 Dear Community Partner,
When I became District 2’s County Supervisor three years ago on April 4, 2023, I immediately understood that protecting St. Rose Hospital – Southern Alameda County’s only healthcare safety-net provider for 400,000 patients – would be and still is my number one assignment.
 Photo caption: Thank you to every District 2 resident who has joined me along the way in fighting for St. Rose Hospital’s life-saving services such as its emergency room where you can be seen in 30 minutes or less. Saving St. Rose would not be possible without your partnership or advocacy! Photo Credit: Ray Casarez
Three years later, my office has dedicated a total of $2.3 million towards this vital institution, organized a broad coalition of local and state leaders to support St. Rose’s historic affiliation with Alameda Health System, and just this month, we welcomed Stanford Health Care as our newest partner dedicated to quality healthcare access for our region!
 Photo caption: Click here to learn more about Stanford Health Care’s new partnership with St. Rose Hospital, an affiliate of Alameda Health System. Together, we are helping to ensure quality health care is a human right in Alameda County. Photo Credit: Alameda Health System.
As we strengthen services at St. Rose Hospital, we are also helping to sustain the County’s overall safety-net of care which faces historic federal and state funding cuts and harmful policy changes that impact our region.
Ending Youth Homelessness
 Photo caption: On April 11th, I joined Covenant House California (CHC) for the opening of a new shelter program for young people experiencing homelessness in Alameda County. Located on the former Shepherd Elementary School campus (where I grew up playing as a lifelong resident of South Hayward!) in partnership with the Hayward Unified School District, the site marks CHC’s third Bay Area location and a major expansion of services in the East Bay.
One of our most sacred duties as a Community is to ensure every young person has an opportunity to grow, thrive, and give back to the next generation.
I am honored to have awarded Covenant House with a $150,000 District 2 grant to build southern Alameda County’s first shelter program designed specifically for at-risk transitional age youth who are too often overlooked and underserved.
This is a critical time in a young person’s development when they need to know and feel that they are safe and they belong. Covenant House’s holistic model of care and partnerships does just that, making everyone’s future brighter.
You can read more about this program in this Tri-City Voice article.
Promoting Safety for All
April is Autism Awareness Month - I want to applaud City of Newark Police Department for their recent adoption of Code Joshua, a program designed to improve law enforcement response and communication with individuals diagnosed with autism and other developmental disabilities.
 Photo caption: Community partnerships are essential to effective public safety systems.
Last Friday, my staff and I joined the Newark Police Department and other city officials in participating in this life-saving training conducted by the non-profit foundation, Joshua’s Gift. Joshua’s Gift is based out of Fremont and has trained an estimated 4,000 public safety professionals across the region to enhance safety, understanding, and support more informed decision-making for both the community and first responders.
 Photo caption: Visit https://www.joshuasgift.org to learn more about the Code Joshua program, including how to register your loved one, and other family resource support.
Since 2023, my office has supported the work of Joshua’s Gift to promote a more inclusive Alameda County, including investing in their family support services and first responder training to recognize the unique needs of District 2’s intellectual and developmental disability community.
When we invest in programs like Code Joshua, we do more than save lives; we promote a healthier future for all.
 As always, visit my social media for updates as well as real-time community resources; the District 2 office team is also available to provide additional support! It is always an honor to serve and support for you and your loved ones.
In Service & Solidarity,
 Elisa Márquez
Supervisor, Second District
Alameda County
The Alameda County Arts Commission invites County residents to submit nominations for the 2026 Alameda County Arts Leadership Awards. Nominations are due on Friday, May 15 and must be submitted online.
This annual program enables the Alameda County Arts Commission to recognize five individuals, one from each of the five districts of the Alameda County Board of Supervisors, for their outstanding achievements and contributions impacting the arts community and the residents of Alameda County.
Nominees must be residents of Alameda County and involved in an arts discipline including, but not limited to, music, dance, visual arts, literature, theater, film and video, traditional craft and folk art, or new media. Nominees must be affiliated with an Alameda County arts organization through their role as an artist, staff person, board member, teacher, volunteer, donor, supporter, advocate, etc.
Alameda County community members may each submit one nomination. Nomination statements must include a description of the nominee’s major achievements in the arts that have benefited the community and residents of Alameda County; the impact and results of the achievements; and other background information about the nominee’s contributions to the arts community such as what distinguishes the nominee from their peers and colleagues.
It is anticipated that the members of the Alameda County Arts Commission will review the nominations in June and the award recipients will be recognized by the Alameda County Board of Supervisors in early October as part of the County’s celebration of National Arts and Humanities Month.
