Remembering James Motlow
 We are saddened to announce that our friend James Motlow passed away on August 8. James was most well-known as a long-time photographer, resident, advocate, and historian of the historic town of Locke. He contributed his photographs for Bitter Melon: Inside America’s Last Rural Chinese Town, a definitive history of Locke written with Jeff Gillenkirk, and showed his work in places such as Sacramento City College, the Crocker Museum, the Oakland Museum, and a traveling exhibit organized by the Chinese Cultural Center of San Francisco.
James was a member of the Delta NHA Management Plan Advisory Committee and the Heritage Development & Tourism and Interpretive Planning Task Groups. He was a tremendous contributor during our meetings and helped shape our work on the NHA Management Plan. In addition, he was involved with the Locke Management Association and Delta Legacy Communities, Inc.
People can contribute to the James Motlow Scholarship Fund through the Locke Foundation, PO Box 1085, Walnut Grove 95690.
Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta National Heritage Area (Delta NHA) Management Plan Updates
The Delta NHA Management Plan will guide the work of the Commission and its partners for the next 10 to 15 years. Over the last year, the NHA Management Plan Advisory Committee and the four task groups have met to develop the Delta NHA’s mission, vision, objectives, strategies, and actions, resource inventory, and interpretive plan. Pieces of the plan are starting to come together. 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.
Learn more about the Delta NHA Management Plan.
Join the upcoming Delta NHA Advisory Committee Meetings - September 1 and October 6
The next Delta NHA Advisory Committee meeting will be held on Thursday, September 1 from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM via Zoom. The next meeting will be tentatively held on Thursday, October 6. Visit the Delta NHA webpage for more information.
Save the date for the 2022 Delta Heritage Forum - November 3
The Delta Heritage Forum is a free, full-day event focused on efforts to preserve and tell Delta stories, opportunities for partnerships and collaboration, and networking. The 2022 Forum will be held in person on Thursday, November 3 in Walnut Grove. More details will be released closer to the event date.
We are looking for informal 5 to 10-minute “lightning talks” or longer sessions on topics that would be of interest to Forum attendees. Please contact Blake Roberts at blake.roberts@delta.ca.gov with a short proposal for your lightning talk or session.
Celebrate Heritage in the Delta
September 15 to October 15 is National Hispanic Heritage Month
National Hispanic American Heritage Month traditionally honors the cultures and contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans as we celebrate heritage rooted in Latin American countries. Here are some ways to celebrate:
September 23 is California Native American Day
Save the date for September 23 for the California Native American Day celebration at the State Capitol in Sacramento. The event will take place at the west steps of the Capitol building from 10 AM to 2 PM. It is open to the public to attend and participate.
October is Filipino American History Month
Celebrate Filipino American History Month in October by checking out one of the following events and organizations:
October is LGBTQ+ History Month
LGBTQ+ History Month is an annual month-long observance of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender history, and the history of the gay rights and related civil rights movements. Celebrate by joining the 11th Annual Stockton Pride event on September 25 or learning about LGBTQ+ icons throughout the month.
Exhibitions, Events, and Updates
Los Medanos College Lectures on Delta History - Multiple Dates
Interested in learning more about the Delta? Los Medanos College's Lifelong Learning Center is hosting a series of lectures on the history of the Delta. The lectures are being taught by Carol Jensen, local historian and Delta NHA Advisory Committee member. The upcoming lecture topics and dates are as follows:
- September 20, 2022: Brentwood - Your New Home
- October 18, 2022: John Marsh, Contra Costa's First Resident
- November 15, 2022: Maritime Contra Costa County
- December 13, 2022: Oakley Through Time
- January 17, 2023: Local History as Experienced through Real Photo Postcards
- February 21, 2023: The New Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Heritage Area
- March 21, 2023: Bethel Island and the Far East Islands
- April 18, 2023: Immigrant Pioneer Contributions
- May 16, 2023: Ghost Stories from the San Joaquin Delta
You do not need to be enrolled at Los Medanos College to attend. The lectures fill quickly so be sure to register in advance on Los Menados College website.
Harry Fonseca Exhibit at the Arthur F. Turner Community Library -
September 1 through October 31
Harry Fonseca was a Sacramento artist of Nisenan-Maidu-Portuguese-Hawaiian descent. You can see his work through October 31 at a special exhibit being hosted at the Arthur F. Turner Community Library in West Sacramento. See the event page on the News from Native California website for more information.
Annual Labor Day Stockton Community Pow Wow - September 3
Join the University of Pacific El Centro and Stockton Pow Wow Committee for the Annual Stockton Labor Day Pow Wow event at the University of the Pacific. Everyone is welcome to experience this campus and community gathering where Indigenous peoples of the West share their songs, dances, drums, arts, crafts, foods, and more.
Annual Community BBQ for the East Contra Costa Historical Society - September 11
Enjoy an afternoon with friends and family at the East Contra Costa Historical Museum in Brentwood. This event includes a docent-led tour through the House & Homer's Shed and lessons in Eden Plain Schoolhouse. Virtual and in-person options are available for participants. Visit the East Contra Costa Historical Society's website for more information.
