A California Online Magazine with Local Focus and Global Appeal
Recently, I became aware of the Fourteen Holy Helpers. I was thinking about the lesson that Fred Rogers would teach children about how to cope with profound crisis. He said to look for the helpers because there were always helpers. Sometimes they we teachers, sometimes police officers or doctors and nurses. Sometimes they were neighbors, but there were always going to be helpers and the helpers would help.
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Things were as they had been for a long time. Nothing much changed. Relationships were well defined. Alliances were set. Positions were clear. Lines were drawn in indelible ink. It was comfortable.
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Imagine a renaissance community that stretches from Divisadero in downtown Fresno to Riverpark at the very north of the city.
Imagine livable, workable, walkable spaces, friendly to bikes, children, pedestrians, and browsers.
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When Janet Mitchell and Suzan Blair opened Two Sisters Vintage Home and Garden nine years ago, they were trying to clear out a home and some storage units. That was then. Today, Janet runs the day to day operations, and they are thriving.
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So, what is a hero?
Jake A. Soberal cofounder of Bitwise and Enrique Meza, photographer and videographer have been friends for a decade. They were asking the same question.
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The world turns and things change.
Tree of Life, Fresno, has a new location and Delly Beans, Clovis has new owners. This is good news because in a world where restaurants are constantly going out of business, these two are simply making changes and thriving.
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An act of terror that was very evil, hateful, and tragic recently produced the opposite response to what was intended by its perpetrator. An expression of hate evoked renewed affirmations of and commitments to love. It was true across America and especially true in the Fresno area.
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One out of every three people in the Central Valley was born somewhere outside of the United States. Four hundred forty-three were born in Syria. For a little over a year, Kings River Life has been tracking some of their stories and the work of Fresno Interdenominational Refuge Ministries (FIRM) walking with them in those stories. This is an update.
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I was taking a walk, contemplating the meaning of something I have since forgotten, when I came upon a new establishment. It was a coffee shop, just off Fulton across from the Fulton Mall. The sign on the door said, Fulton Street Coffee Roasters, which seemed appropriate, and something about the place invited me in.
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Bitwise is a concept.
Bitwise is an energy and a force of nature.
Bitwise is a movement, a philosophy, and a dream.
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I recently met Ryan Murry, founder of In Touch Media Group, when he attended a breakfast sponsored by my Community Benefit Organization (non-profit) and asked to interview me about our work in the community.
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What happens when you cross a park built to welcome and inspire all with an organization and movement designed to empower people with home ownership? When you combine a place called Inspiration Park with a group called Habitat for Humanity, you come up with Inspiration for Humanity!
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In December, I was awakened by the Fresno Fire Department at 3 a.m. with news that my office was on fire. When I arrived, I discovered only rubble. I have been out of my office since then, wandering from desk to desk, coffee shop to coffee shop, and from Uber to The Hashtag in downtown Fresno on Kern Street.
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Collect Coffee Bar is my newest go-to place for a relaxing and productive moment of reflection and self-collection. Jamal Anabtawi sold Sara Jarrar a car and a conversation began which culminated in many conversations every day in a gathering place called Collect Coffee Bar.
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