Ronald Epps
WHAT: A regional teen coalition committed to promoting healthy, resilient communities, is teaming up with San Diego County Board of Supervisor Chair Nathan Fletcher to launch Light Our Way 2021. A county-wide celebration of Graduates, Everyday Heroes, and Resilient Communities, Light Our Way honors the Class of 2021 and San Diegans, from all walks of life, who’ve overcome hardship and loss during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Light Our Way will unfold against a civic backdrop emerging from the darkness of an 18-month global pandemic and into the light of brighter days ahead. Channeling the hope and possibility in the air, the young advocates have planned a spectrum of family-friendly activities designed to generate a joyful spirit of pride in graduates as they reflect on their academic achievements and prepare to embark on the next chapter of their life journeys. The celebration is also a tribute to community resilience, springing to life as San Diegans reconnect with friends, businesses, and community after weathering the loss and isolation of COVID-19.WHO: Community Champion Supervisor Nathan Fletcher, will join young advocates, representing Advocates for Change Today (ACT), Project A.W.A.R.E., Boys to Men Mentoring Network, The Collective and San Diego Promise Neighborhood, on the front line of the campaign. Community Partners SAY San Diego, Outfront Media, and Business for Good — a local nonprofit dedicated to creating an economic arena that lifts all businesses across all neighborhoods — will lend their voices to the movement. Together, they will ground its mission in a powerful message: “We’re Stronger Than Ever!”
WHEN: Timed to bookend the time frame when many school commencement ceremonies will take place, Light Our Way will kick off Monday, June 7 and wrap up on Sunday, June 20. The first three days of the campaign, Monday June 7 – Wednesday, June 9, will spotlight messages and activities organized around the themes: Hope, Gratitude, and Joy. Afterward, the campaign will buzz with new creativity as residents, businesses, and nonprofit organizations contribute their unique voices to the festivities.
SAN DIEGO OFFICE OF CHILD AND YOUTH SUCCESS
SAY San Diego stands with the Campaign for an Office of Child and Youth Success, and the Community Budget Alliance to urge the Mayor and the City Council to invest in the resources that our communities have been asking for. It is absolutely critical that an Office of Child and Youth Success is included in our budget to connect, grow and integrate existing programs and functions. Our community must come together intentionally in support of children, youth, and their families if we are to have a resilient, equitable, and racially just recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Play 4 SAY 2020 Congratulations and Thank You!
We LOVE 
our Play4SAY 2020 sponsors!! And all 125+ virtual event participants!!
Enormous thanks from all of us at SAY San Diego, and the community we serve, for your generous support.
And, BIG CONGRATULATIONS to our top trivia champs!
1. Aldrich Advisors,
2. PwC San Diego and
3. 40 Acres and a Mind – Sylvan Learning Center of La Mesa
Early Childhood Center a Model for Regional Business
A lack of affordable, high-quality early childhood care throughout San Diego County is an enormous obstacle that adversely affects children’s readiness for kindergarten and school, and creates barriers to employment and upward mobility for new parents.
Thousands of parents are forced to make an impossible choice between paying more than they can afford; settling for cheaper, lower-quality care; or leaving the workforce altogether.
That’s why a childcare facility at SAY San Diego is such a significant milestone for the region. Thanks to a grant from The San Diego Foundation, SAY San Diego’s workplace-based Early Childhood Center now offers accessible, affordable and high-quality childcare to its employees and community parents.
Click here to read the full article from The San Diego Foundation
Media Advisory: SAY San Diego Early Childhood Center
Media Advisory for Friday, November 15, 2019
SAY San Diego Early Childhood Center in Kearny Mesa Opens
What
A lack of affordable, high quality early childhood care throughout San Diego area is an enormous obstacle that adversely affects children’s readiness for Kindgergarten and school, and creates barriers to employment and career development for new parents. In partnership with the Guy C. Clum Fund at The San Diego Foundation, SAY San Diego is opening its first workplace childcare program for infants 6 weeks to 24 months and preschoolers 2 to 5 years old. The SAY San Diego Early Childhood Center offers accessible, affordable and high-quality child care to its employees and community parents in a nature-themed setting. With a $500,000 grant from the Guy C. Clum Fund at The San Diego Foundation, SAY San Diego was able to pursue its vision of creating greater equity and opportunity for young families. SAY’s center offers flex fees based on household income and an innovative model and consulting team to assist local employers to develop child-care centers at their own workplaces.
