Community
The Monarch School
Unhoused Homeless Youth Take Flight
Named by its students
in recognition of the transformational power of the butterfl y , the Monarch School has provided thousands of San Diego youth experiencing homelessness with opportunities to grow and thrive . Monarch serves up to 300 students each day through a unique publicprivate partnership between the nonprofi t Monarch School Project and the San Diego County �ffi ce of Education . Since ��8� , this innovative �-�2 school has supported students in building productive and healthy lives .
�hen the pandemic forced Monarch to close in March 2020 , students lost much more than time in class . They lost access to mental health care , food , clothing , parent resources and more - all at a time when this essential support was more critical than ever . The lives of Monarch families often present struggles that require both tenacity and creativity to overcome , and the pandemic only serves to illuminate this reality .
We are so appreciative of the school and staff at Monarch . They have provided us with everything we need to stay safe . We are very very thankful !” -- Ms . Yang , Monarch School parent
�ith the help of generous supporters like San Diego �as & Electric ( SD� & E ), the Monarch School can continue its academic programs as well as meet urgent needs . Monarch invested in partnerships to help house families , ensured that students could safely visit the campus for critical hygiene and food supplies , and off ered transportation vouchers to enable parents and caregivers to maintain access to their jobs as essential workers . To address the digital divide , Monarch connected students with the technology they needed to engage in distance learning and access supportive interventions , such as daily online tutoring .
Caroline Winn , San Diego Gas & Electric CEO , at a Monarch School event prior to the pandemic
62 GBSAN . COM | APRIL 2021