The legacy of Serna as a community leader and educator is familiar to many. But some may be surprised by the United Farm Workers Foundation celebration tonight of his involvement in the Central Valley and the Peace Corps, which laid the groundwork for his many achievements. Serna believed in people's enormous capacity for resiliency, and his mayoral administration prized creativity and innovation in cultivating such opportunities. He was ahead of his time in many ways, and this fourth principle of the mayor's legacy is now sweeping the social services field. The public welfare system is properly criticized for the passivity and dependence fostered by the traditional provider-consumer relationship. It is being replaced with an "asset-based" approach, for which Serna Village was recently cited as a national model for its strength-based, participant-driven program. The late Joe Serna was mayor of Sacramento, California and served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Guatemala.
Not all of us got the chance to know Mayor Joe Serna Jr., but his name surfaces in any discussion of exemplary civic leadership in the Sacramento Valley, even nearly 10 years after his death
My View: Late mayor would be proud of Serna Village progress, people
By Robert V. Tobin
Special to The Bee
Published: Monday, Aug. 24, 2009 - 12:00 am | Page 15A
Last Modified: Monday, Aug. 24, 2009 - 8:09 am
Not all of us got the chance to know Mayor Joe Serna Jr., but his name surfaces in any discussion of exemplary civic leadership in the Sacramento Valley, even nearly 10 years after his death.
The legacy of Serna as a community leader and educator is familiar to many. But some may be surprised by the United Farm Workers Foundation celebration tonight of his involvement in the Central Valley and the Peace Corps, which laid the groundwork for his many achievements.
Upon his passing, several facilities sought the privilege of being named in the mayor's honor. Our agency was less interested in his name on the wall than in having his values, commitments and sense of urgency inside Sacramento County's first and now largest supportive housing program dedicated to homeless families.
The spirit of collaboration that was a hallmark of Mayor Serna's administration was present when Serna Village opened for 40 families in 2002 and doubled its residential capacity in 2006. Thanks to the continuing cooperation between Mercy Housing California, Cottage Housing Inc. and their many community partners, nearly 200 children and their parents have a place to call "home."
The responsibilities of citizenship were a recurring theme in Serna's life story and a cornerstone of this program. The staff does things with but not for Serna Village residents, who are engaged as participants, not recipients, in every aspect of the operation from tenant selection and staff hiring to grievance appeals and community ambassadorship.
The former mayor's emphasis on self-determination and accountability is another common denominator in the success formula at Serna Village. Participants define their own personal-development goals and helped design the "Passport to Self-Reliance" they use to self-track progress toward monthly objectives.
Serna believed in people's enormous capacity for resiliency, and his mayoral administration prized creativity and innovation in cultivating such opportunities. He was ahead of his time in many ways, and this fourth principle of the mayor's legacy is now sweeping the social services field. The public welfare system is properly criticized for the passivity and dependence fostered by the traditional provider-consumer relationship. It is being replaced with an "asset-based" approach, for which Serna Village was recently cited as a national model for its strength-based, participant-driven program.
Serna knew from personal experience about the potency of faith, hope and love. These were present when Serna Village opened its doors and remain. Tangible evidence of their power is the nearly 80 percent graduation average. Last year's graduates increased employment and reduced welfare dependence, moving in the words of one alumnus "from tax-taker to tax-maker."
County executives estimate that each homeless family can cost taxpayers as much as $100,000 a year in more-expensive but less-effective institutional settings. This is nearly 10 times more than program services and housing accommodations at Serna Village. With the 150th family graduating from the program later this year, simple math shows Serna's conviction that investments in human potential have financial as well as social benefits.
I think he would have been pleased that this ambitious endeavor has succeeded in the least-likely of places: in the middle of a business park.
With cooperation from the owners of McClellan Park and support from Sacramento County's Office of Economic Development and Department of Human Assistance, the continuing success of the Serna Village project dispels the myth that pursuit of our community's social and business interests are mutually exclusive.
To the contrary, Serna Village was named as "Business Leader of the Year" by the North Highlands community and widely praised as a model for program/community cooperation.
Mayor Serna is well known for having improved Sacramento's schools, revitalizing downtown, expanding public transportation and retaining its NBA franchise. But the success of Serna Village exemplifies what might be his greatest lesson: To do the right thing, you have to do the thing right.
The United Farm Workers event coincides with the 70h anniversary of Serna's birth Sept. 3. It serves as a reminder that his influence in the Sacramento Valley lives on in those striving to follow his leadership, fulfill his vision and perpetuate his values.
Robert V. Tobin is president and CEO of Cottage Housing, which runs Quinn Cottages in midtown and Serna Village at McClellan Park.
