We asked members of the community how their organizations help the community. We’ve shared some of the responses below.

Ori Zohar | Co-founder & Co-CEO, Burlap & Barrel

Burlap & Barrel is a social enterprise, a Public Benefit Corporation to be specific, and that means that we operate the business around a core social benefit: to connect smallholder farmers to high-value markets. Read more>>

Steve Haddadin | Real Estate Broker

I am heavily involved with my alma mater, California State University, Fullerton by serving on the board of the Center for Real Estate. My role on the board is to ensure our courses adhere to the state regulator’s requirements for licensure and to our industry partners’ standards such as the CCIM® Institute. Read more>>

Irene N Rodriguez | Executive Director

Cabot’s Pueblo Museum is in the midst of a neighborhood and is a cultural asset of Desert Hot Springs. The Foundation shares the legacy of Cabot Yerxa and Cole Eyraud via tours, community programs, and second graders of the Palm Springs Unified School District. Read more>>

Melody Siyami | Business Owner & Marketing Strategist

My business operates on a foundation of complete sustainability. Each item is hand-selected, curated, and photographed by me before being made available for sale. In response to the rise of TikTok’s haul culture and the excessive shopping it promotes, I decided to champion a change. Read more>>

Lauritta Muratbaeva | Professional Photographer

My clients call me a “comfort photographer,” and I’d like to believe that this means I am fulfilling my mission. When I was first starting out in the photography field, my head was filled with questions like, “How can I help the community and people?” and “What can I do differently in my practice that would set me apart from others?” Read more>>

Jonathon M. Smith | Actor, Model, Filmmaker, Speaker

Recently, I did a film screening and charity event for my feature film, Broken City (2023), in my hometown of Barstow, California. It’s a small town with about 20,000 residents. I am one of the few filmmakers from Barstow to create a feature film. Read more>>

Narbeh Nersesyan | Full time Nurse, Full time Baker

The comfort and happiness of the cookies can brighten someone’s day, making ordinary moments special and celebrations even more memorable. My cookies offers a personal touch that big corporations often lack. From customized cookie designs to remembering a regular customer’s favorite flavor, I build strong, personal relationships with my customers.  Read more>>

Francisco Lima | Founder and Head Instructor

I believe that Jiu-Jitsu is a magnificent tool for making people better in different areas of their lives. My goal is to provide the best jiu-jitsu class so all my students can learn Discipline, Confidence, Ability to work in a group, develop strong Mental Health, Coordination and Body Awareness, Physical Preparation, Ability to deal with difficult situations, Self-defense, Parents/Child Bond. Read more>>