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Dear Friends,
I hope this newsletter finds you and yours doing well! We’ve been busy little elves this month, making sure that our youth and families can celebrate with gifts and holiday cheer!
Our annual Giving Tree event at Marin Country Mart was a great success, with our youth’s wishes almost completely fulfilled before the end of the evening. Our new Independent Living Program, serving all Alameda County youth, will be hosting a Holiday Party. The Irene M. Hunt School received donations of books for its students, and TAY Space is once more holding a Holiday Store filled with donated items for Marin County youth. Thanks to you, our youth can share in the warmth and joy of the season!
I’m sure you are busy as we move towards the new year! In this season of giving and receiving, I wish you the very best. Thank you for walking with us, uplifting our youth and their journey, and being part of our Side by Side community.
All the Best,
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Help Us Make A Lasting Impact Today
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At Side by Side, we’ve made it our purpose to uplift young people by offering comprehensive support through a wide range of programs and services tailored to their unique needs. Every day, we work alongside youth and their families, guiding them through life’s challenges and offering hope for a brighter future.
Every dollar you contribute makes a tangible difference. With your help, we can expand our reach, enhance our programs, and ensure that no Bay Area youth is left without the care they need and deserve.
Please consider donating this year. All donations made by midnight on December 31 are tax deductible in 2024.
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Congratulations, Denisse Mendoza! | |
Side by Side is excited to announce that Denisse Mendoza is our new Director of Practice and Program Development (DPPD), a role that replaces the Chief Program Officer. Denisse will focus on clinical practice, training, and program development, overseeing existing programs with direct service needs.
Denisse has worked in the North Bay, starting as a Youth Specialist with Project Pride and advancing to roles such as CCNB Program Manager and North Bay Regional Director.
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She established Raices Unidas, which won an Excellence in Innovation award in 2023, and developed a sustainable Community Counseling North Bay program. Her efforts have secured funding for EMDR and TF-CBT training for North Bay clinicians through a strong relationship with the Sonoma Community Foundation.
Denisse’s experience and dedication will strengthen Side by Side's direct service work and support growth with a clinical and trauma-informed approach. She will lead clinical supervisors, QA, and Joint Commission compliance and collaborate with the Senior Leadership Team on business development. She will also work with Regional Directors and the Hunt School to align goals.
Denisse officially started as DPPD on December 16 while continuing as North Bay Regional Director until a successor is found.
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In this month’s edition of Staff Scoop, the Side by Side e-News team had the pleasure of interviewing Sophia De La Cerda, a dedicated clinician in the East Bay. | |
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How long have you been at Side by Side?
6 months
What brought you to the agency?
I had been working at a private practice and needed a change. Someone from our agency’s hiring team knew I was looking for something new and contacted me. It was a hard decision to leave my clients, but I couldn’t deny that I felt a pull to work at Side by Side. I immediately felt that the culture here was much more welcoming and genuine than other places I had previously worked, and I was excited to work exclusively with my preferred age group.
What three words describe you?
Compassionate, strong-willed, and silly.
What has been your favorite project at Side by Side?
The Our Space gender-affirming closet. I love that we get to provide youth with clothing that helps them feel more comfortable in their skin and better express their identity. Never underestimate the power of a great outfit!
Why is it important to work with today’s youth?
Because they need it. Our youth are actively trying to find their place in the world, figure out who they are, and enter an entirely new stage of life with all sorts of new responsibilities and challenges. Recent research tells us that despite being more connected to other humans than at any other point in history, today’s youth are also the loneliest. Not to mention the fact that the population we serve is often also attempting to process past trauma and/or attachment disruptions. If we engage with today’s youth now—teach them communication, healthy coping, and daily living skills, help them feel safe and supported, and show them that they are not alone—we can help them be prepared, emotionally healthy, and successful as they enter adulthood.
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Every month, the Side by Side e-News team shines a spotlight on one of our amazing staff members in the all-new Staff Scoop. Don’t miss out—read this column monthly to discover the stories and talents of our incredible team! | | |
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Thank you, Marin Country Mart and Community
We are stunned by the community who came together to purchase gifts from the Giving Tree for our youth.
Thank you, Marin Country Mart! You are the best. And a really big thanks to the Trading Post for collecting all the gifts at the Mart for us!
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You Rule, Safeway District 2!
On December 5th, 2024, Side by Side's Betsy Ross joined Safeway volunteers at their Petaluma store to help stuff and mail holiday cards for our community and create holiday gift bags for our youth. The day was filled with enthusiasm, and everyone's energy and commitment were truly inspiring.
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It was fun and rewarding, and we couldn't have done it without you. Thank you, Safeway, for making this day so special! | | |
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We enjoyed a Pizza with a Purpose!
This month, we partnered with Mountain Mike's Pizza in Novato and Santa Rosa in a dine-and-donate event. We hope to continue the partnership in 2025.
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Sending Our Appreciation
Side by Side collaborates with schools, organizations, and businesses across the Bay Area to fulfill Wish Lists for our clients. Many of these young individuals come from low-income families or are former foster youth living independently with limited resources. Our goal is to ensure every young person has a gift to unwrap, bringing joy to their holiday season.
Many thanks to these holiday partners who have shared books, gift cards, stuffed animals, toys, puzzles and art supplies to fulfill the holiday wish lists for our clients:
The Development team made multiple trips to the Marin Country Mart where shoppers pulled gift tag requests off a Giving Tree.
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Book Passage of Corte Madera delivered 125 books with titles ranging from Diary of a Wimpy Kid to Percy Jackson to the popular The HeartStopper series for our young adults, as well as, books by Malcolm Gladwell, Adam Grant, and Robert Green.
Mill Valley Middle School fulfilled the requests of the middle school students at Irene M. Hunt School.
Our East Bay programs partnered with Toys for Tots and Mary's Kids to donate holiday gifts.
In Sonoma, we coordinated with the Center for Volunteer and Nonprofit Leadership to fulfill holiday wishes.
Online donors visited our Amazon Wish List, which has served as a source for youth requests.
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A heartfelt thank you to Bank of Marin for featuring our CEO, Christine Garcia, in their Marin Gives Back message in the December edition of Marin Magazine. We are truly honored to be part of their story, which underscores the importance of community support. Together, we can make a meaningful difference! | | | | |
