2015-2016 Newsletter
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CHANGING THE WORLD STARTS AT HOME Photo Credit: Ben Miller DOES APCH REALLY MATTER? How do we quantify the impact schoolers graduate. What is the value of providing of our work? That’s the million-dollar More than 300 students from South such an array of FREE programs for question these days for nonprofits – L.A. have received APCH scholarships youth and families? How much do our funders want to know if they are mak- totaling more than $3,000,000 for programs prevent in social services • ing a good investment. Fair enough, tuition, living expenses and books. paid out, unemployment and disability there are a lot of things we actually Nationally, 2/3 of minority students benefits? Law enforcement, justice who are first in their families to go A PLACE CALLED HOME can count… system and incarceration costs? Graf- 80% of the families we serve live on to college drop out in their first year. fiti abatement, property loss, violent annual incomes of under $23,000. When we send a student to college we crime? Hospitalizations, drug rehab We serve an average of 300 youth provide wraparound support. Result: programs, and funerals? How much tax 8-21 years old each day (more if you 90% retention. revenue is generated when our gradu- count our 74 college scholars) and 900- We serve 75-80,000 meals per year, ates get good jobs and pay into the 1,000 unique individual youth annually. and we distribute 5,000 bags of grocer- system? What is the value of the inven- Over 22 years, we’ve served more than ies to families in need. tions and entrepreneurial successes our 18,000 youth. Our retention rate is 90% Our members scan in when they alums generate? How do we measure and turnover is low, so our waiting list arrive at APCH, so we know there were the results of our parenting classes, is 500-600. more than 77,000 visits last year and financial literacy and driver’s education? In addition to our regular pro- 214,000 hours of instruction, tutoring, What is healthy diet, safety, stability and grams, we serve 10,000+ community the arts, athletics, counseling, garden- happiness worth? members annually via festivals, food ing, college prep, and more. What is the value of thousands of giveaways, movie screenings, farmers To see more, please visit our web- lives turned around and aspirations markets, etc. site: apch.org and click on: THINGS realized? Lives not lost? Crimes not Our neighborhood public schools WE COUNT. committed? • graduate around 50% of their stu- IS THERE A TANGIBLE RETURN To be honest, we don’t have those dents from high school and the rest ON APCH’S INVESTMENT numbers… but can you imagine the 2015-2016 drop out. At APCH 90% of our high IN YOUTH AND FAMILIES? cost of APCH not doing our work? OUR MISSION WHAT'S INSIDE A Place Called Home is a safe haven in South Central Executive Director Message 2 Los Angeles where underserved youth are empowered Programs 3-9 to take ownership of the quality and direction of their lives Alum Voices 9 through programs in education, arts, and well-being Community 10 and are inspired to make a meaningful difference Events 11 in their community and the world. List of Donors 12-14 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE YOUTH VOICES we share a set of values: Respect WITHOUT YOU Empathy You said Accountability Keep your eyes wide open Courage You might see Hope See that face APCH is a community within a You community within a community, and Haven’t seen more and more of our young people In almost three years are attending far flung colleges and My dear traveling the country and the globe. I said They are REACHing beyond our walls I won’t have to worry and past the horizon... and they are Home is a place No I won’t day. How do we overcome ancient carrying something to make a collec- Where we can see each other’s hearts Shed no tears fears and scars and the barriers and tive impact on the world. No stress A Place Called Home is about wounds of modern day injustice to No pain strengthening connections between find “home” in each other? My dear us. When we say, “Changing the world At A Place Called Home we focus See Daddy I love you enough starts at home,” what we mean is that on nourishing shared values and Jonathan Zeichner To let the past go change starts inside you and me and aspirations. Each day we greet our Executive Director extends out to everyone with whom members and colleagues with love And Daddy I can’t say enough we interact… and beyond. and respect. We commit to intention- No matter where you To let you know As the world gets smaller and more al evolution