Exploring ECS’ Future at the 2025 Board of Directors Retreat

National City, CA – Tuesday’s gray skies couldn’t dampen the optimistic energy inside St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, where ECS’ Board of Directors gathered for their annual retreat alongside committee members, ECS leadership, and staff.  

The 2025-2026 ECS Board of Directors and ECS staff and leadership. October 2025.

The retreat provided time to strengthen connections, celebrate the past year’s successes, and chart the course ahead.  

The retreat began with reflection on ECS’ core values — belonging, respect, exploration, empowerment, and stewardship — as attendees shared which values resonated with them the most and why.  

New board member Chris Connolly attended his first retreat and met many of his fellow directors and ECS leadership in-person. He expressed his excitement to build relationships and learn more about ECS. He joined the board with hopes of making a difference in the community. “Bishop Susan, in her opening prayer today, talked about transforming communities, and Elizabeth talked about how the new El Cajon facility is going to help transform that community,” Connolly said. “I'm really excited about this notion of transforming communities, which would give me a lot of purpose, if I could come to ECS board meetings to do that. Both this year, and years ahead, that'd be really exciting.” 

Presentations from CEO Elizabeth Wilberg, Board President La Monica Everett-Haynes, Board Chair Bishop Susan B. Snook, and CFO Darren Tune offered an overview of the 2024-2025 fiscal year and reviewed organizational goals for 2025-2026. Later in the afternoon, attendees separated into groups and constructed ideas for continued growth and impact. 

Attendees discuss strategies for the new fiscal year. October 2025.

Board President La Monica Everett-Haynes welcomes attendees to the retreat. October 2025.

Idara Ogunsaju, a member of the newly formed People & Culture Committee, shared how inspired she felt to meet other individuals driven to support ECS’ work. “It's very easy to get behind the work that's being done, from Head Start children to helping with the issues of homelessness in San Diego,” Ogunsaju said. “You see the work that's happening, you see how they care, and how they're delivering on the mission, vision, and values of the organization.” 

Ogunsaju cited Elizabeth Wilberg’s leadership and ECS’ value of exploration as the things that inspired her to support the organization. “That exploration, the willingness, the openness to change, is very powerful and positions ECS well for today and for the future,” she said. 

Head Start staff takes attendees on a tour of the school site. October 2025.

St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church is also the site for one of ECS’ Head Start centers. Attendees toured the facility, visited active classrooms, and learned about the wide variety of wraparound services Head Start offers, including Home Visits. ECS Head Start not only supports academic growth, but the whole family unit, prioritizing the health and development of their students.   

The annual board retreat reflects ECS’ culture of stewardship and care. Through the dedicated work of its directors, committee members, and leadership, ECS continues to grow stronger each year, laying the foundation for the next century of service. Thank you to our board of directors and committee members for offering your time and talents to ECS. 

To learn more about the leadership that guides ECS visit https://www.ecscalifornia.org/leadership. 

Episcopal Community Services (ECS) Launches Kodály Music Program

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

San Ysidro, CA – October 2, 2025 – ECS has launched a new music program for low-income children and their families, the first of its kind in San Diego’s South Bay region. The Kodály program (pronounced code-I) is part of ECS’ effort to expand arts education for Head Start students. This pilot program at the San Ysidro Head Start center includes 14 weekly lessons throughout the semester and will wrap up with an “in-formance” where families and caregivers will be invited to join their students in singing and moving together.

This initiative would not be possible without donor support and the partnership of the San Diego Children’s Choir. The Kodály program was generously funded by an anonymous music lover who seeks to introduce the love of music to the next generation of students.

“Music has the power to unlock creativity, strengthen early learning, and nurture confidence in every child. By bringing this new music program to our Head Start classrooms, we are not just teaching songs — we are giving children the tools to express themselves, build stronger connections, and lay the foundation for lifelong success,” said ECS CEO Elizabeth Wilberg. “This investment ensures that every child has the chance to discover the joy and possibility that music brings.”

The donation funds supplies, materials, and operational expenses. The San Diego Children’s Choir provided the Kodály trained instructor.

The Kodály method uses simple tactics such as singing games, fun and play, and visual, auditory, and kinesthetic elements to fuse enjoyment with key learning milestones.

Research shows a direct correlation between artistic learning and early academic and social-emotional success. However, inequalities in accessibility to arts education are still largely prevalent for students living in lower socioeconomic status areas. ECS aims to break these barriers and provide early access to the arts for ECS students. Through initiatives like the Kodály music program, students will receive the resources and experiences required to meet their emotional, social, and psychological needs. This pilot program will impact over 40 children and their families enrolled at ECS San Ysidro Head Start.

