Venice: Safe Place For Youth 2020 Impact Report

Press release from the Venice Chamber of Commerce:

March 02, 2021

2020 was a year unlike any other. Alison Hurst, SPY’s Founder and Executive Director, reflects:

“Last year taught us a lot. It taught us to be adaptable, nimble, and resourceful. It showed us how truly remarkable our community of supporters is. And even with the continued hurdles and uncertainty, we were able to offer life-saving support and a caring connection to 1,225 young people. Through it all, SPY staff and volunteers did not miss a beat. We stayed committed to empowering the young people that we serve, and always leading with love. We’re proud of what we were able to accomplish in 2020, and will continue to drive impact this year and beyond.”

On the heels of long-overdue social and political uprising, and amidst a global health crisis, Safe Place for Youth has taken a hard look at ourselves as an organization. We’ve learned that even in the not-for-profit space, even while working every day to provide support to unhoused and at-risk youth, we as staff, volunteers, donors, and board members are not exempt from examining the ways in which we play a part in an unjust system - one that is built to uplift some and subjugate others.

These conversations led us to a real reckoning. In 2020, we took steps to focus on the heart of what we do, and to become better allies to the underserved in both theory and in practice.

Read SPY's Annual Impact Report

In Fiscal Year 2020, SPY Took Action

• We re-wrote our mission statement to reflect the journey we are on and who we want to be, as individuals and as a collective body
• We launched our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee to discuss, examine, and improve company culture and frontline programs
• We ramped up our advocacy efforts towards coalition-building with solutions-oriented work groups, and a new SPY book club
• We created ongoing opportunities to empower young people with lived experience to get employed and get involved with the Venice Youth Network, SPY Squad, and our new Community Ambassador Network programs

Read SPY's Annual Impact Report

This press release was produced by the Venice Chamber of Commerce. The views expressed are the author's own.