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Leading the Way to a Better Future CEO guides nonprofit to help people write promising new chapters — in life I 'VE ALWAYS BEEN INTRIGUED AND DRAWN to people's stories," says Elizabeth Fitzsimons, CEO of Episcopal Community Services. When put as simply as that, it's easy to see how Fitzsimons, who began her career as a journalist, now leads this 97-year-old organization of 450 people that's found in 23 locations in San Diego County. "I think the skills that I learned as a journalist are really important to my work as a CEO, because I need to effectively tell the stories of the people we serve," she continues. "I need to advocate for them. I need to build support for the organization. So, I need to be able to understand what our community is experiencing, and then be able to share that and make connections that hopefully will make a difference in their lives." Fitzsimons' desire and ability to connect with the community has been critical since she joined ECS in the depths of the pandemic. ough, like many service organizations, ECS adapted to be able to continue its work during lockdown, Fitzsimons saw how deeply those who were already vulnerable — especially children — were impacted. "ese were families that already were living in very challenging circumstances, and then to have covid hit, it was really devastating," she says. Following such isolation, loss, and uncertainty, Fitzsimons says they've observed a lot more issues in classrooms: more kids who are nonverbal, more kids with behavioral issues, even more cases of autism. As a response, under her leadership, the organization has ramped up children's mental health services, expanding their reach from age zero to five to now up to age twelve. Early childhood education and development now comprises more than two-thirds of ECS's programs, which also include homeless services and transitional housing and substance use disorder treatment. Fitzsimons recalls an experience visiting ECS's Central East Regional Recovery Center, where she was joined by Representative Sara Jacobs. As several men who were clients there shared their stories, Fitzsimons had a true a ha moment. "ey had been suffering with addiction, some of them had been homeless, incarcerated — really had been through tough times. e thing, though, that they all shared in common was something devastating had happened to them as children — a parent had died or they had been hurt — that completely changed the function of their lives," she remembers. "And that hit me like a ton of bricks: is is why we have our children's mental health program. What if there had been some kind of intervention for these men when they were little boys? What if there had been the support that they needed? How would their lives have been different? It was that moment of realization of how important this work is. No, we're not going to take away the pain of some kind of traumatic experience, but it's not going to ruin their life." By helping those who are most vulnerable, Fitzsimons and ECS are making real contributions on not only an individual level, but changing the future for the greater community for the better. ecscalifornia.org Focus philanthropy Episcopal Community Services CEO Elizabeth Fitzsimons BY DEANNA MURPHY | PHOTOGRAPHY BY DOUG GATES ranchandcoast.com 52 AUGUST 2024 RANCH & COAST MAGAZINE