June 29, 2025
Jinny Perrin Receives Lay Member Recognition Award
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Borrego Springs Leader Receives United Methodist Honor
Virginia “Jinny” Perrin has received the 2025 Lay Member Recognition Award from the South District of the California-Pacific Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, which includes San Diego, Imperial, and parts of Riverside and Orange counties. This Lay Member honor recognizes individuals who serve with consistent dedication in both their congregations and communities.
Jinny’s love of music began early. Both of her parents were music educators and church music leaders, and she held her first choir director position while still in college—directing a children’s choir. Over the decades, she has contributed in countless ways to the spiritual and cultural life of Borrego Springs. Among her many ongoing commitments, she also performs with the Flotilla of Flutes, sharing her talents beyond Community UMC and supporting music throughout the community.
Below is the official nomination submitted to the UMC Laity Board:
Virginia “Jinny” Perrin arrived in Borrego Springs August 1981, the new K-12 music teacher in our schools and began attending Community UMC. She stepped up to become the church musician in January 1984, following the untimely passing of our pastor, Norman Wright, who was also the pianist, organist, and choir director. Jinny immediately provided piano and choir music for Sunday worship and began taking organ lessons. After 4 lessons, the organ teacher suddenly passed. Jinny continued to study independently and became our very competent organist. During her 42 years serving as Music Director of Community UMC and working with the various pastors, she has enriched and enhanced our worship experiences and encouraged many others in contributing to ministry through music. She has worked with the children/youth programs over the years, provided music at additional holiday worships, weddings, and life celebrations. The music ministry Jinny provides, has drawn many people to worship and participate at Community.
Jinny is also active in the organization and operation of Community UMC. She serves as Chair of the Simple Board of Governance. She serves and advises the Trustees and continues to be active in caring for church property. If there is something that needs attention, Jinny is there to assist.
Beyond Community UMC, she helps plan and provide music at the ecumenical Thanksgiving and Easter Sunrise worship events of the Borrego Ministers Association, including co-organizing and conducting the annual religious themed Christmas concert. She is active in the community of Borrego Springs, providing and participating in music opportunities in Borrego Springs with the Performing Arts Center, the Community Concert Association, even going to the elementary school to lead holiday singing with the students, plus other music programs.
Since retiring from teaching, she spends summers at a family home in Iowa, which is located adjacent to Lake Okoboji United Methodist Camp/Retreat Center. There is a small chapel at the camp and Jinny helps to coordinate, support, and provide music at the chapel, which serves summer residents in the area.
This is but a brief overview of the many ways Jinny is active and shares her gifts in our church and community. We give thanks to God for her presence with us.
Jinny is a quiet leader, although not afraid to speak out when necessary. She is a vital and active contributor to the operation of the church. She gets things done. She shares the gift and joy of music with others, encouraging and welcoming others to join in the joyful noise. She is dependable, you can count on her to help. She is a respected and appreciated member of the Community UMC and the community of Borrego Springs. She is a true gift!
This award affirms Jinny’s decades of service in music, church leadership, and community involvement. Her commitment continues to enrich both Borrego Springs Community United Methodist Church and the broader Borrego Springs community.