For more information, please contact the Office of the Alameda County Arts Commission at (510) 208-9646, artscommission@acgov.org or arts.alamedacountyca.gov.
 Alameda County Health (AC Health) has launched a new, unified, and user-centric website, creating a centralized digital home for all departments, services, and resources at health.alamedacountyca.gov.
Key features include a search function, improved navigation, and mobile-friendly design that creates a more seamless and welcoming digital experience across devices. The redesigned site makes it easier to find health services, information, and vital agency resources. It will be ADA-compliant to ensure content is accessible and easy to understand across communities. For support in another language, website visitors can select their preferred language in the top right corner.
“For many Alameda County residents and partners, our website is their first introduction to us, and it’s imperative that we prioritize ease of navigation and accessibility,” said Aneeka Chaudhry, Director of Alameda County Health (AC Health). “This isn’t just a website redesign—it’s a living platform that showcases all that we offer and will evolve with the needs of the people we serve.”
The new website brings together more than a dozen sites that were previously unconnected to each other. Site visitors may now navigate information for the Public Health Department, Behavioral Health Department, Environmental Health Department, Housing & Homelessness Services, and other AC Health programs under one umbrella. A “Find Services” tab helps visitors locate information across the agency.
The website launch marks the culmination of a major rebranding effort at Alameda County Health that began after the COVID-19 pandemic. Formerly known as the Alameda County Health Care Services Agency, the multi-department organization was rebranded as Alameda County Health. This updated brand reflects a more connected, accessible approach to serving the community.
This transformation was guided by lessons learned during the pandemic and strengthened by feedback from residents, community partners, and County staff. Most notably, the public expressed a need to find information and services quickly and on modernized platforms. These insights informed a more connected, accessible, and aligned digital experience that reflects evolving community needs.
Learn more about Alameda County Health at Health.AlamedaCountyCA.gov.
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 Every child needs someone in their corner, but for a young person facing the complex foster care system, that one trusted adult can be hard to find. As a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA), you can make all the difference in the world to an Alameda County youth. With training and support from ACCASA, and a commitment of a few hours each week, you can help advocate for a child in legal proceedings, family visitations, and educational, medical, and mental health needs. Advocates collaborate with child welfare and legal professionals to ensure each child’s story is heard and their needs are addressed. Your mentorship expands their world through enriching experiences and activities, showing a child the life skills that lead to educational opportunities, positive relationships, and purposeful lifestyles. ACCASA volunteers often forge bonds that last into adulthood, a powerful measure of one person’s ability to affect real change.
See CASA team members talking about how CASA supports foster youth in an interview with Dave Clark on KTVU Channel 2’s Talk of the Town.
Learn More about Volunteering at CASA at their upcoming virtual sessions:
Come celebrate Cinco de Mayo at the 41st Annual Festival and Car Show presented by La Alianza de Hayward.
- Date: Saturday, May 2
- Time: 10am - 5pm
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Location: B St. and Main St in Downtown Hayward.
Enjoy a day packed full of performances and activities such as live music, mariachi, Aztec dancers, Ballet Folklorico, arts and crafts, food, and other vendors.
Stop by our booth to say hello and come learn about County resources.
Visit La Alianza De Hayward for more information.
 Stop by the Fremont Nature Learning Center for nature and environmental-focused activities, books, exploration of their classroom and garden, and more!
- Date: Sunday, May 3
- Time: 10am - 12pm
- Location: Nature Learning Center (40224 Paseo Padre Parkway, Fremont)
All ages are welcome. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times while visiting the Nature Learning Center during public hours.
The Nature Learning Center is located in Central Park. Free parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Enter the Aqua Adventure Waterpark parking lot, continue to the end, and park near the 6 palm trees.
This is a Drop-In Program. No registration is required to attend.
For more information, click here.
 In honor of Asian-Americans, Native Hawaiians & Pacific Islanders (AANHPI) Heritage Month, submit your art of all mediums (photography, mixed media, paintings/drawings, ceramics/sculptures, installation art, cultural fashion/fabrics, poems/ performance art, etc.) celebrating these cultures and contributions!
- Art Submissions Due: Friday, May 8
- Showcase Event Date: Saturday, May 23
- Showcase Event Time: 12pm - 4pm
- Showcase Event Location: Studio 11 Gallery (34626 11th Street, Union City)
Artwork will be on display from Saturday, May 23 - Wednesday, July 8.
For more information, contact Erin Ewing at erine@unioncityca.gov or 510-675-5445.
 Enjoy a relaxing afternoon making art at the Community Art Meetup.
