Join friends of Jim McEnte for the groundbreaking event on Tuesday, April 29, 2008 10:30 AM at the James P. McEntee, Sr. Civic Center Plaza (70 West Hedding at First Street, San Jose). You will get an opportunity to see the artist’s rendition for the artwork that will be created at the plaza and learn (or revisit) stories about Jim’s wonderful life and the impact he had on our community.

To  download the flyer about the event,  click here: Ground breaking flyer

The Jim McEntee Legacy Art Project will include a window mural covering a large section of windows near the front door of the Santa Clara County Business Building at 70 West Hedding Street (at First Street) in San Jose. This image is not the final design, but rather the artist’s concept. The idea is to show Jim’s life and work through a vibrant collage of images.

This window is also available for naming with a donation of $10,000. Tax deductible donations, in any amount, can be made to Friends of Human Relations/Jim McEntee Legacy 14850 East Hills Drive, San Jose, CA 95127

See the next story for additional Naming Opportunities. Download the Naming Opportunity form by clicking here: Naming Opportunities: Bench or Window

Here is an arial view of the Gathering Place for Peace. Please note: This is just the artist’s concept, not a final design.

You can see that the square, which is about twenty by twenty feet, includes a central design of a dove of peace and eight benches. The square is outlined with tiles of various sizes. The black circles indicate existing trees. The gray curves are the eight benches.

The tiles provide an opportunity for families, organizations, or companies to support Jim McEntee’s legacy by making a specific donation toward the capital campaign. Money raised will cover the cost of the art project, plus provide the basic funding for the Jim McEntee Scholarship fund. The JMLC is hoping that all the folks who have benefitted from Jim’s work will contribute to this campaign.

The tiles are available in a variety of sizes and dollar amounts:

5″x3.8″ tile for $100 donation

5.75″x5.75″ tile for $250 donation

11.5″x5.75″ tile for $500 donation

11.5″x11.5″ tile for $1000 donation

You can have your family or organization name embossed on your square or add a small logo or a few words of wisdom.

The eight benches are also available embossing for a donation of $5000 each. The benches, since they are larger, would be suitable for a favorite quotation. Notice the words along the sides in the artist’s concept image.

The JMLC tried to keep the costs for this project as low as possible while still providing an excellent design. We hope that many of Jim’s friends will be able to participate in the project. If you cannot afford a tile alone, find some friends to join you. That’s the way Jim would want it anyway, a community project.

You tax deductible donations can be sent to Friends of Human Relations/Jim McEntee Legacy Project 14850 East Hills Drive, San Jose, CA 95127

See the previous story for additional Naming Opportunities. Download the donation form by clicking here: Naming Opportunities: Tiles

This image is gives us a concept of the Jim McEntee Legacy Art Project, designed by Carlos Pérez at the request of the Jim McEntee Legacy Committee. Carlos was a particularly good choice for this project since he often worked with Jim on projects for the Santa Clara County Office of Human Relations. Also, Jim presided at the marriage of Carlos and his lovely wife, Analisa. The two of them really understood the spirit in which this peace needed to be designed.

This concept image shows the Gathering Place for Peace which will be placed on one of the existing concrete squares of the James P. McEntee, Sr. Plaza in front of the Santa Clara County Government Building at 70 W. Hedding in San Jose (at First Street) California.

The space includes eight benches, facing toward each other. There will be a dove design in the center of the concrete and a band of tiles surround the square. The benches and the tiles offer opportunities for individuals, families, organizations, or companies to support the project financially.

On the window, by the main door to the building, Carlos will create a mural that will highlight many parts of Jim McEntee’s life and career. The final installation will also include a panel describing Jim’s life and another panel recognizing the donors who made the artwork possible.

The Jim McEntee Legacy Committee (JMLC) has been working diligently to decide how to remember this amazing man and his impact on our community. After numerous discussions with the larger community, the JMLC chose to create public art that would inform the community of Jim’s legacy, and also to establish a college scholarship fund for low-income students.

