Councilmember Inzunza Visits Palomar Head Start

Head Start students, staff, and CEO Elizabeth Wilberg smile with Councilmember Inzunza and his team. January 2026.

Chula Vista, CA — Today, Chula Vista Councilmember Michael Inzunza, a former educator, spent time at ECS Head Start Palomar Center, connecting with little scholars and the educators who walk alongside them.

With Neighborhood House Association (NHA) coordinating the visit, our Palomar team led a tour that highlighted South Bay early education needs through real classroom moments and conversations with teachers.

We’re grateful for partners who show up, listen, and invest in the future of our community. If you believe every child deserves a strong start, learn more about ECS Head Start and the early learning support available to families at ecsheadstart.org.

Sailing Through Rough Waters

With the help of C-HRT, Daniel succeeds in his ambitions. October 2025.

When times are tough, it often feels as if we are swimming through crashing waves, barely staying afloat. Making it through rough water – something everyone faces in one form or another – is a lot easier with a boat and people to help you paddle through. That’s what Daniel found at ECS Community Harm Reduction Team (C-HRT) Safe Haven. 

Daniel, a C-HRT resident for just over two years, faced unexpected challenges after leaving prison, despite working hard to turn his life around. He engaged in self-help work, rehabilitation, and began the journey toward getting his degree. He was told by his parents that because he worked for a fresh start, he could move back home.  

However, Daniel’s introduction back into society was not as seamless as he had hoped. His parents changed their minds, and Daniel was left with no clear direction on what to do next. 

He described the situation as frustrating. “It was a feeling of a rug being pulled from under me,” Daniel said. “I wasn’t supposed to be homeless.” 

Daniel is a self-described problem solver. He recalled thinking, “‘This can't be it. There has to be a solution... There has to be a better outcome.’” 

His sister did what she could to help and bought Daniel a hotel room for a few days so he could find a solution. “I put in so much work going to college while incarcerated, doing self-help, and working on my rehabilitation and sobriety that I wasn't going to allow going back to the street to trigger me and then compromise my rehabilitation,” he said.  

He contacted someone at Alpha Project and was offered a spot. Daniel had somewhere off of the streets to stay, but it was difficult to continue his education and rehabilitation in that environment. Thankfully, about a year later, Daniel received an opportunity to move to ECS C-HRT Safe Haven.   

The living-style of C-HRT provides comfort, safety, and freedom for residents. *March 2024.

“They said it was more apartment-like. It was closer to living in your own space,” Daniel said. The idea of privacy and increased safety pushed Daniel to quickly accept the offer. He shared that it’s the little things like free hygiene items and space to store his belongings that make a huge difference. 

When Daniel moved to C-HRT, he was ready to hit the ground running and pursue his goals, no matter how hard he had to work. “I had nonstop interviews, nonstop resume building. I was going to class, going to school, learning trig,” he said.  

While Daniel did not have excessive down time while at C-HRT, the time he did get to spend at the program was spent meaningfully with the staff and other residents. Before C-HRT, “I might have been smiling all the time, but I didn't really have a social life,” Daniel shared. “I still struggle with social interactions. But this place – being so close in cohabitation – allowed me to learn.” 

One of the best places for community and support Daniel found was a bible study led by C-HRT program manager Taliea Burton. “We started going to [Pacific Beach] right there on the water and reading scripture,” Daniel said. “Spirituality is a big part of my life… It's kind of nice to get close to those people and bond over that.” 

Daniel described C-HRT as a tool and a steppingstone. It allowed him the safety and support needed to succeed. When asked what his journey may have looked like without C-HRT, Daniel responded, “It would have been harder. I think I would have swam. I would have built a boat. But it would have been definitely like fighting against the current. It would have felt like I had my head barely above the water.” C-HRT helped Daniel build a sturdy boat that could carry him over the waves. Now, he is living independently in his own apartment, working, and studying computer science in school. He is currently projected to graduate in the Fall of 2026 with plans to further his studies at San Diego State University.  

Daniel used C-HRT as a stepping stone to a brighter future. October 2025.

C-HRT was a much-needed steppingstone along Daniel’s path. “It's a step forward in the right direction. We're all going to have bad moments. It's up to you to see through that and get the help you need,” he said. “Use this place for what they're offering it to be used for. It's your own shower, your own bathroom... rest easy and know that you get to wake up and go find a job or work hard and come home to a safe place to put your head down.” 

C-HRT Safe Haven is transitional housing for individuals living with chronic substance use conditions. To learn more about the work of C-HRT Safe Haven, visit https://www.ecscalifornia.org/c-hrtsafehaven.  

*Caption dates may not be exact.

Lighting Up With Joy: Family-to-Family 2025

A little girl beams standing with her gifts from Family-to-Family. December 2024.

Family-to-Family for the Holidays is one of ECS’ most beloved traditions. Each year, people sign up to sponsor ECS families and help provide gifts for the holiday season. The holidays are a special time of year, and no child deserves to go without. In 2025, Family-to-Family will provide gifts for 383 neighbors from 88 families.

Family-to-Family requires the work of many ECS staff members, including Family Engagement Specialist Heidi Avent.

