A man, standing with his hands on his hips smiling. He is standing in front of the California state capitol.

A Clear Vision

Disabilities
Care for California’s rapidly aging population requires ambitious strategy by Jeff vonKaenel It often starts with a phone call. A daughter trying to help her aging mother stay at home. A senior recently discharged from [...]
A mother and her son, standing in a hallway, smiling.
Disabilities

The Geography of Care

The Inland Caregiver Resource Center connects seniors to services In rural communities by Peter Hecht Carmen Estrada is executive director of the Inland Caregiver Resource Center, one of 11 California regional agencies providing support for […]

Mother and daughter at the dinner table, embracing and smiling.
Disabilities

In-home Comfort and Care

California’s In-Home Supportive Services provides vital services for those with disabilities by Peter Hecht Jennifer Salewsky began to notice early on that her daughter, Tayler Sett, was developing differently. As a toddler, Tayler was diagnosed […]

Two women standing next to each other smiling with a sign for the Sunrise adult day care center in the background.
Disabilities

Bridging the Senior Care Gap

Adult day health care, which provides a critical support for seniors, is at risk for cuts by Peter Hecht From her time as a young widow in her native Afghanistan, Arifa Fida has taken charge […]

Two women, one older standing next to each other and smiling.
Disabilities

“We Will Not Leave You”

A long-term care program takes a holistic approach to senior health by Dorothy Korber Helen Donley set off from her Marin County home in September 2024 for a nice visit with her daughter’s family in […]

Disabilities

Finding a Way In

How Californians Navigate a Complex Long-Term Care System by Jeff vonKaenel Fifteen years ago, 56-year-old veteran Eldon Abston was in crisis. His wife was dying. He had just suffered a major stroke and could no […]

Two women standing next to each other smiling with a neon sign in the background that says, "the power of us".
Community

Rebuilding a more equitable world

Efforts to recognize women’s rights—as well as build and restore them—goes beyond Women’s History Month by Dorothy Korber Each year, Women’s History Month is observed in March as a celebration of American women’s contributions and […]

Three people gathered in front of a large compost pile. One person is holding a hand full of dirt and all three people are inspecting it.
Environment

Collective Effort

Keeping organic waste out of landfills benefits everyone by Anne Stokes Landfills are a critical and limited resource. Reducing the amount of material sent to them benefits our entire community and region. By working together […]

Man smiles while in his greenhouse. His face is surrounded by his tomato plants.
Environment

A Healthy Foundation

Organic recycling contributes to healthy soil, supporting local farms by Stacy Brandt For Josh Raser, the quality of the soil at Hidden Valley Farm is as important as that of the vegetables that grow from […]

Father and daughter sitting at table with a countertop organic waste pail. The daughter is holding a banana.
Environment

One Food Scrap at a Time

Local family is committed to recycling, inside and outside of the home by Stacy Brandt For the Weihe family, recycling is a way of life—at home, school, and work. Nearly everywhere they go, they find […]

After some trial and error, Lakeside resident Karen Prath developed recycling habits that work for her home. Photo courtesy of Karen Prath
Environment

Progress, Not Perfection

Take small steps to build better habits by Anne Stokes Lakeside resident Karen Prath’s journey to recycle her organic waste has had its ups and downs, but she’s found a manageable routine to keep them […]

A portrait of a woman smiling with foliage in the background.
Community

Mentorship: Opening Doors and Connecting Women

Professional mentorship helps California women and girls build collective power by Dorsey Griffith Mentorship is one of the most effective and transformative tools for advancing women’s leadership, confidence, and long-term economic opportunity. When women and […]

A group of Meals on Wheels volunteers dressing in Christmas caroling costumes standing on the front porch of a house.
Local Issues

Fun, Fundraising and Friends

Friends of Meals on Wheels volunteers build community to support Yolo County’s senior nutrition program by Dorothy Korber For nearly 1,400 vulnerable seniors in Yolo County, Friends of Meals on Wheels (FOMOW) are not just […]

Two women working in a professional kitchen preparing meals.
Local Issues

Cooking Up Community

Meal production expansion bolsters Meals on Wheels Yolo County’s ability to serve and to remain solvent by Anne Stokes Since 2022, Meals On Wheels Yolo County (MOW Yolo) has grown hand over fist, going from […]

Two woman, one standing and one seated, laughing.
Local Issues

Angelic Intervention

MOW Yolo meal recipient with colorful history says meals for her and her dog Gracie are a blessing by Dorothy Korber “My whole life I’ve been blessed with angels,” says Dierdre Mayes, “and Meals on […]

A woman, working behind a professional kitchen counter, serving up some food on a plate.
Local Issues

Food and Fellowship

A longtime Davis volunteer helps nourish both bodies and connections through Meals on Wheels Yolo County’s Café Yolo program by Peter Hecht After a 35-year biotech career, including 20 years as a facility and lab […]

A man with a Meals on Wheels shirt and hat carrying bagged food on a front lawn.
Local Issues

Still Serving

Forging bonds and helping others keeps active, 80-year-old MOW Yolo volunteer extraordinaire looks forward to every day by Peter Hecht Bob Rennie has delivered nourishment to seniors in need as a Meals on Wheels Yolo […]

A group of people watching a woman give a presentation with a large power point in the background.
Local Issues

Mission Support

Sutter Health enables Meals on Wheels Yolo County to sustain, improve, and expand service to seniors by Jacob Peterson To accomplish its core objectives of serving healthy meals and reducing isolation for 1,200 older adults, […]

About us

SPOTLIGHT is the home for digital storytelling—produced by the team of journalists at N&R Publications—for public and private organizations with complex stories to tell. If you’ve got an important story that needs to be told, contact publications@newsreview.com