Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Michael P. Callagy, County Executive
Subject: Use of District-Discretionary Measure K Funds - Supervisorial District 4
RECOMMENDATION:
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Measure K: Adopt a resolution authorizing a one-time grant of district-discretionary Measure K funds, not to exceed $23,000, to East Palo Alto Community Archive for the Youth Culture Keepers Summer Program, and authorizing the County Executive, or designee, to execute the grant agreement.
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BACKGROUND:
Measure K is the half-cent general sales tax initially approved by San Mateo County voters in November 2012 and extended in November 2016 for a total of thirty years.
The Board of Supervisors (Board) held study sessions on Measure K expenditures and approved funds for the fiscal year (FY) 2024-25 budget cycle, divided equally among the five supervisorial districts, for one-time district-discretionary needs and projects. District 4 has submitted a request to use their district-discretionary Measure K funds as shown below and described in the Project Summary section of this memorandum:
|
District/Project |
Amount |
|
District 4 (Supervisor Lisa Gauthier) - East Palo Alto Community Archive for their Youth Culture Keepers Summer Program, which will provide leadership pathways for youth by immersing them in community heritage work. |
$23,000 |
This item is consistent with the criteria for district-discretionary Measure K funds approved by the Board in December 2018. District 4 indicates that this organization is either a public agency operating within the County, or a nonprofit organization registered and in good standing with the California Attorney General. District 4 indicates that the sponsoring Board member, member’s family, and member’s supervisorial staff do not serve as an officer, director, or play a policy role for the grantee organization.
PROJECT SUMMARY:
This is a request to authorize a grant to the East Palo Alto Community Archive (EPACA) in an amount not to exceed $23,000 to support the Culture Keepers youth leadership program. Through this grant, the County will support a program that not only strengthens intergenerational connections but also empowers East Palo Alto youth with professional skills, civic engagement opportunities, and a deeper connection to their cultural identity. The County Executive’s Office will manage and administer the resulting agreement.
Founded to ensure that East Palo Alto residents have ownership over their histories, the East Palo Alto Community Archive documents and celebrates the City of East Palo Alto’s rich and diverse heritage. The Culture Keepers program provides young people with leadership training through oral history work, equipping them with archiving, interviewing, and digital media skills while strengthening their self-confidence, communication abilities, and cultural identity.
In summer 2025 (June 5-August 8), the program will engage five youth interns-current residents of East Palo Alto-through a structured internship. Interns will complete orientation, receive training, and conduct three oral history interviews, collecting both stories and community artifacts. Their work will culminate in a public showcase expected to draw over 100 attendees. Grant funding will provide each youth intern with a $4,600 stipend, totaling $23,000.
By engaging families and elders in the storytelling process, Culture Keepers strengthens intergenerational connections and fosters a greater sense of pride and identity within the community. Participants not only build transferable academic and professional skills but also help to correct historical exclusions by preserving the lived experiences of underrepresented East Palo Alto residents. By awarding this grant, the County will support EPACA’s mission to preserve East Palo Alto’s cultural heritage and empower young people to become civic-minded leaders.
This district-discretionary grant will enable the organization to meet the following currently unmet need or service gap within the County: the preservation and amplification of East Palo Alto’s cultural heritage through youth-led oral history work. While East Palo Alto has a rich and diverse history, many of its stories remain undocumented and underrepresented in traditional archives. The East Palo Alto Community Archive’s Culture Keepers program addresses this gap by equipping local youth with archiving, interviewing, and digital media skills to collect and preserve community histories.
Total Measure K Request: Not to Exceed $23,000
The release of funds will be contingent on the execution of an agreement providing for the County’s confirmation of the expenditure of funds for the purposes stated herein. The County will disburse the funds to the following organization for the purposes described above:
Sharifa Wilson
Grant Administrator
East Palo Alto Community Archive
321 Bell Street
East Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 269-9247
manager@epacommunityarchive.org <mailto:manager@epacommunityarchive.org>
PERFORMANCE MEASURES:
|
Description |
Target |
|
Number of youth enrolled in the Culture Keepers program |
5 youth participants |
|
Completion rate of oral history training and interviews |
100% of enrolled youth complete required interviews |
|
Number of oral history recordings collected and archived |
At least 5 new oral histories added to the archive |
|
Number of public presentations or events participated in |
1+ public showcase event with all 5 youth presenting |
The County Attorney’s Office has reviewed and approved the agreement and resolution as to form.
COMMUNITY IMPACT:
The Culture Keepers program supports youth from East Palo Alto-primarily from Black, Latinx, and Pacific Islander communities-by providing paid internship opportunities that center cultural heritage, storytelling, and leadership development. Many participants attend local public schools and come from families underrepresented in mainstream historical narratives. This initiative aligns with the County’s commitment to community investment by expanding access to creative and economic opportunities for youth. By uplifting diverse cultural voices and fostering youth leadership, Culture Keepers contributes to a more connected, empowered, and resilient San Mateo County.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There are sufficient Measure K funds for this specific FY 2024-25 Measure K request. These funds are budgeted in the Non-Departmental Services FY 2024-25 Adopted Budget.