VOL 2, 2016 AVIVA BELIEVES EVERY CHILD AND EVERY FAMILY DESERVES THE CHANCE FOR A BRIGHTER FUTURE Ellen Pompeo and Philosophy Spaces for Living Recognize Aviva Thanks to the support of a $10,000 At a Hope & Grace Initiative reception earlier this fall, grant from Macy’s, Aviva’s implemented Spaces for Living at the Wallis Annenberg Grey’s Anatomy’s star, Ellen Pompeo and Philosophy Residential Treatment Center. The Spaces presented Aviva with a $10,000 donation on behalf of for Living program was based on the the beauty brand’s Hope and Grace Initiative. During recognition that color, light, special designs the event, Pompeo spoke about Aviva’s dedication and texture have an impact on everyone’s to providing emotional state. community mental health services and support to at-risk children and families. “Aviva is very dear to my heart. It’s so important that we do anything we can to help our kids have some New living room creates a warm setting for residents to visit shot at a future,” with family members. Pompeo said. Jessica Bianchi, Aviva’s lead art therapist and a teacher at UCLA’s Visual and In 2014, Philosophy Performing Arts Education Program, established its Hope along with several UCLA undergraduate Aviva President and CEO Regina Bette with Ellen Pompeo of Grey’s Anatomy. continued on page 4 continued on page 4 INSIDE THIS ISSUE PLATINUM ASSOCIATE’S BOARD MESSAGE MILTON BROWN’S FAREWELL 2 6 LUNCHEON 1O YOGA4AVIVA/ALTERNATIVE WELCOME TO THE BOARD/ DONOR RECOGNITION 3 HEALTH APPROACHES 8 11 NEW SEWING ARTS CENTER DIGITAL MEDIA LAB/ IN-KIND GIFT DONORS/ BACK CHRISTMAS WISH LISTS 5 TEENS & STAFF WALK 9 IN-HONOR & IN-MEMORY Aviva Connects the Community, Mind and Body On World Mental Health Day, we were reminded that one in five Americans lives with mental illness. Unfortunately, we know stigma around mental health conditions can be so deep-seated that it’s often a deterrent to seeking help. Beyond that, treatment can be complex, drawing on a range of approaches–from therapy to physical wellness. First, reduce the stigma Thanks to the generous support from the Public Relations Society of America/Los Angeles chapter and its Don Perkins Grant, Aviva launched a public education campaign to fight the mental health stigma within Los Angeles’s Latino community earlier this year. Through Spanish–language radio interviews, television appearances and newspaper articles, Aviva therapists educated families about ways to support their children’s mental health, and provided a road-map for parents seeking help. Empowering the most vulnerable among us: Putting research into action When it comes to treatment, research has demonstrated again and again the mind/body The great connection, and the power of integrating physical wellness into mental health support. thing in At Aviva’s Wallis Annenberg Residential Treatment Center, innovative therapeutic this world approaches include our “Nourish to Flourish” healthy eating program, as well as yoga, is not so dance and movement therapy activities. Aviva is now recognized as a national leader in offering “holistic wellness” alongside the therapeutic services, support and guidance we much where provide at-risk children and families. we stand, as in what Family Resource Center This year, Aviva repurposed our former Aviva High School building into a Family Resource direction we Center. It is not only home to Aviva’s Foster Family and Adoption Agency; it houses our are moving. new Digital Media Lab, Creative Arts and Sewing Center and Family Resource Closet. We will launch exciting volunteer opportunities in 2017 and welcome donations of new and Oliver gently used clothing and household items for our clients and families in need. Wendell Together, we can have a tremendous impact in our community. We hope you will join Holmes Aviva as we continue to build brighter futures for our community. Genevieve Haines, Esq Regina Bette, LMFT Board Chair President and CEO BOARD OF DIRECTORS OFFICERS BOARD OF DIRECTORS Cheryl M. Snow Barbara Lazaroff AVIVA FAMILY AND Board Chair Dellen Arthur Jonathan M. Werner Lauren Leichtman CHILDREN’S SERVICES Carolyn Bloom Arthur Levine Genevieve Haines COUNCIL OF GUARDIANS 7120 Franklin Avenue, Robin Broidy Linda May President & CEO Los Angeles, CA 90046 Wrenn Chais Elliott Broidy Richard Sherman Regina Bette, LMFT Leslie Kavanaugh Susan Casden Sharon Stone Tel: (323) 876-0550 Vice Chairs Lola Levoy Hon. Gray Davis Carolyn Strauss Fax: (323) 436-7042 Barbara Van Wormer Heidi Jo Markel Hon. Mike Feuer Hon. Steve Westly Web: avivacenter.org Treasurer Danette Meyers Hon. Wendy Greuel Wendy Wolf Bruce Andelson Susan Rothenberg Nancy Josephson Hon. Zev Yaroslavsky Email: [email protected] Hon. Paul Koretz Secretary Barbara Schroeder @avivacenter on Twitter Hon. Tom LaBonge Laura Alpert Candace Foy Smith instagram.com/Avivacenter www.facebook.com/avivacenter Aviva is a not-for-profit, non-sectarian agency that believes every Aviva is accredited by: Council on Accreditation child and every family in