14 minute read
Give Back
Elsa Stuart
Downer And Instructor, iHeartYoga
To say 2020 has been a challenging year for this Dana Point business owner would be an understatement. “COVID was no joke, as everyone can relate to,” says Elsa Stuart, who worked as everything from a clothing rep in L.A. to a private yacht stewardess in the South of France before deciding to become a certified yoga instructor eleven years ago. Stuart began teaching donation-based classes in Lantern Bay Park. Those popular classes led to SUP Yoga, special collaborative events with local businesses, yoga teacher training, retreats, and finally, a brickand-mortar studio in Dana Point Harbor (voted of Commerce in 2018). Understandably, having to shutter her business for months, cancel and refund multiple retreats, and be unable to provide jobs for instructors “was a hot scary mess,” she says. “My husband, thankfully, is more tech-savvy than I am and figured out how to stream classes online fairly quickly. So, we were able to maintain a large amount of our members that way, and were able to offer teaching opportunities to our staff and come up with other creative outdoor locations. But, overall, we got really lucky. Every teacher stepped up to help out in any way possible, and our community is so
“Business of the Year” by the Dana Point Chamber supportive and loyal that instead of COVID tearing us apart, it actually brought us together even stronger than before.” After funneling a wealth of love, sweat, tears, and finances into iHeartYoga, Stuart’s proudest moment to date occurred in November. “I had my first daughter (Sienna) a year and four months ago and my second daughter (Greyson) three weeks ago, and I just taught in the park with both girls by my side,” she says. “It was truly my dream come true moment!” Look for iHeartYoga to get its Mexico retreats back up and running and maybe offer more local retreats. Can you say, “Staycation in Dana Point?”
John Park Executive Chef + Co-Owner, Toast Kitchen + Bakery
There are plenty of admirable people who work hard, become successful, then try to do good deeds in their spare time. Then there are people like John Park.
Park is the executive chef and co-owner of the wildly popular Toast Kitchen + Bakery in Costa Mesa – a business that doesn’t hesitate to hire workers who have struggled with issues like homelessness, drug addiction, food insecurity, and poverty.
“People from all walks of life work here,” he said. “They work together on a big weekend brunch shift, but they come together as friends outside of work on the weekends. It’s all these little moments that add up to something very special.”
Park grew up in Los Angeles and has been a part of the SoCal restaurant scene for more than a decade. But at one point, he and his wife and children found themselves nearly homeless when their business went south. He eventually moved to Orange County and opened Toast, but his personal experiences left him strongly committed to help others facing the same struggles, not only with regular charitable donations but also with his inclusive hiring philosophy. He loves to work with staff members on ideas for new menu items, helping them learn to put flavors together, price out the food costs and ultimately add their creations to the menu.
“Seeing the joy in their faces is inspirational,” he said. Running a business during COVID—with dining restrictions that have been ordered and lifted and ordered again—means being creative with take-out options. Chicken-and-waffles is a dine-in favorite, he said, but breakfast burritos and Korean barbecue burritos travel better. Pie and ice cream sales are going well.
Park and his wife and four children, all between 8 years and 12 months old, have created a life where work and helping others are woven seamlessly together, but it’s nothing he wants special attention for.
“It’s weird, all these articles written about me and my past,” he said. “I don’t like the spotlight to be on me. It’s really about other people and what we can do for them. That’s really how we think about our vision for Toast.”
toastkitchenbakery.com
A foster-care success story, Lisa Evans made it out of the system and into the home of a loving and supportive family. Evans is the eldest of five siblings who have stayed connected through the years. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from California State University, Dominguez Hills and made it her mission to help those who follow in her footsteps. Today, as a loving yet firm supervisor of the Orangewood Foundation Resource Center, she goes out of her way to provide foster and at-risk youth with a variety of needs, including job training, employment leads, shelter and housing resources, food and clothing, and much more. “I do this because I believe it is very important to help others and lead by example,” says Evans, who began her career with the agency in 1997 as a peer mentor for the Independent Living Skills program. “The most rewarding part of my job is when young people come back and say, ‘Thank you.’” Along the way, her passion for foster youth led her to serve as a civil rights and local action advocate for the Child Welfare League of America and help pass legislation to transform the foster-care system. In 2019, Evans was recognized by Orange County United Way as an Unsung Hero of the Year for her efforts to end homelessness in the community. In her spare time, the single mother even managed to start side businesses as a certified life coach and owner of a barber shop/salon, We Mix It, in Long Beach (where she offers hair care to mentally delayed adults via the WeCare industry). “My proudest moment,” she says, “is being able to be a model to my daughter on the importance of helping others and kindness.” What’s next on Evans’ list? She plans to implement a new business idea to house young adults who require assistance during their transition to stability.
