Jon Clark has been named to the CALM (Child Abuse Listening Mediation) Board of Trustees. He will be instrumental in implementing CALM’s mission to prevent childhood trauma, heal children and families, and build resilient communities throughout Santa Barbara County.
Clark is a native Santa Barbaran and has served for the past 15 years as president of the James S. Bower Foundation, a local grant-maker that focuses on early childhood, education, end-of-life care, and the environment.
After starting his career in the mid-1980s as an intern at the Community Environmental Council (CEC), Clark later served as the third executive director of the organization. He then became the executive director of the Wendy P. McCaw Foundation in 1998. In 2017, he was named Man of the Year by the Santa Barbara Foundation.
Clark has served on the boards of a number of local organizations including Cottage Health, Santa Barbara Foundation, Storyteller Children’s Center, Carpinteria Children’s Project, CEC, Direct Relief International, Santa Barbara Region Economic Community Project, and Santa Barbara Chamber of Commerce.
“I am excited to join the CALM Board at this pivotal time. I think the organization has an important role to play in supporting community wide efforts to respond to the emerging mental health needs caused by the pandemic,” Clark said.
Clark has a long-standing connection with CALM in his role as president of the Bower Foundation, which provided critical funding of the Great Beginnings Program and ensures children and caregivers are provided the necessary therapeutic services prenatally through seven years of age.
In addition, the foundation’s investment in CALM’s mental health consultation model in Santa Barbara Unified School District and pediatric clinics throughout Santa Barbara County has supported thousands of children, families, teachers, and community members over the past several years.
“Jon’s thoughtful leadership and deep commitment to and understanding of the importance of systems change to create long-lasting social change is powerful and admirable,” said Alana Walczak, CALM president/CEO.
“He has served as a fervent ambassador for those most vulnerable in our community for years, and we are proud to welcome his insight and expertise to our Board of Trustees,” Walczak said.
To learn more about CALM, visit calm4kids.org.