Querencia
Querencia (www.querenciasb.org) is an innovative faith based project that serves Santa Barbara's Lower East side, an under-resourced and largely Latino community.
Unlike so many projects that work with vulnerable and marginalized communities from ‘outside’ the community, Querencia works from the inside, focusing on serving children and families. Ruben and Holly Gil, who helped to start Querencia, live in the neighborhood they serve and have a firsthand understanding of the challenges faced by their neighbors. The primary focus of the project is developing long term relationships with members of the Eastside community. Querencia mentors children and families, creates needed change through community organizing, provides tutoring and academic support for local children, and offers exciting after school activities and summer projects - all undergirded by a strong emphasis on fostering strong values and spiritual vitality. The project networks extensively with other local organizations to serve the community. Querencia is primarily run by a group of dedicated volunteers.
Visions Made Viable serves Querencia with long term legal and fiscal sponsorship, administrative support, and consulting aimed at capacity building so Querencia can expand its proven approach and impact even more families in Santa Barbara.
Download an application to volunteer with Querencia:
You can make a tax-deductible contribution to Querencia using the Donate button below, or by sending a check payable to Querencia to:
Visions Made Viable
17595 Harvard Avenue
Suite C235
Irvine, California, 92614
Donations currently received are being directed for the Esperanza Family Fund.
Be sure to save the email you receive from Paypal to print out as your tax deductible receipt. Contributions to or for Querencia are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. Querencia or fiscal sponsor, Visions Made Viable, provided no goods or services for your contribution.