In January 2006, the Legacy Committee contracted with well-known San José artist Carlos Pérez of the ArtOrigin Design Team to create a piece of artwork that would carry on Jim’s message of peacemaking, nonviolence, and respect for diversity. Carlos and his wife Analisa have created various public art commissions locally, including:

The Artistic Mestizaje

Mural, Mexican Heritage Plaza

Honoring the Legacy, Building for the Future

Glass Mural, Yu-Ai Kai Japanese American Community Senior Service

Transformation,
Mobile Sculpture, Evergreen Valley High School Library

For the Jim McEntee Art Project, Carlos and the JMLC held a number of focus group meetings throughout the county, meeting with a wide variety of communities with which Jim had worked. Three important considerations for the design emerged from the public forums :

• A public gathering place for the community
• A place that evokes peace, harmony and social justice
• A place that will inspire future generations to carry on Jim’s legacy of service to community

In addition, the design could include elements such as a dove of peace and symbols associated with the diverse cultural communities that Jim served.

On Tuesday, February 26, the JMLC presented the concept to the Santa Clara Board of Supervisors and received their approval. The design will include two main components: a window mural depicting important elements of Jim’s life and career,  and a Gathering Place for Peace.

You can find more information about the Jim McEntee Legacy Scholarship by clicking the two related buttons at the top of the page. Or download the new application here: Jim McEntee Scholarship application 2008-9

For background information about the scholarship, click here:Jim McEntee Scholarship Facts Sheet

JESSICA GARCIA, RECIPIENT OF FIRST ANNUAL
JIM McENTEE SCHOLARSHIP

Gavilan College graduate Jessica Garcia was awarded the first annual Jim McEntee Scholarship in 2007. Gilroy resident Jessica Garcia, raised by her mother, grandparents and aunts, almost dropped out of high school. However she persevered. She attended Mt. Madonna Continuation High school and graduated as student body president. She credits her teachers with creating an environment that allowed students to find their own identity.

After high school Jessica got a job working with the City of Gilroy, tutoring and doing recreational activities with youth. She also worked with First Five, a program which helped underprivileged Hispanic children under the age of five, participate on soccer teams, while paying all the expenses. Based on these work experiences Jessica has decided to major in recreation administration at San Jose State University.

The Jim McEntee Scholarship will be awarded annually in memory of peacemaker Jim McEntee, who was the Executive Director of the Santa Clara County Office of Human Relations for more than 27 years. To honor his peace and justice legacy, his family and friends have established a scholarship to be awarded to a Santa Clara County resident who is transferring as a junior from a Santa Clara County community college to a four year college or university. Preference is given to students who have faced obstacles to obtaining higher education.

By Richard Hobbs

We can all learn from the legacy and character of Jim McEntee, long-time Director of the Office of Human Relations who died suddenly on September 13, 2004. Jim was fatherly, fun, forgiving, faithful, a friend, and a fighter for social justice.

Fatherly

Not only was Jim McEntee a Roman Catholic Father early in his career, but he emanated pastoral concern and provided fatherly counsel to hundreds and hundreds of people during his career.

Aside from being the actual father to nine lucky children, Jim always made himself available to actively listen and provide fatherly advice. He mentored an entire generation of community leaders in Santa Clara County and beyond.

Fun

Jim’s wry wit, uncanny jokes, unusual work ethic, fearless awe in addressing new situations, and sparkling laughter created a relaxed atmosphere that allowed people to express themselves naturally with a high comfort level.

I recall when Jim hired me 8 years ago. It was a Sunday evening at midnight and for some crazy reason I just happened to be at work as director of the Catholic Charities Immigration Program. He called me to leave me a message when I picked up the phone and said “Richard Hobbs here”. There was stunned silence before Jim spoke in complete surprise. He clearly did not anticipate anyone picking up the phone. Later we laughed hard about that exchange. He told me, “When you answered the phone at midnight I knew I had the right guy.”

Forgiving

Jim McEntee more than anyone I have ever known saw only good in everyone. Some may criticize Jim for not criticizing others, but I believe if we reflect deeply we can recognize a quality in Jim that places the unrealized potential of human beings in a category by itself, above that of other species.

Jim recognized that we are all flawed, we are all frail, and we are all failures in different areas of our lives, but we are the product of circumstances beyond ourselves and we all deserve forgiveness. How can you criticize persons for circumstances beyond their individual control?

Jim was a pastoral sociologist who cared passionately and forgave freely because he knew that blaming others would not create a world of love and opportunity that could meet the human needs of all. This does not mean that he was not a sincere and active critic of structural flaws such as exploitation, discrimination, patriarchy, and homophobia.

