Highlights
BIG B.A.N.G. Weekend 2021
In an effort to ensure that KYJO can provide the Central Valley community the best BIG B.A.N.G. weekend possible. KYJO will be rescheduling this year’s event to August 20th & 21st. The format of the weekend will remain the same with an Open Mic Night on August 20th and the football clinic on the morning of August 21st. Both events will still take place at Athletic Performance Gym. Please visit www.kyjo.org/big-bang-weekend-partnerships/ for more information on event sponsorship. KYJO is looking forward to seeing everyone out on the field in August!
Residential Spotlight
Pa Sh getting dropped off for his 1st day of work at United Skates. When he received his first paycheck. Residential staff rewarded him with snacks!
Jo Ri diving in to cool off at the Youth For Christ Center
De Sm letting off some steam, turning his anger into art at the rage room
The first time the KYJO family went hiking in Hollywood! Awesome time having an adventure in the City of the Angels! ⭐🌟⭐ These are the opportunities that create forever lasting memories!
Foster Family Agency
Welcome Matthew!
Matthew Keele began working at KYJO in February as a Mental Health Rehabilitation Specialist for our foster youth. Matthew has earned two Bachelor’s degrees in Biology and Secondary Education. He also has a master’s degree in High School Guidance Counseling. His prior work experience includes working as individual and family therapist at a drug treatment center in Ohio and a Science teacher at a various schools throughout the country. Matt has also volunteered his time as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for a male teen youth in the foster care system. Matthew has been married to his “awesome” wife for 28 years. The couple have two standard Poodles that they love to spoil. In his free time he likes to ride bikes, read, watch television and play the piano.
Community Partnerships
HUGE THANK YOU to Howe Electric for being the first 2021 BIG B.A.N.G. event sponsor. Howe Electric will be sponsoring at the MVP level. Thank you to the Howe family for your long time support and generosity towards KYJO.
Employee Spotlight
Staff Anniversaries
Much gratitude to our KYJO staff celebrating anniversaries this month! Thank you for your hard work and dedication to KYJO.
12 Years
Kevin Jordan – Executive Director
7 Years
Sienna Curtin-FFA Operations Manager
3 Years
Njeri Omawahleh – Life Skills Coach
2 Years
Katie Counts-Head of Mental Health Service
Josieana Garcia-Direct Care Counselor
Johnathan Avilez – Direct Care Counselor
1 Year
Jasmine Valdovinos-Direct Care Counselor
Rockstar of the Month
“It is my honor to announce that Cristina Palacios is the recipient of our latest Rock Star Award! Cristina may be the best employee I have ever had the pleasure of supervising. Cristina never misses a beat- every time I ask her about any assignment or project her answer is always “Yup, that’s done.”
I can always count on Cristina to be calm in a crisis, and at Celeste we have no shortage of crises, and respond to every situation with her signature smile. Cristina brings a sense of calm and organization to the house, coordinating our house schedules, appointments, services, and managing to spend one-on-one time with each resident. Cristina’s work often goes unnoticed because of her humble and quiet personality, but Celeste would not be the same without her. Cristina is currently pursuing her Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy at Fresno Pacific University, and I for one cannot wait to see what her future holds! She is our Rock Star!”
-Marty Hosier, Mental Health Head of Service-Celeste
Kevin’s Huddle
Adversity builds character! When we go through tough times always remember that storms don’t last forever. Making it through the storm will only make you stronger. Many of us have endured a wide array of adversities this past year dealing with the pandemic. Managing work life to everyday living required us to have the ability to adapt to change. We probably didn’t know how strong we could be until we had to live through the pandemic.
| I commend those that have held it together to fight another day. This opportunity for another day would not have been possible if we didn’t have an open mind about changing course from how we normally did things. Life is about adapting to needed change. Many people don’t like change, but change is something that we should embrace. Also, we need to understand that change is continual.
Those of us that work in Social Services understand the idea of ongoing change and how frustrating it can be at times. If we continue believing in our KYJO vision,“Creating Opportunities for a Better Way of Life.” We will find a way to continue to serve those in our community, no matter how much change we have to go through. It may not always be pretty, but I commend those that never give up. Those who refuse to give up can never be defeated. Again, let’s welcome change as often as needed. Extracting the lessons each time for a more desirable outcome. The ability to adapt to change with an open mind will breed success and will not falter your purpose. |
Kevin Jordan
Executive Director
Donations
Our doors are always open to donations for our Residential Group Homes and foster youth. We are in need of:
- Athletic shoes, hiking boots and river sandals (variety of men’s and women’s sizes)
- New pillowcases and bath towels
- New or gently-used sweatpants
- Paper products (toilet paper, tissues, and paper towels)
- Kitchen supplies (aluminum foil, zip lock bags in sandwich and one-gallon size)
- Cleaning supplies (no-ammonia all-purpose cleaners, laundry detergent, dishwasher soap)
- New, unopened packages of athletic socks – crew or low cut – and boys’ and girls’ underwear
- Personal hygiene items for boys and girls (deodorant, hair supplies, bar soap, toothpaste/toothbrushes, body lotion, etc.)
- Gift cards to grocery and retail stores (Target, Wal-Mart,), restaurants/coffee shops
- Movie, bowling, skiing or swimming passes or tickets to sporting events, concerts or plays
- Arts and crafts items (yarn, beads, art paint, construction paper, poster board)
- Board games, puzzles and playing cards
Amazon Smile
KYJO Enterprises, Inc. is now a featured organization of the Amazon Smile Foundation. Amazon Smile is a charitable extension of Amazon that allows consumers to donate a portion of their purchases to the organization of their choice. Most products that are featured on Amazon are eligible for Amazon Smile with 0.05% of profits being donated. Please visit https://smile.amazon.com to learn more about the program and to sign up to have your Amazon purchases benefit KYJO.
