St. Paul's Cathedral ECS Forum

ECS board members share their knowledge and experience of ECS. September 2024. 

Earlier today, ECS hosted an engaging forum at St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral, bringing together board members, staff, and parishioners to explore the deep connection between ECS and the Cathedral community. The panel discussion provided a unique opportunity to delve into the intersection of faith, service, and advocacy, showcasing how our shared mission makes a meaningful impact in the community and how to support ECS in its ongoing work.

To learn more about how YOU can join us in breaking barriers and transforming communities, please visit www.ecscalifornia.org.

Strengthening Families with PLF

Hezekiah’s family poses for a picture at an ice rink. *February 2024.

SAN DIEGO – When a person or family comes to ECS for help, the goal is not to give them a band-aid and send them on their way but to provide them with resources and support that will last them a lifetime. Hezekiah, a former Para Las Familias (PLF) parent and current ECS board member, went through therapy at PLF with his two children, and although the family graduated from the program about three years ago, they can still see the impact in their lives today.  

Hezekiah has shared his family’s journey with the ECS community in the past, explaining how he went through a divorce and how that unexpected change, along with the COVID-19 pandemic, created extreme challenges for his children. 

“Our family was torn apart by that divorce,” Hezekiah said. “There was this kind of seismic shift that brought about immense heartache and turmoil into everyone’s life.” When presented with this challenge, he was unsure who to turn to or how to ask for help. “From one day to the next, you’re now a single parent,” Hezekiah said as he recalled how hard it was to watch his children process this change. The obstacles in front of them seemed too big to take on. “The consistency of the instability was replaced with confusion, anger, and an overwhelming sense of loss,” Hezekiah said. 

Hezekiah’s parents fostered several children during his childhood, so he was familiar with early childhood mental health services and the importance of forming a secure attachment. He had also heard of PLF years earlier when they were doing outreach. The situation he found himself in was challenging, but PLF was there when he and his family needed someone to turn to.  

Hezekiah’s daughter enjoys arts and crafts at school. *February 2024.

“Together with Para Las Familias, we began to rebuild these broken bonds and started to nurture this secure attachment that paved the way for feeling and a reversal of a lot of that trauma we had all endured,” Hezekiah said.  

Both of Hezekiah’s children benefited greatly from the services at PLF. His daughter used to have emotional outbursts and often isolated herself. Hezekiah shared how she used to struggle with transitions, making daily tasks like getting ready for school and entering her classroom each morning hard. “She refused it. She would yell and say, ‘I’m not going to go to school.’ And on the first day of kindergarten, she ran off, tore her clothes off, tried to hop the fence that same day and we had principals, teachers, everybody just running around. It looked like something out of a cartoon,” he said. “It was very challenging.” Now, with the work learned at PLF, her transition time to the classroom only takes a minute. His daughter can express herself, communicate her feelings, and has become what Hezekiah called a “model student” in the classroom.

His son deals with anxiety and the urge to achieve constant perfection. As a result, he used to become very upset at losing, but now he knows it doesn’t matter. Hezekiah recalled how, while watching a movie in which a character lost, his son said, “‘It doesn’t matter. What matters is that you helped people.’” These lessons that PLF has helped children learn at a young age are crucial for future relationships. 

Hezekiah’s son smiles while exploring the outdoors. *February 2024.

Hezekiah spoke about the importance of viewing disabilities and mental health with inclusivity and understanding, practices that PLF teaches. “Instead of trying to get those individuals with those disabilities to conform with our society, we need to be able to be more accommodating with them,” Hezekiah said. “ECS provided those lifetime tools to help him [his son] and help those individuals around him better support him.”  

During his experience with PLF, Hezekiah and his children developed a secure attachment style, which has guided their relationship in the years since therapy. When someone told the family to leave a place of worship because his daughter was crying, Hezekiah said “You know what, we’re going to wait here until she’s ready”... I think something changed in that moment… I think she knew that I was going to be with her through thick and thin, and I wasn’t going to take anybody else’s side.”  