our Los Angeles community deserves the Aviva is a member of: American Association of Children’s chance for a brighter future. We provide compassionate support, Residential Centers • Association of Community Human therapeutic services, and guidance to at-risk children and families. Services Agencies • California Alliance of Child and Family Services • Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles • United Way • Alliance for Strong Children and Families 2 Promoting Healthy Aviva Showcases Alternative Futures Health Approaches Aviva Family and Children’s Services More than 600 nonprofit leaders converged in and internationally acclaimed yoga Los Angeles in October, for the 2016 National instructor, Rajashree Choudhury, Conference of the Alliance for Strong Families hosted Yoga4Aviva on Saturday, and Communities. Several conference attendees November 12 at Grand Park in toured Aviva where they were introduced to Rajashree Choudhury Downtown Los Angeles. alternative and expressive therapeutic Chaired by Aviva Platinum modalities used to provide an individualized, Associates member, Greer Saunders, Yoga4Aviva strength-based and holistic approach to youth provided a unique opportunity for community care and treatment. members to take a yoga class taught by Aviva therapists led Choudhury, while raising awareness about the participants in dance/ mental health needs of at-risk youth. movement therapy, to Youth from Aviva’s Wallis Annenberg Residential provide them with a Treatment Center were sponsored to participate “firsthand” experience through generous donations from the community of innovative therapies as well as members of Aviva’s Board of Directors. available to In Aviva’s own Rajashree Choudhury Yoga Studio, the youth! small groups of teens learn breathing and The tour continued at mindfulness exercises, as well as simple yoga poses Aviva’s new Family and techniques, all designed to bring a sense of Resource Center, well-being, calm, and inner peace. featuring our For several years, UpRising Yoga has provided its Digital Media unique approach of Trauma-Informed Yoga at Aviva. Lab, Arts and These exercises equip our teens with skills to handle Sewing Center and stress long after they have left Aviva. Family Resource Closet. Finally, participants were guided in a Proceeds from Yoga4Aviva will help continue to mindfulness and meditation exercise in Aviva’s fund these activities. Rajashree Choudhury Yoga Studio. See page 9 for a list of Yoga4Aviva Donors UpRising Yoga at Aviva UpRising Yoga has partnered with Aviva to provide their unique brand of Trauma Informed Yoga Life Skills to the teens living at the Wallis Annenberg Residential Treatment Center. The mission of UpRising Yoga is to bring yoga to incarcerated youth and undeserved communities. 3 NEW Digital Media Lab Pompeo and Philosophy – continued from front page & Grace Initiative to help end the stigma and raise awareness of mental health and well- being issues. Aviva is grateful to receive this generous gift in support of our work. New Resource Closet Opens Aviva recently opened a new Resource Closet at our Family Resource Center. This “closet” is stocked with new and gently New mural at the Wallis Annenberg Residential Treatment Center quoting used clothing for our clients. It is the ideal the rock band, Aerosmith. place to “shop” for interview or work- appropriate clothing for men and women. Spaces For Living – continued from front page Children’s clothing is offered as well. students, met with the Aviva youth in an after-school The Resource Closet is open to all art program once a week over ten weeks, to teach clients, who can make arrangements various artistic techniques. The residents, in turn, to visit with their case managers or incorporated original designs and various imagery to therapists. Clothing and household items create “Portraits of Resiliency.” The final artwork was are available to clients at no charge. exhibited at UCLA’s Broad Art Department over the summer, and is now on display at Aviva’s Residential Treatment Center. Typically foster youth don’t have a choice in their environment and often arrive at Aviva with significant emotional and behavior issues. One unique initiative of Aviva’s Residential Treatment Program is to provide our youth with both a “voice and choice” in their treatment. The teens worked with Aviva’s art therapist and an interior designer to select new colors for the living room (light blue and teal). In addition, Jenny Hoit, Aviva’s AVP Residential Programs, and a long-time friend, Paula Noah donated their time, talent and resources to paint a mural at the house. 4 NEW Digital Media Lab State of the Future: Digital Media Aviva Teens and Staff Walk to Aviva recently opened the doors to our new Support Mental Health Digital Media Lab (DML), which was created Aviva staff, teens, volunteers and friends turned through generous contributions and support out at Grand Park on October 1 to support from the Ahmanson Foundation, Aviva’s NAMIWalks 2016.