CommUnify
By Steven Libowitz   |   February 24, 2022

If the name CommUnify doesn’t ring a bell, Patricia Keelean, the nonprofit’s chief executive officer, thinks she knows why.  “We […more…]

Community Counseling and Education Center
By Steven Libowitz   |   February 17, 2022

“What a difference a day makes, 24 little hours,” Dinah Washington sang in 1959. “What a difference a day made, […more…]

Clean Coalition: Finding Creative Solutions to Renewables-Driven Energy Resilience
By Steven Libowitz   |   February 10, 2022

Last summer, just a couple of months before Montecito Journal’s 2nd annual The Giving List book was published, Clean Coalition’s […more…]

Feeding the Flock
By Steven Libowitz   |   February 3, 2022

The COVID crisis has been quite a challenge for nearly everyone in the world. But for Santa Barbara Bird Sanctuary […more…]

Preserving a Piece of Montecito History
By Steven Libowitz   |   January 27, 2022

Laura Bridley comes by her affinity for Casa del Herrero honestly. A native of Montecito, Bridley has a lot of […more…]

Comprehensive, State-of-the-Art Cancer Care
By Steven Libowitz   |   January 20, 2022

The Cancer Center of Santa Barbara was founded 73 years ago based on the simple concept that a city that […more…]

Bucket Brigade: Building a Foundation for Local Resilience
By Steven Libowitz   |   January 13, 2022

The Santa Barbara coastal region has largely escaped any major disasters in the past year, save, of course, for the […more…]

Alzheimer’s Association: Providing Care, Support, and Research for Patients and Caregivers
By Steven Libowitz   |   January 6, 2022

The statistics on Alzheimer’s Disease are staggering. Someone in the United States develops the devastating disease every 65 seconds. More […more…]

Beyond Christmas Unity: No Off-Season for Food and Services
By Steven Libowitz   |   January 4, 2022

It might seem like bad timing to be writing about Unity Shoppe in the last week of the year, considering […more…]

On a Mission to Address the Vulnerable
By Steven Libowitz   |   December 23, 2021

ShelterBox’s reason for being is because human displacement is one of the biggest issues plaguing our planet, one that’s increasing […more…]

A Resurgence: Santa Barbara Museum of Art’s renovation has people flocking to the venue
By Steven Libowitz   |   December 16, 2021

It was just three months ago that the Santa Barbara Museum of Art (SBMA) celebrated the completion of a six-year, […more…]

Putting the Focus on Treating People
By Steven Libowitz   |   December 9, 2021

Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics operates eight clinics in Santa Barbara, Goleta, and Isla Vista, largely located in neighborhoods where healthcare […more…]

Preparing for a Sparkling Anniversary
By Steven Libowitz   |   December 2, 2021

To many, the 2021 Music Academy of the West Summer School and Festival was nothing short of a miracle. Despite […more…]

Montecito Firefighters’ Charitable Foundation: Providing Financial Support to Community Members in Need
By Steven Libowitz   |   November 25, 2021

Montecito Firefighter Lucas Grant is too young to have personal memories of what it was like when local firefighters were […more…]

Granada, the Great
By Steven Libowitz   |   November 18, 2021

It’s purely coincidence that this week’s Montecito Journal hits newsstands the same day the Granada Theatre officially unveils Plaza Granada, […more…]

‘Creating Hope’ with UCSB Arts & Lectures
By Steven Libowitz   |   November 11, 2021

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in March 2020, UCSB Arts & Lectures, like every establishment across the country, was forced […more…]

‘Provide Some Cheer’: Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation Puts Emphasis on Holidays
By Steven Libowitz   |   November 1, 2021

Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation (TBCF) was founded by Nikki Katz back in 2002 after hearing of the financial and emotional […more…]

RAINN: Connecting an Influx of Survivors With Needed Support
By Steven Libowitz   |   October 28, 2021

Peruse the list of RAINN supporters online or in the 2020-21 inaugural The Giving List book and you’ll find a […more…]

Looking to Create “Positive Change”
By Steven Libowitz   |   October 21, 2021

In its short 13-year history, Leading From Within — which was founded in 2008 as the Courage to Lead program […more…]

Building Love at Lotusland
By Steven Libowitz   |   October 14, 2021

Anyone who’s visited Lotusland over the past quarter-century knows that the gorgeous botanical garden in the Montecito foothills boasts 37 […more…]

‘Mainstream Topic’: Pandemic Puts Mental Wellness Center in Spotlight
By Steven Libowitz   |   October 7, 2021

