Frances Vasquez Vice President of Programs, arc, Torrance, CA Who or what inspires you? Young people! They are incredible, resilient humans. I want to make the world better for them. I had a lot of opportunities growing up, and I want to be able to give them as many opportunities as I can. I had some incredible people in my life who poured so much love into me. I want to do the same for others. How do you encourage creative thinking within your organization? I have a sign in my office that says,...Read More

ElizaBeth Phillips Senior Program Development Director, Child Development Centers, Sacramento, CA Who or what inspires you? My Grandma inspires me. She was a teacher for many years and believed in John Dewey’s learning theories. I would spend my school breaks, afternoons, and sometimes my mornings with her before school and she always had fun things for me to do. And lo and behold I always learned something too. But, she inspires me in more ways than just her teaching style. She has a true love ...Read More

Heather Williams Strategic Initiatives Coordinator, California Department of Education, Expanded Learning Division, Sacramento, CA Who or what inspires you? I’m inspired by many things, but if I’m particularly seeking inspiration there are a few places I go look. One is reading. Whether fiction, non-fiction, books, articles, research, in the information age and particularly with the internet, we have so much reading material at our fingertips. It doesn’t take long before I can ...Read More

Amira Resnick Healthy Communities/Strategic Partnerships Manager, California, Alliance for a Healthier Generation, Los Angeles, CA Who or what inspires you? Last year I visited OST sites to share and demonstrate physical activity games that get youth and staff moving (literally and figuratively!) toward a healthier OST site. All I brought with me was a small tote bag of supplies and a big grin on my face. The kids warmed my heart with their eagerness to try a new game and release some energy, wh...Read More

Becky Shultz Director of Expanded Learning, WCSD – Reach For The Stars program, Whittier, CA Who or what inspires you? People who are looking for ways to be kind and help others inspire me. Why do you work in this field? I work in this field because it gives me the opportunity to give youth all of the things they don’t normally have access to. We have the privilege of being able to help produce globally responsible citizens who receive a well-rounded education. Can you name a person ...Read More