Housing Matters is proud to present “Picture This: Cultivating Our Compassionate Community,” a powerful storytelling event dedicated to exploring the essence of compassion in addressing homelessness in Santa Cruz County. This curated evening will provide a platform for diverse voices, shedding light on the challenges and triumphs of building a more equitable and inclusive community.
Leaders and individuals with lived experience will use storytelling and personal insights to explore the themes of equity, shared responsibility and courage in advancing solutions to resolving homelessness in Santa Cruz County.
Emceed by Housing Matters Speakers Bureau members China Clark and Chris Field, the event will feature:
- Bella Bonner, Founder/Executive Director of Black Surf Santa Cruz
- Gina Castaneda, Santa Cruz County Deputy Probation Officer
- Tenzin Chogkyi, Compassion Educator
- MariaElena De La Garza, CEO, Community Action Board
- Edward Estrada, Supportive Services for Veteran Families Program Manager, Housing Matters
- Curtis Reliford, Founder of Follow Your Heart Action Network
- Heather Rogers, Public Defender of Santa Cruz County
- Donnie Veal, Program Coordinator of the Rising Scholars program at Cabrillo College
Each presenter brings a unique perspective on equity, shared responsibility and power, and the honesty and bravery required to advance solutions. Santa Cruz County is a community fueled by compassion, creative expression, and innovation. Cultivating a compassionate community requires collective dedication to fostering education, uplifting personal narratives from marginalized voices, and bridging social and political divides to enact positive change.
This effort to radically reimagine the way people think about homelessness in Santa Cruz County began a year ago with the launch of Housing Matters’ Community Conversations Speakers Bureau, an inspiring and interdisciplinary experience that provides space for historically marginalized people with lived experience of homelessness to share their insights with the community through storytelling. The inaugural Picture This event focused on reimagining home and belonging.
This year, the event will focus on energizing people to contribute to housing justice for all through compassionate action. Audience members will be encouraged to participate in the “30-day compassion challenge.” Moderated by compassion educator Tenzin Chogkyi, the online challenge will have daily prompts and challenges will inspire acts of kindness and deepen one’s commitment to fostering positive change in the community.
“Storytelling is one of the oldest forms of communication. Amplifying personal narratives and fostering meaningful dialogue inspires connection and understanding,” said Mer Stafford, Chief Impact Officer with Housing Matters. “We hope attendees will leave with a renewed sense of purpose and a clearer understanding of how they can contribute to housing justice for all.”
The event begins at 5 p.m. with a reception featuring live music by Anthony Steinberg, Direct Services Coordinator at Housing Matters, a cash bar and light snacks. The program begins at 6 p.m. To learn more about the presenter lineup, visit the event page.
General admission tickets are $30/person. Group and student discounts are available. Advance tickets can be purchased on the Housing Matters website, and there will be a small number of tickets available for purchase at the door. All proceeds from the event directly support the Housing Matters programs and services that help hundreds of people in Santa Cruz County find stable housing each year.
Sunday, March 30
5-6PM | Cocktail Hour
6-7:30PM | Main Event
Hotel Paradox, Santa Cruz
$30/General Admission | $20/Students
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About Housing Matters
Housing Matters partners with individuals and families to create pathways out of their homelessness into permanent housing. Housing Matters offers housing support services and case management as well as emergency shelter and direct services — including hot showers, public bathrooms, and a mailroom — to people experiencing homelessness. Our case management and housing navigation services help end homelessness for hundreds of individuals and their families every year. Learn more at www.housingmatterssc.org or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.
