We recently sat down for a virtual Q&A with one of Kaleidoscope’s founding members, Jakson.

Chrysalis: Could you tell me a little about yourself?

Jakson: I’m originally from Colombia. I moved to Indiana when I was 12 and I didn’t know any English. There was definitely a culture shock from not knowing the language and being a minority in the area. But, it was very clear how much opportunity there was and how fortunate we were… That’s a huge part of who I am today. I just believed there was a lot that could be done in a good way and there was a lot of opportunity.

I went to Indiana University and studied finance and entrepreneurship. Now, my focus is electric and zero-emission transportation. After college, the company I was working for moved me out to LA. I eventually joined a startup in the battery technology space for transportation, and a year ago, I came together with others in the industry and began our own company focused on bringing electric and zero-emission transportation technology to emerging economies in places like South America.

In June [of last year], things started really picking up. I think 2020 was a catalyst around the world, not just for clean energy and transportation, but also from a status quo standpoint. Everything that seemed in the distant future became like, “Well, why don’t we do this now?”

Chrysalis: How did you find Chrysalis?

Jakson: I kind of married into Chrysalis. My wife has always had a heart to be in the nonprofit environment and when we relocated to Los Angeles, Chrysalis gave her a chance.

I’ve seen the impact that Chrysalis has had in the LA community. [Homelessness] is very common in Colombia, but here in the U.S., I didn’t think it would be to this extent. So I really love that there are organizations looking for solutions. And what I really love about Chrysalis, it’s that they do more than try to create awareness and get people to care about the cause. They’re actually getting very creative when it comes to the enterprises.

I also admire Chrysalis in seeing how the organization reacted to the pandemic. It seemed like everyone really came together to figure out something that hadn’t even been considered before.

Chrysalis: How long have you been involved with Chrysalis?

Jakson: About four years. It seemed like a great organization to get involved with. I volunteered at Butterfly Ball, Poker Night, and other events here and there. And then joined Kaleidoscope of course.

Chrysalis: What made you decide that joining Kaleidoscope was something you wanted to do?

Jakson: [After college], I was involved in United Way efforts that were geared toward young professionals and I thought that was brilliant. I think it’s really smart to cultivate not only new donors, but a new generation of supporters and advocates for Chrysalis. So I really loved that idea. Meeting all the people who are in a similar stage of life as me has been great. There are really good people involved and a lot of potential for this to have a wide impact for Chrysalis and in LA in general. It’s sort of a grassroots approach.

I’ve been involved with Kaleidoscope for about two years now.

Chrysalis: Can you talk about the event or fundraiser you are hoping to do in the future as a Kaleidoscope member?

Jakson: I’d really like to help Kaleidoscope come up with an event that can bring our experiences to clients who might relate or be able to learn about tools and career opportunities. The backgrounds and experiences are totally different, but the tools that help college students get into the workforce might be able to help clients get into it too. I took advantage of those types of things in college and it’s made me who I am today. It was all just leveraging the tools I had learned. [Kaleidoscope] has a very diverse group in different industries like startups, real estate, entertainment, and accounting. Someone who’s interested in that industry might be able to learn a lot… We have a lot of knowledge in our hands, we just need to learn how to spread that.

Chrysalis: Do you have any favorite memories of being involved in Kaleidoscope?

Jakson: I like the meetings and events where Chrysalis leaders come in, like the Breakfast with Mark, because it helps us better understand the DNA of Chrysalis and have good discussions on how to add value. I’ve really enjoyed those and the open discussions we can have.

Chrysalis: What do you hope to take away from your time in Kaleidoscope?

Jakson: First, to help Chrysalis have a wider impact by trying new and different methods to help clients. Personally, I also like the network of people who are like-minded, people who want to help and make a change.

Chrysalis: Thank you for your time, Jakson. We look forward to working with you more this year!

The post Kaleidoscope Spotlight: Jakson first appeared on Chrysalis.

While at Pepperdine, she had spent a great deal of time perfecting her resume and preparing for job interviews in the university’s Career Development Office and has since become a mentor to other law students. These experiences make her especially knowledgeable when it comes to helping clients write resumes and practice interviewing. “It was a skill set I had developed that I thought could be helpful in the community at large.”

Kelsey explained that in many of her interactions with clients, she does not shy away from discussing convictions and gaps in employment history, ensuring clients can navigate those tough conversations more easily during interviews.

