Meet Brateil Aghasi | Non-Profit Leader, CEO of WISEPlace

We had the good fortune of connecting with Brateil Aghasi and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Brateil, is there a quote or affirmation that’s meaningful to you?
“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams”- Eleanor Roosevelt

Being a nonprofit leader has given me a sense of purpose and vision not only for my life, but for those I’m committed to serving. Personally, as an immigrant and refugee family coming from the middle east during war, I have overcome many challenges in my life. This quote always gives me strength to keep seeing a future brighter than the one I was born into. To keep pushing, to keep believing. This quote represents possibility- for myself and for others.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I had no intention of taking the job at WISEPlace; it was just TOO much to clean up. It was going to be a quick 60 minute courtesy interview and then I was going to run out of the shelter. WISEPlace had poor operations with a leaking, run down building and a history to losing a significant amount of money year over year for a decade. There were over $1.5M of liens on the building and the financials and operations were in despair. Who in their right mind would take this job- it is TOO much!

At my interview, I’ll never forget walking into the run down 1950’s gymnasium were 60 women and about 2 dozen animals were in an emergency shelter. The shelter was packed as women slept about 3 inches apart from one another and in the sea of salt and pepper haired women in their 60’s-90’s, I saw so many walkers, wheelchairs and amputated legs. My heart sunk. I was grateful that WISEPlace existed but thought this can not be the best that Orange County can do. There has to be a better more effective, dignified solution for these women to receive the shelter and safety they deserve.

Then, with my own eyes, I saw the importance and distinction of WISEPlace. We are the only nonprofit organization in OC committed to ending the homelessness of unaccompanied women, an underserved and underrepresented population of single women who are incredibly vulnerable because they lack the support that often comes with having a spouse or children. 1 in every 3 unhoused adults is an unaccompanied women and older adults are the fastest growing population to start experiencing homelessness. We are the only organization solely focused on the needs of unaccompanied women, we stand in this service gap of a group of women left behind because they don’t have children or the support of a family.

I was brought in to lead the organization in 2018, and since then, thanks to the community of donors, volunteers and staff we have successfully served over 8,500 women and completely turned the organization around, even in the midst of a pandemic. Our program is impactful and has a 95% success rate in permanently housing unaccompanied women. We wouldn’t be where we are today without the community continuing to invest of their time, talents and donations as we are not only incredibly stable but most important growing to meet the changing needs of unaccompanied women experiencing homelessness. Together, WISEPlace defied the odds, and has weathered the storm.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Fun- lets get outside for this amazing week long trip! 🙂 Let’s start with a drive to Big Sur and make it down the coast and back to Orange County! Lets start with some hiking around Big Sur and stay at Treebones for the most gorgeous views. Lets make our way to Santa Barbara and do some glamping at El Capitan. We’d keep driving along PCH and make a pit stop in Malibu where there are more amazing hikes. A lunch stop at Malibu Farms is a must. We’d keep making it down PCH to Laguna Beach and work our way to Huntington Beach so we can ride our bike for miles and miles.

We’d eat at Bear Flag, because tuna poke and ceviche is life! We’d check out some cool places like Havana’s at the AntiLab and Poppy & Seed at the Anaheim Packing District. So much to see and do outdoors, and the California coast is something I’m so grateful to experience right in our backyard. Bonus- all of these are doggie approved too!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My family truly deserves all the credit for my success. My family left a war-torn Iran and started over in America with nothing. My childhood was incredibly hard and impoverished but my grandparents and aunts gave me a sense of belonging and love that I am forever grateful for while watching my single mom work harder than anyone I knew to provide for us. The combination of love and hardship has shaped me into who I am today and I’m incredibly thankful for every lesson learned and for unconditional love that has built me up, even in the face of adversity.

Website: https://wiseplace.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wiseplace/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brateilaghasi

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WISEPlace/

Youtube: @WISEPlace1

Image Credits
Kait McKay Photography