Dreams for Schools recently wrapped up its Winter programs with a special podcast appearance on Affton Unplugged, hosted by Dr. Travis Bracht, Superintendent of Affton School District in Missouri. Executive Director Nithin Jilla and team member Melanie joined the episode to share their journey of bringing coding education to Affton students and how it’s transforming classroom learning.

You can listen to the podcase here.

Special guest Ambassador Gaddi H. Vasquez attended the program finale in partnership with Breakthrough San Juan Capistrano where students showcased their Web Development projects, highlighting efforts to empower the next generation of tech innovators.

Nithin participated in the 2023 Executive Learning Group.

IEHP Foundation’s inaugural Champions for Vibrant Health Leadership Network gathered in Sacramento to strengthen their public policy skills and advocate for key issues impacting children and families in the Inland Region—such as Medi-Cal, mental health, housing, and economic mobility. This network of 80 nonprofit leaders from 40 organizations is committed to building healthy neighborhoods and ensuring all residents, especially families with children, have access to vibrant health throughout the Inland Empire.

More information can be found here.

Greg Bradbard, CEO, participated in the 2000 Nonprofit Leaders Learning Group and was coached in the 2010 Executive Coaching Program.

Duane Rohrbacher, UC Irvine Executive Director of Development, alongside Andillon Hackney, Executive Director of Prospect Research at UC Irvine, presented at the AFP-OC Conference on Philanthropy. Their session on prospect research and AI was a hit—full of actionable insights, lively discussion, and a few laughs along the way! The energy at the conference was electric. Fellow philanthropy professionals connected and discussed strategies to elevate their game.

Duane is a current member of the 2024-25 Leadership Reading Group.

Becky Firey, Executive Director of the American Red Cross of Orange County successfully concluded Red Cross Month with wide recognition across the county. The cities of Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, San Juan Capistrano, Aliso Viejo, La Palma, Mission Viejo, Laguna Woods, and the Orange County Board of Supervisors all honored the celebration with official proclamations.

Becky participated in the 2024 Executive Learning Group.

Chris Hoff, Executive Director of the California Family Institute, co-edited the newly published Encyclopedia of Radical Helping alongside Erin Segal and Julie Cho. This innovative resource maps 250 multidisciplinary practices and concepts for those committed to transformative care. Designed as a rhizomatic, polyphonic collection, the Encyclopedia envisions a world where diverse, love- and freedom-centered approaches to helping can thrive together.

Chris was coached in the 2015 Executive Coaching Program and participated in the 2024 Executive Learning Group.

Assemblymember Diane Dixon of the 72nd District is honoring women who make a meaningful impact in their communities—selecting one outstanding woman from each city in her district. For Laguna Beach, she recognized Debra Finster, Vice President of Philanthropy and Community Engagement at the Pacific Marine Mammal Center. Assemblymember Dixon praised Debra as “a collaborative leader with expertise in strategic planning, process improvement, and team transformation.”

Debra participated in the 2017 Nonprofit Leaders Learning Group.

Jessica Escalante, Director of the Childcare Business Incubator at CIELO, was a guest speaker at the Día del Niño Literacy Program hosted by children's author Claudia Maldonado. She spoke on the power of bilingual education and how it’s shaped her journey as a leader and traveler. Jessica encouraged families to celebrate their culture, support their children’s curiosity, and embrace diverse experiences. She also highlighted Claudia’s new trilingual children’s book, Around the World with Mandy, and shared her own passion project, Yecca’s Adventures.

Jessica is a current participant of the 2025 Nonprofit Leaders Learning Group.

Debora Wondercheck, CEO & Founder of the Arts & Learning Conservatory recently served as a guest lecturer at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music. A cellist, conductor, and passionate arts advocate, Debora shared her journey as a woman, educator, and African American in the music industry—highlighting the importance of representation. For over 20 years, she has championed the transformative power of community-driven arts education, inspiring the next generation to lead with vision, resilience, and a commitment to breaking barriers.

Debora was coached in the 2021 Executive Coaching Program.

Rashad Al-Dabbagh, Executive Director of the Arab American Civic Council, was honored on the California State Senate floor with a proclamation recognizing April 2025 as Arab American Heritage Month. Introduced by Sen. Tom Umberg, Senate Concurrent Resolution 42 celebrates the contributions of the Arab American community and highlights Anaheim’s Little Arabia as a vibrant cultural hub in our state.

Rashad participated in the 2022 Executive Learning Group and was coached in the 2021 and 2023 Executive Coaching Program.

We are saddened to share the passing of Jean Forbath, a tireless advocate for the poor and marginalized, on Sunday, April 20, at the age of 95. Jean was the visionary founder of Share Our Selves and Save Our Youth, two organizations that continue to impact thousands of lives in Orange County to this day.

Our heartfelt condolences go out to her daughter, Mary Cappellini, Executive Director of Save Our Youth, and to all who were touched by Jean’s extraordinary legacy.

You can learn more about her remarkable contributions to our community here.

Mary is a a current member of the 2024-25 Leadership Reading Group.

Congratulations to our esteemed Leadership Reading Group facilitator, Barbara DeMarco-Barrett! Her short story collection, Pool Fishing, has been acquired by Kelp Books and will be published this September.

In Pool Fishing, Barbara introduces us to a cast of unforgettable characters living on the margins—whether physically, psychologically, or financially. Set on the gritty edges of coastal California and deep in the stark California desert, the stories explore places where people feel free to act on dark impulses they might never consider in the crowded confines of the city.

We can’t wait to read her collection!

It’s always a pleasure to host Creative Encounters by Fieldstone for organizations in our Network, and we’re thrilled to have had the opportunity to do it again with American Family Housing!

A big thank you to CEO Milo Peinemann for trusting us a second time to help bring out the best in his team through this unique team-building experience.

If your nonprofit is looking to strengthen collaboration, spark creativity, and build stronger connections, we’d love to bring Creative Encounters to you too. Let’s build something great together!