“I like to think of it as a community center without walls,” says Lori Goodman about Isla Vista Youth Projects (IVYP), where she is executive director. “It’s about families and children and community.”
Founded in 1971, IVYP offers a range of support services for the seaside town and nearby areas, including a children’s center, afterschool programs, and a family resource center. The latter offers the broadest reach, explains Lori.
“We provide families with basic needs, such as food distribution, and inform families about immigration changes, which is one of the most pressing issues in our community,” she says. “It’s humbling to think of the fear that families are currently facing in our community.”