“Will I ever be normal again?” It’s not the sort of question you would expect from an eight-year-old. The counselor struggled with the answer. The young boy could feel normal again even after the passing of his mother. He could feel safe, happy, and hopeful. He just needed support, time, and the right tools. Since 1974, Hospice of Santa Barbara has equipped families with the tools needed to face the passing of a loved one or confront the end of life for themselves. The organization serves a diverse clientele, each struggling to face tragedy with a sense of peace. Steve Jacobsen, Executive Director, has found beauty in the human spirit’s quest to understand the meaning of life and death. “In hospice, when people are themselves facing the prospect of dying or the prospect of a loved one dying, that search for how to make sense of things becomes genuine,” says Steve. “I find it very moving to see how people come terms with things, when they do. There is a part of the beauty of the human spirit that becomes evident.” Hospice of Santa Barbara is the first of its kind on the west coast. After years of providing traditional hospice care, the organization developed a new method of operation. In 1990, it became a volunteer hospice that collaborates with professional nurses, doctors, caseworkers, and spiritual leaders to offer cost-free support to those in need. “[The medical] side of hospice comes with a lot of restrictions, regulations, and federal oversight that would cause us to be limited in what we could do for people,” Steve explains. “We don’t provide medical care and we don’t charge anybody for what we do which allows us to be involved as broadly and as deeply as the situation...

Sulzbacher Center is Northeast Florida’s largest provider of comprehensive services for homeless individuals.  The organization provides vital health, housing, educational, and career services to Jacksonville’s most vulnerable population. The organization adapts as the needs of the community change; what began as a center primary tailoring to chronically homeless men has expanded services to assist the growing number of homeless families. “We recently did a count in Jacksonville. While the amount of homeless veterans and chronically homeless individuals is going down in our city, the number of homeless families has increased,” says Allison Vega, Public Relations and Marketing Manager at Sulzbacher Center. The surge in homeless families began during the recession. “Families are often victims of crisis poverty,” begins Vega. “They lost jobs. They lost homes. They have nowhere else to go. This is the first time that they’ve ever been homeless. If you had asked me prior to the recession what had caused the majority of people to come to us, it would be substance abuse and mental health issues. Now, it’s overwhelmingly crisis poverty.” Sulzbacher Center created a family shelter with rooms that allow families to stay together. This facility houses about thirty families at any given time. Unfortunately, many families are placed on a waiting list. Families can obtain a variety of services through the center and its comprehensive campus of services. Primary care, dental, vision, and behavioral health specialists are on hand to provide on-site care. Families can seek counseling as individuals or as a group. Educational programming offers educational and emotional support to children who are facing one of the toughest phases in their lives. Though Sulzbacher Center has adapted to the increase in displaced families, the organization has not lost sight of its original demographic. The HOPE street team still makes...

According to the most recent report released by the Center for Disease Control, 22 percent of girls and 18 percent of boys in grades 9-12 reported being bullied at school. The National Association of School Psychologists estimates that is about 3.2 million children who face verbal and physical abuse at the hands of their peers. Although 71 percent of students report incidents of bullying as a problem at their school, most schools aren’t equipped to handle their concerns. Academy of Healing Arts (AHA! ) Santa Barbara hopes to change all of that, not just in local school districts but throughout the US. The organization strives to achieve its goal by beginning with those who bully and are bullied the most: school children. 67 percent of students believe that schools respond poorly to bullying and that adult help is often ineffective. By working directly with students, AHA! empowers youth to discourage bullying amongst themselves and become advocates of empathy and change. Molly Green, Development Director at AHA!, knows that strengthening the connection between children plays a key role in the solution to bullying. “If you’re connected to the person next to you, you’re less likely to harm them. Our program is always encouraging self-expression, empathy for the person next to you, and an understanding of commonality.” To forge these connections, AHA! staff creates counsel circles that bring together the bully, the person that was bullied, and anyone affected by the incident. Through a series of activities and conversations, students learn to share their circumstances, take responsibility for their actions, and learn how their actions impact other members of their community. AHA!’s principles are based on restorative approaches. Rather than punitive measures, like chastisement and expulsion, restorative approaches bring people together to connect, understand, and take...

