National Heritage Area (NHA) Management Plan Updates
The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta NHA (Delta NHA) Management Plan will guide the work of the Commission and its partners for the next 10 to 15 years. Over the last two years, 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 the NHA Advisory Committee and Commission meetings, as well as supporting your organization’s role as a partner in the NHA’s work.
Learn more about the Delta NHA Management Plan.
Join the March 2 Delta NHA Advisory Committee Meeting
The next Delta NHA Advisory Committee meeting will be held on Thursday, March 2 from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM via Zoom. Visit the Delta NHA webpage for more information.
Alliance of National Heritage Areas Holds Annual Meeting
Commission staff attended the Annual Meeting of the Alliance of National Heritage Areas in Washington, DC in early February. One of the highlights of the meeting was a celebration of the historic signing of the National Heritage Area Act in January, which establishes a NHA System and formalizes the role of NHAs within the National Park Service. At the celebration, National Park Service Director Chuck Sams unveiled a new logo that the Delta NHA and other NHAs will be able to use as members of the NHA System.
Celebrating Delta Heritage
Photo from the Locke Lunar New Festival held on February 11, 2023 courtesy of Douglas Hsia, Locke Foundation and NHA Advisory Committee member
Locke Holds Annual Lunar New Year Festival
The Locke Foundation held its annual Lunar New Years Festival on February 11. If you missed the fun, you see a recap by local videographer Gene Beley on his YouTube page.
City of Brentwood Turns 75
This year the City of Brentwood celebrates its 75th year since it became an incorporated city in California. A year of celebration began with the 75th Community Birthday Party held on January 21. Additional activities will be held all year including a mobile scavenger hunt on March 6. The City also invites you to share your memories and photos of the City’s past, from its founding in 1948 to now. The photos will be featured in a 75th Anniversary Photo Mosaic. Learn more on the City of Brentwood's website.
Antioch Historical Society Celebrates Thomas Gaines Day
On February 11, the Antioch Historical Society held its annual Thomas Gaines Day celebration. Thomas Gaines was Antioch’s earliest documented African American / Black settler. Learn more about Thomas Gaines in this video produced by the Antioch Historical Society.
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.
Image from the We Are Not Strangers Here: African American Histories in Rural California exhibit at the San Joaquin County Historical Museum
Exhibitions, Events, and Updates
Sacramento County History Day - March 4
National History Day is a competition that engages more than half a million students nationally. As part of National History Day, Sacramento County History Day is a competition open to any student in Sacramento County who has created a History Day Project. The competition will be held on March 4. Find out more on the Sacramento County History Day website.
Sacramento Free Museum Weekend - March 4 and 5
2023 marks the 25th consecutive year that Sacramento Area Museums have collaborated to present a free museum experience. Check out one these museums in the Delta or celebrating the Delta's history and heritage:
Benicia Arsenal: A Cautionary Tale - March 12
1000 Friends Protecting Historic Benicia invites you to a community forum about the Benicia Arsenal. The event will include a panel highlighting the 162-year life of the Arsenal. After the panel, there will be docent-led tours of the Clocktower Fortress, the adjacent Officers’ Row and historic homes on Jefferson Street. Get the details on the 1000 Friends Protecting Historic Benicia's website.
Delta Through a Lens: Photography Exhibit - March 17 to April 2
Participate in Big Break Regional Shoreline's annual photography exhibition! The Delta Through a Lens Exhibition invites you to share your unique perspective of the Delta and the East Bay Regional Parks. Photo submissions will be accepted until March 10, while space is available. Artwork will be on display from March 17 to April 2 in the Big Break Visitor Center. View the East Bay Regional Parks District website for more information.
Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Night with the Stockton Kings - March 18
Join the Stockton Kings as they celebrate their second annual AAPI Heritage night in partnership with the Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS) Stockton Chapter. For each ticket purchased through the special link from FANHS, $5 will be donated to the FANHS Stockton Chapter. There will also be pre-game and half-time entertainment from local AAPI groups. View the event link to learn more.
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:
- 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 Medanos College website.
Locke Foundation Scholarship - Deadline April 7
The Locke Foundation is a non-profit organization established in 2003 to preserve the historic legacy of the town of Locke and to educate the public. The Lock Foundation Scholarship is intended to generate interest in promoting the history of Locke. High school seniors who attend Delta High School and Rio Vista High School are eligible to apply. Applications must be received by 5:00 PM on April 7. Get more details on the Locke Foundation's website.
San Joaquin Asparagus Festival - April 14 - 16
The annual San Joaquin Asparagus Festival is back at the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds. Enjoy asparagus related dishes, family activities, live music, cooking demonstrations, and the Miss San Joaquin Asparagus Festival Scholarship Pageant. Find out more on the San Joaquin Asparagus Festival website.
Sacramento National Park City Festival - April 15 - May 14
Sacramento National Park City is an initiative to designate the City of Sacramento as a National Park City. A National Park City is a place, a vision and a city-wide community that is acting together to make life better for people, places and nature. Sacramento National Park City is planning a month-long celebration to explore the region's nature, public art, and history. April 15 to May 14 will be filled with over a hundred events like hikes, bike rides, tours, garden days, mural paintings, trail building, and much more! Find out more on the Sacramento National Park City website.
