Giving Tuesday is a global day of generosity, but here in Santa Barbara County, it’s a chance to make a personal, local difference. At Noozhawk, we believe in the power of community and the impact that even small acts of kindness can have when directed close to home.
Our Good for Santa Barbara County Nonprofit Section is designed to connect you with local organizations doing vital work. Whether it’s a donation, a few hours of your time, or simply helping spread the word, your contribution matters.
Explore our Giving Guide today and help brighten the season for those who need it most!
In this interview, Noozhawk spoke with Molly Green, Senior Director of Development at AHA! Attitude. Harmony. Achievement., to learn more about the nonprofit’s vision of a community where children are loved and empowered.
AHA! Attitude. Harmony. Achievement.
Question: What is the name of your nonprofit, and what is its mission?
Answer: AHA! Attitude. Harmony. Achievement. Mission: Empower youth, schools, and families to build a stronger community through courage and connection.
Q: How long has your organization been serving the community, and who founded it?
A: AHA! was founded in 1999 by Dr. Jennifer Freed and Rendy Freedman, LMFT
Q: What motivated the creation of your nonprofit?
A: In the aftermath of the 1999 Columbine school shootings, Dr. Freed and Ms. Freedman organized a summer program for a group of teens from diverse backgrounds. Since then, AHA! has enriched lives by equipping youth, teachers, and parents with the social and emotional intelligence necessary to dismantle apathy, prevent despair, and interrupt hate-based behavior.
AHA!’s programs support mental wellness, promote resiliency, create a sense of belonging, and inspire and empower each individual to advance to their highest potential. We recognize that every person has the capacity to become a constructive contributor to their community when given tools that make them feel safe, seen, and emotionally connected.
Q: How is your nonprofit primarily funded, and what are its biggest needs right now?
A: AHA! is fortunate to receive funding from a diverse array of sources, including foundation grants, corporate sponsorships, government grants, fee for service contracts with local school districts, donations from individuals, and special events.
AHA!’s greatest need at this time is to secure funding to sustain our in-school social-emotional learning programs, which we have been providing in partnership with the SB and Carpinteria Unified School Districts every year for the past two decades. The school districts have always paid AHA! partial fees for these highly valued services (while AHA! fundraises to cover the rest), but recent massive cuts in government education funding have forced schools to slash their budgets for programs such as ours.
As a result, AHA! is facing a major gap in funding for our in-school programs in the current school year. Despite this, the schools still urgently want us to continue to serve their students and deeply value the positive impact our presence continues to have on campus culture and student morale. AHA! hopes to sustain as much of our in-school programming as possible despite the drastic budget cuts they – and therefore we – are now facing.
Q: What types of events or programs do you run to engage your community and raise funds?
A: AHA! offers a wide range of in-school and after-school programs that engage 2,000+ teenagers in our community every year. We also offer educator trainings and parenting workshops, which engage 500+ teachers and parents annually. Every spring, AHA! hosts a Sing It Out fundraising event at the Lobero Theatre. The event celebrates a dozen teens as they take to the stage to bust out a solo cover song backed by an all-star live band.
This joyful celebration is the culmination of a 15-week journey of self-discovery where participants overcome fears and individual challenges, give and receive support, and stretch into an expanded version of their magnificent selves. AHA! teens participate in community service activities and many take an active leadership role in speaking before the SB Unified School District Board and at other events.
Q: What sets your nonprofit apart from similar organizations?
A: With a student to adult ratio of no more than 7:1, AHA! facilitators get to know teens on a deep level and are often at the forefront of recognizing potential problems BEFORE they become serious. We offer programs both in- and out-of-school, free of charge, during the school year and in summer. Every participant in any AHA! group is eligible to receive up to six free therapeutic sessions with a member of AHA!’s clinical team. AHA!’s focus on the development of social-emotional learning competencies provides skills that will serve each individual far beyond their teenage years.
Q: Can you share a fun fact or little-known detail about your nonprofit that would surprise people?
A: We have hired a number of AHA! alumni who are either in college or post graduation. Many of these staff were enrolled in AHA! programs through their high school years, some beginning in junior high. These alumni have grown in leadership roles during their time as AHA! staff members. The experience and growth they acquired during their time in AHA! has empowered them to be young mentors to teens and is inspired by their desire to give back to their community.
Q: Could you share a story or two about individuals whose lives have been positively impacted by your organization?
A: At AHA!, we see firsthand how support, connection, and opportunities can transform lives. J’s story is a powerful example of this impact.
J began his journey with AHA! in our Peace Builders group at La Cumbre Junior High. At the time, he was a struggling young man, getting into fights, hanging out with an unhealthy crowd, and on a path that may have led him toward gangs. Little by little, through his involvement in AHA!’s Peace Builders, after-school groups, and summer programs, J began to open up. He discovered a sense of belonging and possibility that inspired him to grow beyond the limits he once saw for himself.
Today, J is a member of our Youth Advisory Board as a freshman at San Marcos High School. He takes initiative in every space with what we call a “full body yes.” He brings forward ideas that reflect both his courage and his compassion, whether it’s advocating for “real” conversations about gangs, violence, and hardship, or suggesting that the Youth Advisory Board fundraise to support the homeless community when others were focused on lighter ideas.
Though he didn’t win when he ran for President of our Youth Advisory Board, J showed resilience and maturity, embracing the results with grace and continuing to contribute with energy and vision. He is a natural leader, charismatic, authentic, and deeply aware of the choices he must make to create the future he wants.
J embodies the truth that you cannot judge a book by its cover. He is strong, curious, and a walking reminder that leadership comes in many forms. His journey with AHA! shows us the profound impact of our programs: guiding young people from struggle to strength, from isolation to connection, and from potential risk to powerful leadership.
Q: Can you highlight one immediate goal and one long-term vision your nonprofit aims to achieve in the next year?
A: One of AHA!’s immediate goals is to hire a Director of Communications and Advancement. This is a brand new senior level staff position that AHA! is establishing in order to enhance our visibility, strategic partnerships, financial stability, and organizational sustainability over the long term.
A longer term vision AHA! aims to achieve is to become a consistent, supportive presence in the lives of the youth we serve throughout their journey from elementary (new this year!) through junior high and high school, and to devise robust metrics to track the many positive impacts that longer term participation in our programs have on the teens’ mental, social, and emotional well-being, academic success, and college/career readiness.
Q: Is there anything important or unique about your nonprofit that we haven’t covered yet?
A: AHA!’s wraparound approach—offering social-emotional learning tools for youth as well as the adults in their lives—provides a common language from which to build deeper communication, healthy management of emotions, and improved relationship skills. This creates a ripple effect which positively impacts families, school campuses, and entire communities.
In keeping with this approach, AHA! offers up to six free therapy sessions to any teen who has been a part of an AHA! group, any adult who has participated in one of our parent workshops, and any educator at the school districts we serve. With school counseling offices facing long waitlists and the cost of private therapy beyond the reach of most of our constituents, this can be a life-saving resource for many individuals in our community.
Click here to support AHA! Attitude. Harmony. Achievement.’s mission to empower youth, schools, and families to build a stronger community through courage and connection.
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