The solution was obvious. If you can’t feed 100 people, then feed just one. It was a simple solution to a problem that didn’t exist. At least, that’s what Cheryl Jackson was told. As she educated on food insecurity in the area, many fellow residents pulled her aside to inform her that there were no hungry people in Plano, TX. “First, we had a problem educating people about the need. The need exists,” says Jackson. “They see people smiling but they don’t understand what could be going on in the background: if that smiling person earns minimum wage and they’re struggling to make ends meet or if they’re earning $11-12 per hour but that’s just not enough to support their families. Outside, everything can appear to be okay but people need help.” Jackson saw beyond the façade. In 2008, she pulled back the veil on food security and actively sought a solution by founding Minnie’s Food Pantry. She knew that the quality of food and consistency of availability would go a long way towards promoting health for North Texas families in need. She immediately sought out corporate sponsors and partnerships in addition to community contributions. Progress was slow at first but soon Minnie’s Food Pantry began to grow. Minnie’s couldn’t have come at a better time. Federal funds for SNAP food assistance were slashed by $5 billion. Families that were on the brink soon found themselves in desperate need. Ubiquitous job cuts lead to an increase in families who struggled with food security as the recession lingered. On several occasions, volunteers who once helped distribute food returned in need of assistance. “I had a management team from a huge corporation that came to volunteer. Before every group serves, I always tell them, ‘This could...

It has been over 10 years since The Marjorie Luke Theatre reopened its doors to the public. The performance venue, established in 1933, had passed through the hands of several owners before falling into a state of disrepair. It’s beautiful architecture, history, and Santa Barbarans’ notorious local pride triggered the restoration of the property. Now, the revitalized Luke Theatre is home to over 140 arts and educational organizations and countless visiting performers. Rick Villa, General Manager at The Luke Theatre has been helping dreams take stage since 2003. He became involved in the arts as a child, though when he entered college he took the sage advice to “have something you can fall back on” and majored in marketing and communications. That path led to an assistant position with the theater and ultimately to management. Since then, Villa has devoted his efforts to securing affordable access to the arts for Santa Barbarans and providing artists with a beautiful space in which to present their craft. The Luke Theatre does not produce its own shows. “We’re here to serve our community, offering an affordable house theater for anyone in our community to rent,” says Villa. Competitive pricing and an attractive space has enticed a wide range of performance troupes, school groups, local organizations, and bands to bring their talents to Santa Barbara. “[The pricing] attracts a lot of people to us and we get such a wide range of events coming through our doors, everything from operas to surf movies to plays and mariachi music,” says Villa. Though everyone is welcomed to rent the space, the theater has a special place in the hearts of youth organizations, many of which use the performing and visual arts as a tool for education. “Arts education is important...

Reach Out and Read is an evidence-based nonprofit organization of medical providers who promote early literacy and reading aloud. The organization operates in all 50 states, serving 4 million kids each year. Medical providers distribute 6.5 million books to children and supply parents with literacy advice to help families obtain the longer term benefits of reading aloud from birth. It’s never too early to promote literacy and language development, which is why the partnership between Reach Out and Read and physicians is so important.  “96 percent of kids see a pediatrician,” explains Judith Forman, Reach Out and Read’s Public Awareness Manager. “The pediatrician is the most common person outside of a home that a child sees in their first five years. We incorporate early literacy guidance into checkups since children are already going to the doctor, and parents view the pediatrician as a trusted figure.” Reading to babies and toddlers fills their word banks at an early age, establishing the foundation for academic success before they start kindergarten. By 18 months, children who are read to show greater intellectual processing skills than children whose parents did not read to them; by the age of three, the word gap–the number of words kids know—is already more than 30 million. From this stage, children are walking the path to failure or success as students. To proactively adress the word gap, the American Academy of Pediatrics recently issued a policy statement officially recommending literacy promotion via pediatricians. The announcement was made at the Clinton Global Initiative meeting as part of a partnership between the AAP, Reach Out and Read, Scholastic, and Hillary Clinton’s Too Small to Fail Organization of a partnership to raise awareness among parents about the importance of early language development. The news was feature...

Competition can be empowering. It doesn’t matter whether the competition takes place on a field, court or office. Knowing that you will go head-to-head with a worthy competitor encourages you to set goals, hone your skills, and believe that you are capable of emerging from the competition as a victor. You alone can forge the path to victory. Michelle Duke, Manager of Special Events and Volunteers at Special Olympics Santa Barbara, has seen the empowerment of competition at work in the athletes that she serves. From weekly practices to grueling four hour tournaments, Special Olympics athletes first challenge themselves before challenging their opponents. Their personal victories give them the confidence needed to tackle larger challenges in life. “We have an athlete who was incredibly shy. He really didn’t have any friends,” says Duke. “He got into our program and soon became a leader to other athletes. He took part in Global Youth Activation Summit where he was able to travel to Korea for the World Games. He served as an ambassador for Special Olympics. He really never would have been able to do it without the confidence that he gained with Special Olympics.” The experience empowered him with the skills needed to step out in other areas and live his life to the fullest. “Participation in the programs changes athletes’ outlook, social skills, and impacts their lives,” Duke says. Through Special Olympics, athletes also gain a support system that provides encouragement and camaraderie. Without such programing, many adults living with developmental disabilities can lead solitary lives; it can be challenging to relate to others. “Being in Special Olympics helps [athletes] connect with people of their same background, people who understand them,” says Duke.  The social aspect of the games strengthens self-esteem, builds character, and...

