Congressman Carbajal Visits and Reads to Storyteller Children
Congressman Carbajal paid a special visit to Storyteller Children’s Center’s De La Vina campus on July 16 to read stories to the young students while spotlighting the importance of Early Child Development.
The Congressman read two books including “I Like You,” by Kathleen Beal and “Del Desierto a la Jungla,” by Amada Irma Perez.
“It was so special to have Congressmen Carbajal with us today. The students were particularly attentive during story time,” noted Storyteller Children’s Center Executive Director, Susan Cass. “Educating children early while mitigating challenges and trauma is so critical in these first five years. It means a great deal that our representatives value and underscore our mission.”
Founded in 1988, Storyteller is a full-time, therapeutic school program that supports children ages 18 months to 5 years in achieving kindergarten readiness. In addition to the approximate 80 students served per year, Storyteller also provides assistance to the entire family unit, with an emphasis on breaking the cycle of poverty for the working poor while preparing children to successfully enter kindergarten. Some of Storyteller’s programs are supported by Head Start of the United States Department of Health and Human Services which provides comprehensive early childhood education, health, nutrition, and parent involvement services to low-income children and families.
For more information form Congressman Carbajal’s office, contact: Mannal Haddad at [email protected] or (310) 619-8134.
Storyteller
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(805) 730-0181
Director of Development: Tess Ortega
Mission
At Storyteller, they believe every child deserves a happy beginning. Their learning centers are havens where young minds and their families are empowered to rewrite their stories, breaking the cycle of poverty and paving the way for brighter futures.
Through their dedicated support and nurturing environments, they provide a continuum of care – from six weeks to five years of age – that prepares our children for success as they enter kindergarten, the most critical metric in their scholastic journey.
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For me, connection is more than networking — it’s heart work. When I bring people to Storyteller, it isn’t just about supporting a nonprofit, it’s about weaving together a community that believes every child deserves the same opportunities. In Santa Barbara, privilege and responsibility go hand in hand, and I see it as a gift to connect people who want to make a difference with children who need us most. Those connections don’t just fuel Storyteller’s mission — they remind us that all of our community’s children are our own. I also love being part of the nonprofit culture here — attending beautiful events, yes, but even more so serving on boards, subcommittees, and event committees. That’s where I feel I can really help power the engine, supporting the frontline leaders who are working every day to create social change in our community.
Help Pave the Way for a Brighter Future
Storyteller does not charge its families tuition, but providing its comprehensive, year-round care costs approximately $27,000 per child annually. As state and local tuition-assistance programs face pauses and growing waitlists, Storyteller has been absorbing the cost for more incoming students. Its tuition fund provides a philanthropic bridge: helping ensure that a delay in outside assistance does not become a delay in a child’s education, meals, behavioral health support, and other services. For families already navigating poverty and instability, keeping that door open matters.
Board Members
Kyra Rogers, Chair
Michael Wasserman,
Vice-Chair
Terri Allison
Jon Clark
Peggy Dodds, M.D.
Stuart Glenn
Gretchen Horn
Sharon Kayser
Erinn Lynch
Diana P. Lytel
Patricia Madrigal, Ph.D.
Ann Pieramici
Ken Radtkey
Rose Schmoller
Bess Scribner
Kenny Slaught
Craig Zimmerman