Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians enriches community
The Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians has cultivated the fertile soils of Northern California for millennia. Today, the Tribe continues to nurture the El Dorado County community by providing millions of dollars per year to multiple causes.
Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians works tirelessly to support a mission of social responsibility and impact within El Dorado County and the surrounding areas. This spirit of giving resonates through the building of community vitality by the design of a community wellness center, employing disabled adults, and hosting special events, to name a few.
The Tribe contributes to a vast array of organizations, including programs that benefit youth, the Red Cross, affordable housing, and Special Olympics athletes. This public stewardship promotes a healthy environment for practically every social component of El Dorado County, including policing and health care access. Also, the Tribe maintains the Shingle Springs Tribal TANF Program to provide assistance to Native American families from several different tribes in the El Dorado, Placer, and Sacramento Counties.
The Shingle Springs Health & Wellness Center has provided El Dorado County with vital medical care for the greater community and those most in need. From its beginning, the Shingle Springs Health & Wellness Center quickly became the key provider of mental health services for the county—a cornerstone service in a dynamic social environment.
Residents who suffer from an array of behavioral health issues now have a place to receive premier care for their specific concerns. The Shingle Springs Health & Wellness Center serves the entire region—in fact, 85 percent of patients are non-native. Because many people are affected by issues surrounding behavioral health, it is easy to sympathize with those who experience the life-changing effects of having ready access to professional care and counseling.
Mental health is just one of several specialties at the Shingle Springs Health & Wellness Center. Residents also receive consistent comprehensive dental care – one of the most important elements of general health that is often missing for less fortunate members of a diverse economic environment.
The Shingle Springs Health & Wellness Center offers a broad range of medical services, including pediatrics, physical therapy, and family medicine. Taken together, these disciplines lead to comprehensive medical coverage that may reduce future acute care and associated costs.
Red Hawk Casino partners with Mother Lode of Rehabilitation Enterprises (MORE) to employ the area’s disabled adults, providing them with the income and confidence to fully integrate within the community. These jobs make an incredible difference in the lives of the employees, their families, and the livelihood of El Dorado County.
“The Casino has been huge in providing employment opportunities for people in this community,” explained Susie Davies, founder and CEO of MORE. “Specific to MORE, the partnership with Red Hawk has been a win/win on so many different levels! Nine of our clients were hired originally by Red Hawk, and six still remain employed and love their jobs.”
The Tribe employs 1,500 area residents, but as one of El Dorado County’s largest employers, its influence on quality of life is much more significant. In a time of uncertain employment, local residents take pride in their positions and enjoy serving as hospitality stewards for Red Hawk Casino, their county, and region. Not surprisingly, many of the employees live in El Dorado County.
The Tribe has always practiced good neighbor policies. The Tribe—having fought back from near extinction after the California Gold Rush and other misappropriations of property, culture, and wealth—believes sharing its current fortunes is as much a calling as an obligation.
“The Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians has become a premiere sponsors of events for nonprofits (like MORE) and projects, such as the EDCOE fundraiser that raises money for children whose families may not be able to provide presents during the holiday season,” observed Davies.
The Tribe plans to foster this community spirit in each new project they develop. An ongoing development, Shingle Springs Village Express Fuel Center, will feature a convenience store, pet area, and electric vehicle charging stations, in addition to fueling islands and a car wash. Architecturally pleasing, landscaped, and designed to have minimal environmental impact, Shingle Springs Village will offer travelers and residents another option for replenishing the basics—gas, diesel fuel, or a loaf of bread.
The Shingle Springs Village will also add to the employee roster, providing new economic security to several neighbors. Though fuel stations and convenience stores may not carry the cache of a medical center, they do offer essential services that can prove challenging for the underserved. The Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians continues to work diligently to provide its neighbors with the comfort and security that comes from living within a dynamic, caring community.
“I only see the positive side to what the tribe and Red Hawk have done for this community,” concluded Davies.
The Shingle Springs Village Express Fuel Center looks to continue this legacy.