The needs of our neighbors aren’t always evident.  When Sharon Johnston served as the president of Irving Women’s Network (IWN) from 2004-2006, the organization was shocked to discover that there were over 1,000 homeless teenagers in their town. Johnston immediately called the  school district’s homeless liaison to figure out how such a need could be overlooked. “I discovered that most of them were couch surfing or  doubling up – multiple families living in one small home or apartment,” says Johnston. While many families avoid life on the streets, they are still unable to make ends meet. Among other things, the growing children lack adequate clothing.   Johnston, a resourceful leader, quickly gathered a budget from IWN and purchased one hundred pairs of jeans, one hundred T-Shirts and one hundred hoodies. “That’s the unisex thing that everyone is wearing, kind of a uniform for teens,” Johnston laughs. She contacted Project PASS and had the clothing distributed to local teens. A similar system continued for several years. In 2009, Johnston joined forces with four other women to form Advocates for Homeless Teens. Through a triad partnership with IWN, Stein Mart- Las Colinas and Dignity U Wear (a national charity founded by an Auschwitz survivor) they received 16 commercial-sized boxes of clothing but they had no place to store or distribute the apparel. The fledgling organization rallied support from local leaders, getting their major breakthrough with the Mayor. Johnston would have been happy with a climate controlled storage unit but through the Mayor’s connections she was given access to a 6,090 square-foot building that was formerly an antiques mall. “It was a hot mess,” Johnston admits. The hole-pocked walls were covered in multicolored paint, capped off with a retro border. AllState Insurance Corporate office supplied 45 volunteers on Martin...

Candlelight Ranch provides nature-based camps for children with special needs. By customizing experiences to accommodate each group, children receive the care that they deserve as well as the challenges and opportunities that they crave. Public Relations and Marketing Chair, Adrienne Hagler, has served Candlelight Ranch for four years. The joy of working with a nonprofit was the supplement she needed in the routine of her everyday life. “To feel good when you wake up every day makes a difference,” says Hagler. “It’s not just happiness in your own life but in many lives, the majority of those who are children, some who have special needs and some who are at risk. It feels good be involved in something that promotes development and wellness in a natural environment.” Personal development and wellness is a focal point for Candlelight Ranch. Camp programs foster a sense of independence, self-confidence, and exploration. “A lot of kids who have special needs don’t serve their own plates at breakfast or wash up on their own or brush their own teeth,” begins Hagler. “A day at camp at Candlelight Ranch, these kids are encouraged to do it on their own.” Activities start first thing in the morning: outdoor excursions, soaring over the canyon on zip lines, hiking down to fresh water springs, or testing their bravery on a suspended ropes course. All activities are made accessible for participants. An all-terrain wheelchair offers kids the opportunity to tackle rugged terrain with their peers. Even the tree house is wheelchair accessible, providing a rare opportunity for kids with mobility issues to fulfill a typical childhood dream. Each activity instills self-confidence and opens a world of possibilities for the children. While the physical activities strengthen their bodies and their sense of personal accomplishment, Candlelight Ranch’s...

Yardi’s former Vice President of Client Services, Michelle Howard, now serves as Development Director at Wilderness Youth Project (WYP). Her passion for the environment prompted the career change. Yet after nine years of service, she has realized that the nonprofit’s scope extends beyond Mother Nature: WYP prepares children for a future in environmental stewardship while simultaneously closing the achievement gap. “Our nature programs are a tool to accomplish so much more,” says Howard. The Wilderness Youth Project uses educational outdoor excursions to improve children’s chances for academic and social success. Programs enrich the lives of students in three areas. Reversing Nature-Deficit Disorder Children spend 90 percent of their time indoors. This disconnect with nature, or nature-deficit disorder as many now call it, can result in higher stress levels, hyperactivity, depression, anxiety, mental and physical fatigue. Research demonstrates that children’s propensity for stress and symptoms of ADD/ADHD decreases when they spend time in nature. A study by the University of Illinois suggests that exposure to nature improves mood, cognitive functioning, and self-discipline. WYP offers programs throughout the year to help families reconnect with the natural environment, paving the way for improved mental and physical health. Activities range from calming hikes and wildlife studies to more rigorous lessons in survival skills and team sports. Fighting the Summer Slide Once the school year ends, children are faced with a gap in their education. Howard explains, “If you take kids from middle income families that have access to resources and compare them to similar kids living in poverty—both can have the same education at the end of the semester with the same grades—but when they come back together in the fall the kids who have access to summer enrichment resources are significantly ahead of the kids who don’t.” The difference is called the summer slide....

