Families Forward: Meet our new Co-Directors!
WIN’s Events Team Hosted a Drive-Thru Safari Experience!
With many family-friendly outings still unavailable during this pandemic, many of our WIN families wanted an event that was fun, educational and still safe for the whole family.
On Saturday, September 5th, our parking lot was converted into a safe and contactless mini drive-thru safari! With help from our friends at Reptacular Animals, we had multiple drive-up stations at which our WIN families met and learned about amazing live animals including llamas, chickens, cows, goats and more. Each child received a backpack with school supplies, snacks and a stuffed animal all from the comfort of their car!
CHARITY POKER NIGHT EVENT
On October 24th, spend an evening with the staff, supporters and board at WIN to help families with young children dealing with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. At WIN, we support families through community building events, therapy, and linkages to vital resources. We are helping to build resilient families supported by trauma-informed communities. Tell your friends and come join the fun all while donating to a great cause!
Meet Our New Co-Directors!
Co-Executive Director: Clinical
Co-Executive Director: INN2, Operations, Sustainability
Learn More about Wendy Sun
What do you love most about WIN?
My answer is twofold. First as an organization, WIN is so unique in putting families first and that is the driving force of WIN. That’s why I’ve been at the organization for so long! Second, for the time that I have been at WIN, WIN has consistently attracted people that are very committed and passionate about the work we do. All of our employees are individuals that find this work rewarding and important, it allows us to help families in the best way possible.
What is your guilty pleasure?
My guilty pleasure is I enjoy watching TV! You can always find me watching all sorts of cooking and baking competition shows, and it also inspires me to eat different types of food and try out new places. I also love Procedural/Crime/Mystery drama, shows like Criminal Minds, NCIS, and Elementary. I also love old shows like Murder She Wrote.
How do you define success?
When people think about success, it can be seen as a way to compare yourself to others, but I always look at it as a challenge within myself. Instead of competing for success, I set goals for myself and push outside of my comfort zone to accomplish those goals.
What does leadership mean to you?
Since before working at WIN, I always valued honesty, authenticity, supportiveness and fairness. As the Co-Executive Director, I would like to see that our program culture is built on, and continues to evolve around these elements. To me, the foundational definition of leadership is to create an environment where our staff and families we work with feel respected, supported and valued.
What do you do on your days off?
On weekends I love to spend time with my niece and nephew. When they were toddlers, I was always referred to as their “weekend mommy” and now that they are all grown up – I’m still their weekend mommy!
I also love to travel, especially to places that I’ve never been before. About 14 years ago, I was able to tick off a special place on my bucket list which was Scotland and Ireland – it was amazing! The best part of my trip was exploring the castles. They were beautiful and magical. Whenever it’s safe to travel again, the next place on my bucket list is Germany. I plan to visit Neuschwanstein Castle and the Miniatur Wunderland, which has the largest model railway system in the world. I can’t wait to see it one day!
Learn More about Tim Sweeney
What do you love about WIN?
During more than 20 years working in social services, it’s been clear to me what we need most is preventative work. I believe WIN’s focus on building strong families is the most important work we can do as a society.
What are you most proud of?
When I oversaw the YouthBuild program at Venice Community Housing, we were dedicated to incorporating our participants into decision making and giving them real-life leadership opportunities. I used to say that the goal was for them to run the program. Only a few years later, two graduates are now on the staff: a young woman is a construction trainer and a young man is a case manager.
When are you happiest?
My four-year-old son and I both wake up early. In the calm of the morning, before everyone else is up, we spend time sitting on his rug, building things, coloring, and talking. It’s a wonderful way to start the day.
What do you do on your days off?
On the weekends I spend time in the ocean – surfing or playing in the waves with my wife and son – and running in the Santa Monica Mountains. My favorite trail is the Backbone Trail starting at Will Rogers State Historic Park.
5. What does true leadership mean to you?
For me, while true leadership starts with guiding your team toward a cohesive vision, the most important part is helping people do their jobs well. I want to be supportive so they can be successful and feel successful in their roles; empower them, let them make mistakes, and help them thrive. They are the ones who make a real difference in the lives of our clients.
Need to talk to someone?
If you are a parent of a young child living in Crenshaw, Inglewood, Lennox, Mar Vista, Santa Monica, or Venice struggling with loss, trauma or economic stress, we may be able to help. Please contact our helpline at (213) 290-6113 or send an email to familysupport@winla.org.
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- Celebrating Excellence: Employee Spotlight Series
- Reaching New Heights: WIN’s Empowering Goal-Setting Staff Retreat
- Creating Connections: Supporting BIPOC Mental Health Month as a Family
