Community Spotlight: SOAR
Students on Academic Rise, or SOAR, is a specialized high school that provides a unique learning environment for underrepresented students. These students have a lot of potential, but don’t necessarily perform well in traditional schools.

SOAR serves about 400 ninth through twelfth graders and focuses on math, science and engineering curriculum. These students take both high school classes and college-level classes at Antelope Valley College. The program is designed to inspire students to work hard and stretch themselves intellectually, and it is certainly successful. In 2015, a majority of SOAR graduates received their high school diploma and Associates Degree from AVC at the same time.

SOAR is consistently ranked as one of the top high schools in California and Principal Chris Grado was recently named one of California’s 30 most influential high school principals by Mometrix Test Preparation, a statewide leader in education.

Congratulations to Principal Grado and SOAR students on your great work!

Human Trafficking Awareness

At the end of January, I presented Senate Concurrent Resolution 88 to recognize Human Trafficking Awareness Month. It was met with overwhelming support from both the Senate and Assembly.

Human Trafficking is often thought of as an international issue, but the truth is hundreds of thousands of people are trafficked each year in our own communities, many of them children.

The trafficking problem in California is not due to a lack of care and compassion, but a lack of awareness in the communities where it is happening. That’s why it is so important to educate our society about this heartbreaking issue.

I was also able to recognize Courage Worldwide, Inc. for the work they do to rescue and restore victims of human trafficking. They have a program called Courage House that gives rescued children a home and equips them for the future. To learn more about this wonderful organization, please visit https://courageworldwide.org/.

We must continue fighting this issue and do all we can to bring these victims from the shadows and into the light.

Business of the Month: Lemon Leaf Café

Each month I recognize exceptional business owners around my District by highlighting a “Business of the Month.” If you would like to nominate a business for future newsletters, please call my Antelope Valley office at (661) 729-6232.

The Lemon Leaf Café & Gourmet Marketplace is entering its tenth year of business in the Antelope Valley. Owner Maria Elena Grado focuses on clean food free of preservatives and artificial flavors and puts an emphasis on all items being made daily from scratch.

Lemon Leaf has built partnerships with many guests, local businesses and charitable organizations; but the closest to Maria’s heart is 1 Family 1 Restaurant, or 1F1R. Through 1F1R, Lemon Leaf collaborates with other local restaurants and food banks to make local restaurant meals available to families in need. Lemon Leaf has just started this partnership and has already served a couple hundred individuals through the program.

You can sponsor a meal for a family through 1F1R by visiting www.lemonleaf.com.

Thank you Maria and your team for what you do for the Antelope Valley! It is an honor to recognize Lemon Leaf Café as the February 2016 Business of the Month.

Senator Runner with Lemon Leaf Café & Gourmet Marketplace owner Maria Elena Grado.

Upcoming Events

Mark your calendars for these upcoming events that may be of interest to you:

• Senior Care Seminar – Please join me and Assemblyman Tom Lackey for a free senior care seminar designed to equip adult caregivers as they make decisions for their aging loves ones. This event will center around adults who need help in determining when their family member or parent can no longer live reliably on their own. Professionals will be on hand to provide helpful knowledge and discuss available resources. The seminar will be held on Saturday, March 5 from 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM at City of Hope –Antelope Valley.
• Senor Scam Stoppers – Did you know one in five seniors has been a victim of fraud? That’s why I’ve partnered with the Contractors State License Board to provide free events in the Santa Clarita and Antelope Valleys. Seniors, their families and caregivers are welcome to attend and learn how to protect themselves. The Santa Clarita event is Thursday, March 31 from 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM at the Santa Clarita Valley Senior Center. The Antelope Valley event is Thursday, April 7 from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM at Antelope Valley Partners for Health.
• Water Education Forum – I will be hosting a free educational event on the status of water in California. The event will be on Saturday, April 2 at10:00 AM at the Lancaster Public Library Community Room.

For more information on these events or to RSVP, please contact my Antelope Valley Office at (661) 729-6232.

Around the District

Senator Sharon Runner presents a DVL Lifetime Achievement Award to Dr. Mildred Dalton Hampton-Henry at the Dreamers, Visionaries & Leaders Awards in Victorville

Senator Sharon Runner joins a representative from the California Society of Enrolled Agents to assist constituents during her free Tax Help Day in the Antelope Valley

H&R Block receives recognition for their grand opening in the Santa Clarita Valley