Today we were joined by Aaron Hake, Executive Director of the Riverside County Transportation Commission, who gave us an update on the many projects currently underway in Riverside County.

Our club was moved by Robert Loeun’s talk on Building Pathways to Employment & Empowering Youth. Robert shared his personal story of growing up in Cambodia during the Khmer Rouge era and escaping to America to build a new life. We are grateful for his courage and honesty in sharing it with us.

Robert now channels that journey into helping young people. His program connects youth with the skills, support, and opportunities they need to find meaningful employment and step into their futures with confidence.

Thank you, Robert, for your story and for the work you do to open doors for the next generation.

On September 16, we welcomed actor, producer, and entrepreneur Terayle Hill, who shared the mission of PILOT (Preparing Industry Leaders Of Tomorrow). A Moreno Valley native, Terayle is known for his work on STARZ’s Step Up and the film Judas and the Black Messiah. He now works to help young people build the skills and confidence to lead in their chosen industries.

This week, we were joined by Dr. Tim Gutierrez, Associate Professor of Sociology, who shared his experience teaching incarcerated youth in Riverside County. Most of his students have already earned their High School Diploma or GED and are now working toward their Associate’s Degree.

Despite the challenges of their circumstances, Tim described his students as engaged, curious, and genuinely excited to learn. Many are seizing this opportunity to reshape their futures, and it shows in how actively they participate and how eager they are to dig into the material.

Programs like this remind us of the power of education to open doors, even in the most difficult circumstances.  Tim’s dedication to this work is a big part of what makes it succeed.

We also heard from Nathan Hinckley who is embarking on a project to restore the Tortoise Enclosures at the Living Desert Zoo in Palm Desert.

We were honored to host Todd S. Jenkins, founder of LA Kings Sled Hockey, as our guest speaker. Todd shared the story of how a search for an adaptive sport for his son Nick — born with Spina Bifida — led him and his wife Christie to launch Southern California’s first sled hockey program back in 2013. What started as a small grassroots effort has since become the official Los Angeles Kings Sled Hockey program, giving disabled kids and adults across the region the chance to play competitive, adaptive ice hockey.

Todd talked about the team’s growth, the volunteers and donors who keep it running, and the powerful impact the sport has had on athletes’ confidence, community, and quality of life — including their first championship win.

Thank you, Todd, for sharing your story and the incredible work you’re doing! To learn more or support the team, visit lakingssledhockey.com.

We also had the chance to welcome back Albert Carillo.  Albert was previously a member of Riverside East Rotary and recently re-joined.  We’re excited to have him aboard!