After over a year of navigating the COVID-19 pandemic, volunteering at Chrysalis looks vastly different than it has in years past. In March of 2020, our staff confronted the uncertainty brought on by the dual economic and health crisis and revamped our program to a virtual model. When the call for virtual volunteers was made, […]
Stephanie’s smile and positivity are infectious as she introduces herself. In addition to detailing a list of qualities that describe a great employee or even a good friend, she shares, “I’m a grandma,” and her face beams. She also celebrates being employed after struggling to land a job since she came to California eight years […]
PRESS RELEASE 24-Hour Fundraiser helps Chrysalis provide resources to overcome homelessness and poverty through jobs in Orange County Anaheim, CA, March 31, 2021 — On March 25, Chrysalis partnered with the Orange County Community Foundation (OCCF) and ten colleague nonprofits for The Future is Working Giving Day, a 24-hour online effort to bolster stronger workforce […]
Clara Harter, Author at Santa Monica Daily Press Finding a job after emerging from the criminal justice system can be an incredibly daunting task, especially in the pandemic economy. Santa Monica based non-profit Chrysalis is on a mission to change that and thanks to funding from a new County program, will provide dedicated career mentoring […]
PRESS RELEASE New Opportunities for Job Success After Incarceration with County-wide “SECTOR” Program Innovative program combines training, paid work experience, and mental health support to help participants enter high-growth sectors with living wage careers LOS ANGELES, March 2, 2021 — The Los Angeles County Office of Diversion and Reentry (ODR), together […]
PRESS RELEASE 24-Hour Fundraiser Seeks to Raise $90k For Nonprofits Committed to Developing a Stronger Workforce in Orange County ORANGE COUNTY, CA, March 10, 2021 — Chrysalis will partner with the Orange County Community Foundation (OCCF) and ten aligned nonprofits for The Future is Working Giving Day on March 25. The 24-hour online effort to […]
Chrysalis stands in solidarity with the AAPI communities against the increasing incidents of hate crimes over the past year. According to data from Stop AAPI Hate, nearly 3,000 reports of anti-AAPI discrimination were filed between March and December of 2020. Research from Cal State San Bernardino showed a 149% increase in anti-Asian hate crimes last […]
After years of working laborious odd-jobs and nearly four years of experiencing homelessness, Paul was tired. Unsure of how to connect to job opportunities that aligned with his interests, he decided to pay a visit to Chrysalis’ Downtown Los Angeles center at the recommendation of a few community members in the Skid Row neighborhood. A […]
LOOKING BACK AND CHARTING STEPS FORWARD 2020 YEAR IN REVIEW & 2021 GOALS Last February, our spring newsletter highlighted a study noting that homelessness and jobs were projected to be a top concern for Californians during the 2020 election. Less than a month later, the world’s collective attention shifted to the pandemic and the subsequent […]
Addressing homelessness is more important than ever, as millions of people are unemployed because of COVID-19 By Mark Loranger / February 9, 2021 Originally published on CSQ COVID-19 has been a crisis within a crisis for our neighbors who are experiencing homelessness. Homelessness is, in large part, a health crisis. COVID-19 is another comorbidity that requires immediate triage […]
Established in 2019, the Kaleidoscope Giving Circle was born after emerging leaders and young professionals in our community expressed an interest in becoming more meaningfully involved with Chrysalis. Kaleidoscope members have a shared goal of raising $10,000 annually, through donations and/or fundraising, in support of Chrysalis’ mission to help individuals find and retain employment. In […]
After 27 impactful years on Chrysalis’ Board of Directors, Tim Dubois retired from the Board at the end of 2020. We asked Tim to reflect on his time at Chrysalis and are so pleased to share his thoughts with you. Thank you, Tim, for your service and support. While you are no longer on the […]
PRESS RELEASE While Others Cut Back, National Health Foundation Partners with Chrysalis to Increase Job Opportunities Despite global pandemic pressures, small nonprofit hires 13 locals who previously struggled with homelessness or other employment barriers LOS ANGELES, January 25, 2021 – For many, the pandemic has resulted in devastating life events ranging from unemployment, loss of […]
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, LAHSA reported that two-thirds of adults cited economic hardship or loss of a job as what caused them to experience homelessness. Our work at Chrysalis centers around meeting people where they are, and this includes times when quickly reconnecting to the workforce could prevent someone from losing their home or […]
Established in 1991, Chrysalis Enterprises provides a transitional jobs program to clients who face the greatest barriers to employment. Working with our employment social enterprise offers our clients the opportunity to gain real-world skills, build confidence, earn a paycheck, and develop the experience needed to find and retain long-term employment. Clients working a transitional job […]
Prior to offering her time at Chrysalis’ San Fernando Valley center as a volunteer, Maria had a career in the entertainment industry followed by years of volunteering with many nonprofit organizations, typically those that worked with children. She realized how much she enjoyed teaching, which led her to search the popular internet database Volunteer Match […]
The November 2020 election includes a number of propositions and measures at the State of California and local levels that will impact the lives of the individuals and families we serve. Chrysalis staff and Board have reviewed the ballot initiatives up for a vote, and based on alignment with our mission and values, as well […]
TJ observed as an individual working on the Venice Beach Boardwalk collected trash and maintained the area. He felt a sense of pride seeing this. With an over 100-year family history in the Venice community – and in between jobs at the time – TJ wanted to know how he could secure a similar position, […]
With an eight-year tenure as a Chrysalis volunteer, Bob is an avid supporter of assisting clients throughout the job search. Although he had been volunteering in person at our Santa Monica center, he was quick to sign up to administer virtual services after we modified our in-person services in mid-March for the safety of clients, […]
Project Roomkey Protecting Our Most At-risk Neighbors and Providing Employment Opportunities As many across the nation eagerly await a time when we can shake a new acquaintance’s hand or even hug our own friends and family members, the last few months indicate that a return to any resemblance of “normal” may still be out of […]
Geoffrey looks forward to waking up before the sun, getting in his work truck, and heading to the job site each morning. As he reflects on a lifetime of work history and over ten years of combined service in the army and navy, he can’t recall enjoying and thriving in a job as much as […]
A strong ambition to help individuals navigating financial inequalities find stability is just one passion that Chrysalis volunteers Jacob, Jeffrey, and Sadhna have in common. What’s more, they all began volunteering at Chrysalis through their employer and long-time partner OneWest Bank, a Southern California based retail bank with over 60 locations. Jacob, an Orange […]
Kelsey’s interest in social services began while she was studying entertainment law at Pepperdine Caruso School of Law and got involved in a program that assisted individuals from Downtown Los Angeles nonprofits and shelters to launch micro-businesses. She enjoyed the opportunity to work with others to achieve financial independence and, upon graduating, began to look […]
Chrysalis President & CEO Mark Loranger submitted a letter to the editor upon reading a recent Los Angeles Times article by reporter Jennifer Haberkorn about policymakers and their proposals for unemployment benefits. In an effort to examine assumptions that extending a $600 federal unemployment benefit would decrease an individual’s interest in seeking employment, Mark surveyed […]
While temporarily suspending in-person services in mid-March in response to the COVID-19 safer-at-home orders, Chrysalis continued to offer our employment program virtually and innovated the way we operated our social enterprise to ensure safe and ongoing transitional employment opportunities for clients. Staff worked closely with clients to navigate many barriers that had become augmented in […]
Thank you for being a valued part of the Chrysalis community and supporting our mission to change lives through jobs. Like all of you, we are keeping a constant watch on official recommendations regarding COVID-19. This is a rapidly changing environment, but our top priority remains the well-being of our clients, staff, volunteers, and community. […]