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. ###

ECS Recognized at SDBJ 40 Under 40 Awards

SAN DIEGO — On July 18, the San Diego Business Journal (SDBJ) held its award ceremony for its 40 Next Top Business Leaders Under Forty 2023 awards. The 40 Under 40 awards highlighted the next generation of leaders, change-makers, and innovators in the San Diego community.

ECS was thrilled to have three finalists make SDBJ’s list; Rosa Cabrera-Jaime, Director of Early Education & Family Services; Leslie Manriquez, Para Las Familias Program Manager; and Angel Ibarra, Associate Director of Strategic Partnerships & Government Affairs, who was also selected as one of the Top 40 Under 40 award winners!

Congratulations to our outstanding finalists and winner. ECS is proud to have such talent within our organization, and we look forward to seeing these professionals continue to thrive in their careers and inspire community change.

Angel Ibarra, Assoc. Director of Strategic Partnerships & Government Affairs, poses with his 40 Under 40 award. July 2023.

(From left to right) Leslie Manriquez, PLF Program Manager; Stacie Perez, VP of Programs; Angel Ibarra, Assoc. Director of Strategic Partnerships & Government Affairs; Rosa Cabrera-Jaime, Director of Early Education & Family Services; and Tim Whipple, Development Director at SDBJ’s 40 Under 40 award ceremony. July 2023.

A Healthy Collaboration with Community Doc Talks

Head Start families engage with Community Doc Talks’ lessons. *July 2023.

SAN DIEGO — Over the past academic year, the ECS Early Head Start/Head Start Home-Based program has collaborated with Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego and the San Diego Regional Center, which allowed us to extend our resource base and offer vital training to our Head Start families.

Among the most prominent initiatives in this partnership is the Community Doc Talks program, a health education initiative catered to families with under-resourced children aged 0-5. Volunteer pediatricians from Rady’s are brought directly into the communities they serve, fostering a deeper understanding of the unique challenges these families encounter in their pursuit of a healthy lifestyle.

The Community Doc Talks program addresses key child health issues, including sleep, health and oral health, physical activity, conflict resolution, bonding, nutrition, and parental support. The volunteer clinicians lead interactive discussions in a lively, engaging environment to build parental trust and boost their confidence in their child interactions and parenting skills.

San Diego Regional Center and ECS Early Head Start Home-Based Staff at the 4th and D Center May Socialization. May 2023.

Additionally, Doc Talks functions as a bridge, connecting families with local resources tailored to meet their health, social, and behavioral needs. It employs a “train the trainer” philosophy, wherein our Home-Based staff received specialized training on the curriculum. They were also equipped with 70 children’s books, curriculum copies, handouts, and short educational videos from Rady’s pediatricians.

Alongside our work with Rady’s, the San Diego Regional Center contributed to the Early Head Start May Socialization event by offering the students developmental evaluations. This initiative led to 11 students being referred to Early Intervention Services, reinforcing the value of this collaboration.

Moving forward, the Early Head Start/Head Start Home-Based program is committed to strengthening ties with various community partners to enhance the resources and opportunities available to Head Start families, ensuring they receive the best support. Visit Head Start & Early Head Start — Episcopal Community Services (ecscalifornia.org) to learn more about ECS Head Start.

*Caption date may not be accurate

ECS Participates at San Diego Pride

(From left to right) Rev. Richard Lee, ECS Board Member; Lizet Nunez, Administrative Assistant; Angel Ibarra, Assoc. Director of Strategic Partnerships & Gov. Affairs; Sherri Kelly, Exec. Admin. & Chief of Staff; Tim Whipple, Development Director; and Maria Simpson, Media & Journalism Intern at the ECS Recovery Village booth. July 2023.

SAN DIEGO — Over the July 15-16 weekend, San Diego hosted its annual Pride Festival, a celebration filled with parades, parties, and a rainbow of fun activities. One unique festival element was the ‘Recovery Village,’ a sober space with resources for those on their recovery journey. ECS was excited to participate in the Recovery Village for the second consecutive year.

During the event, ECS had the opportunity to speak with Richard Correale, the Recovery Village coordinator. According to Correale, Pride represents a time of celebration for many, but for those in recovery, it could pose life-threatening risks of relapse. Hence, the importance of Recovery Village at the Pride Festival.

Correale recounted the genesis of Recovery Village, revealing its original vision: an area where individuals pursuing sobriety could connect, find resources, and celebrate with like-minded people. Since its inception, the project has seen remarkable growth. In 2023, Recovery Village boasted 14 community partners, offered four daily meetings (two of which were ASL interpreted), and three enlightening workshops on topics like basic ASL and harm reduction. 

Two Pride attendees sign off their game cards after playing Tip the Troll at the ECS booth. July 2023.

Correale could hardly contain his excitement as he shared the project’s impact, observing that the area was busy with attendees who were having a great time. “This area right now...is packed,” Correale pointed out, grinning at the apparent effectiveness of the village. “People are smiling; people are having fun; [and] there are lines at each booth.”

Correale’s passion for Recovery Village is evident. His eyes lit up when he shared the impact he’d seen through the project. “That feeling of usefulness and fulfilling the vision and seeing the value...that just really opens my heart,” he said.

ECS volunteers echoed Correale’s enthusiasm. Their day at Pride began with a parade and a barbeque at St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral, followed by distributing resources and playing carnival games at the booth. Tim Whipple, the Development Director, stressed the importance of ECS’ presence at Pride and the need to embrace diversity and inclusivity. “We came together — parishioners, the organizations with the Episcopal Diocese — partnering together to really show up for our LGBTQIA+ community to show that love is love and that everybody is welcome. I think it’s important (especially for ECS) to represent because we serve a variety of people of diverse backgrounds. We welcome everybody, we’re very inclusive, and that’s something that makes me very proud to be a part of this organization,” he stated.

Sherri Kelly, Executive Administrator & Chief of Staff spoke on why ECS’ presence in Recovery Village is crucial. “Many of the persons that would come to ECS, ...might be here.” 

“Just showing up and showing people we’re here for you; we’re here to walk with you; we’re not going to show any judgment; we’re here for you in this process,” added Whipple.

The overall feeling was that integrating recovery with Pride celebrations is beneficial. Kelly summed it up nicely, “Pride is a celebration of each person’s uniqueness. When someone’s going through a recovery process, it doesn’t feel like a celebration, but it is because it’s progress towards a better life, breaking through those barriers, and succeeding.” And, in essence, that is what Pride is all about. 

(From left to right) Katie Tran, ECS Board Member; Stacie Perez, VP of Programs; and Rosa Cabrera-Jaime, Director of Early Education & Family Services, smile from behind ECS’ booth in Recovery Village. July 2023.

ECS volunteers engage Pride attendees with games and discussion of ECS’ programs. July 2023.