Having patience, respecting dignity, and maintaining a healthy structure are key PLF lessons that Hezekiah applies daily. “I’ve never once had to raise my voice… they know that it’s coming out of a place of love,” he said. 

PLF Program Manager Leslie Manriquez-Jimenez and Transitional Age Youth (TAY) Program Manager Karla Alonso worked with the Hezekiah family as their therapists while they were going through the program. Regarding Hezekiah’s PLF parenting journey, Manriquez-Jimenez commented that he “really took the program, took the tools he learned here and went with it, and we can see the impact it had for years to come.” PLF aims to equip families with the tools to overcome obstacles not only in their present lives, but years into their futures. The therapists help parents develop a sense of confidence in themselves “and what that does is they test what works with their children and their relationship with that child so, whenever some new behavior comes up, they are able to show up for their kids and trust their intuition. They’re not trusting interventions; they're trusting their intuition and that’s what we’re helping them develop here,” Manriquez-Jimenez said. 

Hezekiah’s children smile together for a photo. *February 2024.

Since becoming the Program Manager at PLF, Manriquez-Jimenez has seen PLF nearly double the number of families they work with and expand to help children ages 6-12. She said, “We see that ripple effect going family-wide and community-wide. The more families we get to work with the more we get to hear them pass down what we teach them.” 

In 2022 Hezekiah became a member of the ECS Board of Directors. When asked to take on the role, Hezekiah responded “Whatever you need, I am forever indebted.” He expressed how glad he is to see the expansion of PLF’s program reach a larger age range of children. He enjoys the opportunities the board gives him to spread the word on what ECS offers and the impact of its programs, especially as a former client.  

“It’s okay to ask for help. We’re not alone in this journey. There are resources and people to support you and your kids through these difficult times that you’re going through,” Hezekiah said. “At Para Las Familias you’re not a number. You’re family. I’m quite positive of that. That embrace, and that desire for all of us to grow is there.” 

Para Las Familias (PLF) is an outpatient behavioral and mental health clinic that provides a range of bilingual early childhood mental health services to low-income children 0 to 12 years old. Therapists at PLF provide screening, assessment, family and group therapy, school observation, teacher/provider consultation, and parenting groups. In addition, PLF also provides adult mental health services and weekly parenting groups. For more information visit https://www.ecscalifornia.org/para-las-familias.  

*Caption dates may not be exact.

ECS Announces New Board President and Welcomes New Board Members

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ECS Announces Megan Costello as New Board President
and Welcomes New Board Members
Ana Lozano, Masada Ellis, and Shana Medley

 San Diego, CA – Jul. 20, 2023 – Episcopal Community Services is pleased to announce the promotion of Megan Costello from Board Secretary to Board President and the appointment of Ana Lozano, Masada Ellis, and Shana Medley to its Board of Directors. Each of these professionals brings a wealth of experience and a unique perspective to our board.

July 2023.

 Megan Costello brings more than 15 years of experience in building and scaling teams within SaaS – Software as a Service – companies across diverse sectors, including healthcare, social media, education, and nonprofits, which will provide a strong foundation for her new role. Known for her unwavering dedication to social causes, Costello has been actively involved with political campaigns and the San Diego chapter of the International Rescue Committee.

 Ana Lozano, a seasoned professional in the healthcare industry, has dedicated her career to supporting underserved communities in San Diego County. With more than seven years of experience at Molina Healthcare of California, Lozano is adept at forging community connections and addressing the needs of low-income families. Her commitment to enriching lives is reflected in her current role as a community representative for the Head Start and Early Head Start Programs Policy Committee for ECS.

Masada Ellis is a vibrant force in the arts and business sector. The CEO of NotApologeticStudiosLLC, Ellis combines professional expertise in finance, shipment management, and database programming with a powerful passion for music. An advocate for individuality and self-expression, Ellis not only contributes to the community as a chess instructor for elementary school children but also holds the chairman position for several parent committees, including NHA, ECS, and Zamorano Elementary School.