A History of Benicia's Mighty Fortress, Benicia Historical Museum - September 17
The Benicia Historical Museum presents another great program in the History Talks series. Join author and researcher Allan Gandy as he presents on his latest published work on the Benicia Arsenal Clock Tower building.
California Native American Day - September 23
Heart of Oakley Festival - September 24
Celebrate the 10th Heart of Oakley Festival in this open-air market that brings local makers, families, and community members together.
Sacramento Archives Crawl - October 1
Sacramento Archives Crawl is an Archives Month event held every October. Crawlers tour among four host archives in Sacramento, gathering stamps in their passports as they view treasures from dozens of archives and special collections libraries, visit with archivists, and go on special behind-the-scenes tours.
Rio Vista Bass Derby - October 7 to 9
The 74th Annual Rio Vista Bass Derby & Festival is here! Participate in the bass derby, festival, or parade.
Downtown Brentwood Coalition's Annual Oktoberfest - October 8
Grab your lederhosen & dirndls and join the Brentwood community in the Oktoberfest Festival!
Strong Roots: Celebrating Clarksburg's Multi-Cultural Heritage - October 16
This benefit for the 1883 Clarksburg Schoolhouse will honor the cultures that have made Clarksburg the place we know and love today. Come celebrate Clarksburg history from the Plains Miwok people to those that came from Europe, Japan, and Mexico. You will taste the cultural foods and, of course, Delta wines. Don't miss it! For more details and to purchase tickets, visit the Strong Roots Eventbrite page.
Golden Harvest Parade & Festival – October 29
The Locke Foundation is one of the sponsors of the Golden Harvest Parade & Festival, an event focused on bringing together ethnic groups and minorities in the greater Sacramento area, held on Saturday, October 29. Both the parade and festival will start at 10 AM. The festival includes cultural performances, a farmer’s market, vendors, food trucks and a children’s activity center. There will be an art contest for elementary to high school students and seniors over age 55 years. For more information, see the Golden Harvest Parade & Festival website.
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.
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, History of Equal Rights
The goal of the History of Equal Rights grant program is to preserve and protect sites associated with efforts to achieve equal rights. The site must be listed in or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places or designated a National Historic Landmark. Grants of up to $750,000 will be awarded. Applications are due on September 13. For more information, visit the National Park Service website.
National Parks Service, National Maritime Heritage Grants Program
The National Maritime Heritage Grants Program provides funding for education and preservation projects designed to preserve historic maritime resources and to increase public awareness and appreciation for the maritime heritage of the United States. Activities like acquisition, planning, and documentation are considered preservation projects. Grants are awarded between $50,000 to $750,000. Applications are due on September 20. For more information, visit the National Maritime Heritage website.
Library of Congress, Widening the Path: Connecting Communities Digital Initiative - Libraries, Archives and Museums
This program provides financial support to enable libraries, archives, and museums to use the Library of Congress digital materials to create projects that center on the lives, experiences, and perspectives of Black, Indigenous, Hispanic or Latino, Asian American and Pacific Islander, and other communities of color in the U.S. Grants are awarded up to $50,000. Applications are due on September 30. For more information, visit grants.gov.
National Trust for Historic Preservation, National Trust Preservation Funds
Grants from National Trust Preservation Funds are intended to encourage preservation at the local level by supporting ongoing preservation work and providing seed money for preservation projects. Grants can cover planning activities as well as education and outreach. Applications are due on October 3. For more information, visit the National Trust for Historic Preservation website.
National Archives, Publishing Historical Records in Collaborative Digital Editions
This program supports projects that publish online editions of historical records. All types of historical records are eligible, including documents, photographs, born-digital records, and analog audio. Projects that center the voices and document the history of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color are especially welcome. Grants are awarded up to $160,000 for one year. Applications are due on October 6. For more information, visit the National Archives website.
National Archives, Public Engagement with Historical Records
This program supports projects that encourage public engagement with historical records including the development of new tools that enable people to engage online. Example projects could include enlisting volunteer ‘citizen archivists,’ accelerating access to historic records, developing education or creative programs, or other projects. Grants of $50,000 to $150,000 will be awarded. Applications are due on October 6. For more information, visit the National Archives website.
State Grants
California Humanities, Humanities for All
Humanities for All is a grant program that supports locally-initiated public humanities projects. The Projects Grants program awards between $10,000 to $25,000 twice a year to large scale humanities projects of up to two-years duration from the award dates. Projects may include, but are not limited to, interpretive exhibits, community dialogues, discussion series, workshops, presentations and lectures, conversations and forums, and interactive and experiential activities. Applications are due October 17. For more information, visit the California Humanities website.
California Humanities, California Documentary Project Research and Production Grants
The California Documentary Project (CDP) is a competitive grant program that supports the research and development and production stages of film, audio, and digital media projects that seek to document California in all its complexity. Funding is available in three categories: Research and Development Grants up to $10,000, Production Grants up to $50,000, and CDP NextGen Grants up to $15,000. CDP Production and Research and Development grant applications are due November 1. For more information, visit the California Humanities website.
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