Press Coverage

2022

• North Bay Forty Under 40: Kaela Talafili

2021

• North Bay GIVES Award: Volunteer and Donors for Santa Rosa’s Becoming Independent (North Bay Business Journal)
• North Bay GIVES Award Winners (North Bay Business Journal)
• Becoming Independent Breaks Ground On New Program Headquarters
• Becoming Independent wins Latino Business Leadership Awards (North Bay Business Journal)
• Sonoma Valley Nonprofit Receives Catalyst Funds Grant
• Transform Former Manufacturing Building into “Dimensional” Program Headquarters
• Becoming Independent’s Headquarters Vision Comes to Life
• Becoming Independent’s HQ Vision Comes to Life
• Becoming Independent Expands Workforce Training (North Bay Business Journal)
• California bill seeks end to subminimum wages (The Press Democrat)
• Fair pay for workers with disabilities (North Bay Business Journal)
• Nonprofit builder Burbank Housing buys Sonoma County office building for expansion (North Bay Business Journal)
• Fair pay for workers with disabilities (North Bay Business Journal)
• Nonprofit builder Burbank Housing buys Sonoma County office building for expansion (North Bay Business Journal)
• BI sold one of it’s two Santa Rosa Campus buildings (Sonoma Index-Tribune)

2020

• Big Bottom Market Chef publishes new cookbook with proceeds going toward Becoming Independent (Sonoma West Times & News)
• Women in Business Award (The North Bay Business Journal)
• Helping is part of every season at Morton & Bassett Spices (The North Bay Business Journel via ABC 7 News)
• 2 Bay Area Men Overcome Personal Obstacles to Realize Dream of Becoming Sportscasters (KPIX Channel 5 CBS News)
• Bay Area Woman Heads Nonprofit to Help People with Disabilities Lead Independent Lives / Jefferson Award Winner, Luana Vaetoe (KPIX Channel 5 CBS News)
• Pursuing their passion: hopeful Santa Rosa Sportscasters get VIP treatment at Warriors game (The Press Democrat)
• Santa Rosa-based Becoming Independent expands programs across North Bay (The Press Democrat)
• Business Brief – Becoming Independent (North Bay Business Journal)
• Santa Rosa nonprofit Becoming Independent wins county contract for paper shredding (The Press Democrat)
• Becoming Independent wins County of Sonoma shredding business (The Community Voice)

2019

• Change requires we adapt (North Bay Business Journal)
• KCBS – BI Expands to Marin (KCBS)
• KSRO’s Pat Kerrigan, speaks to Luana Vaetoe, CEO of Becoming Independent  (KSRO)
• Close to Home: Building a model for independent living  (The Press Democrat)
• Becoming Independent Open its Marin County location on Dec. 5  (North Bay Business Journal)
• Becoming Independent – Celebrating the past and planning for the future  (Healdsburg Living)
• Becoming Independent Opens December 5 In San Rafael, Expands Service To Marin County  (Cision PR Newswire)
• New in Town: Becoming Independent opens in San Rafael  (Marin Magazine)
• San Rafael Gains Nonprofit for Disabled Adults  (Marin Independent Journal)
• Santa Rosa nonprofit Becoming Independent plans to expand into Marin County  (North Bay Business Journal)
• Peanut Butter Falcon: An Inspiring Screening  (The Press Democrat)

2018

• Marin-Sonoma Kaiser Cafe Partnership

2017

• Expanding Possibilities and Enriching Communities   (FHLB San Fransisco)
• Law enforcement and people with autism gather to teach each other   (The Press Democrat)
• Becoming Independent providing food service on SMART   (The Press Democrat)

2016

• Santa Rosa program eases autistic adults into life’s daily routines   (The Press Democrat)

2015

• Close to Home: Close the Sonoma Developmental Center? Let’s think this through first  (The Press Democrat)

2014

• Strong ties between Benziger winery, Becoming Independent  (The Press Democrat)