Raili Clasen, RailiCA Design
“The dive into design was not by design,” says Raili Clasen, self-described “head honcho” at RailiCA Design.
Clasen’s journey took her from a quick postcollege stint as a flight attendant to a lengthy career in the surf industry. She then co-founded hip housewares line, Alice Supply.
“The company got more press than profit,” she admits, “But the editors kept asking me what my house looked like!”
She had just bought an old ranch house and the remodel ended up in home tours and magazine pages. Soon, she was doing interior design for others.
Clasen started RailiCA Design when she was almost 50, a time she says when her friends were talking about retirement. She loves sharing her non-traditional aesthetic inspired by California living and says it’s all about the install.
“That install! All that work and all those decisions coming together for someone to enjoy everyday is the most rewarding.”
She also loves when her worlds collide, like when she was tapped to design the Kelly Slater Surf Ranch.
“It was a ‘pinch me’ project. Working on that amazing property with such a great team was a dream. It brought my worlds together with surf and design.”
Clasen revels in her second wind and loathes the idea of slowing down now.
“I am just getting started,” she says, “And hope to do this until the day I die.” Follow her at @raili_ca_design.
Stuart Palley Photographer and Author
Stuart Palley began photographing wildfires by way of water.
In 2012, the Salton Sea was the subject of his photo journalism project in graduate school. The drought was getting worse, which collided with Southern California experiencing increasingly worse fires. Growing up in Southern California, Palley says wildfires were always on his periphery. He began to see there were important stories that needed to be told in his own backyard.
“As the project grew, I thought it might all be related to climate change. And lo and behold, as we come through the 2020 fire season—which has been the largest in California by acres burned—there are some pretty clear links.”
Palley’s photography of California’s wildfires highlights first responders, the effects of climate change, and the way fires behave.
“No two fires are the same—they are living breathing things. They literally inhale oxygen to create combustion.”
The images, which combine photo journalism with fine art, allow people to see what they usually can’t when they are evacuated or when fires rage on the outskirts of their town.
“There is an educational component to it,” says Palley.
Palley recently completed the manuscript for his forthcoming book, Into The Inferno: A Photographer’s Journey through California’s Megafires and Fallout. Palley says he was constantly making updates to chapters with titles like ‘Firestorms on the Future,’ because the future is happening now.
“I want to show the immediacy of the climate crisis that we are in,” Palley says, “And that transcends politics, because ultimately it is about supporting firefighters and the people affected by these fires. I hope people come away with a better understanding of the fire issues that we face in California.”
And when it comes to Californian wildfires, Palley says it’s important to follow evacuation orders and be prepared.
“Plan for the worst,” he says “and hope for the best.”
Follow him at @stuartpalley.
Webb Travis Owner and President, The Corporate Athlete
Newport Beach resident Webb Travis became a wellness coach by accident.
“I remember seeing a photo of myself with my shirt off in college—when I weighed 285 pounds—and knew I needed to make a change,” says Travis.
From that moment on, Travis hit the gym, mainly focusing on cardio, quickly losing 15 pounds before plateauing. This roadblock encouraged him to take one step further: learning about nutrition, working with a trainer, and learning how to lift weights. He even scored a job as a trainer at his college gym. Travis excelled in school while adding an array of side hustles to his resume: certified personal trainer, strength coach for NCAA, and small gym owner, just to name a few.
Life was chugging along as usual until he hit his second roadblock—the tragic loss of his father.
“After my father passed away, I had to step up and take care of my family’s financials and the personal issues my mother and brother were facing,” says Travis. “I supported them while working three jobs in college, which wasn’t an easy task, but it was unknowingly the experience that ignited my passion for helping others.”
It’s true: Travis is a successful trainer because he simply cares about others.
“I love being able to help people create new habits and lifestyles that set them up for success,” he says. “And there’s no secret formula—I just want people to be able to see their full potential.”
Social media plays a big role in Travis’ work (you can follow him on Instagram at @webbtravispt). Last year, during the height of the pandemic, he offered free home workout challenges and tips to keep your physical and mental health in shape.
“One of my goals is to continue to help people stay accountable during this difficult time,” he says. “I help those who are seeking change, and once I see them realize their capabilities, I know I have done my part in helping them on their wellness journey.”
And that is no accident.
GIVE BACK
GIVING GUIDE FOR THE NEW YEAR
By Sara Hall
For many charities, a drop in donations is expected after the holiday season. Considering the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, charitable giving is predicted to decline more than usual, according to experts.
Both of these factors are all the more reason for people who are able to give back in the new year and start 2021 off on the right note.
Organizations have had to rework their volunteer and fundraising programs due to COVID-19, but there are plenty of groups still in need of help in this new philanthropic world. Below is a roundup of a few ways to help out in the new year.