- Date: Saturday, May 23
- Time: 1pm - 4pm
- Location: Newark Library (37055 Newark Blvd., Newark)
This is a casual, community art gathering hosted at the Newark Library’s Curiosity Shop. This is not a class or workshop and there is no formal instruction. It is a shared creative space where adults can come together, work on their own art, and enjoy the experience of creating alongside one another.
Artists of all skill levels are welcome, from beginners to experienced creators. Participants are encouraged to bring their own art supplies and work on any personal project they choose, whether that’s painting, sketching, or another quiet visual art practice. The goal of the Art Meetup is to build community and reduce the isolation that often comes with creating art alone.
This event is designed for adults 18 or older seeking rest and relaxation. Children will not be admitted to this adults-only meetup.
No registration is required for this event. Space will be used on a first-come basis.
For more information, click here.
 District 2 appointments are available to those who live or work in Hayward (incorporated), Union City, Newark, and portions of Fremont (Ardenwood, Bayside, Canyon Heights/Vallejo Mills/Niles Crest, East Industrial, Lakes & Birds, Northgate, and Warm Springs).
Not sure if you’re in District 2? Find your district by clicking here
For further information, contact District Director Rodney Loche, rodney.loche2@acgov.org and/or (510) 813-1856. Please send a resume and request an application.
Learn more about County Boards and Commissions at https://www.acgov.org/bnc/#/board.
District 2 is actively seeking applicants for the following bodies:
1. Measure X Bond Oversight Committee
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Objective: The purpose of the Measure X Bond Oversight Committee shall be to review annually the expenditure of the proceeds of the Measure X bonds for the prior year and to report to the Board whether such proceeds were spent in accordance with the purposes set forth in Measure X. The Committee's role is not to act as a loan committee or program evaluator, to become involved in the contractor selection process, or to make recommendations regarding future expenditures, other than identifying any nonconforming expenditures for the purpose of avoiding future nonconforming expenditures.
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Term: 4 years
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Meetings: The Measure X Bond Oversight Committee shall meet at least once a year and no more than four times a year
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Location: TBD
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Qualifications:
- Experience with civic organizations, community organizations, labor organizations, emergency services, infrastructure, finance, audit, accounting, public finance, public entities, or good governance.
- Members shall be a resident of Alameda County and reside in District 2.
- 1 slot open and available
- Applications found here: Alameda County Boards and Commissions
2. Arts Commission
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Objective: Commission's purpose is to provide leadership in encouraging and supporting artistic endeavors in Alameda County. Mission Statement: The Alameda County Arts Commission is dedicated to improving the quality of life in Alameda County by nurturing a thriving environment for the arts and for cultural activities; promoting economic opportunities for Alameda County's artists and arts organizations through programs such as arts grants, public art, and art in education programs; encouraging public participation in the arts and actively advocating for the arts.
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Term: 4 years
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Meetings: 2nd Wednesday of each month at 4pm
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Location: 1106 Madison St, Suite 336 Oakland, CA 94607
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Qualifications:
3. Behavioral Health Advisory Board
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Objective: Review and evaluate the community's public mental health needs, services, facilities, and special problems in any facility within the county where mental health evaluations or services are provided, including but not limited to, schools, emergency departments and psychiatric facilities. Advise the Board of Supervisors and the Alameda County Behavioral Health Care Services Director as to any aspect of the local mental health program. The Board may request assistance from the local patients' rights advocates when reviewing and advising on mental health evaluations or services provided in public facilities with limited access.
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Term: 3 years
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Meetings: 3rd Monday of each month at 3pm
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Location: 2000 Embarcadero Cove, Suite 400 Oakland, CA 94606
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Qualifications:
- Experience with and knowledge of the mental health system. This may include members of the community that engage with individuals living with mental illness in the course of daily operations, such as representatives of county offices of education, large and small businesses, hospitals, hospital districts, physicians practicing in emergency departments, city police chiefs, county sheriffs, and community and nonprofit service providers.
- Members shall be a resident of Alameda County and reside in District 2.
- 1 slot open and available
- Applications found here: AlamedaCTC_IWC_Application_202506.pdf
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211 Alameda County: 211alamedacounty.org
Alameda County Housing Portal: Affordable Housing Rentals
Alameda County Housing Secure: Tenant and Landlord Housing Resources
Alameda County Social Services Agency (SSA): Medi-Cal Enrollment
Alameda County Employment Openings: www.acgov.org/careers.htm
Board of Supervisors Meetings: Information on how to participate in public comment is available on the LIVE Broadcasts page on the Board of Supervisors' website.
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