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What is Juneteenth, Exactly?
Written by: Crystal Blanton, Deputy Director of Open Doors This once-forgotten or often-ignored celebration of freedom for Black Americans is now a national holiday. While many within the Black community have celebrated Juneteenth as part of their culture for generations, the holiday was largely unknown to many others until recent years. In 2021, President Joe…
Community Spotlight: Riverside County Department of Social Services
Written by: Francisco Valverde, Open Doors Facilitator On May 27, 2026, we had the honor and privilege of partnering with the Riverside County Department of Public Social Services (DPSS) to facilitate an Open Doors Core Training. Riverside County DPSS’s mission is to support and improve the health, safety, well-being, and independence of individuals and families…
Why AB 1626 Matters for Youth (and the Adults Who Show Up for Them)
One of the core ideas behind Open Doors training is simple but powerful: the adults already present in a young person’s community (beyond clinicians or medical professionals) can make a meaningful difference in that person’s life. A bill currently moving through the California legislature reflects that same belief. AB 1626, authored by California Assembly Member…
Building the Next Generation of Open Doors Facilitators
Inside Our First Train-the-Trainer Cohort This past April in Sacramento, a new program came to life: Open Doors hosted its very first Train-the-Trainer (TtT) cohort, bringing together youth-serving professionals ready to take the next step: not just participating in the Open Doors Core Training, but learning how to facilitate it for others. Over two days,…
Youth Voice: Eve Valdez
Open Doors Youth Council member Eve Valdez shares how her lived experience shapes her approach to healing, advocacy, and supporting young people.
What Is 988 “Press 3” & Why It Matters
AB 1540 seeks to restore the “Press 3” option for California callers. The bill would require the state to ensure that 988 can once again route youth to specialized LGBTQ+ crisis counselors, while also providing the funding needed to sustain this critical infrastructure.
Community Spotlight: Nuevo Amanecer Latino Children’s Services
At Open Doors, every training is an opportunity to learn alongside communities doing deeply meaningful work. Recently, we had the privilege of partnering with Nuevo Amanecer Latino Children’s Services at their Covina, CA office, where we spent the day with their Foster Family Agency staff.
National Social Work Month
In honor of National Social Work Month, we want to celebrate the many ways social workers contribute to our communities and systems.