Since the Family-to-Family program first started, Heidi has been involved as a coordinator, working with family service technicians (FSTs), site supervisors, and home visitors to select families that would benefit from the program.

This year, the process has shifted so that staff who interact more closely with the families are leading the selection process, but Heidi is thrilled to continue to watch the program grow and bring Christmas magic to dozens of families. “It’s been a blessing,” she said.

ECS provides gifts for the entire family. December 2024.

Family-to-Family brings holiday magic to those in need. December 2024.

Heidi shared that Family-to-Family is “one of the main resources for our families for the holidays.” Without it, the holidays would be a far more difficult time.

Family-to-Family would not be possible without the sponsors who volunteer to provide gifts for ECS families. Heidi expressed her appreciation for the sponsors. “The donations that the donors give to the families – it’s amazing, my mouth drops. They take the time to get what the families requested and make the families feel special this time of year,” she said. “I’m so thankful to know there are actually people out there who care and take the time to care for our families.”

Carly Montagne, CFO at Torrey Pines Landscape Company, has been a Family-to-Family sponsor for three years. The first year, she signed up as an individual, and after that she sponsored with her colleagues at Torrey Pines Landscape Company. “Everyone gets so excited, it makes everybody feel super in the Christmas spirit since they’re doing something for someone,” she said.

A mother and child smile with their gifts. December 2024.

An Episcopalian and member of St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, Carly has volunteered with her parish in many ways over the years. When she saw the sign up for Family-to-Family in the Diocese newsletter, she decided to try a new way of giving back and sponsor a family.

Carly recalled her first trip delivering gifts to her sponsored family. “The mom was crying the entire time, ‘this is all for us? I can’t believe it.’ I was in tears the whole drive home,” she said.

Carly showcases neighborly love and holiday spirit by going above and beyond with her sponsor duties. The first year she sponsored, she volunteered to take on an additional family who had no sponsor match. This year, she asked ECS again about any unmatched families, and through her family, friends, and colleagues, Carly found matches for six additional families.

“Anything we can do to support and give back is one of the most important things we can do,” she said. “That’s what Jesus would want, he said ‘give them the shirt off your back,’ so how can I do less?”

This year, ECS is inviting all of its community members to reflect on how they light the season with love. Carly shared that “to me, it means there is no Christmas without love... love should light our lives and our decisions; the world would be a much better place.”

Family-to-Family sponsors are touching hearts and lives through their generosity, lighting up the season for children excited to receive gifts, and even more for parents who get to see joy on their children’s faces.

“You just see the joy and appreciation in their faces, that ECS is able to help them. It’s helped so many families in our community,” Heidi shared. “It’s a season of hope; they’re giving hope to our families.”

To learn more ways you can give hope to ECS families, students, and clients, visit https://www.ecscalifornia.org/ways-to-give.

Sponsoring a family creates real impact and lasting memories. December 2024.

Family-to-Family creates hope and happiness for dozens of families each year. December 2024.

Aglow with Generosity: ECS GivingTuesday 2025

ECS supporters gather together in the spirit of giving. December 2025.

The holiday season is upon us, and as much as the season preaches the importance of generosity, compassion, and love, those values are often overshadowed by the consumeristic nature of the holidays. GivingTuesday is an annual movement that helps bring generosity back to the forefront.  

On GivingTuesday, people can support endless causes, including ECS’ programs right here in San Diego. Gifts help families build brighter futures, children grow in confidence, and neighbors find hope in recovery. 

Community partners like Enterprise Bank provide crucial support to ECS. December 2025.

Each year ECS participates in GivingTuesday with a fundraising campaign and event. The 2025 event took place at Quigley Fine Wines for the third year in a row. Guests enjoyed wine tastings – with a portion of the proceeds from wine sales going to ECS – beautiful charcuterie boards, and meaningful conversations and camaraderie centered around ECS.  

Jimena Villaseñor, the Business Programs Manager at the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, attended the GivingTuesday event. Jimena first learned about ECS while working at the Chamber. Interacting with CEO Elizabeth Wilberg and advocating for ECS’ mission while on the Chamber’s annual delegation trip to Washington D.C. caused her to become fond of the organization’s work, leading her to eventually join ECS’ Advocacy Committee. “What really calls me to be more involved with ECS is the big sense of community they have not only for the Episcopal community, but overall in fostering care and love for everyone,” Jimena said. The GivingTuesday event was the perfect example of that supportive community. 

This year, ECS is reflecting on what it means to light the season with love. Jimena shared that GivingTuesday lights the season with love for her because “It reminds me of what the holidays are about. Not only about gifts, not only about being together with the ones we’re closest to but also reflecting on those who are in need and analyzing how can we be better citizens to our community for the following year.”  

Thank you to everyone who came out to show their support for ECS and for everyone who gave to ECS this GivingTuesday. Thanks to the incredible generosity of ECS’ supporters, ECS raised over $15,000 this GivingTuesday, unlocking the full $5,000 matching gift, bringing the total impact to $20,000. ECS could not make the impact it does without this support. Every gift truly makes a difference. 

To learn more about how to give back to ECS visit https://www.ecscalifornia.org/donate.

Guests enjoy refreshments and community at the GivingTuesday event. December 2025.

The event promotes the holiday spirit of generosity. December 2025.