We all probably have our top 10 list of best days of our lives, and if we are lucky, top 10 best days of our career. The most memorable days for me usually involve alumni and hearing success stories from former youth who come back to let us know how their time at Rancho positively impacted their lives and changed their trajectories to lead meaningful and satisfying lives. In the past couple months, I am so proud to
share that I experienced three very different but powerful days that I will never forget.

The first was getting to spend an afternoon in our Creative Healing Arts state-of-the-art sound studio, and experience recording the chorus of a song for the use in training on Complex Trauma. I sat in awe and emotion that something so professional, powerful and meaningful for both the artist and the team could be created at Rancho.

On the second occasion, an alumni named Phil from 1945 brought his daughter and grandson to Rancho to show them where he grew up and the place that helped mold him into the man he is today. As a token of his time at Rancho, we presented Phil with the original tackle football trophy, he earned at Rancho, and has referenced to his family for decades.

The final experience that is burned in my memory bank forever is June 26, 2024, when I had the pleasure of being surrounded at City Hall by staff, alumni, and Rancho supporters as Councilmember John Lee honored Brother John for over 60 years of service to our community. Councilman Lee officially declared the date as “Brother John Day” in the city of Los Angeles. Brother was presented with a scroll acknowledging his lifetime achievements and a portion of Plummer Street in front of Rancho will be named “Brother John Way.”

For those that know Brother John, the street name is befitting as he often did things the “Brother John Way.” Brother John proudly watched the livestream from Austin, Texas.

On all three occasions, I felt like the luckiest person to get to experience such meaningful demonstrations of mission and service in the work that we do. I never take that for granted and I truly feel honored to lead this organization and hope you feel honored to be a part of the experience.