Enterprise Women in Leadership Luncheon

Last week, ECS CEO Elizabeth Wilberg shared valuable leadership insight with other women at The Power Within: Women in Leadership Luncheon, hosted by Enterprise Bank. The event featured lunch at the San Diego Country Club, a keynote address from Wilberg, and a conversation between Wilberg and other women community leaders about the importance of speaking out with confidence and sharing ideas.

Through meaningful connection and shared wisdom, women help build one another up as leaders in their fields, whether that be in the nonprofit world, banking, or another sector.

Wilberg (second from left) and other luncheon attendees pose for a picture. March 2026.

Wilberg and a panel of other women discuss leadership. March 2026.

Building a Love for Learning

Head Start students pose with their art projects and friends. March 2026.

Love for school and knowledge begins with our littlest learners. High school students from The Bishop’s School have embarked on a mission to help build love of learning in ECS Head Start students through a variety of volunteer activities.

So far, The Bishop’s School students have visited Highland Head Start and Harbison Head Start. They plan to also bring the fun to Castle Park Head Start and Zamorano Head Start in the coming months.

A student volunteer guides a Head Start student in creating his project. March 2026.

At Highland, the student volunteers did yoga with the Head Start students, teaching them healthy movement. At Harbison, they assisted Head Start students in an art activity, encouraging hands-on creativity.

“Student volunteers bring more than just their time to our Head Start classrooms — they bring mentorship, creativity, and joy,” said Harbison Site Supervisor Denise Trejo. “Through fun activities and positive interactions, they inspire our young learners, helping them build confidence, curiosity, and love for learning.” 

ECS is thankful to The Bishop’s School volunteers for giving their time and talent to Head Start — from one student to another. Their friendship and mentorship create meaningful impact in the education of ECS Head Start students.

The Bishop’s School students enjoy outdoor activities with Head Start students. March 2026.

Student volunteers bring joy and learning to ECS classrooms. March 2026.

Home is Where the Heart Is

Maria and her cat Joey. January 2026.

Maria first shared her story with ECS in 2024 in “Finding Silver Linings.” Her story made it clear that her resilience and optimism were more powerful than the trauma she experienced. With the help of ECS Uptown Safe Haven (UTSH), Maria was finally able to shed the weight of the struggles that were keeping her down. 

A year and a half later, Maria gave a second interview, this time in the coziness of her own home — the first apartment she’s ever had. “I've never owned anything, and I'm very blessed to have it. I get to be me here. This is my home sweet home, where my heart is.”  

The apartment may be Maria’s private sanctuary, but she happily shares it with someone else: her cat, Joey. Maria adopted Joey from a homeless man outside of a grocery store. When he asked Maria if she had a good home for his kitten, she could proudly respond “yes.” “He's my companion. He makes me happy,” she said. “I know God put him here for me. I know that 100%. I think ‘you didn’t have a home, and I didn't have a home,’ so there you go. We have a home together.”  

Maria expressed that — in many ways — life is new to her now, and she is taking it all in with gratitude, loving every moment. She loves learning new things, enjoys immersing herself in nature walks, and is appreciative of everything she has. 

Giving back is also a passion of Maria’s. She frequently gives money and food to homeless people she sees, and if she can’t give anything away, she makes sure to just be kind and bring a smile to their face. “Making sure that they smile, that makes me happy. That's the happiest times of my day,” she said.  

The most important component of Maria’s life is her spirituality. “To me, being close to God is the most important thing. This is because all of this [is] because of God,” she said, gesturing to her new home. Maria values being close to God and often experiences signs from Him, which she refers to as “synchronicity.” “I find Band-Aids all the time, at least once or twice a week... that's a healing thing,” Maria explained. “I live on God's path. I stay on God's path. And that's why he gives me signs all the time.” 

Maria sits in her new apartment. January 2026.

When Maria still lived at UTSH, a vision board hung on her wall. That vision board is now stored in her closet because everything on it has come true. She brought it out and examined the cut-out images of cats, an iPhone, and words like “healing” and “hope” stuck to the board, all of which she has now. 

She has also progressed from the singular gratitude journal she was writing in every day in 2024 to stacks of dozens of journals; every page filled with lists of the blessings in Maria’s life. “I never missed a date,” she said. “Having gratitude for me goes a long way. I think it makes me very strong, because I got very strong.” 

One thing Maria especially has gratitude for is UTSH. “Safe Haven, that's my second family. I don't know what I would do without them,” she shared. “They got me to where I'm at, and they're my family. I don't have real family here so they're my family. That's my second home here.” 

Maria is grateful for the life she has built around herself and the help UTSH offered to get her to where she is now. As she put it, she is thankful to have a “beautiful home” and a “more beautiful cat.” Maria is set on staying sober from substance use for the rest of her life and living life to the fullest every day. 

Uptown Safe Haven is a residential facility that provides transitional housing and supportive services to chronically homeless single adults with severe mental health issues. To learn more about Uptown Safe Haven, visit https://www.ecscalifornia.org/uptown-safe-haven-1. 

Inside Linda’s Mental Health Recovery at Uptown Safe Haven

When Linda experienced a period of psychosis, her entire life shifted. She was in and out of hospitals and crisis houses, living in complete instability. She lost her source of income as a result, and her car had been destroyed in a flood. She had no choice but to drop out of school and she was asked to leave the choir she sang with as a result of her mental state.

Linda was lost with no clear direction of where to turn next.

That’s when she found ECS Uptown Safe Haven (UTSH).

UTSH gave her a safe and peaceful space where she could find her footing and look toward the future. With the help of staff, group meetings, and her fellow UTSH residents, Linda took control of her life again.

Now, she has a car, an income source, mental peace, and even a dog. She has also been welcomed back to the choir where she regularly sings and writes with an incredible community.

UTSH helped Linda create roots and grow to new heights. To learn more about the transitional housing program, visit Uptown Safe Haven — Episcopal Community Services.

Linda with Development Director Tim Whipple (left) and Resident Assistant Keith Franklin (right). October 2026.

Uptown Safe Haven residents and staff at the annual UTSH Art Show. October 2026.