"I'm excited to share this message from the Fund for Santa Barbara announcing that SBCAN co-executive directors Jeanne Sparks and Ken Hough are this year’s recipients of the Fund’s Founder Award!" said SBCAN co-president Dick Flacks. "It’s wonderful that this intrepid duo gets this recognition for years of dedicated and creative service to the organization and the community.
"If you haven’t yet got your ticket to the Fund’s fabulous Bread and Roses bash on October 6, why don’t you do that and come join us at Santa Barbara City College. You’ll serve the worthy Fund for Santa Barbara cause and join our cheering section for Jeanne and Ken."
The Fund sent an email blast with the following announcement on Sept. 16, 2024:
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Bread and Roses Community Celebration
The Great Meadow at SBCC
Sunday, October 6, 2024
2:00-6:00 p.m.
Announcing our Founder and Firebrand Awardees!
Founder Awardees: Jeanne Sparks and Ken Hough
Firebrand Awardee: Future for Lompoc Youth
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Our Founder Award is presented to those who have demonstrated a long-term commitment to advancing progressive change by strengthening movements for social, political, economic, and environmental justice and the vision to image a world marked by optimism, joyous struggle, a spirit of problem solving, and a sense of belonging. Our founder, Nancy Alexander, was the first-ever recipient of the Founder Award, which is now named in honor of her legacy at The Fund for Santa Barbara.
Presented to emerging progressive community leaders for their social change work in our community, the Firebrand Award looks towards those leading the future of progressive movements and is intended to recognize youth at the forefront of social change in our communities.
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2024 Founder Awardees: Jeanne Sparks and Ken Hough
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| Photo by Cienna Cornwell |
Jeanne Sparks and Ken Hough are a powerhouse couple known for their tireless commitment to community service and advocacy.
Jeanne has been at the forefront of various impactful initiatives for nearly 40 years, focusing on livable communities, environmental sustainability, and animal protection. She has played a key role in numerous projects, including expanding paramedic, library, and transit services to the Cuyama Valley, and helping to establish the Dunes Center in Guadalupe. She helped establish Santa Maria’s first dog park and the Santa Maria River Levee Trail. She was the first woman elected to serve on the Santa Maria Valley Water Conservation District, among many other achievements.
Ken, with over 30 years of expertise in transportation, housing, and regional planning, is a passionate advocate for sustainable growth and the protection of agricultural land. His hands-on approach, which included walking every street in Santa Maria to better understand the city, reflects his deep commitment to local engagement. Their leadership of Santa Barbara County Action Network (SBCAN) highlights their dedication to improving Santa Barbara County. Together, they form the ultimate two-for-one team, using their combined experience and passion to create lasting positive change in their community.
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2024 Firebrand Awardees: Future for Lompoc Youth (FLY)
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Future for Lompoc Youth (FLY) has been actively engaging young people in civic participation for three years with impressive results. Partnering with the UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center, FLY youth gathered over 1,000 surveys to better understand post-pandemic youth experiences. This initiative not only provided valuable insights but also trained the youth in civic activities such as canvassing. Currently, FLY is involved in supporting the passage of a school bond aimed at upgrading local schools, the first in decades. FLY members are registering voters, canvassing, managing social media, and phone banking to build momentum for a potential win in November.
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Tickets for Bread and Roses are selling out fast!
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Be sure not to miss out on the largest progressive celebration in the Central Coast and purchase your tickets to Bread and Roses today!
To ensure that cost is not prohibitive to anyone wanting to attend,
sliding scale tickets are available for purchase.
For questions, email [email protected]
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