The list of what children need for school seems to be growing. What’s more challenging is that the materials aren’t affordable for everyone. The National Retail Federation reported that on average, parents will spend $688.62 on preparing a single child for school. For most of us, we simply cough up the extra cash so that our kids, nieces, and nephews can be fully prepared for whatever the school year brings. With new shoes and fully-stocked backpacks, we rest confident that they have what they need to succeed. But that’s not a reality for all children. Many hardworking parents are struggling to provide the basic clothing their kids need for school, much less are they able to furnish the growing list of required supplies. That’s where Cradles to Crayons steps in. The nonprofit organization reaches out to homeless and low-income families, providing children from birth through age 12 with the essentials that they need to thrive at school, at home and at play. Items are provided through monetary contributions and through the donations of gently used clothing and shoes. The simply yet effective model has drawn admiration. Elizabeth Farley, Cradles to Crayon’s Communications Consultant in Boston, was attracted to the organization as an AmeriCorps volunteer. After her service, she decided to stay on board. “The model is so efficient and effective. It just makes so much sense,” says Farley. “There are children who have so many things, so much excess of clothing, toys, and books—sometimes things they never use—and on the other hand there are children in the same states, sometimes in the same neighborhood, who don’t have any of those things and they need them. It’s affecting their lives that they don’t have those things. It’s a very simple model with a strong impact.”...

Throughout its 40-year history, Ascentia has maintained family and unity as the priorities of its manufactured home communities. The Mercy Fund helps the company fulfill its mission, making a positive mark in the lives of residents that can never be erased. After gaining valuable information at a YASC conference four years ago, Yardi client, Ascentia, embarked on a transformation. The company instituted a multifamily model to manage its 7,000 units of mobile homes, reaching a unique market of consumers who were not interested in traditional apartment life or the ties of a mortgage. Amy McKelvy, director of training and development, calls the communities “single-level apartments with grass yards.” “Most of our residents now are young families with children and at least one pet. It’s difficult for them, in some locations, to find affordable living that allows them to have the freedom and the privacy that most people enjoy,” says McKelvy. The multifamily model for mobile homes has experienced great success. Yet through its growth, the family-owned company hasn’t lost sight of its original emphasis on the importance of family and community. The Mercy Fund ensures that Ascentia can support its tenants like relatives. The Mercy Fund is the brainchild of founder B.M. Vukovich, created to help residents through difficult financial times. Employees, investors, residents and other third party participants are encouraged to make donations to the fund throughout the year. The funds are then dispersed to residents with dire need. “The atmosphere inside is that, not only is the staff family but our residents are our family as well,” says McKelvy. The autumn floods that swept through Colorado tested the company’s commitment to its extended family. In September of 2013, the Boulder metropolitan area suffered a deluge, dumping more than 17 inches of water...

Since 2001, Saskatoon Community Youth Arts Programming (SCYAP) has offered free visual and graphic arts training to aboriginal youth. Students can chose any of 13 afterschool programs, seven First Nation reserve courses, or attend sessions at SCYAP headquarters.  In each setting, the organization provides a safe, encouraging space where youth can hone their art, transforming their raw talent into a source of hope, personal achievement, and income. Founder and Executive Director Darrell Lechman holds an extensive background in social services specializing in aboriginal youth. Through SCYAP, he is able to blend his skills as a youth advocate with his enthusiasm for the arts. It’s the perfect fit. “SCYAP has continued for 13 years because we are passionate about what we do,” says Lechman. But it takes more than passion to undo the effects of 130 years of systematic injustice towards one demographic.  That’s why SCYAP uses art to gradually build trust and accountability. Both tools can ultimately lead to youth who are feel valued and are valuable contributors to society. Over 70% of SCYAP participants are of aboriginal ancestry. These youth face challenges that are unique to their situation: in addition to the barriers of poverty, youth experience prejudice, racism and classism that can result in distrust. In order for SCYAP staff to reach each student, they work consistently to build trust. “Without trust, the program is superficial,” says Lechman. Simultaneously, SCYAP uses art to instill responsibility and self-worth. Impoverished youth who have two working parents, or a single working parent, may not receive the accountability needed to foster responsibility at home. “There’s about 60 hours outside of school where kids are with friends or alone,” estimates Lechman. “If we can put them in an environment where they have some guidance, mentorship—where they can...

