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GROUP
PLAYS SANTA TO HOMELESS FAMILIES
By
Dean Calbreath, Union-Tribune
Staff Writer
December 23, 2007
VISTA – Even when Walter
Kuchinsky was homeless several years
ago, he would not allow himself
to forget about Christmas.
Kuchinsky – who was on the
streets because of drug and alcohol
abuse – still managed to hit
the 99-cent stores, pick out some
toys and take them to his three
sons, who were staying with relatives.
“Here you go,” he'd
say.
These days, things are different.
Kuchinsky, of Vista, has kicked
his addictions, landed a job and
has a stable home with his wife
and children. Yesterday, he celebrated
the holidays by distributing toys
to families at North County Solutions
for Change, the organization that
helped him turn his life around.
more
 TODAY'S
YOUTH ARE FACING A  CRISIS
Solutions
for Change has decided to take a proactive
stance
SEPTEMBER 2007 - Today’s
youth are facing a crisis. On top
of the consistently prevalent problems
associated with drugs, gangs, and
just generally growing up too fast,
our young ones are having to deal
with a problem more subtle, but perhaps
just as dangerous—the lack of
a good education.
According to tests conducted by the
state of California in 2005, half
of the 4th graders in our state are
reading at a level considered “below
basic.” Studies show that if
students are not reading at the appropriate
level by 2nd or 3rd grade, their chances
of catching up are greatly diminished.
This is because by around 4th grade,
teachers tend to give less individual
attention to students who are struggling
with reading. And this struggle often
continues-all the way to high school!
In fact, most high school dropouts
read at only a 3rd grade level. And
according to the U.S. Department of
Labor, those who do not complete high
school make an average of $18,000
per year, as opposed to $28,000 with
a high school diploma, or $50,000
with a bachelor’s degree.
Statistics aside, the bottom line
is this... more
PROGRAM
BRINGS MUSIC INTO LIVES OF HOMELESS
By Kathryn Gillick for
the North County Times
OCTOBER
2007 - Homeless families
often have to give up a lot of
the day-to-day amenities of life,
not to mention extracurricular
luxuries such as music lessons.
However, with the help of one
local woman, a center for homeless
families and a grant from an area
foundation, some homeless residents
are finding a new melody.
Dyana Preti, a Vista resident
who has taught piano and vocal
lessons for 20 years, is bringing
music lessons to residents of
Solutions for Change, a nonprofit
group that provides transitional
housing for families while helping
them find permanent homes and
employment. more
MUSIC
SOLUTIONS STUDENTS HONORED
Summer
session particpants receive 70 hours
of lessons in voice, piano, and
guitar
SEPTEMBER
2007 - On Saturday, August
18th, residents of the Solutions
Family Center took time to celebrate
the accomplishments of students
involved in the Music Solutions
program. The ceremony marked the
close of the summer session of the
program created by music educator
Dyana Preti and funded by the Picerne
Foundation. The 24 students who
participated in the summer session
were the recipients of approximately
70 hours of high-quality lessons
in piano, voice, and guitar. Apart
from many private lessons, a Young
Musicians Group made up of children
ages 3 and up met weekly to practice
basic music skills. more
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Join Us for Our FUNdraiser at California Pizza Kitchen!
Thursday, August 14
Just download this flyer and bring it to CPK in Vista, and they will donate 20% of your check to Solutions for Change.
By
Shannon Wingard for the North County Times
September 21,
2007
No caps
and gowns were needed Thursday night
to celebrate the achievements of seven
graduates from North County Solutions
for Change, who had taken the steps
necessary to go from homelessness to
living normal lives.
Jesus Garcia said he spent years
of doing drugs and "gang banging"
before he knew he needed to change for
his family.
Garcia completed a drug rehab program
before entering Solutions for Change,
which he said provided services and
housing for his family while he tried
to "get back on (his) feet."
Garcia said he has been sober for two
years, he has a residence and job, and
is living a substance-free life, which
are all requirements to graduate. It
was difficult to change, he said, but
"I just put one foot in front of
the other." more
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BACK
TO SCHOOL DRIVE
Donors
make fall drive a great success
SEPTEMBER 2007
- We would like to express our tremendous
gratitude to everyone who helped make
our Back to School Drive an enormous
success. Thank you for your continued
support of the children at Solutions
for Change!
Special thanks to: Suzanne Barris, Juliet
Berger, Daphne Croswell, Bernice Downey,
Dan and Sue Foncello, Linda Gibney,
Christina Goodman, Joan Gravel, Rhonda
Greenlaw, Tamara Jared, Callie Kassow,
Kiwanis, Kathy Koracs, Legoland, Julie
Nichols, Becky Noel, North County Times,
Office Depot, Old Navy, Angela Oxley,
Pearle Dental Studios, Ellen Perkins,
Linsey Rogers, San Marcos Lutheran Church,
Ted Sentinella, Staples, the nurses
in ICU of Tri-City Hospital, and Vista
Assembly of God.
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