Metaphor, Myth, & Politics: Art from Native Printmakers - Ongoing until March 19
The "Metaphor, Myth, & Politics: Art from Native Printmakers" exhibit at the California Museum features 36 contemporary works on paper by 29 Native and Indigenous artists from California and around the world. The exhibit will be on display through March 19. Learn more on the California Museum's website.
We Are Not Strangers Here: African American Histories in Rural California - Ongoing until April 2
Since California's inception, Black citizens have been vital in shaping the legacy of the Golden State as farmers, miners, teachers, social justice advocates, and more. This exhibit is currently on view in the Helen Weber Kennedy Gallery until April 2. Get the details on the San Joaquin County Historical Museum's website.
California is in the Heart Exhibit - Ongoing until April 9
The "California Is in the Heart" exhibit at the California Museum underlines the critical role Filipino Americans have played in our state's history. This is the first time that this museum has hosted an exhibition that highlights the contributions of Filipinos to the state of California. The exhibit will be on display through April 9. Learn more on the California Museum's website.
Kids Collect Exhibit - Ongoing until April 9
Sacramento has the third largest Hmong population in the U.S. One of California’s three Hmong dual-language immersion programs can be found in Sacramento’s Susan B. Anthony Elementary School. Last year, the Center for Sacramento History asked 5th and 6th graders at Susan B. Anthony to imagine what an exhibit about them or their families would look like. The exhibit will be on display at the Robert T. Matsui Gallery inside Sacramento City Hall until April 5. Learn more on the Center for Sacramento History's website.
Chinese Pioneers: Power and Politics in Exclusion Era Photographs - Ongoing until April 16
"Chinese Pioneers: Power and Politics in Exclusion Era Photographs" presents a visual history of the social, political, and judicial disenfranchisement of Chinese Californians — as well as moments of Chinese agency and resilience — in the decades before and after the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act. This exhibit will be at the Locke Boarding House Museum until April 16. View the Locke Foundation's Winter Newsletter (PDF) for more information.
Historic photo of the Nippon Hospital in Stockton. The hospital served Stockton's Japanese community until 1930. The Nippon Hospital is now registered as a California State Historical Landmark. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.
Training Opportunities and Resources
California Office of Historic Preservation, Section 106 Training
The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation and California Office of Historic Preservation are holding two, in-person training courses on compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. On July 12, there will be a day-long training on the Section 106 essentials. On July 13, there will be an additional course on how to build agreement and documents for Section 106 consultation. Find out more on the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation's website.
National Park Service Guide on Disasters and Historic Preservation
The National Park Service along with several partner agencies and preservation nonprofits has developed guidance and tools for State, Tribal, and Local governments working with the federal government before and after a disaster. Learn more on the National Park Service's website.
Painter Gregory Kondos in his Sacramento studio. Kondos is known for his renowned landscape paintings of the Delta. Photo courtesy of California State University Sacramento/Jessica Vernone.
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, Tribal Heritage Grant Program
The Tribal Heritage Grants Program focuses on protecting oral histories, plant and animal species important in tradition, sacred and historic places, and enabling the establishment of tribal historic preservation offices. Approximately $500,000 is available for the Program in FY2022. Applications are due by March 29. For more information, visit the National Park Service website.
National Endowment for the Arts, Challenge America
Challenge America offers support primarily to small organizations for projects in all artistic disciplines that extend the reach of the arts to groups/communities with rich and dynamic artistic and cultural contributions to share that are underserved. Applications are due by April 27. For more information, visit the National Endowment for the Arts website.
National Archives, Publishing Historical Records in Collaborative Digital Editions
The National Historical Publications and Records Commission seeks proposals to publish online editions of historical records. All types of historical records are eligible. Applications are due by May 3. For more information, visit the National Archives website.
National Endowment for the Humanities, Humanities Initiatives at Community Colleges
Humanities Initiatives strengthen the teaching and study of the humanities at institutions of higher education by developing new or enhancing existing programs, resources, or courses that explore, interpret, and preserve the diversity of human cultures, ideas, and practices, past and present. Applications are due by May 9. For more information, visit the National Endowment for the Humanities website.
National Endowment for the Humanities, Cultural and Community Resilience
The Cultural and Community Resilience program supports community-based efforts to mitigate climate change and COVID-19 pandemic impacts, safeguard cultural resources, and foster cultural resilience through identifying, documenting, and/or collecting cultural heritage and community experience. Applications are due by May 16. For more information, visit the National Endowment for the Humanities website.
National Endowment for the Arts, Grants for Arts Projects
The Grants for Arts program supports opportunities for public engagement with the arts and arts education, for the integration of the arts with strategies promoting the health and well-being of people and communities, and for the improvement of overall capacity and capabilities within the arts sector. Applications are due by July 6. For more information, visit the National Endowment for the Arts website.
State Grants
Ethnic Media Outreach Grants, California State Library
Approximately $5 million in grant funding is available for ethnic media outlets serving communities that are historically vulnerable to hate incidents and hate crimes because of their ethnic, racial, religious, gender/gender expression, sexual orientation, or other identities. Applications are due by March 13. For more information, visit the California State Library website.
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