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As we start 2022, preparation of the National Heritage Area (NHA) Management Plan is kicking into high gear. The Management Plan will guide the work of the Commission and its partners for the next ten to 15 years. The NHA Advisory Committee and the four task groups will be meeting over the next few months to develop the NHA’s mission, vision, goals and strategies, interpretive plan, business plan, and implementation program. We encourage you to be involved in the Management Plan process by participating in NHA Advisory Committee and Commission meetings and supporting your organization’s role as a partner in the NHA’s work.
Since the number of heritage events are still below pre-pandemic levels, we have temporarily become a bimonthly newsletter. Please contact Blake Roberts at blake.roberts@delta.ca.gov if there are events or updates you want to pass along to our mailing list.
The Delta Loses Two Legendary Artists
In just the span of three days last month, two of the most celebrated artists of the Delta passed away. 2021 was a year that also saw the passing of noted Delta artist Gregory Kondos.
Famed writer Joan Didion died in New York City on December 23. Although she lived most of her life across the country, she often reflected on her upbringing in Sacramento, the surrounding region, and the state. Her first novel, Run River, took place on a Delta farm, a place where she could explore shifting perspectives on life in California. In writing about Run River, Professor Philip Round declares that “Berkeley educated and drawn to cosmopolitan life in New York, Didion yet found her literary voice in the Sacramento River delta and its people.” She continued to delve into the issues raised by Run River, eventually becoming what Governor Newsom referred to as “easily the best living writer in California.”
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Renowned artist Wayne Thiebaud died in Sacramento on Christmas Day. Kristi Lin wrote a profile of Thiebaud in the Fall 2016 Delta Voice to mark the opening of the new Shrem Museum of Art at UC Davis, which is the primary home of his works. The profile praised his ability to convey the wonder of the Delta landscape:
Thiebaud began a series of Delta paintings in the 1990s. Exploring the fields and levees, the colors and seasons, he uses his gift to show the world how beautiful the Delta is. The unusual vantage points, playful colors, and toy-like scale that he used in his Delta series have helped viewers experience the Delta in a brand new way. Talking about his painting River Intersection, Thiebaud says, “For me, painting has a lot to do with the exercise of empathy, where you have to believe that you’re walking the path or under the trees, that you are somehow able to transfer yourself into that picture.” Thiebaud’s Delta paintings are invaluable treasures, as they offer viewers who may never set foot into the Delta a chance to step in and discover its beauty.
While we celebrate their work, we send our deep condolences to the extended Didion and Thiebaud families.
NHA Advisory Committee Meeting Scheduled for February 3, 2022
The National Heritage Advisory Management Plan Advisory Committee (NHA Advisory Committee) will have their seventh meeting on Thursday, February 3, 2022 to discuss development of the NHA Management Plan. The agenda and information on participating in the meeting will be available on the Commission's National Heritage Area webpage by late January. The meeting is scheduled from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM.
Seeking Responses to Survey on Heritage Education
The National Heritage Area Management Plan team wants to learn more about the types of education and information your organizations provide to the public. Please take a few minutes to complete the survey using the links below. The survey results will help us understand the breadth of educational opportunities available in the Delta NHA.
We would like all organizations and groups to fill out the following survey first: Baseline Survey
If your organization represents a specific location or site, please also complete this survey: Site-Specific Survey
Thank you in advance for participating!
Exhibitions, Events, and Updates
February is African American History Month
Book Signing of “Hispanics and Latinos in Vallejo” – January 15
Join the community at the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum on Saturday, January 15 from 1:00 to 3:00 PM for the release of the book, “Hispanics and Latinos in Vallejo.” Author Marisela Barbosa-Cortez will be signing copies at the event.
Monthly Speaker Series Discusses Locke – January 17
The Elk Grove Historical Society will feature Douglas Hsia speaking on Chinese culture and its history in Locke. The free event will take place on Monday, January 17 at 6:30 PM at the Elk Grove Presbyterian Church, 8153 Elk Grove Boulevard, Suite 50.
Delta History Lectures – February 15 and 24 and March 1
Los Medanos College Lifelong Learning Center is offering three lectures on Delta history. Robert Benedetti will give an overview of Delta history on February 24 and Carol Jensen will provide a history of East Contra Costa County in two parts on February 15 and March 1. For more information, see the Los Medanos College course flyer.
Call for Nominees for 2022 John Muir Conservation Awards!
Since 1978, the John Muir Association has honored individuals, businesses, organizations, and government agencies that continue Muir's vision for environmental conservation. Nomination forms can be found on the John Muir Association website (webpage is correct despite wrong dates). Submissions must be received by February 1, 2022.
Registration Now Open for Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS) Golf Tournament
You can now register for a golf tournament that benefits the FANHS Stockton Chapter and FANHS Museum programs and activities. The tournament will take place on Saturday, June 4 at the Elkhorn Golf Club in Stockton. More information is available on the FANHS Stockton website.
Funding Opportunities
Have a vision? Check out these funding opportunities!
Creating special places in our towns and cities can be a difficult and daunting task. Grants are an excellent resource and we have done some of the legwork for you! See below for available opportunities.
FEDERAL GRANTS
National Park Service State, Tribal, and Local Grants
Visit the State, Tribal, Local, Plans & Grants Division website for grant programs that are now accepting applications.
STATE GRANTS
Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy Community and Economic Enhancement (Proposition 68) Grants
The Community and Economic Enhancement Grant Program funds projects that benefit Delta communities to sustain the Delta’s heritage and enhance the unique values of the Delta today. Program priorities include recreation and tourism, historic and cultural preservation, and environmental education. Additionally, the program focuses on increasing public access to recreational opportunities to promote a robust Delta economy. For more information, visit the Delta Conservancy’s Proposition 68 Grant webpage.
NATIONAL TRUST COMMUNITY INVESTMENT CORPORATION
Irvin Henderson Main Street Revitalization Fund
The National Trust Community Investment Corporation, a subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, provides up to $2 million in tax credit financing for transformational historic rehabilitation projects in low-income Main Street communities. For more details, visit the National Trust Community Investment Corporation website.
New Markets Tax Credits
The National Trust Community Investment Corporation uses tax credit allocations to finance historic rehabilitation projects located in severely distressed low-income communities that provide significant community impact and are consistent with their preservation-based community development mission. For more details, visit the National Trust Community Investment Corporation website.
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