A Dos Pueblos High School program that targets students at risk of dropping out of high school has proven its success, graduating 100 percent of the students who participated from 2009-2012. As a result, The Academy at Dos Pueblos High School is expanding, and the 32 students currently participating in the focused, supportive education experience will be joined by a second cohort of sophomores in Fall 2013. More often than not, their school life was being made challenging by difficult home lives, lack of support for their studies and sometimes conflict. Of the 32 students who were part of the Academy’s first class, most admitted they were at risk of leaving school altogether if they stayed on a traditional track, said Kelly Choi, Academy Director. Others were likely to have become involved with gangs or drugs. “The idea was to embrace these kids and not let them fall off the radar. They need a connection here at school to make them interested in staying at school,” Choi said. The 32 Academy students stay with their classmates for all of their classes, and have the same teachers for their core classes (math, English, science and social studies) during all three years of the program. The idea of sticking with the same group of 32 for three years is unique in a high school setting, where students typically bounce from group to group in classes, clubs, sports teams, and social settings. The Academy’s “school family” brings support and accountability, which the students may not have at home. And it requires mediating past personality conflicts so that the group can stay cohesive, a valuable life skill. For the recently graduated seniors, it was the part of the program “that they hated the most in the beginning, but...
Giving Back
Corporate Challenge food drive
Editors’ note: Yardi Systems is proud to be participating in the Corporate Food & Funds Drive Challenge to benefit the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County this year. Thanks to Candice Tang Nyholt, Surfmedia Communications, for the summary of this worthy effort and photo. SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The competitive spirit surrounding Foodbank’s annual Corporate Food & Funds Drive Challenge is growing each year. The Corporate Challenge is a friendly competition among local businesses to collect the most points for donated food, funds and volunteer hours all benefitting those in need in Santa Barbara County. The inaugural year kicked off with four companies participating in 2009, with Deckers Outdoor Corporation claiming the title. This year, the number of participants has doubled with local companies such as Deckers Outdoor Corporation, Channel Technologies Group, Citrix, Mentor, Yardi Systems, Network Hardware Resale, Ergomotion and Pacific Diagnostics joining forces to help the Foodbank and compete for the 2012 title. (From left to right) Christen Portillo (Yardi), Camie Barnwell and Heather Lahr (Citrix), Erin Ervin and Ariana Arcenas-Utley (Deckers), and Anna Markmann (Yardi) with Jane Lindsey, Foodbank Chief Development & Resource Officer, represent just some of the local companies participating in the Foodbank’s Annual Food & Funds Drive Corporate Challenge. New to this year’s challenge is the introduction of “Kate” – the face of the Corporate Challenge. Kate, an animated depiction of a young girl, represents any individual who is struggling with food insecurity in our county. This year’s drive strives to put a face on the sometimes faceless issue of hunger and food insecurity in our region. People can view a video about Kate and her family on Foodbank’s homepage at www.foodbanksbc.org. Through November, participating companies have already collectively raised $16,000, volunteered 42.5 hours and collected 1,000 pounds of food. Citrix was in the lead through November with 166 points per employee and Ergomotion a close second with 149 points. (A point system is designed with an employee ratio to ensure that organizations of all sizes can compete equally). “It’s part of Yardi’s culture to give back to the community,” said Anna Markmann, Yardi Systems Event Planner, Administration. “We’ve been participating in the Foodbank’s Food & Funds Drive Corporate Challenge since it began and find it very fulfilling.” “The spirit of competition is alive and well amongst our 2012 Corporate Challenge participants,” said Erik Talkin, CEO, Foodbank of Santa Barbara County. “It is a testament to the dedication of our local business community, who continue to serve and enhance our region through their time, talent and support. These efforts are especially appreciated this time of year, when there are so many in our community in need of nourishment and some holiday cheer.” The 2012 Corporate Challenge runs through late December and there are many ways for other members of the community to participate. Individuals can establish their own Food & Funds Drive or can drop off non-perishable food at both the Santa Barbara and the Santa Maria Foodbank warehouses, Mon – Fri 7:30 AM – 4:30 PM. You can also participate in a virtual food drive online, which lets people shop and make a donation to the Foodbank. To learn more, please visit www.foodbanksbc.org/holidayfooddrive.html. About the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County The Foodbank is celebrating 30 years of eliminating hunger and food insecurity by distributing nutritious food, education, and other resources through its own programs and to a network of 290 member non-profit agencies and programs in Santa Barbara County. In 2011, the Foodbank distributed 11 million pounds of food – translating into more than 8.5 million meals – of which fully half was fresh produce. This served over 102,000 unduplicated people from Carpinteria to Santa Maria, an amazing 1 in 4 people. For the fifth consecutive time, the Foodbank has recently been given a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, America’s largest and most-utilized independent evaluator of charities. Only 4% of the charities rated...
