Gabrielle Piceno

gabrielle@everyneighborhood.org

Gabrielle was born in Fresno, grew up and went to college in Southern California, and moved back to Fresno in 2014. She has worked with churches and non-profits in Fresno, where she developed an interest in Christian Community Development and what God is doing in Fresno. She has since made Fresno her home alongside her husband Jordan and their son. She enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.

Maintaining Your Church’s Convictions Without Polarization or Judgementalism

February 22, 2022 Gabrielle Piceno Equipping

The FPU Center for Community Transformation and the Center for Anabaptist Studies are proud to present another workshop in its New Skills for a New Era series of convenings for Valley congregations. This one will be of interest to all members of churches that are struggling to know how to retain their firm convictions without drawing lines that promote polarization and judgmental attitudes, or the tendency to pronounce who’s “in” and who is “out”? In an era of shrinking church attendance, what biblical principles, ministry and relational skills would a church need to grow in this ability?

This FREE online workshop called Centered on Jesus will be led by FPU Biblical Seminary’s Mark Baker, Ph.D. who will be presenting the concept of the “centered-set church,” its theological and practical foundations. FPU alum Pastor Grace Spencer, MA Theo. will also present, sharing her experience from three churches she has served in a pastoral capacity. Registrants will be able to enter a raffle to receive Dr. Baker’s new book, Centered-Set Church: Discipleship and Community Without Judgementalism (IVP), and the first 50 to register and attend will receive a $10 lunch voucher.

Resilience Based Community Development through Parent Cafes

February 11, 2022 Gabrielle Piceno Parent Engagement

In 2021 Every Neighborhood Partnership received a $50,000 grant from Kaiser to increase community resilience and trauma-informed behaviors by providing resident-led workshops. ENP trained facilitators working in 3 different neighborhoods in Fresno to run Parent Cafe workshops and support groups. The Parent Cafes were run by leaders from each neighborhood with participants from the community with whom they were already in relationship. 99 individuals went through these Parent Cafes. Participants expressed through post-session surveys that they want to go through the course again and invite new friends to attend, as well as have the group continue beyond the original length of the course. As a result, 4 out of 5 of the groups have been continuing to meet beyond the designated timeframe for the sessions because of the supportive relationships that developed through their time together.

The 8-session Parent Cafe curriculum was developed by Brainwise Solutions with the goal of equipping parents and caregivers with tools to develop Resilience, Relationships, and Rebuilding in a supportive group environment. It was created with the intent of having leaders from the community facilitate groups with a preventative approach rather than as a response after a family has gone through a specific traumatic incident.

Understanding Human Trafficking

February 7, 2022 Gabrielle Piceno Equipping

Understanding Human Trafficking is a basic introduction course (previously called Human Trafficking 101). It covers:

Realities of exploitation (myths and misconceptions)
Recognizing red flags (identifying victims of exploitation)
The role of traffickers and process of recruitment
Clinical dynamics of impact on youth
Understanding paths to freedom and community resources
Ways individuals and communities can take appropriate action

Zoom link provided upon registration. Click to register.

Interfaith Scholar Weekend

February 7, 2022 Gabrielle Piceno Equipping

The Ethics Center at Fresno State University is hosting the Interfaith Scholar weekend March 18-20, 2022. It will consist of 4 free webinars on Sabbath Economics. Each of these 90-minute presentations will be presented by Ched Myers and Dr. Elaine Enns and include elements of Lecture, PowerPoint, Art, Text, Design, Polling and Q and A to engage viewers/listeners.

Friday, March 18, 2022, 7:00-8:30PM: Revisiting Old Covenants in a Time of Plagues
Saturday, March 19, 2022, 10:30-12:00 NOON: Manna vs. Mammon: Are We Building Capital or Community?
Saturday, March 19, 2022, 1:00-2:30PM: Public Addiction, Ecological Ultimatums: A Call to Recovery
Sunday, March 20, 2022, 1:00-2:30PM: Sabbath as Reparative Justice

For more information, visit interfaithscholar.org or contact Jim Grant: jimgrantbc@gmail.com

Welcoming and Supporting Afghan Refugees

December 21, 2021 Gabrielle Piceno Serving Our Neighborhoods

Afghan Refugees have begun moving to Fresno and there are several ways individuals and churches or groups can welcome and support our new neighbors. Check out the opportunities below!

Reimagine

December 16, 2021 Gabrielle Piceno Equipping

From November 10-13, several of our staff members attended the Christian Community Development Association National Conference in Kansas City, Missouri. This year’s theme was “Reimagine” and we explored with practitioners from across the country questions like, “What is God calling us to reimagine in our community for His glory?

Neighborhood Health and Wellness Impact Report

December 7, 2021 Gabrielle Piceno Serving Our Neighborhoods

ENP’s Neighborhood Health and Wellness team has been hard at work this year with launching new programs and expanding current ones! Read our Impact Report of our Promotora/Community Health Worker program carried out in partnership with FCHIP (Fresno Community Health Improvement Partnership) to learn more about the strives for holistic health being taken in our community.

Sustaining Physical Activity in the Community During COVID-19

November 19, 2021 Gabrielle Piceno Neighborhood Presence

*This report is taken from the PEARS Success Story ID 23330

In partnership with the Fresno County Department of Public Health (FCDPH) and Every Neighborhood Partnership (ENP), the Central Valley Health Policy Institute (CVHPI) has conducted a series of interviews with Latin Dance instructors before the COVID-19 pandemic and shortly after the shelter-in-place mandate was lifted. The initial interviews conducted in 2019 were aimed at understanding how the program has expanded, identifying challenges, and linking the program to resources. There were nine (n=9) Latin Dance instructors who were interviewed and provided input on these topics. Shortly thereafter, the pandemic struck and the opportunity to report findings back to the community was put to a halt. In the month of June 2021, follow-up interviews were conducted with the Latin Dance instructors to assess the current state of the project and how best to move forward. A total of five interviews were conducted with the Latin Dance instructors. On June 30th, 2021, the CVHPI met with the FCDPH, ENP, and the Latin Dance instructors who were interviewed to report back findings and ensure that all ideas were captured. The following is a summary of both findings from all interviews as well as topics that came forward during fruitful discussions with the Latin Dance instructors.