For nearly 50 years, Social Advocates for Youth (SAY) San Diego has been committed to opportunity, equity, and well-being for all San Diegans, and currently strengthens children, families, and communities through more than 30 programs. www.saysandiego.org
Who
Nancy Gannon Hornberger, President & CEO, SAY San Diego
LaDreda Lewis, Board President, SAY San Diego
Mark Stuart, President & CEO, The San Diego Foundation
Nathan Fletcher, County of San Diego Supervisor, District 4
Chris Ward, City of San Diego Councilmember, District 3
Chris Cate, City of San Diego Councilmember, District 6
Nick Macchione, Agency Director, County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency
Bob Cote, Business Relations Director, Better Business Bureau – Pacific Southwest
When
November 15, 2019
Time
10:00am – Refreshments and Tours
10:15am – Welcome Remarks from San Diego Leaders
10:30am – Ribbon Cutting and Photos
10:45am – Center open for photos/videos
Where
SAY San Diego Early Childhood Center, 4775 Viewridge Avenue, San Diego, CA 92123
Visuals
Infant care center (infants may be on site and likely sleeping)
Access to preschool classroom and playground (preschoolers engaged in activities)
Staff tours & parent interviews
*Pre-event tours and interviews available on request
Photos
High Resolution Photos available on request
Contact
ELEVATED Youth Featured on NBC 7
Students from SAY San Diego’s Club ELEVATED at Serra High School worked alongside law enforcement to collect expired and unused medication during National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. NBC 7 covered the event.
Social Host Ordinance
The City of San Diego updated its Social Host Ordinance law to include marijuana and other drugs in addition to alcohol. SAY San Diego’s Lisa Bridges, Program Manager with the Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drug Prevention program, spoke to NBC 7’s Danny Freeman.
Workplace Early Childhood Center
ABC 10 News reporter, Jeff Lasky, visited SAY San Diego’s Jerabek Preschool and spoke with CEO, Nancy Gannon Hornberger, about our plan to open a workplace Early Childhood Center. Thanks to a generous grant from the Guy C. Clum Fund at The San Diego Foundation, the Early Childhood Center will serve as a model to local employers to inform and encourage them to develop child-care centers at their own workplaces.
SAY San Diego Gets Major Support to Expand Early Childhood Opportunities
This week, The San Diego Foundation received $13.8 million from local philanthropist Guy C. Clum to make preschool financially accessible to more San Diego families. SAY San Diego is thrilled to be one of four organizations selected for the initial phase of grant-making and received $500,000 to launch a workplace-based early childhood center, set to open in early 2019, at its new office in Kearny Mesa. The center will provide an important early childhood education advantage to children ages 5 weeks through 5 years. The center will also be a model for local employers, to inform and encourage them to develop child-care centers at their own workplaces. The center and workplace child care project are key parts of SAY San Diego’s commitment to improve child development outcomes and strengthen families. “This generous grant enables SAY San Diego to take a truly exciting step, which directly translates into life-changing opportunities and greater educational equity for more San Diego children and families,” says Nancy Gannon Hornberger, SAY San Diego CEO. “We are honored by this wonderful gift, and Mr. Clum’s leadership.”
CLICK HERE to read more from the San Diego Union Tribune.
CLICK HERE to read more from Philanthropy News Digest
Crime-Free Housing
SAY San Diego is pleased to partner with the San Diego Police Department to host open houses for the crime-free multi-family housing program. Crime-free multi-housing brings a hands-on, collaborative approach to reduce crime, drugs, and gangs in apartment communities. SAY San Diego facilitates the engagement of residents and property managers in training and information sessions designed to help them be more aware and proactive in preventing crime.
Click here for ABC 10 News story
Click here for KUSI News story
