VAPA Foundation Receives $1 Million Award From Prebys Sparx Award To Create New Approach To The Arts and Youth Mental Health

Katelyn Woodside, a violinist and Executive Director of The VAPA Foundation, joins us in studio to discuss the incredible impact of the VAPA Foundation and their recent award of $1 million from the inaugural Prebys Sparx Award to bring transformative, in-classroom arts programs to over 4,700 San Diego students. In partnership with the Expressive Arts Institute and San Diego Unified School District, they are embedding expressive arts into social-emotional learning (SEL)—redefining how the community approaches youth mental health support, while expanding access to quality arts education. This initiative is more than a program—it’s a bold step toward a new way of thinking about school partnerships, public investment, and the role of community in student well-being.About Spotlight and Cloudcast Media "Spotlight On The Community" is the longest running community podcast in the country, continuously hosted by Drew Schlosberg for 19 years.  "Spotlight" is part of Cloudcast Media's line-up of powerful local podcasts, telling the stories, highlighting the people, and celebrating the gravitational power of local.  For more information on Cloudcast and its shows and cities served, please visit www.cloudcastmedia.us. Cloudcast Media | the national leader in local podcasting.   About Mission Fed Credit Union A community champion for over 60 years, Mission Fed Credit Union with over $6 billion in member assets, is the Sponsor of Spotlight On The Community, helping to curate connectivity, collaboration, and catalytic conversations.  For more information on the many services for San Diego residents, be sure to visit them at https://www.missionfed.com/About Spotlight and Cloudcast Media  "Spotlight On The Community" is the longest running community podcast in the country, continuously hosted by Drew Schlosberg for 20 years.  "Spotlight" is part of Cloudcast Media's line-up of powerful local podcasts, telling the stories, highlighting the people, and celebrating the gravitational power of local.   For more information on Cloudcast and its shows and cities served, please visit www.cloudcastmedia.us. Cloudcast Media | the national leader in local podcasting.   About Mission Fed Credit Union  A community champion for over 60 years, Mission Fed Credit Union with over $6 billion in member assets, is the Sponsor of Spotlight On The Community, helping to curate connectivity, collaboration, and catalytic conversations.  For more information on the many services for San Diego residents, be sure to visit them at https://www.missionfed.com/