Arts & Recreation Topic Day Newsletter

Facilitated by: Hugo Guzman, Monica Carrillo, Ziha Torres, Jaime Blanchard

On May 1st, the Leadership Santa Maria Valley (LSMV) Class of 2026 gathered at the CoastHills Credit Union Community Room for their Arts & Recreation Topic Day. Designed to highlight the role creativity, recreation, and community spaces play in leadership development and community wellness, the day immersed participants in organizations across the Santa Maria Valley that are creating opportunities for connection, inclusion, mentorship, and personal growth through arts and recreation. 

The morning began with breakfast and opening remarks, followed by an inspiring personal story from class member Yolanda Zamora, who reflected on the life experiences and motivations that shaped her journey. One quote that resonated strongly with the class was, “What keeps me motivated is my siblings, wanting to give them the opportunities I didn’t have.” Her story set a reflective and heartfelt tone for the day ahead. 

The class then heard from CoastHills Credit Union CEO James Ledford, who delivered a leadership presentation focused on “Building Leaders, Not Followers.” His presentation centered around three key leadership pillars: clarity of vision and standards, intentional development, and trust with accountability. Participants engaged in conversations around coaching versus directing, and the importance of asking thoughtful questions to help others grow and develop confidence. 

The first site visit brought the class to the Children’s Resource & Referral Discovery Museum, where participants learned how the organization has evolved into a community-centered space supporting children and families of all backgrounds and abilities. The museum partners with organizations such as Child Welfare Services to provide supervised visitation opportunities in a welcoming environment and hosts sensory-friendly days featuring dimmed lighting and sound-canceling headphones for children with sensory sensitivities. Participants also learned about the museum’s efforts to remove barriers for families by encouraging guests to bring lunches and stay throughout the day, as well as their free community book program featuring books written by the organization’s leadership team. 

The next stop was the Abel Maldonado Community Youth Center, where the class toured the facility and learned about its long-standing impact on local youth since opening in 2005. The center provides free memberships for students in grades 6–12 and creates a dedicated space focused on mentorship, recreation, and youth development. Participants learned about the center’s collaborations with local schools for graduations and awards nights, as well as its café program where youth develop workplace and customer service skills. A particularly meaningful moment came when several classmates shared that they personally attended the center as teenagers, highlighting the lasting impact community spaces can have on young people. 

Following the morning tours, the class returned to CoastHills Headquarters for lunch with a Oaxaca Catering company, music from Saxophonist Jose Rendon, and continued community connection before hearing from interim CEO Jeff Reynoso with the Central Coast Running Club. The discussion emphasized how recreation and wellness organizations often become spaces that foster accountability, encouragement, belonging, and leadership development within the community.

The final visit of the day took the class to TeeBox Social, an innovative indoor golf and recreation experience created to make the sport more accessible for individuals with busy schedules. Owners Ricky Moreno and Jorge Deloya shared how the concept was inspired by their own challenges finding time for traditional golf outings, leading them to create a space where recreation, technology, and entrepreneurship intersect in a community-focused environment. 

By the conclusion of the day, the LSMV Class of 2026 gained a broader understanding of how arts, recreation, mentorship, and community spaces contribute to the overall well-being and development of the Santa Maria Valley. From youth centers and museums to wellness organizations and local entrepreneurs, participants experienced firsthand how intentional community spaces can create belonging, inspire leadership, and strengthen connections across generations.