This episode of Nonprofit Report features leaders from Storyteller Children’s Center in Santa Barbara, California, which provides trauma-informed preschool education for children and families facing adversity.
Guests:
Dr. Gabriela Garcia, Executive Director, Storyteller Children’s Center
Interview by: Mark Oppenheim
Key Points:
- Storyteller Children’s Center focuses on supporting children ages six weeks to five years, emphasizing early intervention during the most critical developmental period.
- The organization combines academics with social-emotional learning to equip children with self-regulation, communication, and coping skills.
- Trauma-informed practices address the effects of stress, housing insecurity, and family hardship on child development.
- Storyteller partners with families, recognizing parents and caregivers as a child’s first and most important teachers.
- Programs are bilingual, meeting families where they are while preparing children for English-language instruction in public schools.
- Cultural sensitivity, equity, and inclusion guide all programming, ensuring each child and family feels understood and supported.
Other Points on Storyteller Children’s Center:
Storyteller Children’s Center holistic approach recognizes that children cannot thrive in isolation from their families. Services combine early education, counseling, and family engagement to promote stability and resilience.
Cultural competence is central to the mission. By offering services in Spanish and English, employing staff from the same communities they serve, and honoring family traditions, the organization builds trust and access.
Storyteller’s programs extend beyond academics. Children receive two nutritious meals and a snack each day, supporting healthy brain development. The organization also invests in its teachers, providing competitive salaries and reflective practice training to reduce burnout and ensure consistent care.
After 35 years of service, Storyteller continues to evolve—expanding capacity, updating its identity, and reaffirming that high-quality early childhood education is not a privilege, but a human right that benefits the entire community.