At first blush, Yaskin Solano may seem like a typical native of Santa Barbara. He grew up here, and he attended local schools. He is representative of Santa Barbara’s unique socio-economic makeup. Santa Barbara County certainly has a reputation for its affluence, but according to statistics published by the Public Policy Institute of California, it [...more...]
From its career readiness academy to its college and workplace tours, FLY is getting Lompoc’s youth ready for the future (courtesy photo) Chuck Madson knows a lot about the possible consequences of believing that your [...more...]
Giving List Matching Challenges
Youth Development
The United Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Barbara County’s mission is to enable all young people – especially those […more…]
On Ellwood Mesa, a second grader watched dolphins crest the waves and whispered, “Pinch me so I know I’m not […more…]
Marie was a victim of sex trafficking before she turned 13. “I was stuck in the lifestyle, always wanting to […more…]
Homelessness
Founded in 1968 as a small community counseling center, New Beginnings has evolved into a powerful agency with four core […more…]
In the shadows of Santa Barbara’s picturesque coastline, where million-dollar homes overlook pristine beaches, a different economic reality exists among […more…]
Villa Majella is SB County’s only maternity home, providing safe shelter, 24/7 support, transportation, warm meals, and access to vital services. […more…]
Health & Wellness
Cottage Health is entering a new era of innovation while staying true to its mission of providing exceptional, compassionate care. […more…]
Despite Santa Barbara’s seemingly vibrant, prosperous community, some of its youngest residents face invisible barriers to health and wellness that […more…]
A dam was just 23 when he suffered a stroke that nearly took his life. He spent two weeks in […more…]
For the Environment
The Community Environmental Council (CEC) signature fundraising event, known as the Green Gala, is returning to the Bakery Block, the […more…]
Sue Eisaguirre, founder and Executive Director of NatureTrack wanted to document and give a huge thank you to all the […more…]
The ocean’s importance to the Earth mirrors the importance of blood to human life – a profound reminder that our […more…]
For the Children
Thirty-seven years after its founding in the parking lot at Transition House – where the goal was simply to create […more…]
In a classroom at Santa Barbara High School, a student named Arturo sat slumped in his chair, disengaged from another […more…]
On a recent afternoon at the Santa Barbara Zoo, a third-grader sat motionless before her untouched burger, politely declining offers […more…]
For the Arts
When Amada Cruz took over as Santa Barbara Museum of Art’s new Robert and Mercedes Eichholz Director and CEO about […more…]
After a nationwide search, UCSB ended up turning to its own backyard to find the new Miller McCune Executive Director […more…]
In Santa Barbara Harbor at dawn, the masts of sailboats clang softly as a yellow school bus from Lompoc pulls […more…]
For the Animals
Join Return to Freedom for the Opening Day of their 2026 program season, and a celebration of Spirit’s 31st birthday on May 9 at their Lompoc headquarters sanctuary! The […more…]
In the sun-drenched expanses of Santa Barbara County, where coastal breezes carry whispers of isolation, a white cat named Snow […more…]
Channel Islands Marine & Wildlife Institute (CIMWI) is having a busy start to the new year which is typically our “slow […more…]
Emergency Services
Four-Star Rating for 15th Consecutive Year Highlights Operational Excellence and Humanitarian Impact Charity Navigator, America’s top independent nonprofit evaluator, has […more…]
Thirty years ago this coming April, FEMA-Certified Canine Search Specialist Wilma Melville and her black lab Murphy spent a week […more…]
Santa Barbara County Search and Rescue (SBCSAR) was ready when an experienced paraglider had an issue with equipment and was […more…]
Education
The Central City East neighborhood of Downtown Los Angeles goes by another moniker – one familiar to the public and […more…]
Olive Crest’s Hope Refuge Campus in Santa Barbara County provides a safe place for young survivors of sex trafficking to […more…]
The first five years of a child’s life lay the foundation for how they’ll do in school and beyond – […more…]
Community Resilience
Most of us take light for granted. We flip a switch, the light comes on. But for an estimated 700 […more…]
Lots of local Santa Barbara residents, long-timers and newbies alike, have strong opinions about whether the nine-block stretch of State […more…]
In an era where technology dominates our daily lives, you might wonder if public libraries still matter. According to Lauren […more…]
Advocacy
For over 80 years, Hillside in Santa Barbara has been committed to building a community of compassion and dignity for […more…]
Earlier this fall, the Legal Aid Foundation of Santa Barbara County (LAFSBC) marked its 65th anniversary with an early evening […more…]
When disasters strike the Central Coast, not everyone has equal access to help. For those in the 805 community who […more…]