Pivotal Perspectives - Social Justice Dialogue

Black Lives Matter: A Letter from Pivotal's CEO and Board President

by Elise Cutini, CEO, and Rick Williams, Board President

Last week, we watched in horror, the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officers, which was just the latest in a string of deaths that included the murders of Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor. As our outrage over these events continues and we sit with heavy hearts, we are taking a moment to speak out because silence is no longer an option. For too long, silence and indifference by too many have allowed systemic racism, violence, and unequal justices to continue unchecked. 

Meet Monserrat

By Janelle Blakely, Director of Development

Incredible is how I describe Pivotal scholar, Monserrat. Inspired is how I felt after I sat down and talked with her.

Monserrat is very educational-oriented, a lover of learning and school. A first-generation college student, she will make her dreams a reality when she attends UC Santa Barbara this fall!

My Year as a Pivotal Intern Coach

by Peter Phi, High School Coach, and Christine Salinas, Manager of Grants and Communications

Pivotal High School Coach, Peter Phi, reflects on his year as a Pivotal Intern Coach. Peter shares a story about persistence and how working in the service of foster youth scholars has been a game-changer for him. 

Be Pivotal: Two Ways to Help us Save Summer 2020

By Melissa Johns, Executive Vice President

As we head full steam into June, Pivotal is on a mission to Save Summer 2020! Normally you’d find us spending the last days in May helping high school and collegiate scholars finalize the details of their summer internships, while calming their nerves as they prepare for their first professional jobs. But 2020 is no typical year.

Coronavirus has upended the tradition of summer internships, and young people across the country are feeling the...

Triad of Support Offers Free Meals to Pivotal Foster Youth During National Foster Care Month

by Christine Salinas, Manager of Grants and Communications

Our friends at the Junior League of San Jose have been ardent supporters of both transition-age foster youth and women entrepreneurs for years. When they read our newsletters about Pivotal scholars' Covid-19 emergency needs, they came up with a plan to blend support for both populations.

Pivotal Provides Laptops to College Foster Youth During Covid-19

by Melissa Johns, Executive Vice President, and Christine Salinas, Manager of Grants and Communications

Nicole is a former foster youth who attends San Jose City College and has big dreams for herself. Before the Covid-19 pandemic, she completed her course assignments in the computer lab at her apartment complex. But when shelter-in-place forced her complex to shut down the lab, Nicole ran into a significant problem: How would she do her work without access to a computer? Pivotal stepped in to help. 

Silicon Valley Corporations and Foundations Step It Up During the COVID Crisis

by Christine Salinas, Manager of Grants and Communications

We applaud the Silicon Valley corporations and foundations that are supporting nonprofits like Pivotal during COVID-19. Many wonderful partners such as Acer America, Comerica Bank, Pinpoint Foundation, Leo M. Shortino Family Foundation, Silicon Valley Community Foundation, Sobrato Family Foundation, and Tipping Point Community have generously donated to Pivotal’s Emergency Assistance Fund.

Acer America Gives to Pivotal's Emergency Assistance Fund

by Christine Salinas, Grants Manager, and Marilyn Rogers, Corporate Relations Officer

On March 18, 2020, Pivotal launched an Emergency Assistance Fund to provide immediate financial support to youth who have been negatively impacted by COVID-19. These youth had experienced a drastic loss of income and were worried about paying for essential needs like rent, groceries, and utilities. That's when Acer America stepped in. 

When They're Just Not That Into You

Getting teens to focus on their future can be tricky under normal circumstances, let alone a time hard-hit by a global pandemic. This era of uncertainty triggers a wide variety of responses, and for some, the response is to go quiet and withdraw. Pivotal coaches share their secrets for getting clever and engaging scholars during these tough times. 

Ashlee Jemmott Joins Pivotal as Director of Strategic Partnerships

by Christine Salinas, Manager of Grants and Communications

Pivotal is thrilled to welcome Ashlee Jemmott as Director of Strategic Partnerships. In her new role, Ashlee will work towards creating positive change within the foster care ecosystem. We caught up with Ashlee to learn more about her journey into nonprofit work and the road that brought her to this new role at Pivotal.

Pivotal Coaches Provide Additional Academic Support

By Christine Salinas, Grants Manager