Vista Del Mar

Career Day 2024 was inspirational as it introduced Vista Residents to the exciting worlds of interior design and gaming. We’re incredibly grateful to our presenters: interior design expert Andee Ferrer & LAB member Jennifer Schweitzer, along with gaming industry professionals SM Lahti & Kelsie Lahti. Your passion and expertise brought so much energy and insight to your presentations! Thank you for showing our residents the diverse career paths and igniting their imaginations. Your dedication to empowering our youth is truly commendable. #LAB #VistaKids #CareerDay2024

“Don’t give up on yourself, because I believe in each and every one of you.” -Jonathan McAdams former Vista Resident Former Vista Resident Jonathan McAdams returned to Vista’s Career Day to impart his aspirational journey as a Vista Resident turned prominent Grip in the Entertainment Industry. Jonathan was joined by several colleagues in the entertainment industry who overcame difficult upbringings and circumstances to reach the highest levels in their profession. We are so humbled and grateful for Jonathan, Mike, Melisa, Malechi, Joel, and everyone who joined for having such an impact in reminding Vista residents that they too can achieve their dreams. “I want the attendees to see the path to success is possible, no matter their current circumstances,’ Jonathan passionately conveyed. ‘My hope is they’ll leave empowered to pursue their goals.’” #vistakids #careerday #iatse #local40

Join us for the 2nd Annual Golf Classic @sherwoodcountryclubofficial on October 28th to support the families and children Vista Del Mar serves! This event at a prestigious course promises a day of camaraderie, competition, and community in support of a vital cause. For (almost) 116 years, Vista Del Mar has been meeting the emotional, psychological, and educational needs of at-risk children and their families. As proud supporters, we invite you to be part of our dream team on the greens. Together, we can make a powerful difference in children’s lives. We currently have special, limited sponsorship opportunities for golf foursomes and twosomes. If interested, please email Devinn Reed at - [email protected] or visit our registration link at - https://lnkd.in/gt8A9Uem #CommunityImpactgolf #foracause #philanthropy

🎬🍽️ What an incredible night of inspiration and connection! Our Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC) Youth Advocacy Program just hosted its first-ever Empowerment Event, and it was a resounding success! We rented an entire movie theater to unite youth across LA County receiving CSEC services in this event fostering healing and support. The special screening of Inside Out 2, a film that beautifully explores the complexities of emotions, was a perfect fit for the evening. After the movie, our staff and youth engaged in thoughtful discussions over dinner, while unpacking the film’s powerful messages. A huge shoutout to @amctheatres South Bay, South Bay @redrobinburgers, and @tiny__creationz for their generous support in making this night unforgettable. Together, we’re creating safe spaces for healing, understanding, and empowerment. #vistakids #movienight #youthempowerment

Thank you to motivational speaker, Yehuda Pryce for your inspiring visit to Vista School and sharing your journey from incarceration to personal triumph. Special thanks to Jose Reyes, Vista Special Education Teacher, for further describing in the passage below the impact of this visit. “Dr. Yehada Pryce recently addressed the students at Vista, sharing his personal journey and the profound impact of his experiences. He spokewwww candidlyw about how his encounter with negative influences led to his incarceration. However, during his time in prison, he had a transformative realization: if he could turn a negative situation into something positive, he should do so. This realization propelled him to pursue an education focusing on social welfare. He continued his academic journey at USC and beyond, ultimately positioning himself to assist those currently in prison, using his experiences to make a meaningful difference in their lives.” -Jose Reyes (Vista Educator). #transformational #guestspeaker #vistakids

It’s nearly impossible to contain the love beaming from our Intensive Community-Based Services Team. It was so incredible to capture the camaraderie, dedication, and adoration that each member of this team has for one another as they gathered for their monthly team meetup. From recognition of achievements to sharing stories of overcoming seemingly insurmountable obstacles to ensure the best outcome for vulnerable youth this meeting uplifted and celebrated the greatness of each team member. We look forward to sharing more about the important work ICBS is doing in our LA community. #stafflove #intensivecare #mentalhealthrecovery

Our Outpatient Services Team brought the fun along with facts (on accessible mental health care) to Allies For Every Child’s Family Fun Friday event. Clinicians and staff engaged with families, sharing information about mental health services in this inclusive and welcoming space. Thank you, Allies for Every Child, for including us. #mentalhealthcommunity #mondaymotivation

As a foster mom, helping my 4-year-old adjust to a new school was a journey filled with lessons, challenges, and growth. Here are five takeaways from this experience that I hope can help all moms and caretakers. 1. Preparation is paramount. We drove by the new school regularly, and I played his favorite music on the ride to create positive associations with the experience. 2. Honesty matters. I was open about explaining that not all of my foster child’s friends from his previous school would be attending this new school. But at the same time, I emphasized how many friends would also be starting at his new school. 3. Listen actively. I made space for concerns and fears. 4. Advocate fiercely. I worked with teachers to provide background and advocate for his needs. For my oldest foster child, I secured an IEP for extra support. 5. Teach acceptance. We talked about how everyone learns differently, and I shared ways to embrace his classmate’s unique learning style. Remember, there’s no ‘typical’ experience for a child in foster care. Each journey is unique, requiring patience, understanding, and love. #FosterCareAwareness #parentingtips

Thanks to U.S. Bank and their generous grant benefiting Vista School’s Girls’ Leadership Academy, 10 of our students participated in this semester-long experience that included career exploration, job-skill building, and developing financial skills for independent living. These enriching experiences helped Vista students gain confidence, nurture self-empowerment, and develop the skills necessary to thrive! #usbank #thankfulthursday #philanthropy

LAB Fellows 2024-2025 KICK OFF🎊 We can’t believe it’s been 10 years since we launched our first LAB Fellows’ cohort and last night we welcomed our next group! We celebrated their welcome at our annual LAB Fellows Kick Off dinner at Porta Via Beverly Hills and it was so wonderful to meet everyone and see connections already being made. Our LAB Fellows will now begin their philanthropic journey where they will get training on Vista services, Fundraising, and Media work in addition to working with our youth over the next 10 months. Congratulations to everyone who made it into this prestigious and robust program! #LAB #kickoff