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September 21, 2023
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Marakeshia Smith, City Manager, City of Santa Rosa
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Marakeshia Smith
Maraskeshia Smith, City Manager for the City of Santa Rosa since January 2022, will discuss the issues and challenges that face Sonoma County’s largest city. Smith came to Santa Rosa from Stockton where she served as Deputy City Manager. She holds an MBA from Eastern Kentucky University and a Bachelor’s from the University of Kentucky, has also served as assistant city manager for the city of Oakland, and spent 10 years in Cincinnati where she led the Public Services and Public Works Departments. Please join us to learn what lies ahead for the City of Santa Rosa.
Templates to use for Programs (Three presenters, Two presenters & 1 presenter)
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April 20, 2023
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Margaret Press, DNA Doe Project: Investigative Genetic Genealogy
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Margaret Press, Ph.D.
The Sebastopol-based DNA Doe Project was formed in 2017 with one simple, humanitarian mission: identify "John" and "Jane Does" using investigative genetic genealogy. Co-founder Margaret Press inherited a passion for genealogy from her grandmother. When DNA testing refined the genealogy landscape, Margaret joined the impassioned group of citizen scientists who would propel this new field to where it is today. She teamed up with Forensic Genealogist Dr. Colleen Fitzpatrick and the DNA Doe Project began.
On March 5, 2018 the DNA Doe Project solved its first case—Robert Ivan Nichols, the John Doe previously known as Joseph Newton Chandler III. On April 11, 2018, they joined local authorites at a press conference in Troy, Ohio to identify the young woman known as “Buckskin Girl” as Marcia L. King--the first time in history that the world learned of the power of investigative genetic genealogy to solve cold case identifications. In the past five years, the organization’s work has helped identify the remains of more than 97 “Doe” cases, helping bring closure to families across the country.
On March 5, 2018 the DNA Doe Project solved its first case—Robert Ivan Nichols, the John Doe previously known as Joseph Newton Chandler III. On April 11, 2018, they joined local authorites at a press conference in Troy, Ohio to identify the young woman known as “Buckskin Girl” as Marcia L. King--the first time in history that the world learned of the power of investigative genetic genealogy to solve cold case identifications. In the past five years, the organization’s work has helped identify the remains of more than 97 “Doe” cases, helping bring closure to families across the country.
December 4 |
The Language of Art and the Tools to Create It |
Jennifer Girvin
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December 4 |
Laguna de Santa Rosa Foundation |
Anne Morkill, Executive Director, Laguna de Santa Rosa Foundation
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Templates to use for Screen Shots for Past Programs Page (2 presenters & 1 presenter)
Anne has worked in wildlife conservation for more than three decades, including 24 years as a wildlife biologist and refuge manager with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s National Wildlife Refuge System and six years as a wildlife biologist with the Bureau of Land Management in Alaska. She was most recently the manager of the San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge Complex which includes seven National Wildlife Refuges in the San Francisco and Monterey Bay areas and the Farallon Islands. Anne is passionate about restoring native habitats and conserving imperiled wildlife through promoting science-based climate adaption, fostering collaborative partnerships, and connecting people to nature. Christine has been striving to connect people to nature since 1995. In addition to working in the formal education field, she has a background in business administration, volunteer management, and focused experience in environmental education and interpretation. She served as the Education Programs Coordinator for Point Reyes National Seashore Association, then as Point Reyes Field Seminars Director from 2001-07. In 2006 she began volunteering for the Laguna Foundation on the Education Program Committee and joined the staff in 2007.
Alethea Larson
The Living Room’s (TLR) mission is to ease adversity and promote stability and self-reliance for women and children in Sonoma County who are experiencing homelessness or are at risk of homelessness. Since its inception, TLR has provided services to thousands of women and children who came to TLR for basic needs, classes, meals, fellowship, resources and safety. During the pandemic, TLR grew its Transitional Housing Program, fortified its food program, and continued its street outreach which led to the opening of The Living Room Life Center (day services) in March of 2022. Alethea Larson, joined the staff of TLR in 2021and was named Deputy Director in 2023. The power of women and their ability to meet the face of adversity with devastation, humility and grace is what anchors Alethea to TLR every. single. day.
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Sonoma County Forum offers an exciting array of speakers including leaders in business, education, health care, the arts, and local government. Our speakers provide an excellent way to gain knowledge of the community and learn about its vast resources. Dates, Upcoming Speakers, and their biographies, below.
2020 Program Schedule
DATE |
Speaker |
Jan 7 |
John George "Northern California Computer Crimes Task Force” |
Jan 21 |
Corky (Mary Jean) Quirk, Founder, NorCal Bats |
Feb 4 |
Kristen Madsen, Director of Creative Sonoma |
Feb 18 |
Diane Dragone and Elly Lichenstein of the Cinnabar Theater |
Mar 3 |
JD Bergeron, Executive Director, International Bird Rescue |
Mar 17 |
Caren McNamara, Conscious Container |
Apr 7 |
Melissa Kelley, Sonoma County Regional Parks Foundation |
Apr 21 |
Dr. Fatouma Alimirah, Campisi Lab at the Buck Institute, "The Science Behind Living Better Longer" |
May 5 |
Julie Tabsharani, Program Coordinator, Juvenile Justice Center |
May 19 |
Karen Johnson, Director of the Charles M. Schulz Museum |
Jun 2 |
Forum Exchange (members only) |
Jun 16 |
Phyllis Rosenfield, Listening for a Change |
July 7 |
Serge Labesque, Bees in Sonoma County |
July 21 |
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Aug 4 |
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Aug 18 |
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Sep 1 |
Evan Wiig, Community Alliance with Family Farmers |
Sep 15 |
Tenae Stewart, Art Trails |
Oct 6 |
Anne Vercelli, SF Wine Competition |
Oct 20 |
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Nov 3 |
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Nov 17 |
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Dec 1 |
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Dec 15 |
Holiday party (members only) |
Meetings are held on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of each month from 7:30-8:45 AM at Legends at the Bennett Valley Golf Course, 3328 Yulupa Avenue, Santa Rosa, CA.
Program Meetings are open to the public.