Celebrating Partnerships that Make Life Changing Choices Possible

On Saturday, September 17, 2022, Del Mar-Solana Beach Rotary Club hosted their second annual Baja-Style Lobsterfest fundraiser benefiting Just in Time for Foster Youth and Casa de Amistad. The Lobsterfest fundraiser featured live music, a three-course lobster dinner, raffle prizes, a live auction, and local breweries

Just in Time’s Service Enterprise/Partnerships Manager, Ivan Chavez also took the stage at the event to speak about JIT’s mission, elevating the conversation about how former foster youth are affected by their foster care experience and how JIT mobilizes the community to create an excellent environment for youth, like himself, to thrive. We can’t wait to attend this event next year! 

Just in Time for Fishing! A Reliable, Responsive, “REEL” Community 

Just in Time participants, staff, and community members gathered at Fisherman’s Landing on September 16th to spend the day at sea. The 5th Annual Fishing Day, hosted by Brad Norris of the Norris Foundation, is, for many foster youth, an opportunity to ride on a boat for the first time, receive a fishing license, and spend the day trying something they may never have tried before.  

Community building events like these are critical to strengthening foundational relationships within the Just in Time community. The generosity of collaborative partners like Brad Norris and the Norris Foundation inspire youth to work together to take on new challenges and to step outside of their comfort zone.

Participants enjoyed a free meal below deck, a full fishing lesson demonstration, and after catching many fish, the amazing crew prepared each catch for participants to take home and eat. All and all, fishing day was a success with most participants catching at least one fish.  

Deepening Connections: Sanam Charlton becomes Kiwanis Club San Diego’s Second Youngest Member 

Sanam Charlton (left) with JIT Board Member and Kiwanis Club San Diego 1st VP and incoming President Gordon Boerner (right) 

Just in Time’s Youth Services Managing Coordinator Sanam Charlton just dropped the Kiwanis Club of San Diego median membership age in half.  

Her Kiwanis Club of San Diego membership was facilitated by Just in Time board member Gordon Boerner, also Kiwanis Club San Diego’s 1st Vice President, who offered to sponsor Sanam’s membership. 

“I’m really excited because I am always working to deepen my connections and engagement in the community and Kiwanis is also actively trying to enlist young and ethnically diverse members to energize their mission and membership,” said Sanam. 

Sanam was presented with a Distinguished Service Award at her first Kiwanis event where she was also recognized as the Kiwanis Club of San Diego chapter’s second youngest member. 

Thank you to Gordon Boerner, who also serves as Senior Vice President, Western US Regional Banking Manager, US Bank, for making this possible! 

DON’S LAST WORDS

“From the very start, Just in Time has been all about building community.  

We saw community as a powerful alternative to the “systems” that seemed so ineffective in meeting the needs of the youth we serve. And, over time, we’ve gained a greater understanding of the foundational difference that makes all the difference. Not just for young people impacted by foster care, but for everyone.

Consider these choices:  

Would you rather be in a health care system, or belong to a health care community?  

An education system, or an education community?  

A childcare system or a childcare community?  

That difference in wording only instinctively creates an entirely different feeling and expected experience.  

We belong to communities.  Belonging to a system sounds confining. 

Communities are owned jointly by those who choose to join. They tend to act on us, not through us. 

We often endure systems but can thrive in communities.   

That’s why, from the very start, Just in Time has been all about building community.”