Blind Children’s Learning
Center aims to prepare children with visual Giving Foundation program, uses bagged lunches with positive handwritten messages to distribute food in local communities, spread love, and inspire others. Drop Off Lunch Bags: Volunteers can drop off lunch bags on Jan. 10 at the parking structure behind the 4th Street Market, at 201 E 4th St., in Santa Ana. The group’s Instagram page highlights show how to prepare and drop off the lunch bags. For more information, visit hashtaglunchbag.org provides Orange County students with quality education through hands-on experience with nature. Send a Kid Outside: ENC Nature Camps provide a safe opportunity for kids to get outside for physical activity, hands-on learning, socialization and nature play. Funds are needed to sponsor Camp scholarships. Help ENC Increase Diversity. ENC aims to assure equitable access to nature and environmental education for underserved youth in the community. Funds are needed to subsidize discounted or free field trip programs for students from Title I schools. For more information, visit encenter.org.
impairments for a life of independence through early
#HashtagLunchbag, a Living Through
Environmental Nature Center
intervention, education and family support.
17th Annual Destination Independence 5K Walk:
On April 18, hundreds of individuals and businesses will unite to support the families serviced by BCLC. Each team and walker will have the option to walk and raise support in honor of three BCLC students representing distinct initiatives at BCLC. To keep everyone safe, this year’s event will be hosted by Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana as a relay event to promote physical distancing. Follow Blind Children’s Learning Center on Instagram (@blindchildrenlc) for updates on how to register.
For more information, visit blindkids.org.
714 Mutual Aid, a horizontally-organized and volunteer-run team, distributes hot meals, clothing, groceries, hygiene items, and Narcan (an emergency opiate overdose reversal drug) to those in need. General Giving: 714MA is in need of funds to purchase supplies, specifically cases of new socks, high calorie snacks, and harm reduction items. Donate funds on Venmo: @Mutualaid714 and Cashapp: $OCmutualaid.
Contact 714MA for in-kind donations or receipts for tax deductible donations. Email 714mutualaid@gmail. com or call or text (714) 312-6622.
For more information, visit 714mutualaid.org.
Girls Inc. of OC aims to inspire girls to be strong, smart, and bold by providing holistic, compensatory, and intentional programming focusing on STEM, financial literacy, sound body image, healthy relationships, and college and career readiness. Wish Lists: Anyone can buy the items on the wish lists. Items help motivate and keep the girls engaged. These incentives also help the girls in specific programs. • Elementary Incentive Wishlist: https://a.co/8MRVlGV • Teen Incentive Wishlist: https://a.co/i3bAlVD • Literacy Wishlist: http://a.co/4elt8kT
For more information, visit girlsinc-oc.org.
LGBTQ Center Orange County advocates on behalf of the OC lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning communities and provides services that ensure well-being and positive identity. Spiritual Digital Roundtable Series: The Center is launching a virtual series to further the discussion around being LGBTQ+ and spiritual. The first episode will discuss the topic: “Can you be Christian and Queer? What Now?”
Love Is Campaign: The LGBTQ OC Center returns this year with its collaborative annual fundraising effort in the Love Is Campaign, launching Feb. 10.
For more information, visit lgbtqcenteroc.org
Miracles for Kids helps families with critically-ill children fight bankruptcy, homelessness, hunger and depression through monthly financial aid, subsidized housing, food and clothing, and counseling. Kindness Box of Miracles: Boxes go to more than 300 critically-ill kids and their families to ensure they have what they need to survive, while also spreading some monthly cheer. Become a sponsor, donate items to include in the boxes, or volunteer to help package items. For details, contact Sapphira Roberson at (714) 705-4531 or sroberson@miraclesforkids.org.
For more information, visit miraclesforkids.org
South County Outreach aims to end hunger and homelessness in Orange County through programs like a Food Pantry and a Transitional Housing Program. General Giving: SCO can always use food— especially in the first quarter of the year. After the holidays, people don’t tend to do food drives or make food donations. Hygiene products are also needed. The organization receives a lot of requests during the winter months for toothbrushes, toothpaste, body wash, shampoo, conditioner, etc.
For more information, visit sco-oc.org. Project Hope Alliance aims to end the cycle of homelessness, one child at a time through a long-term model of care. Monthly Service Project: Families and groups can participate safely from home by putting together seasonally themed goodies and activities for kids.
Mentor: Volunteers (over age 21) work with K-6 youth, meeting weekly to help with school and support the child’s social-emotional development. PHA is providing students with digital devices, Wi-Fi hotspots, printers, and a Distance Learning Space. A monthly donation of $25 can help cover the costs of distance learning resources. For details, contact Vanessa Sher at vsher@projecthopealliance.org.
For more information, visit projecthopealliance.org.