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Source: PBS SoCal
Congratulations to Borrego Village Association (BVA) on being named a 2026 Career Pathways grantee. This funding will help local high school students gain hands-on training, internships, certifications, and real-world experience at Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Read below to learn more about this exciting opportunity for Borrego Springs. California State Parks and Parks California Award $2.4M in Career Pathways Grants to Prepare Next Generation of Park Leaders: Funding supports 13 organizations to provide paid training and expand access to careers in parks and public lands For Immediate Release: SACRAMENTO — California State Parks and nonprofit partner Parks California today announced the award of more than $2.4 million to 13 community and tribal organizations across the state as part of the Career Pathways grants program. The funding will support paid training opportunities expected to prepare approximately 380 participants for careers in parks and public lands and includes seven returning grantees and six new partners. Career Pathways enables statewide training that helps early-career adults and people exploring new directions to see parks as part of their future. The 13 grant recipients will work collaboratively with State Parks, with support from Parks California, to offer experiences and training in park operations and stewardship, such as wildfire resilience projects, trail building, habitat restoration and visitor services. Through hands-on learning, mentorship and career guidance, Career Pathways equips participants with the skills, experience and professional networks needed to pursue meaningful careers in public lands. “Our joint efforts to expand access to the outdoors is doing more than just reducing barriers for visitors – it’s also creating pathways to grow a skilled and diverse workforce of the next generation of stewards,” said California State Parks Director Armando Quintero . “These grants help plant the seed that will blossom into deeply rooted careers caring for California’s parks and public lands.” Grant funding is supported in part by State Parks’ Waterway Connections Initiative – part of the California Natural Resources Agency’s Outdoors for All Initiative – which focuses on expanding access to rivers, lakes and other inland waterways, including through workforce development. The Career Pathways grants program will provide approximately $5 million through 2029 to support the planning, development and implementation of workforce training programs statewide. “Careers in parks and public lands should be visible and accessible to everyone, not just those who already have a connection to these spaces,” said Kindley Walsh Lawlor, president and CEO of Parks California . “Career Pathways opens doors by creating real opportunities for people to gain experience and build necessary skills. By investing in community and tribal partners, we’re helping ensure future park leaders reflect the diversity of California.” “Expanding access to the outdoors also means expanding access to the careers that care for these places,” said California Secretary for Natural Resources Wade Crowfoot . “Programs like Career Pathways help connect Californians – especially those from underserved communities – to real opportunities to care for public lands, building a workforce that reflects our entire state and is prepared to meet California’s climate and conservation goals.” In addition to providing hands-on experiences, Career Pathways grantees also connect participants to job networks and provide career advice and additional resources, such as equipment, wages, meals and travel reimbursement. 2026 Career Pathways Grantees include: Lomakatsi Restoration Project – Northeastern California – Planning and Development grantee: Works with the Ajumawi Band of the Pit River Tribe and State Parks to develop a tribal workforce training program and restoration plan at Ahjumawi Lava Springs State Park, focused on reducing wildfire risk, improving ecological health, enhancing First Foods and other cultural resources, and creating career pathways for tribal young adults. Foundation for California Community Colleges – Statewide – Planning and Development grantee: Works with community colleges and State Parks to create training and internship opportunities that help build pathways to careers in interpretation, education, facilities and maintenance. Borrego Village Association – Inland Empire – Implementation grantee: Provides high school students with hands-on training and internships at Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, including field-based learning, park operations experience and industry-recognized certifications. Eastern Sierra Conservation Corps – Eastern Sierra – Implementation grantee: Offers a paid apprenticeship for corpsmembers to work alongside State Parks trail crews on large-scale projects, building leadership skills and hands-on experience to prepare for careers in park operations and conservation. --------------------- “The program allows us to provide an innovative initiative that prepares students and helps them gain the skills needed for careers with California State Parks, as well as in hospitality, public service and environmental interpretation,” said Jim Dion, executive director of Borrego Village Association . “Students in isolated communities such as ours often face limited access to career exploration opportunities, professional certifications and paid work-based learning. With this support, we can address these gaps by providing structured pathways into local and regional employment, particularly in public lands management, tourism and community-based organizations.” -------------------- “The funding from Parks California allows us to design an innovative pilot program to connect California State Parks with nearby California Community Colleges," said Courtney Cagle, workforce development manager at the Foundation for California Community Colleges. “With this support, we can build a robust pipeline of well-trained students to fill needed roles in education and interpretation, and facilities and maintenance at State Parks, while providing them the support to access sustainable and meaningful career pathways.”” A complete list of 2026 Career Pathways grants recipients is available online . Organizations have worked in partnership with selected state parks to implement multi-month training programs that provide participants with on-the-ground experiences. Results Snapshot 2024 Career Pathways grants program by the numbers: $1.7 million-plus invested in local partners. 15 grantees statewide. Approximately 250 participants. 93 percent of participants expressed interest in future parks careers. “I look at this program as a second chance for me and for other people who may not have the same opportunities as others, like getting a high school diploma,” said Julian Garcia, a 2024 Career Pathways participant with grantee Greater Valley Conservation Corps . “I get a lot of hands-on training with a lot of equipment that we run on projects and work sites. This program is really going to help me get to where I need to be in life.” Contact: California State Parks Newsroom@parks.ca.gov Parks California Media@parkscalifornia.org
Source: San Diego History Center
