Los Angeles, CA- We are pleased to announce that Martha Arevalo, Executive Director of CARECEN Los Angeles has been awarded sabbatical by the Durfee Foundation in recognition of her leadership. The Los Angeles-based foundation seeks to invest in 13 leaders for the 2021-2022 cohort and Arevalo will start her four-month sabbatical in 2022. The grant allows the organization leader to travel, reflect and recharge. The grant also includes funds to advance the skills and wellbeing of CARECENS staff, and also to reward those who carry extra responsibility during the sabbatical. Arevalo will celebrate her 10-year anniversary as CARECEN’s executive director on January 16,  2022.

“The past five years have been intense for Immigrant rights and other nonprofit leaders. I am honored and grateful to have been chosen as part of the 2021-2022 cohort,” said Martha Arevalo, CARECEN Executive Director. “This will be a perfect time to rest, rejuvenate and reflect. We must really uphold the importance of taking care of ourselves and prevent burnout. Before the start of my sabbatical, we will make sure CARECEN is prepared and ready to continue the work.”

Background: The Durfee Foundation has funded over 100 sabbaticals to leaders in Los Angeles since 1997. Evaluations have revealed that sabbaticals help organizations retain their leaders and help shift leaders' perspectives from daily management to distributed leadership and generative thinking and activity. Organizations also benefit from having an opportunity to plan and strengthen their capacity. Sabbaticals can create a permanent shift in the culture of work/life balance for both the leader and the organization’s staff.