I did not see it coming. I didn’t even know I was nominated.
I am deeply honored and humbled to be named Citizen of the Year by The Union in its 2024 Best of Nevada County magazine (March 29, page 11).
But I didn’t do this by myself. There are so many friends, role models and mentors (most younger than me) who gave me the support, encouragement and opportunities I needed.
And my apologies in advance to everybody I haven’t mentioned.
CATALYTIC PEOPLE
“Keep it local,” Don Rogers told me when he gave me this biweekly (every other week) column in February 2021. Other than that, the brilliant former publisher of The Union let me live and die by my own words. Without this column, this award would never have happened.
This column gave me a platform to talk about homelessness. Katherine Doolittle, an organizational genius, helped create Nevada County Home Path, the first group (of several) that were inspired by my columns.
Despite my misgivings, Donn Harris, former chair of the California Arts Council, and Eliza Tudor, executive director of the Nevada County Arts Council, encour- aged me to apply for the Upstate California Creative Corps grant that became the Sierra Roots/no Place To Go Project.
More than anybody, Kathy Ferguson, chief financial officer for Sierra Roots, helped me work through the daunting process of applying for the Upstate grant and running the No Place to Go Project. Without Kathy’s expert help from the beginning to right now, I couldn’t be doing what I’m doing.
By bravely showing up with me at critical events and meetings, Susan Rice, the executive director of Sierra Roots, gave the upstart No Place to Go Project the cachet of respectability we needed.
Now-retired Nevada County Supervisor Ed Scofield made a giant leap of faith when he wrote a critical letter of support for me that was, no doubt, a deciding factor in winning the Upstate grant. I promised Ed videos, and I will deliver … just a little behind schedule. Keep the faith, Ed.
I am grateful to the entire Nevada County Board of Supervisors who patiently considered my sometimes-radical ideas on how to mitigate our homeless-housing crisis – and who are now taking progressive action led by Chair Heidi Hall.
Nevada County CEO Alison Lehman believed in me before I did. From the time we met at the Citizens Academy years ago, she has encouraged me and opened doors for me. She embodies a level of compassionate professionalism that permeates throughout her entire staff.
I’ve received nothing but cooperation from all the people at the county – especially Ryan Gruver and Jeffrey Thorsby. As Clerk of the Board and Chief of Staff, Jeffrey is my go-to guy when I need to find something out or get something done. As director of the Health and Human Services Agency, Ryan has always dis- played a rare degree of class, candor and cooperation.
BEFORE THE BEGINNING
In 2004, I lost my last career-level job as editor of a Silicon Valley tech magazine, got divorced, became homeless for a while and basically drifted for the next 15 years. Taking whatever part-time jobs I could find while sending dozens of carefully crafted and targeted resumes into a black hole.
In 2011, I found a job and a calling working for Hospitality House when it was still a nomadic shelter for homeless people. Three women influenced and inspired me at Hospitality House. Executive Director Cindy Maple ran a logistically challenging enterprise on a shoe-string budget. Co-founder Joanna Robinson worked shifts just like the rest of us. Terri Fransen was my personal psychologist – funny, wise and still a good friend.
In 2014, I left Hospitality House and volunteered to help Donna Raibley take One Source — Empowering Caregivers from a spare bedroom in her house to a suite of offices and a fully functioning nonprofit. Donna taught me failure is not an option, and more important, she instilled in me a profound attitude of gratitude.
Robert Trent, the executive director of Sierra Commons, gave me the opportunity to take his Business Ignitor course. Although I don’t have what it takes to be an entrepreneur, the course equipped me with many of the skills it takes to be a social justice advocate.
FELLOW TRAVELERS
The Upstate California Creative Corps grant gave me the opportunity to hire and work with some exceptionally talented people. Singer-songwriters Bob Woods and Juliet Gobert were the musical leaders of the Sierra Roots/no Place To Go Project.
Impresario Paul Emery generously shared his recording studio and air airtime on KVMR to create our Songs from the Heart CD, which includes some of Nevada County’s best singer-songwriters.
Laurel Simpson of Grizzly Girl Graphics went above and beyond in designing our iconic T-shirts and shopping bags that enabled our supporters to be walking-talking billboards for the project.
Sierra Roots board member Dianne Weichel was another person who went above and beyond.
Dianna Hill, a sweet and gentle soul, not only proved to be a most able assistant working behind the scenes, but she also taught me tolerance and patience when things got heavy. She not only proved to be a most able assistant working behind the scenes, but she also taught me tolerance and patience when things got heavy.
Beth Moore, the fairy godmother of local musicians and a tireless social justice advocate, shared her heart and hosted many events at the Wild Eye Pub along with her husband David Kuczora.
Editor Elias Funez and reporter Marianne Boll-See of The Union – along with Pascale Fusshoeller of YubaNet and Claudio Mendonca of KVMR – have given the Sierra Roots/No Place To Go Project invaluable news coverage over the past few years.
LAST WORDS
Finally, however, I must say this: I did not win this award. We did. Without all the many citizens who showed up and spoke up about homelessness and alternative housing, I would have just been a lone voice in the wilderness.
I am so grateful to you all.
Tom Durkin is the creative director of the Sierra Roots/no Place to Go Project, the social justice advocacy arm of Sierra Roots, a Nevada City nonprofit serving homeless people. The Project is funded by grants and private donations, which are tax deductible. Durkin may be contacted at tomdurkin@sierra-roots.org, www.noplacetogoproject. com or 530-559-3199.