As the Santa Cruz Gives selection committee reviewed applications for the 2025 six-week holiday fundraiser, we talked about current events and trends in giving that might impact the campaign this year. Volunteer Center executive director Karen Delaney told us about a study that showed that younger donors have different priorities than older donors. SANTA CRUZ GIVES Older donors prioritize the urgency of meeting basic needs — food, housing and health care — since federal funds were slashed this year. Younger people prioritize mental health, social justice, peace, and general well-being. An interesting stat is that young people give more often. They’re adept at using their phones for quick donations as…
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Building Bright Futures
The Lasting Impact of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Cruz County Since 1969, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Cruz County (BGCSCC) has been a cornerstone for local youth in the area. Over the years, the organization has grown to serve more than 40,000 young people across three Clubhouses in Santa Cruz, Live Oak, and Scotts Valley. Its mission is to inspire and empower all youth, especially those who need it most, to build character and confidence and reach their full potential as productive, caring, and responsible citizens. The Club provides welcoming spaces filled with enriching programs and mentorship to meet the needs of the community. From…
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Two Exercises for Your Pelvic Floor
Vanessa, a postpartum mom of two, came to me concerned about feeling heaviness, bulging, and leakage after having her children. A brief search on the internet revealed to her she may have pelvic organ prolapse. Worried how to fix this she asked if there was anything she could do at home while she waited for her doctor to see her Maybe you’re like Vanessa and are having symptoms of pelvic floor disfunction but think since you’re a mom its normal to have these issues. It is not and many women don’t know how to fix it. Kegel’s are advertised as the cure-all, but alone are insufficient. There are better exercises…
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Staying Grounded Through the Holidays
The holidays can bring moments of magic — sparkling lights, familiar songs, cozy family gatherings. But for many parents and caregivers, they also bring full schedules, high expectations, sensory overload, and an endless to-do list. The season that’s meant to bring connection can easily leave our nervous systems on overdrive. As parents and caregivers, we often focus on supporting our children through holiday stress: keeping routines somewhat consistent, preparing them for transitions, and helping them manage the emotional ups and downs of change. Yet we sometimes forget that our own regulation forms the foundation for how our children experience the season. When we feel grounded, calm, and connected to ourselves,…
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Inspiring Student Innovators at TEDxMeritAcademy
Colleges today are looking for curious students — those who dive deeply into subjects that truly fascinate them. Gone are the days when being a “Jack of all Trades” guaranteed admission. Juggling three sports, piano lessons, multiple clubs, and hundreds of volunteer hours no longer impresses top universities. Instead, admissions officers are drawn to students whose curiosity leads them to explore meaningful questions over time. They can spot the difference between a last-minute “passion project” and one that reflects genuine dedication. When a student begins exploring an idea in 8th or 9th grade and develops it throughout high school, it shows depth, resilience, and authentic engagement — qualities every selective…
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Rethinking Thanksgiving and the Stories We Share
You are not alone in wondering about what it means to hold the 4th Thursday of November as a day of gratitude, known to some as Thanksgiving, and to others as the Day of Mourning. In a country rooted in colonization (which still continues today), we have been conditioned to ignore the uglier parts of our country’s history and how the experiences we take for granted today came to be. At Positive Discipline Community Resources, we invite you to stay curious and examine the ways in which we have the power and privilege to bring humanity and compassion into our parenting and teaching of traditions. “The antidote to feel-good history…
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Developing an Attitude of Gratitude
Some days, I get so caught up in work, chores, and the busyness of everyday life that I forget to slow down and really notice the little things. Watching my daughter play, hearing her laugh at something silly, or seeing sunlight spill across the living room—these small moments often pass by before I even register them. Lately, I’ve been making an effort to pause more often: to feel the warmth of the sun on my face, savor a quiet cup of coffee, or simply take a deep breath. Doing this reminds me how much there is to be grateful for, and how much richer life feels when I slow down…
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Pet of the Month: Rocco
Meet Rocco, the lovable “chocolate bear” with a powdered sugar coat! Though considered a senior, Rocco’s youthful spirit shines — he loves walks, hikes, and endless games of fetch. He rides beautifully in the car and has lived happily with children under 12. Rocco’s adoption fee is sponsored by the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter Foundation’s “Leave No One Behind” fund, helping long-term residents find homes. Plus, every dog adoption includes “Pawsitivity Bucks” — a $200 training voucher to connect adopters with local positive-reinforcement trainers. Come meet Rocco and discover a loyal, fun-loving companion ready to make life’s adventures sweeter!
