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Community Spotlight: Waking the Village
In December of 2025, the Open Doors team partnered with Waking the Village in Sacramento for a care-centered training that brought together staff across creative programming, outreach, wellness, housing, and employment services.
Mentorship Spotlight: Alina & Donald
In this candid Q&A, Donald and his mentor Alina reflect on a relationship that grew naturally through shared work, honest check-ins, epic event flops, and hard-earned confidence.
Their story shows how belief, consistency, and simply showing up can help young people step into leadership and carry that confidence forward long after the mentor steps back.
Youth Voice: A Conversation with Axel Pecero
This past August, Open Doors Youth Council member Axel Pecero was detained by ICE while attending an Open Doors training and youth council meeting in Burbank, California.
Today, he is still forcibly held in an ICE facility while awaiting a decision from the judge on his fate.
Community Spotlight: Saddleback Community College
On November 7th, 2025, Open Doors facilitators Kat Besse and Francisco Valverde traveled to Southern California to train with staff members from Saddleback Community College in Mission Viejo. The group consisted of folks from many different departments throughout the college, from financial aid to counseling.
Microlearning: Self-Care as a Strategy
Self-care is often depicted through bubble baths, vacations, or “treating yourself.” In the youth-serving space, however, self-care has a deeper function. It is a grounding practice and a professional responsibility that directly shapes the safety, connection, and support we offer young people.
Meet Kelly Richmond: Open Doors Advisory Group Member
Kelly Richmond brings insight, advocacy, and a deep-rooted commitment to equity in her role on the Open Doors Advisory Group. With a focus on historically underserved populations, Kelly is driven by the belief that all youth deserve to be seen, heard, and supported with compassion and respect.
Open Doors Training Program Officially Launches to Empower California’s Youth-Serving Adults
In a bold step toward combating the escalating crisis of youth substance use and overdose in California, the California Alliance of Child and Family Services’ Catalyst Center and the California Association of Alcohol and Drug Program Executives, Inc. (CAADPE) proudly announce the official launch of the Open Doors Training Program.
Meet Sabrina Abong: Open Doors Advisory Group Member
Sabrina Abong brings passion, empathy, and a personal connection to her work with the Open Doors Advisory Group. Motivated by her own lived experiences, she is committed to helping others better understand and support youth navigating behavioral health and substance use challenges. Through her role on the Advisory Group, Sabrina hopes to be a voice…
Meet Deannie Choiselat: Open Doors Advisory Group Member
We are excited to introduce Deannie Choiselat, a dedicated advocate for youth and a valued member of the Open Doors Advisory Group. In this Q&A, Deannie shares her motivations for joining the advisory group, the importance of youth-centered approaches in behavioral health, and her vision for recovery. Can you tell us a little about your…
Meet Jade Davis: Open Doors Advisory Group Member
We are thrilled to introduce Jade Davis, a passionate and dedicated member of the Open Doors Advisory Group. Jade brings a wealth of personal insight and professional expertise, coupled with an unwavering commitment to creating a better future for youth and families in behavioral health and substance use prevention. In this Q&A, Jade shares her…
