Coffee Chat with Raymond | DCARA Updates for December 2020

[VIDEO DESC: Raymond, a white male, is wearing a dark sweater with a blue blouse underneath and pair of eyeglasses. Behind him is a faded gray wooden with panels background.]

[TRANSCRIPT]

Hello All!

[RAISES COFFEE; SLURPS COFFEE]

My name is Raymond Rodgers and I am the Executive Director of Deaf Counseling Advocacy and Referral Agency and Communique Interpreting.

All of us, the staff, here at DCARA and Communique Interpreting are honored to be able to continue to serve our community despite working remotely during the pandemic crisis.

We do recognize challenges in providing our clients with certain services; nevertheless we stay committed to ensure the services and information are still accessible to our clients and community.

I would like to share all of our accomplishments and roadblocks we experience during the year 2020.

• Deaf Community Center (DCC) is still closed to the public, in the meanwhile it is undergoing repairs and maintenance updates.
• We have set up a videophone (VP) kiosk outside the DCC for those without access to VPs within their homes. This can be used to request DCARA services or make personal calls.
• Job Readiness Training Program continues to provide training virtually, serving Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) clients preparing them for work.
• Communique Interpreting is still going strong and continues to provide 24/7 interpreting services to hospitals, schools, natural disasters such as wildfires in the past summertime, and now due to COVID, provide interpreting services remotely.
•DCARA continues to work with the DeafBlind community on the CoNavigator (CN) project, focusing on the development of a CN website and training materials.
• Our financial situation has been stable and we have secured some additional fundings received for expenses related to COVID.
• Increased live streamed webinars and vlogs from both Advocacy Services and Community Education Program.
• Continue to produce vlogs to inform the community of COVID-19 and during the summer wildfire related announcements from the state or counties.

We acknowledge that the community wants to visit our office for imminent in-person service or wants to see our faces again. Unfortunately, we are staying in compliance with the local government’s public health order.

We have no idea when DCARA and CQ will be able reopen its doors to the public. However, our Health & Safety Committee is hard at work keeping an eye on the local government’s orders and preparing and training our staff for a future reopening.

We encourage everyone to continue to follow the current Stay-At-Home order (as of December 2020), issued by the state government which means to stay at home.

We want to thank everyone for their cooperation and support during these tough times. We are all in this together and will continue to support everyone impacted by this crisis.

DCARA welcomes your support and donations through the Winter Holidays. Your generosity will have a positive impact on people who are in need, as well as the larger community. Every donation matters.

Here’s how you can donate – we’ve simplified the procedure, you can donate online or by mail.

Visit the link in the transcript below:
http://dcara.org/donate

or mail a check with a note for “Winter Holidays” to the address below:
DCARA, 14895 E. 14th St., Suite 200 San Leandro, CA 94578.

Our services remain available during the holidays. If you are in need of services, access to services, or have questions please contact us at:
• Email: info@dcara.org
• VP: 510-343-6670

Stay connected with us through our social media outlets such as our Facebook page, Instagram, Twitter, subscribe to our YouTube channel, sign up for our email list, or visit our website.

All of us at DCARA want to wish you Happy Holidays and please stay safe!

See you next year in 2021!

[RAISES COFFEE; SLURPS COFFEE]

[Slide shows content: Happy Holidays from DCARA!]

[Screen fades to show a video of group of DCARA staff on Zoom saying ‘Happy Holidays’ to you all!]

[Screen fades to show DCARA logo and following content: Contact Information: 510-343-6670 VP/Voice | info@dcara.org | dcara.org. Follow us on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram @dcara1962]

[END TRANSCRIPT]