Category: Uncategorized

CELEBRATING WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY!

Let’s make mental health care a reality for all! Here we share some staff stories and resources as part of Mental Illness Awareness Week culminating in World Mental Health Day on October 10th!

NBC News Profiles Member Success

  On January 19th, NBC news aired a story featuring Step Up CEO and President Tod Lipka and Step Up member Sunnie. The story profiles Sunnie as she discusses her journey from experiencing homelessness, to permanent supportive housing at Step Up on Vine, to community leadership. Sunnie shares her inspiring story of recovery, life at […]

STEP UP IN SALINAS OPENS ITS DOORS IN MONTEREY COUNTY

We interviewed Step Up Program Manager Julius Mills-Denti to better understand how our teams approach providing supportive services during the move in process at Step Up in Salinas.

COMMUNITY PARTNER SPOTLIGHT: ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY, INC.

MU LAMBDA OMEGA CHAPTER CULVER CITY/WEST LA

COMMUNITY PARTNER SPOTLIGHT: VILLAGE FOR VETS 

Step Up community partner Village for Vets is a dedicated nonprofit organization that fills gaps in critical services for homeless and at-risk veterans in greater Los Angeles. The non-profit offers four types of services to veterans: meals, emergency financial assistance, social support and basic needs.

PARTNER SPOTLIGHT: SPECIALTY FAMILY FOUNDATION

The Specialty Family Foundation has been a generous supporter of Step Up since 2010. We interviewed the Specialty Family Foundation’s Grants Manager, Tiann Ortiz, about the homeless epidemic, the grant process, and community collaboration.

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT: KORINNE & HER PET KIT DRIVE

This past month, Step Up volunteer Korinne helped to create a Pet Kit drive for Step Up members and their companion pets.  Having a pet is one great way to reduce social isolation and create support for people experiencing homelessness and a mental health condition.   Korinne, a Culver City mom of two small children, is a […]

COMMUNITY PARTNER SPOTLIGHT: CENTER FOR COUNCIL

COMMUNITY PARTNER SPOTLIGHT: CENTER FOR COUNCIL  Step Up has been working with the non-profit organization Center for Council for over a year to promote communication and enhance well-being. Center for Council has supported staff training that fosters recognition of our shared humanity.  It has enabled individuals to give voice to their stories and to strengthen […]

INTERVIEW WITH DANIEL’S PLACE PARENT AND FAMILY ADVOCATE SHELLEY HOFFMAN 

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), one in five U.S. adults live with a mental illness yet the stigma surrounding mental health is still rampant in our society. Isolation, blame and discrimination from stigma can prevent people from reaching out and getting the help they need.  Stigma is the #1 reason that people do not seek […]

SAN BERNARDINO VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT: MYLEE’S THANK YOU CARDS

In San Bernardino, Step Up staff receive thank you cards. Pictured are SC1 Jason Duran, Nurse Sara Grilltsch and SC1 Denise Magallanes. A few months ago, the Step Up Virtual Volunteers started making Thank You Cards as a way of acknowledging staff working during COVID-19. These beautiful and creative handmade cards were made by virtual volunteer Mylee for the […]