A Shared Table: ChefsGiving Opens St. Joseph Center’s 50-Year Celebration
St. Joseph Center’s annual ChefsGiving in Venice was a huge success. Top local chefs, including celebrity Chef Bradley Miller, Emporium Thai, and Levain Bakery, served 150 guests to celebrate our 50th year of supporting the community.
“Chefsgiving is about more than food,” said Dr. Ryan J. Smith, St. Joseph Center’s President and CEO. “It’s about breaking bread together, honoring community, and uplifting the next generation.”
Event Recap
St. Joseph Center’s annual ChefsGiving in Venice was a huge success.
Top local chefs, including celebrity Chef Bradley Miller, Emporium Thai,
and Levain Bakery, came together to serve 150 guests in celebration of
our 50th year of supporting the community.
“Chefsgiving is about more than food,” said Dr. Ryan J. Smith, St. Joseph Center’s
President and CEO. “It’s about breaking bread together, honoring community and
uplifting the next generation.”
This year’s ChefsGiving also served as the kickoff to St. Joseph Center’s
50th Anniversary year. Guests, volunteers, and partners filled the courtyard
with gratitude, connection, and the shared belief that everyone deserves
dignity, nourishment, and community.
With chef-inspired dishes, warm hospitality, and the support of longtime
community partners, ChefsGiving set the tone for a year of celebration,
impact, and honoring five decades of service.
Read the full media story here:
Venice Area Chefs Prepare Fare for Venice Center That Aids Poor — MyNewsLA
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St. Joseph Center celebrated the opening of Berkeley Station, marking a powerful example of what can happen when vision, partnership, and persistence come together to create real pathways home. This milestone reflects the collective effort of our Youth Resource Team and the many partners who helped bring this project to life.
Located in Santa Monica, Berkeley Station is a 13-unit, four-story affordable housing development designed by Brooks + Scarpa. Completed in March 2026, it is the city’s first modular housing project serving low-income families and transitional-aged youth, with supportive services provided by St. Joseph Center.
We are proud to welcome eight youth and families into their new homes, including Malik and his daughter, Naomi.
Dr. Ryan J. Smith Advocates for Radical Care with Dignity as Frederick Douglass Lecturer
St. Joseph Center President and CEO Dr. Ryan J. Smith recently joined the prestigious Frederick Douglass Human Rights Lecture series at the University of La Verne to discuss a roadmap for housing justice.
During the keynote, Dr. Smith explored the harsh realities of homelessness and shared his own personal journey. He reminded the audience that meeting this crisis head-on is not just about policy, but also about approach: “It’s not just what you do, but it’s how you do it. We believe in the power of radical care.”
Read More:
https://laverne.edu/news/2026/02/20/human-rights-lecture-explores-harsh-realities-of-homelessness/
Watch Full Presentation:
https://youtu.be/K7Qm8_dkQxU?si=vgfYvosLfxaiiwOZ
St. Joseph Center Brings Holiday Joy to Unhoused Families in South LA
St. Joseph Center hosted a holiday celebration for clients and families at their South L.A. (SOLA) headquarters on Dec. 15 as part of Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week and ahead of Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day on December 21.
Source:
LA Sentinel
