Thriving Communities Summit

Dee Hankins - Keynote Speaker 

From Suitcase to Stages: A Foster Child's Journey

Dee entered foster care at just two months old and spent much of his childhood moving from home to home, struggling with feelings of rejection, trust issues, and anger. Statistically, the odds were against him, many young men in foster care drop out of school or end up in prison. But a life-changing scholarship program opened his eyes, showed him that people do care, and gave him the push he needed to pursue education. He went on to graduate from California State University, Long Beach with a B.S. in Criminal Justice. Today, he uses his story and his gift for speaking to encourage resilience, inspire hope, and remind us that while life throws curveballs, even curveballs can be hit for home runs.

Featured Presentations

Helping Communities Navigate Changes to Medi-Cal and CalFresh

This joint session, presented by the County of San Diego Self-Sufficiency Services, the Department of Strategy and Community Engagement, and 2-1-1 San Diego, guides participants through major policy shifts in Medi-Cal and CalFresh resulting from recent federal H.R. 1 legislation. Join us to explore how these updates affect local families, share practical outreach strategies, and discover essential community resources to help ensure vulnerable community members remain connected to vital health and nutrition benefits.

Presented by: County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) 

Child and Family Well-Being Department (CFWB) and Community Schools in the Field 

Co-presented by representatives from the Child and Family Well-Being Department (CFWB) and a San Diego Community School, this inspiring session highlights how co-located staff and local school partners are actively shifting the paradigm from mandated reporting to community supporting. Join us to explore real-world success stories, examine lessons learned in the field, and uncover powerful opportunities for cross-sector collaboration that build protective factors and keep families thriving.

Presented by: Sarah Glass, San Diego County Child and Family Well-Being

Community Schools Spotlights

Experience the power of local transformation firsthand as community schools from across San Diego County share their inspiring stories of success and partnership. Featuring dynamic co-presentations alongside students and local partners, these sessions highlight how this whole-child strategy is reigniting collaboration and uplifting community voices. Discover real-world examples of how bringing schools and communities together builds lasting protective factors and drives meaningful student achievement.

Presented by: SDCOE Community Schools Team and local Community Schools teams

The Wellbeing Advantage: Building Thriving Schools Through People 

Led by California Schools VEBA (CalVEBA), this engaging session explores how building a culture of well-being serves as a powerful organizational strategy to elevate both educator resilience and student achievement. Join us to examine real-world examples of well-being in action and discover practical ways intentional leadership and supportive practices create the optimal environments for school employees and students to thrive together.

Presented by: Robert Joseph Cappuccio, California Schools VEBA (CalVEBA)
 

Sponsors

Sponsors play a vital role in helping create an accessible, impactful experience while connecting with leaders and organizations to support every learner.

Choose the sponsorship opportunity that best aligns with your organization's goals and commitment to supporting whole child success.