One of Jim’s favorite expressions was “Better to ask forgiveness than to ask permission.” When he felt he had to pursue this path, which was not often, this caused concern among many in County government, where permission is understandably highly valued.
When I reflect on this expression and on Jim’s life, I think that there are very few individuals who could survive the practice of seeking forgiveness instead of permission. Jim was able to ask forgiveness ex post facto after breaking minor rules or avoiding minor protocol because of his profound moral compass and deep grounding in human rights.

He knew that feeding or housing that homeless person in front of him or immediately addressing a deep emotional scar left from discrimination or indifference was paramount. And he was right.

Faithful

Jim McEntee was faithful to his family, to his community, and to his religious beliefs. But more importantly, he was faithful to himself. As Jim’s lifelong friend Rigo Chacon told me, Jim knew that the main person you have to feel good with in your life is that person you see in the mirror when you get up in the morning.

Jim McEntee was unflinchingly faithful to his beliefs. To paraphrase Mahatma Ghandi, he lived the world he sought to create. He practiced the better future he wanted for all of us. He worked tirelessly to create the beloved community advocated by Dr. Martin Luther King.

Friend

Jim McEntee was a friend to all, a man without enemies. He is truly the only person I know of who was not disliked by anyone. How many people can say this about themselves? Jim’s honest, open, collaborative, attentive, and compassionate style exuded friendliness. After meeting Jim McEntee for the first time most people I know felt that they had a close friend for life. This was equally true for the poor, the peer, and the powerful. In Jim McEntee they felt they had a lifelong friend. And they did.

Jim abhorred conflict but excelled at resolving conflict, mediating countless community disputes and personal enmities. Perhaps a postscript to his life that we all need to ponder might be “Why can’t people just get along?” Jim was the community mediator par excellence in Santa Clara County for three decades.

I spoke to Jim upon more than one occasion about changing the name of the Office of Human Relations to the Office of Humane Relations. We in OHR don’t simply seek relations between human beings, but rather emphasize the character and quality of those relations. He liked the idea. To emphasize caring and humane relations, in Jim’s name, I suggest the name change.

Fighter

Jim McEntee abhorred inequality, racism, and prejudice of any stripe. He had a deep understanding of people’s needs and worked 24-7 to meet those needs. He was a lifelong advocate and fighter for human rights.

Jim played a major role in creating community based organizations that have helped hundreds of thousands of residents of Santa Clara County. These include the Second Harvest Food Bank, the Emergency Housing Consortium, Asian Law Alliance and the shelter program at the armories.

At one point during a budget crisis the personnel in the Office of Human Relations was reduced to Jim alone. Recognizing the need to improve community relations and meet the needs of the disadvantaged, Jim worked hard to create programs in the Office of Human Relations to help disputing parties, women, immigrants, victims of hate, and youth.

Jim often used the metaphor of the turtle that has to stick his head out in order to take a few steps forward. Jim, thank you for sticking your neck out on behalf of immigrants in Santa Clara County, taking those steps forward.

You helped provide immigrants with needed services, made sure immigrants could be citizens and therefore full-fledged members of the community, shared their pain after Sept. 11, sought to make county government culturally proficient, and committed yourself to enhance diversity in ways that were celebratory and respectful of immigrant contributions, not merely tolerant.

The Legacy

Jim McEntee lived a vibrant and loving life. He lived it simultaneously on many levels. He was the kind friend who provided a bowl of soup and actively listened to the homeless visitor to OHR, or offered help to the janitor’s daughter. He was the institutional advocate who tried to make government work for the locked out, or create a new community agency to meet a pressing need. He was the marcher for social justice who followed in the footsteps but also paved the way for such peers as Cesar Chavez.

Jim McEntee. Fatherly and fun. Forgiving and faithful. Friend and fighter. We miss you, Jim.

By Milina Jovanovic

In August of 1999 I came to the Office of Human Relations for the first time for a job interview. The Office was hiring people with research experience to work on the Summit on Immigrant Needs and Contributions. Several days after I was hired, I saw Jim McEntee for the first time. I‘ve always been very intuitive and I immediately felt very comfortable with him. No one told me that he was exactly my father’s age, but that was my guess. My parents live in Belgrade, Serbia, (former Yugoslavia) and, naturally, I miss them. When I saw Jim smiling, it was as if I saw my father’s smile. Jim was curious about our research process and about new people working in the Office. He seemed so gentle and sincere that I instantly wanted to spend more time with him. However, four of us were placed in an office outside of the County building and we were so busy with our research in the next sixteen months that it wasn’t easy to find much time for socializing.