To learn more about ECS’ early childhood education programs visit www.ecsheadstart.org.

If you are interested in visiting the classroom and experiencing this new music program firsthand, please contact ECS arrange your visit.

Media Contact: Adrienne Wilkerson | Director, Communications & Advocacy | awilkerson@ecscalifornia.org ##

A Warm Welcome

Head Start gave Alma and Oscar a sense of peace and security when they sent Olivia to preschool. March 2025.

Before Head Start, Olivia, a three-year-old diagnosed with cerebral palsy, was attending physical therapy to help with her upper core mobility. The therapy was going well, but Olivia was very shy and lacked confidence. She was learning at home, but she had no outlet to develop socially and was not talking much, causing her parents — Alma and Oscar — concern. 

Understandably, Alma and Oscar were anxious about their daughter going to school for the first time. “We were very hesitant, scared at the beginning,” Alma shared. Would Olivia be cared for? Would her disability affect her preschool experience? Would she be comfortable in an unfamiliar environment?  

Luckily, Alma’s sister told them about ECS Head Start. When they discovered that a Head Start center was only a few blocks from Alma’s job, they knew they had found a place for Olivia to begin her education, but the program exceeded their expectations, transforming from a school to a family. 

Olivia blossomed with the support of Head Start. *July 2025.

 The growth Alma and Oscar have seen in their daughter is powerful. “As soon as she started coming here for, like, a week, she was just so much more open. Her attitude changed,” Oscar said. The warm and welcoming environment of Head Start helped Olivia to open up to those around her. “I noticed within the week, she started to try to talk and stuff because other kids were talking.”    

As an only child, the chance for Olivia to play and bond with other children has made a huge difference. “I think it brought more of her personality out, because she likes to be around other people and other kids, especially,” Alma said. “That's where we saw a lot of change in her.” Preschool is a crucial time for young learners to develop social skills, and ECS Head Start prioritizes that development. “She's super confident for everything that's going on with her and then it's really helped her to express how she feels, what she wants,” Alma said.   

Head Start embraces and accommodates each child so they can thrive. *July 2025.

The warm ECS embrace that Olivia experienced expands from the teachers and staff to the other children. “It is nice to see that she is accepted here, and everybody loves her. It's nice to feel that,” her mother said. “It's like a big family. I see all the teachers saying, ‘good morning’ and ‘bye’ to Olivia. I don't know all the teachers, but they definitely know her.”  

Head Start has also provided Olivia with a deeply enriching academic experience. “She's learned a lot. She's learned her numbers, her colors, her shapes,” Alma said. “She's a really good listener and she asks a lot of questions, and she always wants to know everything.” 

The teachers meet with parents to set goals for their children, then work hand-in-hand with them to accomplish those goals. The staff is accommodating and considerate toward each child, which was especially impactful for Olivia’s needs. “There's always been somebody holding my daughter or within arm's reach of her, so I know that she's safe,” Oscar said.   

Head Start established a key academic and social-emotional foundation for Olivia. *July 2025.

Olivia has enjoyed ECS Head Start throughout the past three years, but this year she will be off to a new adventure: kindergarten. Her parents are sad to leave the program, but they expressed that it has prepared her for the next step. “I think she's ready. I think she’s been ready,” Alma said. “They prepared her.” The once quiet and reserved Olivia has transformed into a confident young girl ready to take on whatever is next.  

Head Start aims to provide a wholistic education, caring for each student academically, socially, and beyond. “I wouldn’t change this experience for her for any other school,” Oscar said. Oscar and Alma recommend Head Start to any other family looking for quality early childhood education. “The experience has been great, and I don't have anything else to say other than ‘bring your kids.’ It's a great place.” 

To learn more about Head Start and how the quality early childhood education could benefit you and your children visit Head Start & Early Head Start — Episcopal Community Services. 

*Caption dates may not be exact.

Supporting Girl Scouts San Diego

ECS CEO Elizabeth (Fitzsimons) Wilberg participates in Girl Scouts fundraiser. September 2025.

"Toto, I've got a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore!"

Earlier this month, ECS CEO Elizabeth (Fitzsimons) Wilberg joined U.S. Bank and others at the Girl Scouts San Diego Urban Campout, stepping into character as flying monkeys from The Wizard of Oz.

Nearly 400 guests came together at the beautiful Balboa Campus to enjoy local cuisine, bid on fabulous auction items, and celebrate the Girl Scout mission of giving every girl the chance to fly.