“During employment gaps, clients may not have had a formal job, but they have lots of other valuable experience that we can use to fill that gap. For example, if they were taking care of their kids or aging parents,, that’s caretaking. If they were incarcerated and worked in prison, a lot of folks don’t realize we can include  that on their resume without saying they worked in prison – we simply note their employer was the State of California. It’s very rare that a client was actually doing nothing during an employment gap.” 

Though she loves her one-on-one time with clients, as a practicing attorney, Kelsey’s schedule has not always allowed the time for volunteering. However, that hasn’t deterred her from staying involved over the years. When she had to take a break due to a job change and then to have her son, she set her sights on Chrysalis’ young professionals giving circle: Kaleidoscope. Kaleidoscope was formed in early 2019 as an alternative way for young people to get involved, as many do not have the flexibility to volunteer on weekdays this early in their careers.

“I love telling people about Chrysalis, and a big part of Kaleidoscope is outreach, so I just thought that would be a great way for me to bring awareness to Chrysalis and stay engaged when I did not have as many hours available in my weeks.”

One of her first contributions to the group was a “Pants Party,” to which she invited her colleagues and friends to a cocktail hour and requested donations of professional attire for Chrysalis’ Resource Rooms or monetary donations as admission. The night was a success, with nearly 30 attendees!

When the COVID-19 pandemic forced much of the world to put a hold on events, Kaleidoscope members like Kelsey had to hit pause on their ideas for bigger donation drives this summer. She also found herself in the middle of another job transition, making the experience of finding new employment that much fresher for her. So, when virtual volunteering began, Kelsey quickly reached out to our Volunteer & Program team to get started.

“I just went through the job search process myself, so I’m able to tell clients about similar interview questions I was asked and how I approached them. I feel very close to the process since I’ve gone through it so recently.”

For her, the opportunity to deliver remote services has reopened the ability to work with clients on a more regular basis. Whether she is volunteering in-person or virtually, however, her dedication to Chrysalis and our clients is clear.

“The clients motivate me to find the time and ability to keep up my work with Chrysalis. They may think I’m here to help them, but witnessing them show up and put in the hard work on their resumes and practice interviews is like pressing my ‘recharge’ button.”

And, ultimately, Kelsey’s hope is that clients will find success in their job hunts and careers and, in turn, start a chain reaction of serving the community.

The post Volunteer Spotlight: Kelsey first appeared on Chrysalis.

Hollywood execs tend to not be asked to join the boards of nonprofits until they are fairly high up the career ladder. They are usually expected to write a large personal check each year as a donation to the organization and bring their wealthy friends to the table as well. That’s a high bar to entry for anyone more junior in their career.

So, how can twenty-somethings and thirty-somethings get involved with a charity in a substantive way that goes beyond regular volunteering? Join an associate board. Also called young patrons groups, these groups offer their next-gen members mentorship in philanthropic involvement, special events and other ways to make a difference, with lower costs to join. Three of the hottest associate boards have launched in the last year in Los Angeles, each drawing members from the entertainment industry.

Chrysalis’ Kaleidoscope Giving Circle
The nonprofit — known for its Butterfly Ball fundraiser, founded by actress Rebecca Gayheart — started its associate board, Kaleidoscope, last year. The aim is to grow the ranks of its supporters, helping in its mission to give employment training and job search skills to men and women who are homeless or who have been formerly incarcerated.

“One of the things we’ve discovered is that as an organization that’s been around a long time, for 34 years, it’s not surprising that our board of directors and many of our supporters have grown up with our organization,” says Chrysalis CEO Mark Loranger. “We recognized that we need to make sure we are relevant to all the supporters in our community including folks who may be earlier in their careers or younger than our more traditional supporters.”

The group now numbers 13 members and fundraising events thrown by Kaleidoscope have included trivia nights, wine tastings and dinner parties. Alex Jones, who works in digital distribution at entertainment company A24, joined Kaleidoscope a couple months ago after hearing about the group from a friend who works at Chrysalis. “I was blown away by their work with homelessness and I wanted to become involved in my community and help tackle a problem,” says Jones.

