Author: omarpassonsOmar is a health and human services executive whose work spans public health, economic and workforce development and homelessness. For over 20 years his career has blended land use and construction as an attorney, public health, and community development. He grew up in foster care and believes deeply in creating opportunities for youth and advancing equity.

On Saturday, May 19th, Team Passons is making sure we all have a bit of fun with our electoral politics! Come out and join us as we “Second Line” our way through the March to Vote! A Second Line is a New Orleans tradition that you can read about here. But basically we are going to dance down the street with a big brass band doing its thing and anyone who wants to can join in the fun!  Bring your mail ballots so you can vote when we march to the endpoint – the post office!

The Basics

March to Vote starts at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday (5/19) at the IRS building downtown – 801 Front Street. We aren’t organizing the march, but we are bringing the fun! Join Euphoria Brass Band, Crew D’Etat, and a bunch of fun people to remind us that while marching has a serious purpose we can also mix in some fun!

March to Vote Facebook Event Page

After Party

Because the fun shouldn’t stop, we are going afterwards up to a South Park institution that has been the scene of many a political meet-up and forum (as well as several wedding receptions, wonderful memories with friends, and neighbor connections). Join us at Whistle Stop Bar (for those over 21) to keep the fun going from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.

Help us Fund the fun – Donate!

To RSVP to either event with Team Passons, email melissa@omarpassons.com

Or just show up!

Oh, here is Euphoria doing its thing!

Economic prosperity does not happen by accident.  It is a byproduct of hard work, sacrifice, ingenuity, and – frequently – a bit of luck.  However, just as economic prosperity doesn’t just happen, it is also true that a complex set of factors has contributed to generational wealth limitations that have huge impacts on economic stagnation.  You might be wondering why as a candidate for the County Board of Supervisors I released an Opportunity4All plan to address economic growth or why I would be talking at all about economic inclusion and wealth. The answer might surprise you. Read More

On June 5th, San Diegans across the 4th Supervisor’s District will vote on who they want to be leading and shaping policy on topics like child welfare, family support, and helping create meaningful opportunity for everyone.  I have been thinking about the role of the County Supervisor in child welfare both because May is National Foster Care Month and because the research is clear about how quickly children (in and out of foster care) fall behind and stay behind.

Annie E. Casey Foundation: “10 Resources for Foster Parents”

This is a good time for me to reflect on my own life.  Having grown up in a foster home with dozens of foster brothers and sisters in a home in Clairemont, I can feel the experiences even as I type.  I remember vividly having a new sister show up with a couple trash bags of her belongings. I remember the fear and uncertainty on every face of my new brothers and sisters no matter what the circumstances were. I knew that expression well before I was old enough to really know what it meant.

It is about 6:30 a.m. and I spent the last couple hours reading evidence-based approaches to improve outcomes for children in school and in life. There is no shortcut to improving children’s lives but I see real opportunity to use the family-strengthening supports our County’s social safety net has to offer to make a difference. Expanding the home visit program to better prepare parents for the stress of parenting and critical developmental needs of newborns and infants will make a difference in the long-term. Managing that stress will reduce the type of violence I learned about in the scars and stories and tears of my siblings and the sometimes violent behavior they had as a result.

15-minute Podcast – Tony: Abuse, AIDS, and Compassion

I am grateful to have the opportunity to fight for children in foster care, to fight for parents and families to have more opportunity to lead a dignified life.  Every day I wake up looking for another opportunity to push our region towards better supporting every young person.  Education was a silver bullet for me and the only way we can expand its reach for many young people is to better support families so that children can thrive.

Read our StrongStarts4All plan to support every child