Shana Medley brings to the board her extensive experience in integrated marketing, event management, public relations, and business development. As the Director of Marketing and Public Relations for the Century Club of San Diego, she is instrumental in the success of the city's annual PGA TOUR event, the Farmers Insurance Open. Her career spans diverse industries, and in addition to her professional pursuits, Shana's personal passion for sports and fitness brings an energizing dynamic to any role she serves.

"We're incredibly excited for Megan’s presidency and for Ana, Masada, and Shana to join our board," said Elizabeth Fitzsimons, ECS’ Chief Executive Officer. "Their expertise and commitment to community service will undeniably strengthen our board with new insight and innovation.”

Megan Costello, the newly appointed board president, added, "Our board is full of passionate individuals from all parts of San Diego County who are committed to making our community a place where all people can thrive, and I'm excited about what lies ahead for us this year."

Please visit www.ecscalifornia.org/leadership to learn more about our new board members and the impactful work of ECS.

Media Contact:
Adrienne Wilkerson
ECS Communications Director
awilkerson@ecscalifornia.org. ###

Chris Cate Appointed as New Board Member

SAN DIEGO – Apr. 6, 2023 – Episcopal Community Services (ECS) is proud to announce the appointment of Chris Cate, a distinguished public servant and accomplished entrepreneur, to its Board of Directors. As the founder of 3MC Strategies and former San Diego City Councilmember, Cate brings a wealth of experience in public policy, public affairs, and business development to the ECS board. 

Chris Cate joins ECS Board. April 2023.

“With his deep experience in finance, policy, and public affairs, Chris will help our board and staff set smart strategies and make sound decisions as ECS grows to meet the needs of our community,” said ECS Chief Executive Officer Elizabeth Fitzsimons. “I am grateful for Chris’s commitment to service, and his support of the ECS mission to break barriers and transform communities.”

"I am proud to join the Board of ECS and support an amazing organization that is providing much-needed services to San Diegans,” Cate said. “I look forward to joining my colleagues to strengthen the childhood education and behavioral health services ECS provides each and every day."

Elected to represent District 6 on the San Diego City Council in 2014, Cate was only the third Asian American in the city's history to hold such a position. During his tenure, he focused on public safety, economic growth, infrastructure, and civic engagement. Cate championed key legislation that eliminated burdensome fees for small business owners, developed programs to reduce crime and human trafficking, addressed the housing shortage, and secured tens of millions of dollars for infrastructure projects throughout District 6.

Cate is well-known for his efforts to increase civic engagement within the Asian Pacific Islander (API) community in San Diego. He spearheaded initiatives to appoint more API leaders to various boards and commissions and revitalized the Convoy District corridor, officially recognizing it as the Convoy Pan Asian Cultural and Business Innovation District.

With a strong background as a taxpayer advocate, Cate has consistently championed local and state legislation that promotes transparency, accountability, efficiency, and fiscal discipline on behalf of taxpayers. His dedication to public service has earned him numerous awards, including San Diego Magazine 40 Under 40, Building Owners and Managers Association Elected Official of the Year, San Diego County Taxpayers Association Taxpayer Advocate of the Year, and the Filipino American Community Empowerment Luminary Award, among others.

The ECS board of 18 community and business leaders from across the region governs the organization through active oversight of mission development and long-range planning, financial management, and resource development and fundraising. The board is led by its Chair, The Rt. Rev. Dr. Susan Brown Snook, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego, and its President, Jessica Ripper, Director of Market Execution, Global Policy Leadership Academy.

Since its establishment in 1927, ECS has been taking action to end generational cycles of hardship, advancing equity and opportunity across our region. Annually, the organization assists over 7,000 individuals by providing access to early childhood education and development services, as well as supporting the mental and behavioral health of individuals and families within our communities.

For more information on Episcopal Community Services, visit https://www.ecscalifornia.org/.

Media Contact:
Adrienne Wilkerson
ECS Communications Director
awilkerson@ecscalifornia.org. ###