Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Volunteer Programs topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Eureka launches 'Old Town Stewards' volunteer ambassador program
Summary
City staff introduced the Old Town Stewards program — a volunteer ambassador initiative that will train community members (approximately 10 hours of training) to support Old Town businesses, provide visitor information, and perform light litter abatement; the pilot will use identifiable gear (bright orange hats) and flexible scheduling.
The City of Eureka presented the Old Town Stewards program on July 16, a volunteer ambassador model developed through Uplift Eureka and CAPE to support Old Town businesses and visitors. Social services coordinator Hannah Ozanian described the program as a flexible volunteer opportunity that will provide approximately 10 hours of training in cohorts and connect stewards with city departments and local service providers.
"What is an ambassador project? An ambassador project focuses on training individuals to be welcoming, kind, smart, knowledgeable, resourceful people in their community," Ozanian said, outlining tasks such as greeting visitors, connecting people to resources, providing directions and light litter abatement.
Ozanian said training will include de‑escalation and safety sessions (with local partners such as Commander LaFrance and CARE) and an "out and about" Old Town day to practice. The program will provide name tags and bright orange hats for recognizability and will emphasize volunteer flexibility so participants can opt out if they need to.
Council members reacted positively and asked about training logistics and incentives; staff said they are exploring social benefits, tokens of appreciation and volunteer events such as an August barbecue. The program is contingent on recruiting a diverse volunteer cohort and completing training.