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Pet Insurance 101
In planning for a pet’s health and wellness, many people have looked at and purchased pet insurance. If you are interested in learning more, here are a few general considerations and questions to think about: ROUTINE CARE Like for any family member, there will be routine medical costs. Yearly check-ups, vaccinations, and teeth cleaning are predictable. Ask your veterinarian for an estimate of these yearly routine costs so you can plan for them. Some pet insurance plans cover routine medical costs. UNPREDICTABLE EXPENSES For unanticipated costs such as injuries and sudden illness, or long-term conditions that any pet can develop, a pet insurance plan can be a wise investment. If…
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A Day of Joy and Generosity
Every song begins with a single note. And for 125 Santa Cruz students this month, that note will ring out from the gift of a brand new guitar that they can call their own. On November 16, Free Guitars for Kids (FG4K), in partnership with Pajaro Valley Unified School District Expanded Learning, will host a Family Fun Day at the Grove located at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. More than 2,000 family, friends and community members are expected, but the heart of the event will be the magical moment when these students walk away with their first instrument. What looks like a simple gift is, in truth, the beginning of…
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Creative Writing is Creative Learning
I’ve been teaching writing to children for almost 20 years now, first in small homeschool groups, then online since 2013. My students have ranged from reluctant writers who can hardly put out a sentence to avid writers who forget to eat when their creative juices are flowing. In the time that I’ve been teaching, I’ve noticed public school curriculum doubling down on technical writing skills. They’ve pushed essay-style writing earlier in the curriculum and even early elementary students are tested on writing skills. In that same time, however, I’ve done the opposite. I’ve tried teaching essay writing to children, and it was miserable. Teaching creative writing, on the other hand,…
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Music’s Enduring Role in Youth Culture & Family Bonds
Parents often say it feels like the old rites of passage have faded or lost their spark. Thankfully, many remain. There’s still the first driver’s license, the cap tossed skyward at graduation, the first heartbreak, the first day of college when life is full of possibility. And this the growing-up milestones that hit every generation in the heart—the ones with rhythm, melody, and emotion. Music remains the one shared experience that never loses its charge or the thrilling moments of maturing and independence. The sweat and chaos of a first concert at The Catalyst where you come home happy with ears ringing, or the freedom of first-time record shopping alone,…
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A Kid’s Adventure at teamLab Planets Tokyo
One of the first things we saw at Narita Airport outside of Tokyo, Japan, after our eleven-hour flight from San Francisco was a big wall-sized poster with two people surrounded by a big room full of swirling color. I was amazed! It was an ad for teamLab Planets, a unique kind of museum, where I knew my mom and dad and my sister Anaïs already had tickets to visit a day and a half later. TeamLab Planets is a fun museum for kids in Tokyo. At their website, they say: “With your entire body, immerse, perceive and become one with the art.” And it really did feel like I “became…
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Growing Up and Growing Older
One of the worst things that happened when raising my son was that no one told us that breast feeding in the middle of the night and not brushing his teeth right then could cause cavities. I wished someone in obstetrics had mentioned that. Instead, we had to take him to a pediatric dentist, where he was put under anesthesia and a great dentist did the work. His mother and I were in tears of fear watching this not quite a toddler on the chair. That’s one of the guiding principles for this magazine ever since. We want to get as much information out to parents as possible. This month…
