Once upon a time, an attorney from the Windy City (Chicago, for the uninitiated) decided to move on from the slings, arrows, and less definable rigors of the storied private equity firm in whose glass tower he’d long toiled. That is, he retired. Seeking greener pastures, sandy beaches, and maybe a low-slung, non-intimidating mountain range, Christian McGrath chose Santa Barbara as his new headquarters. Long an advocate and engaged participant in the not-for-profit world of Chicago, he knew he would likewise seek out and immerse himself in that community in Santa Barbara. But where to start? To his mild surprise, [...more...]

If you’re wondering where to have Forbes-rated authentic Mexican food or where the holiday lights on Milpas and its roundabout come from, you can look no further than the heart and soul of Santos Guzman, owner of Taqueria El Bajio at 129 North Milpas Street. Guzman was born in Guanajuato, México, the location of his restaurant’s recipes for dorados, menudo, caldo de pollo, caldo de res, gorditas, chile rellenos, and beef tacos. It is also the home of his faith and cultural traditions. Starting up Taqueria El Bajio in 1996, little did he realize that the restaurant would become such [...more...]

In Santa Barbara, the Reverend Dr. David Moore, Jr. is a well-known figure at the crossroads of faith, advocacy, media, and community service. He stands out as one of the few Black leaders in a county that has witnessed a significant exodus of its Black population to more affordable cities. With a doctorate in theology from the University of South Africa, Moore plays a pivotal role in the community, serving as pastor for Santa Barbara’s Beloved Community Church and Jesus Collective. Additionally, he holds the position of vice president at the Santa Barbara affiliate of the NAACP, while also contributing [...more...]

Philanthropists are frequently viewed as privileged individuals who donate large sums of money to charity. However, the reality is more complex – particularly when the giver is a woman. It goes without saying that women are often overlooked as leaders. The societal pressures facing women are formidable, especially the expectations placed upon philanthropic women that many men in similar positions don’t face. Gabriella Taylor knows something about these pressures. Having experienced a traumatic early life, Taylor set out on a global adventure, guided at first by her own healing. This journey led her into the fields of Psychology, Spirituality, and [...more...]

Susan F. Petrovich, an expert in environmental law, land use, and real estate at Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck in Santa Barbara, has dedicated nearly five decades to the dual mission of preserving the environment’s beauty and resources while safeguarding the livelihoods of farmers and ranchers.  Petrovich’s love for the land and commitment to those who work it were ingrained during her childhood. As a “free range” child, she explored the wonders of nature, galloped on horseback, and swam in the creek waters. With a deep affection for animals and an interest in biology, Petrovich would have pursued a career as [...more...]

Under the leadership of David Bolton for the last 12 years, the California Missions Foundation has raised millions of dollars to preserve the state’s collection of historic Spanish missions and made their priceless collection of colonial and native art and artifacts an education destination for hundreds of thousands of visitors each year including tens of thousands of elementary school students. Beginning in the mid-1700s, the Spanish built 21 missions from San Diego to Sonoma that today provide a unique trail of history across California or what was then called Alta California. Bolton, who grew up in Santa Barbara – which [...more...]

Back in 2018, when the Montecito debris flows left huge swaths of the village buried under hundreds of tons of […more…]

White Buffalo Land Trust (WBLT) is celebrating its fifth anniversary this year, a journey that began in 2018 with a […more…]

November is special for many in the home healthcare field as the month is recognized as National Home Care Month, […more…]

Join Ritecare for a beautiful 2-hour coastal sunset cruise with live music aboard the Condor Express! Have a drink and […more…]

An art show at a downtown Santa Barbara gallery might seem to have little to do with a nonprofit working […more…]

Jacob Collier makes his Santa Barbara debut on Sunday, October 1 at 7 p.m. at Campbell Hall.Opening night festivities kick […more…]

Single (non-subscription) tickets for UCSB Arts & Lectures’ 2023-2024 season go on sale Friday, August 4 at 10:00AM. UCSB Arts […more…]

The Fund for Santa Barbara’s Development and Communications Manager – Alina Rey Keswani – is understandably proud that Bread & […more…]

After leading the Fund for Santa Barbara for more than eight years, Executive Director Dr. Marcos Vargas plans to retire […more…]

You might wonder how a chowder festival has anything to do with providing free, high-quality legal services to low-income and […more…]

From DakhaBrakha and The Linda Lindas to Lang Lang and Ballet Preljocaj, UCSB Arts & Lectures’ 2022-2023 season included a […more…]

On Thursday, May 5, the Santa Barbara Education Foundation hosted the Hope Awards to celebrate individuals and programs supporting students […more…]

Model, film star and philanthropist will share the story of her illustrious family and multifaceted career UCSB Arts & Lectures (A&L) […more…]

The repurposed Santa Barbara store fronts at 4020 Calle Real, Suite 2, are serving our city’s homeless two meals a […more…]

Over the last couple of months (and as recent as this week), Montecito residents have been repeatedly reminded of the […more…]