Minds Matter Southern California Honored with Prestigious HALO Award for Volunteer Excellence

Minds Matter Southern California is proud to announce that we have been selected as a recipient of the HALO Award, a local capacity-building program presented by the Carl & Roberta Deutsch Foundation. Focused on strengthening nonprofit volunteer programs in Greater Los Angeles and surrounding areas, the HALO Award supports organizations through peer learning, coaching, and recognition of extraordinary volunteers.

This year’s HALO Award honors not only our organization but also one of our extraordinary volunteers, Melisa Santizo, whose journey embodies the transformative power of mentorship and community.

Melisa first joined Minds Matter as a high school student in Los Angeles in 2013. Raised by a single mother and fueled by a passion for learning, she found in Minds Matter the bridge to the future she envisioned for herself and her family. Her mentors empowered her through challenges, helping her transform self-doubt into perseverance.

After attending Harvard, Melisa returned to Minds Matter through AmeriCorps, helping to develop our social-emotional learning program, Connections®, which has reshaped the student experience. Today, she continues to guide storytelling circles, bringing warmth, wisdom, and grounded empathy to every interaction. Her presence inspires students and volunteers alike, reminding us that lived experience is a powerful teacher.

As part of the HALO Award, Minds Matter SoCal will receive a capacity-building grant to strengthen and sustain our volunteer program, equipping volunteers with the tools to transform students’ lives. This support will fund a year-long peer-learning initiative, essential as we welcome and train new volunteers. In recognition of her extraordinary commitment to educational equity, Melisa has also received a financial award honoring her impact on our mission.

We are deeply grateful to Melisa, our volunteers, and our community of supporters who make this work possible. Together, we continue to connect driven students with the people, preparation, and possibilities to succeed in college and beyond.

Visit our website for more information about Minds Matter Southern California, our programming, volunteering opportunities, and donations: https://mindsmattersocal.org/.