San Diego Youth Services

Thank you Girl Scout Troop 6041! The girls collected stuffed animals, blankets and more for foster children, and donated them to San Diego Youth Services. These items will make a huge difference and provide comfort to kids experiencing hardship in our community. Are you also a Scout looking for ideas for community service, Take Action Projects or even your Silver Award project? You can make the world a better place by helping other children and teens with San Diego Youth Services. To host a donation drive, start a fundraiser or come up with an idea of your own, visit: sdyouthservices.org/give #girlscouts #sdgirlscouts

Happy Independence Day from San Diego Youth Services!

We had a blast at last month's SDYS Staff and Volunteer Appreciation Event! People came up with some incredible costumes to fit the "Under the Sea" theme. We also enjoyed DIY craft activities, self-care experiences like yoga, and food trucks serving coffee and lunch. This year’s lunch menu was chosen to support our local BIPOC small businesses and restaurants. Thank you to the hundreds of staff and volunteers who support San Diego's youth!

"Celebrating Pride is important to me because it honors the courage and resilience of the LGBTQI+ community, promotes equality and acceptance, and helps create a world where everyone can live authentically without fear. By standing together, we can support our friends, family and neighbors in their pursuit of love and happiness." - Ember Price, Director of Services

We are happy to share that we have received a $35,000 grant from San Diego Foundation and The San Diego Women's Foundation, to support positive youth development and provide evidence-based mental health practices to address the varied social and economic forces that negatively impact the mental, emotional and behavioral health of opportunity youth. https://lnkd.in/gd6FfpTu

"Amidst the rainbow flags and glitter, it is integral we acknowledge the roots of Pride, which began as an annual commemoration acknowledging the 6 days of riots following a raid of Stonewall, a gay bar in NYC. While Pride has blossomed into joy and celebration, we should not lose sight of the strength, activism, and quite literal fight of Black and Trans women who fought back and paved the way for us all today. Currently, across the nation, our Trans community especially needs ALL of our support and legislation to protect and honor their wellbeing. We celebrate to appreciate history and remind us of our unity through community." - Kate DeBerardinis, Program Director, Our Safe Place "The truth is, no one of us can be free, until everybody is free." - Maya Angelou

"Pride serves as a reminder of our inherent worth, strengths and the possibilities within us all." - Steven H. Jellá, Chief Program Officer

Join us tomorrow Saturday, June 22, for a community event with SEEDS: Sustainable Environments & Engaged Development Strategies. Activities include: • A fruit preservation workshop with the California Rare Fruit Growers • A bike repair workshop with Bikes del Pueblo. Bring your bike and get some help getting it fixed up and ready to ride! • A short, slow paced group bike ride at noon. Bring water & a helmet. For more information, visit: www.theSVCA.org

When youth step through our doors, they are met with full acceptance of who they are and are offered free, supportive resources. San Diego Youth Services’ Our Safe Place staff work with the youth (and their families!) to identify goals and provide assistance addressing different areas of need, including basic needs, academic challenges and employment challenges. Clinical staff provide help with depression, anxiety and trauma that often result when youth have experienced hostility at home, school or in their community. Additionally, the LGBTQ Safe STAY Wellness Center provides up to 21 beds and supportive services to youth ages 18-24 who are experiencing homelessness. See a full list of our LGBTQ+ Services: https://lnkd.in/g_29_9aQ

"As the Chief Human Resources Officer at San Diego Youth Services, it is my job to create and promote an inclusive, open and healthy work environment for our staff. By recognizing PRIDE, we celebrate all our LGBTQ+ staff and their accomplishments and contributions, creating an atmosphere that promotes acceptance, equality and belonging for them, and all staff. SDYS is a safe place to work where staff can be themselves, no matter who they love or how they identify. Our rich staff diversity is an important part of what makes SDYS a great place to work. Happy Pride!" ~ Kristen Diggs, SHRM-SCP, Chief Human Resources Officer