This month, rather than interviewing someone to share their thoughts on collaboration, I wanted to share mine with you.
At the heart of our work is collaboration—the ability to come together, share knowledge, and support one another in service of our clients and community. In our work, no single role stands alone; meaningful impact happens when we communicate openly, respect diverse perspectives, and work toward shared goals utilizing all the resources we have.
Whether it’s coordinating care across programs, problem-solving as a team, or simply checking in with a colleague, collaboration strengthens both our services and our workplace culture. By leaning on each other’s strengths and staying connected, we ensure that those we serve receive the highest level of care and support, which is the reason we are all here, doing the work that we do.
At a time when the world feels upside down, let’s continue to do what we know how to do best: build strong partnerships, uplift one another, and work together to make a lasting difference in the lives of others.
-Charito Guerrero, Penny Lane Centers
If you are interested in sharing your own stories of collaboration, please email Charito Guerrero at cguerrero@pennylane.org. We are always looking for opportunities to highlight the great work happening across our many programs.
Diversity Beyond the Basics has, since its inception, served as a cornerstone training focused on acceptance, inclusion, and equity across Penny Lane Centers. When DBB first launched, 19 cohorts came together across the agency, each grounded in a shared commitment to fostering inclusivity. Participants engaged in a 10-session journey exploring topics such as privilege, oppression, bias, gender, microaggressions, race, and systems of power.
Since then, DBB has been thoughtfully reengineered into two half-day sessions, maintaining the integrity of the original topics while incorporating meaningful updates that reflect the current social and political climate. This evolution ensures that the training remains relevant, responsive, and impactful.
Between February and March, we successfully facilitated three DBB cohorts. In the Antelope Valley, participants were guided by Marvin Sandoval and Elena Santellan. In Commerce, Julie Chirino and Gabriela Lucero led their cohort through each conversation with care and intention. In North Hills, Ryan Myvett, Mayra Gonzalez, and Paul Vakselis facilitated with empathy, humor, and authenticity. Participants included new hires from January through December 2025, each bringing their own perspectives and experiences into the space.
I had the privilege of attending these sessions and witnessing both our facilitators and participants in action. I was beyond proud of our facilitators and deeply inspired by the engagement of our participants. By cultivating spaces rooted in psychological safety, individuals showed up with vulnerability and authenticity. There were moments of reflection, laughter, and even tears as participants navigated activities such as the privilege walk and explored the evolving conversations around identity and sexuality.
When selecting our seven facilitators, I encouraged them to take ownership of the material—to bring their full selves into the experience. And they did just that. Each cohort carried its own unique energy and approach. Elena and Marvin delivered content with clarity, precision, and thoughtfulness. Gabriela and Julie created an environment that felt like a warm embrace. Paul, Mayra, and Ryan brought levity and laughter to conversations that are often complex and challenging. While their styles differed, the message remained consistent and powerful:
At Penny Lane, acceptance is our superpower.
We honor our colleagues and clients for who they are. We celebrate and respect our differences, understanding that it is precisely these differences that strengthen us as a community.
Diversity Beyond the Basics will return in 2027 with three new cohorts. Until then, let this be a reminder that this work does not begin and end in a training room. It lives in our daily actions, in our willingness to have courageous conversations, and in our commitment to advocate for and uplift one another with love, compassion, and intention.
Check out some more photos below!