At the Massachusetts Adoption Resource Exchange, Inc.  (MARE), family isn’t always a group of people united by genes. Family is a matter of commitment, will, and compassion. Children enter state foster care on a temporary basis so that the problem in the their birth families (usually neglect or violence) can be investigated and resolved. Foster parents sign up to provide safe, loving temporary care. They often do not know if it will be a few days or a few months until the children can leave foster care and be reunited with their birth families. Janice Halpern, Director of Public Relations and Fundraising at MARE, explains that it doesn’t always work that way: “Most people sign up to provide temporary care for those who need temporary care. For some children, it becomes clear that the problems in the birth families cannot be fixed in time for the children to have a childhood there, so the children’s goal changes to adoption. 25 percent of kids in foster care have the goal of adoption.” These children need “forever families.” While many foster parents do adopt the children they have fostered, many more are not able to make that life-long commitment. MARE connects children in state foster care who are in need of adoption with adults looking to adopt. The organization educates the public about adoption from foster care and recruits potential parents for more than 750 waiting children each year.  Interested adults work closely with social workers to create a Home Study report, which serves as a profile that case workers use to tentatively match children with a forever family. “The Home Study interviews and training are a way to help the family figure out what characteristics of a child they feel they would be a good match,” says...

When it comes to thinking outside of the box, the Lobero Theatre Foundation nailed it. In 1994, the foundation created a storytelling performance piece for children as part of its literary outreach program. Donning masks, costumes, and a slew of boxed props, three actors set out to perform a one-season show. It was such a success that the troupe was asked to create several more performances. By 2004, Boxtales Theater Company had become the only professional company that creates original works in Santa Barbara. The company takes its unique performances on tour throughout the region, enriching the lives of children and adults through mythology. Boxtales brings timeless tales to life through the use of storytelling, masks, music, and creative movement. The combination of methods helps to inspire viewers’ creativity and expands their imaginations. All the while, audiences learn lessons in diversity, tolerance, and a dash of good old fashioned ethics. Matthew Tavianini, Managing Director of Boxtales, believes that mythology is such a powerful tool because it can use metaphors to educate. The genre’s potential for layers helps Boxtales achieve its goals without feeling too contrived. “We want our performances to be educational,” Matthew begins. “At the same time, we want them to be entertaining and capture their imaginations without being preachy, hitting them over the head with the metaphor frying pan, so that there is no engagement of imagination and intellect.” Children respond well to mythology’s fantastic worlds of talking animals, living landscapes, and beings of spectacular power. Their receptivity makes Boxtales’ student programming  a huge success. Professional actors visit schools during the academic year to conduct workshops. The organization also hosts camps throughout the summer. Through a series of games and activities, Boxtales helps children develop a multitude of skills. One popular summer...

Storyteller Children’s Center provides preschool education and support services for at-risk children and their families. The organization began in 1988 as a half-day preschool out of Transition House, with a parking lot for a playground. Over 25 years later it is a thriving organization with two locations, a dedicated staff, and a constant waitlist for student enrollment. “We’ve never not had a waitlist,” says Joya Thomas, Development Associate at Storyteller. “Even after opening our second site in 2007 we still have about 80 families on the list at any given time. This shows that the need is really great.” The need is great, indeed. 2013 census data by the American Community Survey reveals that the poverty rate in Santa Barbara County rested at 16.3 percent in 2012, higher than the national overage of 15 percent. According to the Santa Barbara View, there are nearly 1,500 homeless individuals living in the area. Many Storyteller students come from such families that struggle with housing, food security, and access to other basic necessities. Challenging home conditions have an adverse affect on children’s development, often creating lasting obstacles in their path to academic success. “If a child has experienced trauma, like most children at Storyteller have, there are behavioral and emotional effects of this that affect their ability to focus or follow instructions. If a child has never had the opportunity to develop cooperative relationships or skill-building activities in a classroom setting before they enter kindergarten, it’s unlikely that they’ll do well or develop a confident view of their abilities,” Joya explains. “That negative self-image and accompanying academic failure often build on one another throughout grade school and is one of the factors that leads to dropping out of high school, which is the trajectory that these children...