Spotlight on the Community

Trevor Blair, Founder and CEO of Blair Search Partners, discusses his business' knack for matching companies with the right candidates to fill C-Level to staff positions. Blair chats about his long history in talent-acquisition, why San Diego is a prime location for conducting business, and what the job and candidate markets look like for job seekers and companies looking to hire.

Michelle Pius, Chief Development Officer for Fresh Start Surgical Gifts, talks about her organization's commitment to providing cost-free, high-grade medical treatments and surgeries for children with physical and cosmetic deformities. Pius explains how Fresh Start doctors have performed more than 8,000 surgeries and medical services valued at $45 million dollars since its founding in 1991.

Jeffery Sitcov, President and Founder of Doors of Change, is joined by Joanne Newgard, Program Director, to talk about the organization's nearly 20 years of work in changing the lives of homeless youth. Sitcov describes how Doors of Change builds trust through free music and art courses, a process which has been instrumental in helping over 2,000 homeless youth find stability in their lives. Newgard and Sitcov discuss the upcoming virtual symposium, "Invisible to Invincible: Success Stories of Homeless Youth," which will feature former homeless teens that have benefited from the Doors of Change programs. The free Virtual Homeless Youth Symposium will take place on December 1 at 7:00 p.m.

John Highkin, Executive Director and Co-Founder of the Fern Street Circus, and Marcella Mercado, President of the Board of Directors, highlight the circus' 30 years of community outreach in San Diego. Highkin chats about his origins in circus performing arts and the impact Fern Street Circus has had on underserved communities. Mercado talks about her experience as Board president as well as the benefits her three children have received from taking part in the circus. Fern Street Circus' 2020 Neighborhood Tour will culminate with two live-streamed shows on November 21 and 22.

Meredith Hall-Chand, Executive Director of Susan G. Komen San Diego, is joined by her Board Chair, Merrilee Neal, to chat about the organization's mission to end breast cancer forever. Hall-Chand discusses the challenges breast cancer patients face in the era of COVID-19, while Neal talks about the recent virtual Race for the Cure.

Heather Nemour, Program Specialist for the San Diego County Office of Education's Student Support and Services Division, and Charisma De Los Reyes, the Division's Project Specialist, detail the Student Wellness and Positive School Climate (SW&PSC) program. SW&PSC stresses the importance of mental health education in schools; addresses the threat of human trafficking; supports suicide prevention initiatives.

Alberto Cortes, CEO of Mama's Kitchen, talks about his organization's 30 years of serving nutritious meals to people with critical illnesses. Cortes chats about Mama's Kitchen's various programs that benefit the communities they serve, including its annual Thanksgiving Bake Sale which aims to serve 50,000 meals to those in need of food assistance. Cortes discusses Mama's Kitchen's quick pivot once COVID-19 hit, and how the organization has managed to continue to serve its clients despite a massive increase in food service requests.

Sally Spencer-Thomas, Psychologist and Impact Entrepreneur, is joined by her colleague, Sebastian Slovin, Mental Health Advocate and Co-Founder of Nature Unplugged, to discuss the work of United Suicide Survivors International to educate people about suicide prevention and mental health issues. Spencer-Thomas details how the workplace can serve as a support system for those with mental health struggles. Slovin and Sally-Spencer highlight the critical role storytelling plays in suicide prevention.

Brent Wakefield, President and CEO of Meals on Wheels, talks about the critical work of the hundreds upon hundreds of volunteers that deliver thousands of meals to those food insecure isolated seniors. Wakefield discusses the growing need for food assistance as well as the effects long-term isolation has had on the populations that Meals on Wheels serve.

Kanika Chaudhary and Luke Dubois, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo students and Co-Leaders of the Breaking Down Barriers training conference, discuss the importance of inclusiveness at their university. The Breaking Down Barriers training conference provides student leaders the tools to foster more inclusivity and diversity on campus. Chaudhary and Dubois chat about their experiences which led to the conference's development as well as their community's reception of the event.