Blue Lake Rancheria and California Scottish Rite Foundation Expand Access to Childhood Speech-Language Services on the North Coast

This is a press release from Blue Lake Rancheria:

The California Scottish Rite Foundation provides childhood speech-language, literacy, and education programs that help children improve communication skills, build confidence, and reach their full potential. Through its RiteCare Childhood Language Centers, the Foundation provides individualized services at no cost to families, supported by donors, grant funding, and community partnerships.

The new RiteCare Childhood Language Center of Northern California (a program of the California Scottish Rite Foundation) is currently being established within the Claudia Brundin Center, Blue Lake Rancheria’s medical and wellness facility. In September 2024, the health center’s cornerstone was set by the Grand Lodge of California, marking an important first step in the growing partnership between Blue Lake Rancheria and the Masonic community.

Blue Lake Rancheria will become the first Tribal Nation in California to host a RiteCare Childhood Language Center, creating expanded access to speech, language, and learning support services for children and families throughout the North Coast region. On May 18, the Scottish Rite Valley of Northern California hosted a Golf Scramble Tournament at Redwood Empire Golf & Country Club to support the initiative and raise community awareness.

Additionally, Blue Lake Rancheria will host Humboldt Lodge No. 79, Six Rivers Lodge 106 and the Grand Lodge of California on June 6, 2026 for another cornerstone ceremony at the T’am Resilience Campus, Blue Lake Rancheria’s newest training and emergency preparedness facility. The event will provide community members with an opportunity to witness one of the Grand Lodge of California’s public cornerstone ceremonies, a longstanding Masonic tradition symbolizing community investment, service, and partnership.

“This partnership reflects the California Scottish Rite Foundation’s commitment to bringing life-changing speech-language and literacy services closer to the children and families who need them,” said Art Salazar, Chairman and President of the California Scottish Rite Foundation. “By working with Blue Lake Rancheria, we are expanding access in the North Coast region through a trusted community partner that shares our commitment to children, families, education, and long-term community health.”

“This partnership represents an investment in the future of our children, our families, and the North Coast community as a whole,” said Blue Lake Rancheria’s Tribal Chairman, Jason Ramos. “By welcoming the RiteCare Childhood Language Center, we are creating greater access to critical speech, language, and learning support services for children who deserve every opportunity to thrive and succeed. We are proud to partner with an organization that shares our commitment to education, health, and building brighter futures for future generations.”