Community Engagement Day

By Will Holmes, Director of Community Engagement

On February 2, Cate School traveled by advisories to 36 different nonprofits and schools for Community Engagement Day. Many of the groups stayed in Carpinteria, while some went as far away as Goleta and even Oxnard. Repeat partner organizations look forward to this annual connection with Cate, and people regularly comment how impressed they are by the quality of our groups and the quantity of their productivity. I am always proud to represent Cate and especially while preparing for this morning when 370 of us truly engaged with our local communities. Servons

My morning was spent with the advisories of Shannon Drew and Kyle Mason at Santa Barbara Habitat for Humanity where the experience was educational, fulfilling, and enjoyable. During the orientation, we did a hands-on activity that highlighted the lack of affordable housing available in Santa Barbara especially for people earning minimum wage. Our project was to transform two spaces near a recently donated house. When we arrived they were patches of dirt and weeds, but we left them cleaned out, newly soiled, and arranged with drought tolerant plants. Amanda from Habitat for Humanity wrote, “Thank you SO much for such a fantastic volunteer day yesterday morning. I had a wonderful time with your students – they are all so kind, hardworking, and fun to spend the time with.”

Community Engagement Day Comments

As for other Cate groups, I heard many appreciative Community Engagement Day comments from students and teachers. What follows are just some of the compliments that organization representatives shared about Cate’s efforts that day.

“Thank you so much! The students did an amazing job in our teen center.”

Diana from the Carpinteria Boys & Girls Club about John Knecht’s advisory

“It was wonderful, having your helpful, kind, and generous students on campus at CMS. Thank you!”

Jasmin from Heal the Ocean shared that

Vanessa Cruz Santana '06 and Kadeine Peterson advisories removed 390 pounds of debris from the beach during their wonderful collaboration.

Lisa, the principal of Carpinteria Middle School, praised the Craig Bouma and Kate Parker '85 advisories.

“I want to reach out and appreciate all the students and teachers that came to volunteer at the farm yesterday. It was a great group as always. Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

Leslie from Sweet Wheel Farms in Summerland about the Paul Denison '79, Andrew MacDonnell, and Cece Schwennsen advisories.