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SCAIR and TANF staff members prepare for TANF participants.

Story by Roy Cook

his year's SPRING BLING event, March 15, 2008 at 11 am is being hosted by Southern California American Indian Resource center (SCAIR) and Southern California Tribal Chairmen's Association (SCTCA) Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).

SCAIR, administration and learning center is located in Alpine, CA. It is established to provide Educational and community services for the Urban and Rural Native American community in San Diego County.

Participants sign in and receive event kits.

SCTCA is a multi-service non-profit corporation established in 1972 for a consortium of 19 federally recognized Indian tribes in Southern California. The primary mission of SCTCA is to serve the health, welfare, safety, education, cultural, economic and employment needs of its tribal members and federally enrolled Indians in the San Diego County urban areas.

The SPRING BLING event is organized by SCAIR and affiliates: Wanda Michaelis, Shirley Silvas and Sylvia Mejia.

Native American participants pose with a door prize.

The program is designed to benefit underprivileged Native American children between the ages of five and twelve years old, and is primarily attended by participants from Tribal TANF-Temporary Assistance for Needy Families.

Tribal families are invited to lunch at the Black Angus: cheesy dishes of steak sandwiches, hamburgers, grilled chicken and salmon salads with soft drinks or tea.

There are surprise gift drawings, educational presentations and shopping. Loosely based on the 'Shop with a Cop' program, each child is allowed to purchase a $100 worth of merchandise at Mervyn's with a special youthful facilitator to guide them.

Schools and San Diego Tribal TANF, a social services agency, identify children who qualify. The goal is to accommodate 150 children.

Generosity is one of our most constant Tribal expressions. The SPRING BLING opens at 11 am for registration and organization by the SCAIR staff and affiliates. The opening activity generates excitement with a drawing for prizes. This encourages attention and participation during the luncheon activities. Ernie Salgado documents the excitement of the activity. Gary Ballard, Webmaster, adds to the images. Enjoy these views of the event.

Randy Edmonds is a BIA relocation survivor and has experienced many of the urban challenges of the participants. From his experience as Director of many Tribal programs and also a master of time management analysis he is able to present a relevant budget scenario. He distinguished the priorities and the focus to determine needs from luxuries.

His hypothetical budget was charted using current data from the participants. He also emphasized the importance to maintain a journal of daily activities and displayed his personal example of time management.

Antoniette Aleman calls out a winning raffel number. Ernie Salgado (In hat) drew the lucky number.

Ernie Salgado takes a picture during the event.

Famous Native American artist Sylvia Mejia (l-r), Shirley Silvas, and Nicole Brower, particiating staff and consultants, pose for a snapshot.

Ernie Salgado, Luiseño, Soboba Indian Reservation, enjoys a talk with Randy Edmonds, a famous tribal elder in Southern California.

Another drawing for gifts produces more generosity and enthusiasm. Group assignments and orientation takes on an Island theme as different colored lei necklaces serve to identify each small group. Then at around 2pm the teams set sail across the way to Parkway Plaza to see what they could see.

CLICK ON PICTURE FOR HIGH-RESOLUTION 5x7 Photo Print.

You can see in this closing image we all had a fun time. Best of all the children have something nice for the spring season. Finally, Mehan, Aho and thank you.

DOWNLOAD the official 2008 Spring Bling flyer PDF.

READ more Roy Cook Native American news feature articles.