Starting in 2013, Eayikes connected youth from neighborhoods across the socioeconomic spectrum through arts & wilderness camps. We harnessed the power of safe space our powerful community of young professionals serving as mentors who model courage, compassion, and childlike-wonder.

We facilitated a-ha moments by cultivating an open mind to others, emphasizing activities centered on the sharing of life experiences and challenging comfort zones to self-reflect, self-explore, and build self-esteem. Our practice and learning experiences from these years continues to inform and re-affirm our path. Youth programming is able to be offered through school contracts and grants.

As our youth programs grew and more young professionals displayed change from their participation, we began to recognize the need for courage, compassion, and childlike-wonder for adults. We believe our vision of a more just and compassionate world will be more quickly attained if more adults are building community and connection in the world. Wondershop events such as Wonderfull Wednesdays simply grew from six community members coming together on a Wednesday after work. Organically, the adult community bloomed all around us. Now, we’ve channeled our collective courage, compassion, and wonder towards our most marginalized neighbors, the unhoused of LA & OC, as well as intersected our love for the outdoors and healing power of Mother Nature to create an annual camping experience.

We are committed to uplifting community health, creating more equity, and doing this work intergenerationally, as we begin seeing a return of the youth who we’ve mentored taking on larger roles as young adults in Eayikes.

Eayikes

Building community and connection for everyday people to experience belonging, healing, and empowerment. Learn more at eayikes.org!