Gender Health provides mental health counseling, advocacy services, and health care and insurance to the transgender community. 

There is Power in Numbers

Gender Health provides mental health counseling to the transgender community

Since 2010, the Sacramento-based Gender Health Center has been providing a unique service sought by people in need from throughout more than 25 counties. “We are a community mental health organization,” explains executive director Ben Hudson, “and though we serve anyone seeking mental health services, we specialize in gender identity and assisting transgender individuals

Feb 16, 2016 Jennifer von Geldern
Alex Aguiar, founder of Tent Pals, can be reached at ajaguiar7@gmail.com

Friends with Tents

Tent Pals lets buyers donate temporary housing to those in need

While studying abroad at the London School of Economics, UC Davis grad Alex Aguiar befriended a young homeless girl. He found her sleeping beneath an overpass, using folded cardboard to keep the cold concrete from chilling her body. Aguiar could not get the girl’s plight out of his mind. To understand his market, Aguiar spent the night with the homeless community, learning their stories and about what might help them. That’s when the idea for Tent Pals was born

Dec 22, 2015 Laurie Lauletta-Boshart
Brigit Barnes, co-founder, Right Hand Auburn

Private Efforts for Public Good

Auburn citizens turn defunct prison into needed shelter

A wearisome, vicious cycle was emerging with Auburn’s homeless population: Greater numbers were congregating on the streets by day and filling the DeWitt minimum security prison by night. Neither the city nor the county had adequate housing or facilities to deal with the situation, so the problem persisted. Residents were frustrated, but nothing was done. A group of community members vowed to act and started a grassroots effort that has culminated in turning the partially vacated barracks at DeWitt into a fully-staffed, round-the-clock facility open to Auburn’s homeless.

Dec 22, 2015 Laurie Lauletta-Boshart

Skate with Friends

Cool nonprofit ramps up support for Sacramento kids with special needs

SkateMD connects youth with special needs with volunteers to learn how to skateboard. The Sacramento-based nonprofit was created by Melanie Tillotson (the “M”) and Andrea “Drea” Bibelheimer (the “D”), who saw a need in the community for a cool program in a safe space that would spread kindness to children facing developmental, physical, emotional and family challenges.

Russell Nichols