Building Bright Futures
Youth & Family Services YMCA is proud to announce our 24th annual Reaching For Stars gastronomic extravaganza and auction, which will be held on May 2, 2024 at the Santa Barbara Woman's Club, Rockwood. Reaching for Stars is a unique fundraising event which is an intimate evening of impressive cuisine, prepared by local star chefs, and fine wines. Our annual fundraiser comes at a time when youth throughout Santa Barbara County are counting on us more than ever before. There are several ways to join this effort. Reserve your tickets, become a sponsor, consider volunteering, or make a donation. All proceeds will benefit Noah's Anchorage, My Home, St. George Youth Center, and Haley St. Navigation Center. To learn more about these programs visit Youth & Family Services YMCA. Together we can help youth and families reach for the stars!
Guest Speaker: Jill Sharkey, PhD
Dr. Sharkey is a Professor in the Department of Counseling, Clinical, and School Psychology in the Gevirtz Graduate School of Education at the University of California, Santa Barbara and is a Nationally Certified School Psychologist. In addition to teaching and mentoring the next generation of researchers and faculty, she is heavily engaged in community-based research designed to understand optimal family, school, justice, welfare, and other community responses to vulnerable youth and young adults. For example, her research has transformed the juvenile justice system for girls by improving services while reducing the juvenile hall population. She has also studied the impact of community-based wrap-around care for those who have been commercially sexually exploited. Dr. Sharkey is on the Evaluation Subcommittee of the Santa Barbara County Human Trafficking Task Force, a member of the South Coast Youth Safety Partnership, and an elected member of the Santa Barbara County Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council. In 2021, Dr. Sharkey and her research team was awarded the Community Collaboration Award by the Channel Islands YMCA Youth & Family Services Branch.
Honorary Chair: John Savrnoch
John Savrnoch was elected District Attorney of Santa Barbara County in June 2022. As a career public servant, District Attorney Savrnoch is dedicated to fulfilling the primary function of the District Attorney’s Office, which is to pursue truth and justice by employing the highest ethical standards in vigorously prosecuting the guilty, protecting the innocent, and preventing crime. District Attorney Savrnoch joined the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office in January 2015 as a Deputy District Attorney in Lompoc. In just over a year, he was promoted to Chief Deputy District Attorney. Most recently, John served as the Assistant District Attorney, where he oversaw all South County attorneys and cases. John led the office through several major innovations and initiatives, and helped design and implement positive community programs.
District Attorney Savrnoch believes that public safety is a right we all share, and that every person in Santa Barbara County deserves to live in a safe neighborhood, free from violence. Throughout his career, District Attorney Savrnoch has worked to implement alternative justice programs designed to divert individuals from the criminal justice system and help offenders understand the consequences of their actions in order to reduce recidivism and protect public safety. As the elected District Attorney of Santa Barbara County, District Attorney Savrnoch brings his extensive knowledge and experience as an administrator, career prosecutor, and community leader to this most honorable office, working tirelessly to keep the people of Santa Barbara County safe and ensure that we have a fair, effective, and efficient criminal justice system.
Suzie's Story
Suzie, 18, was connected with the Haley St. Navigation Center by her high school social worker to help her secure housing. Suzie’s family had a history of homelessness. Upon meeting with outreach staff, Suzie was also referred to a program for employment support and received a meal, clothes and hygiene items. The outreach team supported Suzie in getting “document ready,” a process of collecting important documents to be eligible for rental assistance. Within a month, Suzie was approved for rental assistance and was referred to the Turner Foundation, a partner that supports housing, for a potential move-in to a single room of a shared space. By the end of last month, Suzie completed a financial assistance plan and was moved in! Suzie is looking to continue her education with the Running Start program at SBCC. Suzie was supported with her goals with a phone, a YMCA gym membership, and on-going weekly case management from the YMCA TAY staff.
Christine and Brianna's Story
Christine and Brianna came to the Navigation Center looking for support with housing after sleeping in a rented U-Haul truck for over a month. A few weeks into connecting with our services, the couple got into a motor accident and sustained injuries that prevented them from maintaining their employment and wrecking the truck where they had been sleeping. This was a huge physical and emotional blow to the couple, who had to separate during this difficult time. Luckily, our program was able to work quickly with a partnering housing authority property to refer the couple and get them a housing interview. The ladies were able to sign a lease within a day of Brianna’s release from recovery. The program also provided rent while they both healed and worked on employment goals. Lease signing proved to be an emotional step in this couple’s journey as we saw them hold hands and shed a tear while getting a glimpse of their new home.
Youth Testimonials
“I feel like everyone’s stay and experience at Noah’s is different according to their situation and what led them here. For me personally, Noah’s has helped me tremendously with the situation and everything. When first coming to Noah’s I thought this wasn’t going to be homey, more like a facility, but after being at Noah’s and living here, it is super homey and I just feel safe. The staff here are so helpful and patient that it’s hard to feel anything but safe and cared for. My favorite thing about Noah’s is that staff are always around if I need to talk and when I do, I feel heard.”
“Noah’s staff have helped me in more ways than I can count. Noah’s has been there for me more than other people. Being here has made me more independent as well. I love Noah’s and am sad to go, but love that I can still drop in whenever I need support.”
“I have felt a great sense of community while staying at Noah’s, I have made great connections with youth and staff here and will miss this place, I am thankful for everything Noah’s has done for me.”
We hope you enjoyed exploring all of the wonderful stories from YFS. All proceeds from the event and auction support local underserved youth.
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