in 2002. The initial inspiration for the GreenHouse came after Ms. Stratton read a 2001 Sacramento Bee story about the neighborhood that described the need for positive role models in this struggling and diverse community.
"The GreenHouse was formed with the vision of helping unlock the resources to transform this neighborhood from one that is merely surviving to one that this thriving," said Kacie Stratton, executive director of the GreenHouse. "I want to thank the Governor and the Mayor-elect for coming here today and for their dedication to encouraging everyone to get involved and engaged in their community."
The food for the Thanksgiving baskets was donated by the Church Volunteer Network and WalMart. The majority of the volunteers working to assemble the baskets are junior high and high school students who benefit from the programs at the GreenHouse.
For more information, contact us at:
The GreenHouse
PO Box 348138
Sacramento, CA 95834
916-402-7978