It’s just a coincidence that World Mental Health Day falls right in the middle of the circulation for this week’s […more…]

United & Thriving: Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Barbara Combine Forces
By Steven Libowitz   |   September 30, 2021

It was just about a month into the pandemic when the United Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Barbara (UBGC) […more…]

Setting the Standard: SBCC Foundation Creates Opportunity
By Steven Libowitz   |   September 23, 2021

Santa Barbara City College Foundation CEO Geoff Green is understandably proud of the SBCC Promise, the innovative program he spearheaded […more…]

Taking Pride in Their Continued Impact
By Steven Libowitz   |   September 16, 2021

For many nonprofits in Santa Barbara and around the nation, the height of the COVID pandemic was a time to […more…]

Justified Pivot: Organization Doesn’t Stop Fight Against Discrimination
By Steven Libowitz   |   September 9, 2021

Just Communities (JC), the nonprofit whose mission includes “dismantling all forms of prejudice, discrimination, and oppression,” works towards its vision […more…]

Santa Barbara: The Epicenter of (Direct) Relief
By Steven Libowitz   |   September 2, 2021

Direct Relief has been so efficient at serving as one of the country’s most effective humanitarian assistance organizations that it’s […more…]

A Look Toward the Future: How Endowing the Lobero Helps the Community
By Steven Libowitz   |   August 26, 2021

The Lobero Theatre is by far the oldest performing arts venue in Santa Barbara. In fact, it’s actually the longest […more…]

One with Nature: Montecito Union’s Unique Lab Making Progress
By Steven Libowitz   |   August 19, 2021

Montecito Union School’s Nature Lab, its interactive 2.5-acre space that’s beginning to take shape on the Upper Village campus, has […more…]

A Beautiful Race: Annual Fundraiser is Back for Girls Inc.
By Steven Libowitz   |   August 12, 2021

Girls Inc. of Greater Santa Barbara has had plenty on its plate since the pandemic altered almost everything back in […more…]

A Virtual Success: Cottage Hospital Foundation Surpasses Tiara Ball Goals
By Steven Libowitz   |   August 5, 2021

Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital Foundation’s 2020 Tiara Ball, one of the more popular annual black-tie galas in a town with […more…]

Empowering Women Through Financial Education
By Steven Libowitz   |   July 29, 2021

Women’s Economic Ventures has been helping women start and run businesses for more than 30 years, helping in a variety […more…]

Feeding Curiosity: Wilderness Youth Project Utilizes Nature to Educate
By Steven Libowitz   |   July 22, 2021

I wasn’t much of a hiker before the pandemic. But being cooped up inside for days and weeks on end, […more…]

Changing Course: United Way Alters Path to Help Serve More
By Steven Libowitz   |   July 15, 2021

For a relatively large and well-established nonprofit organization in our community, United Way of Santa Barbara County over the last […more…]

A Commitment to Youth: Storyteller Children’s Center Withstood the Pandemic
By Steven Libowitz   |   July 8, 2021

Santa Barbara has been all awash with talk about the reopening of public schools ever since the pandemic shut them […more…]

A New Attraction, and Return of Some Popular Ones at the Santa Barbara Zoo
By Steven Libowitz   |   July 1, 2021

It’s not too big of a stretch to suggest that a lot of people probably felt like they might never […more…]

Finding a Compassionate PATH Nonprofit has Increased Homelessness Outreach Through Partnerships
By Steven Libowitz   |   June 24, 2021

The COVID pandemic was surely a challenge for just about everyone in Santa Barbara and all around the world, but […more…]

EYC 2.0: Endowment for Youth Committee Looks Beyond Money to Provide Long-Term Opportunity
By Steven Libowitz   |   June 17, 2021

The Endowment for Youth Committee is one of the oldest nonprofits serving the needs of African American students and the […more…]

Shifting Directions: Human Rights Watch Now Following an Inclusive Path
By Steven Libowitz   |   June 10, 2021

For more than 40 years, Human Rights Watch has enjoyed an international reputation for taking on and often accomplishing its […more…]

You’ve Got a Friend in Me: Friendship Center Finds a Way to Stay Connected
By Steven Libowitz   |   June 3, 2021

The Friendship Center serves an often overlooked, but much-needed niche for the aging adult community — providing a daytime home […more…]

The Curtain Rises Once Again: Ensemble Theatre Company Announces Full Slate of Productions for 2021-22 Season
By Steven Libowitz   |   May 27, 2021

Ensemble Theatre Company (ETC) executive artistic director Jonathan Fox was already talking about reopening when he was interviewed for the […more…]