After we finished our field-work, analysis, and reports we were able to have more balanced lives. I remember, we were preparing a big conference in December of 2000, and Jim invited me to his office to ask me how I wanted to be introduced as one of the speakers. He took notes while I was speaking and asked some additional, personal questions. When he finished with that we sat there and continued chatting and, again, I felt that I did not need to use many words with Jim to achieve understanding. On December 6, 2000 before I was supposed to talk about the contributions of immigrants in our County, I was a little nervous. Mr. Rigo Chacon and Jim McEntee were on the stage, and when I climbed up there and looked at the two of them I felt so supported and encouraged, that I gained a special inspiration to talk about the power and strength of all of us who are immigrants. Having some previous stage experience, to me the stage became a magical spot again, but for that to happen, I needed Jim’s encouragement.

Between the end of 2000 and June of 2002 when Jim retired, I had a privilege to continue working in the same office. As always, I did not need to talk much with him. It was enough to see him in the morning and feel better for the rest of the day. My family and I joined others for an annual party at his house. Seeing his family and how modest they all were, I thought that the McEntee family and their life style were great role models for my daughter to see.
After Jim retired I called him at home several times for business reasons. He never forgot to ask about my daughter and my family. Every time I saw Jim or talked to him after he retired he sounded so relaxed and it seemed that he was enjoying his retirement. He visited Teresa’s and my office at the beginning of September of 2004, just several days before he died. A boy accompanied Jim, and Jim called him his new buddy. That was a nice scene to see, and that is how I want to remember Jim. He was always young at heart and basically optimistic. That spirit, his spirit, will always be here, at 70 W. Hedding, in San Jose, the San Francisco Bay Area, and will travel much further.

By Judy Rickard

Back in the 1970’s, when the fierce battle against gays and lesbians was forming in Santa Clara County, Jim McEntee was bombarded by strong-willed, determined church members, whose leader was Rev. Marvin Rickard of Los Gatos Christian Church, a forerunner of the huge community churches that grew and flourished in America in the ’70’s and ’80’s and expanded even more in the 21st century.

As an out lesbian, but not out to all relatives at the time, I was distressed that a member of my own family was working so hard to hurt me and my community. I wrote a letter to Marvin, told him I thought he was wrong, and asked to meet with him. I called up the Santa Clara County Human Relations Office and asked to meet with the director, who they said was Jim McEntee. I wanted to talk to him about the issues and seek his help on dealing with the contentiousness that I knew would only get worse.

I didn’t get my calls returned, so after a few tries, I went down to the building and found the office and asked to meet with Mr. McEntee. I was shown to his space and he did not look happy to see me. I explained who I was and he sort of interrupted me and said “Your people have been here a lot.” I was shocked. I had no idea gays and lesbians had already met with Jim. I said “I’m sorry to bother you. I didn’t know you had already met with the gay and lesbian community – I’m glad.”

He looked sort of confused, then sheepish, and said “You’re not with Marvin’s church?”
I said “No way!” I told him I had written to Marvin and told him I thought he was wrong. I told him that I did not agree with Marvin and was upset that there was so much support for the position and that they could rally troops to oppose human rights issues.

He smiled. We chatted. I left feeling like I had made a great new friend. I had!

Over the years, when we would sit at meetings together, walk picket lines together, eat at fundraising dinners together, I would realize what a stretch he had made that day. By assuming my same last name meant I believed the same things as my cousin, Jim could have not moved forward to make a good connection with me as a person or my community of gays and lesbians. Because we had so much interaction with various issues, I learned to trust and love him and his wonderful wife Ann. When my former partner and I had a commitment celebration, they were among the guests at our home.

Jim modeled the right behavior that first day we met – and all others. Always a man of conviction, he did the right thing then and again and again. He took the time to meet me and hear me out – and got a surprise in the bargain.

He pushed past assumption and found something surprising – a helper in the cause and a thankful community member.

God Bless You, Jim! You are sorely missed in the ongoing fight to get right with each other and the earth we share and depend upon.