1980s
Founded in 1981, People Reaching Out (PRO) originated from a grassroots effort by a group of concerned community members aiming to tackle crime, gang activity, and drug problems in their local park. Under the leadership of former President/CEO Kathy Hill, PRO swiftly expanded its mission to include offering prevention programs in local schools and community sites. These youth and community-focused programs caught the attention of President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan, who commended its outstanding work.
1990s
PRO hosted various fundraising events, including the popular Black Tie and Tennies dinner in collaboration with the Sacramento Kings Foundation. First Lady Hillary Clinton recognized the excellence of PRO's Students Reaching Out program, holding it up as a model for national replication. Additionally, PRO received a generous donation of a new office building from Cal Fed Bank, located on Auburn Blvd.
2000s
In the 2000s, Staci Anderson assuming the role of CEO/President. Under her leadership, PRO revamped its programs to have a greater impact, focusing on serving a smaller number of youths from low-opportunity communities for longer periods of time. This strategic change allowed PRO to deepen its impact and foster lasting change. Additionally, People Reaching Out celebrated its 25th anniversary, marking a quarter-century of dedicated service to the community.
2010s
People Reaching Out (PRO) merged with the Relationship Skills Center and was renamed PRO Youth & Families. This merger expanded PRO's reach and services, allowing it to better serve youth and families in the Sacramento region. During this time, PRO launched the Youth & Family Collective, an initiative aimed at providing comprehensive support to the community. They also managed the Fruitridge Community Collaborative Site, collaborating with 22 nonprofit organizations to provide a wide range of services. In 2019, PRO Youth & Families received its first federal grant to implement the Love Notes curriculum in school sites, the building donated by Cal Fed Bank was sold, and the PRO team relocated to the Fruitridge site.
2020s
During the pandemic, the City of Sacramento partnered with PRO's Youth & Family Collective to ensure a more equitable distribution of services to youth in the city's most vulnerable communities. PRO created the Mental Wellness Champions program, later renamed MindOneSix, in response to the significant youth mental health crisis exacerbated by the pandemic. PRO Youth & Families moved to a new office location and experienced significant expansion in both staff and programs, growing from 13 to 35 staff members and increasing its budget from $800,000 to $4 million. One of our key projects was the MindOneSix Mental Wellness Service-Learning Project, developed in partnership with community-based organizations serving youth in the Sacramento City Unified School District, further reinforcing our commitment to mental health and community well-being. We remain dedicated to expanding our impact by inspiring, educating, and mobilizing young people throughout our region, across the state, and eventually nationwide.