Members, who also include Grace Oathout, an associate producer with Tripod Media, are required to either give or raise $500 to join. Says Loranger, “For our traditional board of directors, you have to write a large personal check, and that’s a huge barrier for many people. For us, this is a long-term play. It takes time for folks to be groomed and get ready for leadership positions like being on a board of directors. Some of these folks might become board members, others might become donors, but all of them are going to talk to their neighbors and families about the work that they do and that’s the bigger picture.”

Continue reading… 

The post The Hollywood Reporter: Three new young philanthropic groups draw Hollywood execs first appeared on Chrysalis.

When a Chrysalis client lands a job, they ring the Success Bell. Together, staff, volunteers, and clients gather in the lobbies of our centers to rejoice in the life-changing opportunity that a job brings, while we also reflect on the barriers that this individual has overcome. Volunteers like Josh who help clients prepare for an interview with a potential employer are playing a key role in each client’s journey.

For over five years, Josh has conducted practice interviews with Chrysalis clients who are beginning their job search. He shared that, for the 57 percent of Chrysalis clients with a history in the criminal justice system, “without a doubt, the most important thing we do is provide guidance on how to discuss their background with a potential employer so that the employer will look past their past. The clients that have a background are afraid of discussing it because they assume it will ruin any chance of a job. And if they don’t talk about it in the right way, it could. But, with the right attitude and approach, it doesn’t have to. Giving them the language and confidence to discuss this is key to their success.”

In addition to the hands-on work Josh does as a volunteer, he also serves as a Co-Chair for the annual Chrysalis Butterfly Ball. This year’s event, held on June 2, raised a record-breaking $1.8 million to support our mission of changing lives through jobs – thanks, in no small part, to Josh’s work on the event.

Whether he is working to ensure that our annual fundraising event is a success or helping a client discover their voice and courage for an interview, Josh is an invaluable champion for Chrysalis. “Having the ability to come here and witness the work that happens on the ground, I know that money is not being wasted and a lot of good is being done. It’s a really worthy cause for anyone to support.”

Thank you, Josh, for supporting Chrysalis in so many ways!

Volunteer

The post Volunteer Spotlight: Josh first appeared on Chrysalis.

“Good Fortune” follows the fascinating trajectory of JP’s life, from being raised by a single mother in East Los Angeles, to his rise to become one of the wealthiest people in the world. JP’s journey included moments when he found himself experiencing homelessness and living in his car, as well as time spent in and out of motorcycle gangs including the Satan Slaves and Hells Angels. JP’s positive outlook and strong work ethic ultimately led him to join forces with artist Paul Mitchell and form a hugely successful line of hair care products. His entrepreneurial spirit then led him to create the largest tequila brand in the world – Patron. Both endeavors earned JP a large fortune.

John Paul’s good fortune became the world’s good fortune. From an early age, JP’s Greek immigrant mother taught him that despite how hard he had it, there are many who have it worse, and that he should give as much as he can to help others. This lesson stuck with him throughout his life. Today, philanthropy continues to be a big part of JP’s work.

Chrysalis is privileged to be among more than 150 charities throughout the world supported by JP, through Paul Mitchell Systems, and more recently, through JP’s Peace, Love and Happiness Foundation. Over many years, support from JP has included large donations of personal hygiene products for Chrysalis’ homeless and low-income clients, to grants supporting things like work boots and uniforms for clients who recently found jobs, and support for Chrysalis’ leadership to provide technical assistance to other nonprofits who are trying to develop employment programs in the community. John Paul has an affinity for Chrysalis’ clients because he himself experienced homelessness and was able to pull himself out of poverty by working hard.

Don’t miss Chrysalis’ cameo in “Good Fortune.” The documentary shows JP in Chrysalis’ Downtown center lobby speaking to a group of clients, inspiring them with tales of his own success, and illustrating that no matter how bad life gets, they can change their situation and turn things around.

To quote JP, “It will all be OK in the end. If it’s not OK, it’s not the end.”

See “Good Fortune” at a limited engagement in Santa Monica starting Friday, June 30 through Sunday, July 2.
Laemmle Santa Monica Theatre
1332 2nd Street
Showtimes: Friday – Sunday at 2:45, 5:00, 7:20*, 9:55

*Director and VIP Q&A’s on Friday and Saturday at the 7:20 p.m. screenings.

The post Chrysalis is Featured in Award-winning Documentary, “Good Fortune,” about John Paul DeJoria first appeared on Chrysalis.