as people and as a are coming from -- by Tamia, Age 15 fragile, our destinies as human beings community. Whether in the garden, Or where you are going APCH Member are more deeply interwoven every kitchen, athletic field, or dance studio, Home is a state of mind Come meet the friendly and dedicated staff at APCH. Sign up today to join one of our monthly tours: http://bit.do/APCHTour APCH STAFF NEWS! APCH is about love and family, and nate to attract such talented and please visit our website and click on we joyfully congratulate our dedicated staff and volunteers. If EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES. We Volunteer Manager Sarah you’re interested in working at APCH, are growing, so check back often! Kimbrough who had a baby in 2015; Dance Coordinator Jewel Delegall and Case Manager Carolina Perez, APCH has served more who both got engaged; Athletic than 18,000 young people Coach Alex James and Dance since we opened our Assistant Enid Cortes, who both got doors in 1993. More than married; and Associate Director of 300 members cross our Teen Services Lucretia Taylor who threshold each day, and got her PhD! We’d also like to wel- we have 74 APCH Shaheen come all our new staffers! We’re fortu- scholars in college. 2 DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS MESSAGE sible to respond to the volume with- leaders of our programs: Charyn Harris out fully embracing the small in Music, Lucretia Taylor in Teen WITH individual encounters we as staff ex- Services, Jewel Delegall in Dance, perience with members and parents Jorge Caughman in Nutrition, Monica GRATITUDE daily. That’s the real story and joy of Sahagun in Educational Services, Alex this agency. The list of accomplish- James in Athletics, Bernyce Talley in AND ments is long, exciting, groundbreak- Art, Lorena Endara in Digital Media, ing and inspiring, but they pale in and Ana Maria Perez Paulino in BEST WISHES comparison to that one moment, that Membership and Parent Services. Change is part of the life cycle for all one conversation, that one spark These are extraordinary community living organisms, and A Place Called When asked recently what I do for a when the kindling is lit and the realiza- servants and it’s been an honor to Home is no different. With love and living, I rattled off the obligatory refer- tion sets in a young person’s eyes that work alongside them. After six dedi- thanks, we bid farewell, but not ences: “I’m Director of Programs at A they can author their own dreams. So, cated and extraordinarily productive goodbye, to two leaders at APCH. Place Called Home and I oversee most the sacred answer to the question of years, I pass the baton and my com- Director of Programs Tarabu Betserai of the programs at our agency.” what I do, and what we do, is… we in- mitment to the success of APCH for Kirkland and Director of Usually after I provide a little detail spire dreams. years to come. Communications Scott Culbertson about those programs and services, There is an unbelievable team of have both made tremendous the response is, “that’s a big job.” But people that lifts up this vision every- contributions to our work and in the I’ve realized after six years at this won- day - more than I can mention in this Tarabu Betserai Kirkland lives of thousands of young people at derful agency that it would be impos- message, but you should know the Director of Programs APCH, and we will miss seeing them on campus and working with them every day… but they have both pledged to stay involved. Thank you, gentlemen. APCH 2015 - A SUMMER TO REMEMBER! We wish you great fulfillment and joy in your new adventures. You will always As interns this summer, we have a home at A Place Called Home. witnessed hundreds of young lives being changed, and in the process so were ours. It was incredibly inspiring both to see members discovering new and varied ways to embrace and channel their talents, and to participate with so many committed staff and Leadership Circle: Leonardo Cuadrado, volunteers who provided a positive Yvonne Styles, Scott Culbertson, influence and encouragement to launch Tarabu Betserai, Jonathan Zeichner, Di Lam the kids towards bright futures. Members were thrilled to go on 98 The best way to find yourself is to extraordinary field trips, creating lasting lose yourself in the service of others and defining memories, and we were - Mahatma Gandhi moved every time by the excitement in their eyes and their overjoyed voices. They dived into the waters of Catalina Island, learned to tend and ride horses, attended Dodgers games, trained with professional athletes they admired, and much more.