Calendar of Events

Lunch will be served. Please RSVP at: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/VJCXD2P Can Los Angeles Really End Homelessness?  A micro-to-macro look at one of LA’s most challenging problemsVision of the Series: This series is meant to focus on interdisciplinary challenges and solutions to homelessness in Los Angeles. The audience will be primarily composed of students and faculty from the school’s three departments- Social Welfare, Public Policy, and Urban Planning. We hope that this series can educate and challenge the thinking of attendees on the complexity of homelessness in our city.  First Event: Perspectives on Quality CareThis discussion is intended to be more micro-focused, examining specific program interventions and offering on-the-ground perspectives. Panelists serve a variety of clients both geographically and demographically and we hope to explore how “best practices” might vary across different populations. Panelists: Tessa Madden, Development Coordinator, PATH (People Assisting the Homeless)Deborah Seif, Resident Services Program Manager, Skid Row Housing TrustVa Lecia Adams Kellum, Executive Director, St. Joseph Center  Organizational & Individual Biographies:  Tessa Madden, Development Coordinator, PATH (People Assisting the Homeless) PATH is a family of agencies working together to end homelessness for individuals, families, and communities throughout Southern California. We strive to do this by prioritizing housing while providing customized supportive services for people in need. Our agencies each address homelessness in a different way- supportive services, permanent housing development, support for homeless families, and community engagement- all of which ultimately help the people we serve make it home. Tessa will be speaking about PATH’s program model/philosophy, how it has evolved over time, and evidence-based practices. She will focus on PATH’s programs, intervention strategies, street outreach, and involvement with the homeless count. Website: http://www.epath.org/site/main.html Tessa Madden, Development Associate, PATH, helps coordinate development initiatives for PATH’s family of six agencies throughout Southern California. She manages the organization’s events-based fundraising, volunteer, intern recruitment, in-kind donation, and Young Professionals programs. She also provides critical development support in the areas of corporate and community engagement, grant writing, event planning, donor cultivation, Board relations, communications, and various other aspects of organizational fundraising. Originally from Wichita, KS, Tessa moved to Los Angeles to attend the University of Southern California, where she attained both her B.A. and Master of Public Administration.   Deborah Seif, Resident Services Program Manager at Skid Row Housing Trust Skid Row Housing Trust’s philosophy is simple: Homes. Support. Success.  The Trust develops, manages and operates Permanent Supportive Housing for formerly homeless individuals in the Los Angeles area. The Trust’s Permanent Supportive Housing also provides a complete range of support services necessary to move beyond poverty, illness and addiction. Website: www.skidrow.org   Deborah Seif is a Resident Services Program Manager at Skid Row Housing Trust,where she oversees day-to-day operations of on-site resident service programs for Permanent Supportive Housing.  She moved to the West Coast two years ago and worked as a Housing Specialist at the CLARE Foundation.  She joined Skid Row Housing Trust in April of 2013.  Deborah has over 15 years’ experience in the non-profit field, working in issues of homelessness, HIV/AIDS, child advocacy, recidivism, and substance abuse.  She earned her BA in Communications and Theater from Temple University in Philadelphia.   Va Lecia Adams Kellum, Executive Director at St. Joseph Center For well over three decades, St. Joseph Center has been a beacon of hope in the community. Our mission is to provide working poor families, as well as homeless men, women, and children of all ages with the inner resources and tools to become productive, stable and self-supporting members of the community.  Respect for the dignity of each person is the cornerstone of St. Joseph Center’s approach. Staff and volunteers make every effort to provide a welcoming, safe place where all people are treated with compassion and dignity. The words we use to embody our philosophy and approach are: Accountability, Respect, Integrity, Social Justice, and Empowerment. Website: http://www.stjosephctr.org   Executive Director Va Lecia Adams Kellum has extensive experience in counseling as well as non-profit program design and management. Before joining St. Joseph Center, Va Lecia spent six years as Director of Transitional Living for United Friends of the Children. While there she helped create and oversee Pathways, an 18-month transitional housing program that assists former foster youth with housing, college readiness, career development, financial assistance, mentoring, and individual counseling. While working on her Ph.D., Va Lecia served as Executive Director of The Stanford Medical Youth Science Program (SMYSP), housed in the Stanford University School of Medicine. SMYSP reaches out to low-income youth who are interested in becoming physicians. Va Lecia has also held the position of Vice President of Counseling Services for College Bound, a Cerritos-based non-profit organization that provides college counseling and guidance to minority youth.  Va Lecia graduated with a B.A. from the University of Southern California and earned an M.A. from Ball State University before completing her Ph.D. at Stanford University.