Now Hiring: Read Fresno Mentors

June 9, 2021 Gabrielle Piceno Jobs

Searching to make a difference this year? Read Fresno with ENP works to raise the reading and academic abilities of local elementary school students each year. Read Fresno is now recruiting qualified students for the 2021-22 academic year to serve as mentors. If you qualify, you could earn up to $15.00 per hour. Mentors work approximately 10-15 hours per week, based on work-study eligibility. In order to qualify for one of these openings, you must:

Be eligible for Financial Aid Work Study funds (the Financial Aid Office has already indicated to us if you are eligible!).
Have excellent oral and written English language skills.
Be interested in working with elementary-aged children.

New applicants to the program: Read Fresno Mentor Applications-NEW

Returning applicants to the program: Read Fresno Mentor Application-RETURNER

Priority applications will be accepted online until Friday, June 25. Applicants selected to move forward will be contacted for a one-on-one interview via Zoom between Monday, June 28-Friday, July 16.

Summer Resources for Kids

May 19, 2021 Gabrielle Piceno Partnership Spotlight

As summer approaches, we wanted to share free and low-cost summer resources and activities for kids from some of our partners.

Reading and Learning

ENP Literacy Mentoring

Trained and equipped Literacy Mentors meet one-on-one virtually with K-3rd grade students to help them with their foundational reading skills and sight words. Sign up using one of the links below:

FUSD School Libraries

School Libraries will be open to the public at all summer school locations. Find summer school sites HERE.

Sora App

Students in Fresno Unified School District can use the Sora App for online reading access

Fresno County Library

The Fresno County Library has free summer reading programs and activities for kids, teens, and adults. Click HERE for more information and a calendar of events.

Take a Book, Leave a Book

Find a Book Bin or Little Free Library near you and exchange a book!

12 Free Learning Apps and Websites for Summer

High-quality digital tools for kids that are both educational and entertaining.

Free At-Home Learning Library

Share Wide Open School in English or Spanish with families to help them find activities.

Online Learning Sites

Really Great Reading’s Heart Word Magic – complimentary teaching tool designed to help students learn to read and spell high-frequency words, particularly those that aren’t very decodable. Show your students the animations, then try their fun, hands-on free Student Practice Activities
Heidi Songs – sight word songs
Education.com – sight word games
ABCya – sight word games and more
Starfall – books and games by grade level, Kinder-3rd grade
ENP Read-Alouds – books read by Literacy Mentors
Flocabulary– create a “Free Trial” and get access to many reading lessons that include videos and pdfs
Valley PBS – watch local Fresno Unified teachers share ideas or watch the videos live with your student
Common Sense Media – Fun Summer Reading Challenges
Online Books – see our Literacy Mentor newsletter for links to many different sites that have free resources
Arbolabc.com – Español

Activities

Camp Fresno

Starting the week of June 15^th, the City of Fresno will be offering Free 3-day overnight camps. While they hope to open camp to current youth leaders, they are particularly interested in also opening to the most vulnerable. They are most eager to provide the opportunity to teens who perhaps would never have had a chance to experience an outdoor camp; or perhaps those who have made some bad choices in life and an outdoor experience like this might impact their lives positively. Complete the interest form below:

English Interest Form

Spanish Interest Form

City of Fresno Parks and Recreation (PARCS)

Fresno PARCS offers a variety of activities for kids. Some of these activities have a cost associated with them. To learn more and register, visit their website.

Activities include Youth Sports and Virtual Programs.

You can also visit their Facebook page for upcoming events and activities.

Martin Park VBS

Martin Park is hosting 7 weeks of VBS CAMP to reach kids with the Gospel!

They have partnered with Child Evangelism Fellowship, First Presbyterian, River Park Bible Church, Children’s Champion and The Well to facilitate a VBS CAMP for one week at a time.

VBS Camp will run from June 14th-July 30th on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, from 3pm-5pm. Dinner will be provided each night at 4:30 for children and volunteers!

On the 3rd week (June 28-July 2) they will take kids to VBS at River Park Bible Church.

On the 6th week (July 12-16) they will take kids to City Bible Adventure at First Presbyterian Church.

Each day the kids will participate in singing, lessons, craft and games.

Call 559-554-4319 to sign up!

Additional Websites

Activity Hero – Search this website for upcoming events for kids in Fresno
Fresno Summer Camps – List of summer camps in Fresno, costs associated with these camps

Food

Fresno County Food Map

Search fresnocountyfood.org for free food near you.

Food Bank

Central California Food Bank is here to help you get access to the food you need. To find a food distribution near you, utilize the daily calendar, enroll in CalFresh, or sign-up for a pick-up.

Food Locator – Find food distribution partners near you.
Food Distribution Calendar – Find Neighborhood Markets, Mobile Pantries, and USDA Commodities partners by date.
Groceries 2 Go – Schedule a pick-up appointment at our Groceries 2 Go location Monday – Friday (7am-4pm) or at one of our satellite locations near you (hours vary by location).
CalFresh – Their team can help you enroll in CalFresh.

Other

Webinar

Consider hosting a Summer Learning Program! Hear tips and plans from our partners by watching the webinar recording HERE.