Transforming our community

Almost every day we receive updates from our partners sharing with us how their work is positively impacting others. We love getting this news! Here is a sampling of the positive impact in our community that we’ve learned just this past month. If you read something that speaks to your interests and want to learn more, please reach out to us or directly to the organization highlighted.

News from our partners

The partners highlighted provided the information below:

Last year, Free to Thrive worked with CA Assemblyman Jim Patterson to pass AB 262 to help streamline the process for clearing criminal records of victims of human trafficking. Much of the work the organization does is to help survivors avoid incurring criminal records in situations where they were a victim, not a criminal. Read more about their positive impact here.

 

 

Access Youth Academy and how it helps youth “score success” was featured on NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt. Watch the interview with Renato Paiva, Executive Director, who shares his passion for helping underserved youth. (Access Youth Academy was a 2013 i2 Awardee.)

 

 

 

Kitchens for Good made the front cover (and “above the fold” which they proudly pointed out) of the Food Section in the San Diego Union Tribune which featured the success of its culinary apprenticeship program Project Launch, which prepares people who have experienced barriers to employment, for hospitality jobs. Read the U-T story.

 

 

 

 

 

Olivewood Gardens & Impact Center released their annual impact report. Even with Covid restrictions and reduced opportunities to gather for learning and sharing, Olivewood was able to make good progress toward its mission to inspire youth and adults to be healthy and active citizens through organic gardening, environmental stewardship and nutrition education. See full impact report.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rise Up Industries shared their annual newsletter with us. Read about the success they’re having with their Reentry Program for the recently incarcerated. Due to their efforts and community fundraising, more people will be given a second chance to build a better future for themselves and their family. Access the newsletter here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

San Diego Oasis connects mature adults with the world and each other through their Digital Divide Program.
Meet James (left) and Gerald (right).
“Both recipients have never used technology before, but bonded during the training and quickly became friends. In fact, once Gerald found out that James does not have any personal mode of transportation, he drove James home to save him the long journey back home on public transportation.” – David Beevers, North County Manager, San Diego Oasis. For information on this and other Oasis program offerings, visit here.
 

 

 

 

Staff news

Garrick Wong, Senior Director of Strategy, was featured this month in the Member Spotlight of Asset Funders Network.
“Through a racial equity lens, we apply an objective analysis to all our funding programs including impact investing and social innovation. One change we have made recently is a move towards resident-informed funding and participatory grantmaking. Community residents will increasingly become involved in several of our funding programs in support of ensuring an inclusive, diverse, and impactful grantmaking process.” – Garrick Wong

What’s inspiring us

The Lucky Duck Foundation will soon be introducing a $1 million region-wide employment and job training initiative for unsheltered San Diegans. For more details, join the Homeless Symposium zoom meeting on January 25 (11a-2p). | RSVP to Cyndi Casillas

Ever thought about trading your home and significantly downsizing to an Airstream? One of our Trustees, James Beaubeaux and his wife Carmen, did just that. They have been exploring the U.S. and continuing their work remotely since 2016. The San Diego Union Tribune recently caught up with them to share their story. (photo: San Diego Union Tribune) | Live vicariously here.

 

Are you interested in equity in the South Bay and Border Communities of San Diego County? Partnerships 4 Success invites you to become a member of its coalition. The coalition aims to work collaboratively in planning, action and advocacy to reduce substance abuse among the Latino population by focusing on the unfair neighborhood conditions that are negatively impacting health, such as inequitable access to parks or green space; lack of access to healthy food, and limited services and resources. | For more information contact
p4s@publicstrategies.org

4 Days Left to Apply

2022 Innovation Initiative (i2) $1 Million Challenge Grant
APPLY HERE