Waymakers

A nonprofit building safer communities by helping people move beyond crisis.

From supporting youth and families to empowering survivors of violence, Waymakers clears the path toward stability and strength.

02/17/2026

🤝 Become a Certified Mediator with Waymakers⁣
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Interested in learning how to resolve conflicts and help your community? Waymakers’ Dispute Resolution Services is hosting a 25-hour hybrid mediation training this April.⁣
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This course is designed for anyone looking to gain professional skills in communication, neutral problem-solving, and conflict management.⁣
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📅 Spring 2026 Schedule⁣
Dates: April 7 – April 16, 2026⁣
• Tuesdays & Thursdays: 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM (In-person)⁣
• Wednesdays: 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM (Online via Zoom)⁣
• Saturday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM⁣
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Price: $375 ⁣
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💡 What You Will Learn⁣
This program exceeds California’s DRPA requirements and covers:⁣
• Effective listening and communication skills.⁣
• How to handle strong emotions and “difficult” situations.⁣
• Techniques for breaking deadlocks and reaching agreements.⁣
• The ethics of neutral mediation.⁣
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🌿 Volunteer & Mentorship⁣
Looking for experience? Waymakers welcomes volunteer applicants. If you complete 75 volunteer hours within six months of approval, you may be eligible for a $200 partial refund of your training fee.⁣
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How to Register⁣
For more information or to sign up, please contact Program Supervisor Roxane Wilde at (949) 250-4058.

02/12/2026

💻 Tech That Saves Lives: A Waymakers Update⁣
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We are overwhelmed with gratitude! A huge thank you to HR Givers for connecting Waymakers with 6 brand-new laptops this holiday season. 🎁⁣
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Our Domestic Violence Assistance Program works tirelessly to break the cycle of violence. For a victim in crisis, the path to safety is often paved with daunting paperwork. Did you know a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) application can be 41 to 50+ pages long?⁣
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Why This Gift Matters:⁣
• Speed is Safety: Our advocates assist 12–15 clients a daily. Processing these applications digitally means less time wrestling with slow software and more time focusing on the person in front of us.⁣
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• Reliability: When a life is on the line, “saving” and “printing” shouldn’t be a gamble. These laptops ensure crucial legal protections are filed without technical delays.⁣
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• Broad Impact: Beyond intimate partner violence, these tools help us support victims of elder abuse, dependent adult abuse, and ⁣
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Every survivor deserves a streamlined path to protection. To HR Givers: thank you for seeing our need and helping us provide services with more ease and less worry.

02/11/2026

Raise a glass for a great cause in Huntington Beach! 🍷 🌊

Looking for an evening that pairs premium pours with a powerful purpose? The 15th Annual Love Grows by Giving wine tasting event is back!

Join Waymakers at the iconic Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach for a night dedicated to community and compassion. Every sip you take helps provide safety and hope for the residents of the Huntington Beach Youth Shelter.

What’s on the menu?
• 🍷 Delightful Wines: Explore a curated selection of favorites.
• 🧀 Tasty Bites: Samples from your favorite local spots.
• 🌊 Stunning Venue: Enjoy the coastal vibes of the Huntington Beach Hyatt.
• ❤️ Real Impact: Support local youth in need while enjoying a vibrant night out.

Let’s come together to sip, savor, and make a lasting difference in our community. Cheers to 15 years of giving! 🥂

🎟️ Grab your tickets today: [Link in Bio/Comments] or scan the QR code!

02/10/2026

Take a look at these incredible works of art created by our Guidance Center clients 🎨

Every Tuesday Sam from teaches a class and this week he had his assistant Rebecca do help.

The Waymakers Guidance Center serves youth navigating the juvenile justice system, mental health challenges, truancy, and substance use—offering a safe, supportive space to heal, grow, and build life skills. Art is just one of the many classes and ther**eutic opportunities available to our clients.

Inside the Guidance Center, youth are welcomed into a warm, non-clinical environment that includes:
🎨 A music and art room for creative expression and therapy
💻 A computer lab for schoolwork and job searches
🧘 A sensory-focused therapy room
🎮 A gaming lounge and recreational areas to workout or play 🏀
👥 A large training room for group sessions
🌱 Independent living skills resources
🤝 On-site community partners providing wraparound support

Safe spaces like this are essential. For youth ages 12–26, the Guidance Center is a place to do laundry, study, search for a job, enjoy a meal, find clothing, learn skills like cooking, or simply have a quiet place to decompress.

The Waymakers Guidance Center is more than a building—it’s a place where connection, healing, and hope come together. 💙

02/05/2026

Join us for Chari-TEA. ✨ ⁣
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Join us for a beautiful Afternoon Tea fundraiser in Orange County, where every sip supports children and families healing from trauma, human trafficking, sexual assault, and community violence.⁣
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What to Expect:⁣
🫖 Premium tea service⁣
🥂 Champagne toast⁣
🥪 Delicate finger sandwiches & fresh scones⁣
🍰 Decadent desserts⁣
🎻 String Trio
🎁 Exclusive luxury opportunity drawing⁣
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📅 Saturday, March 28, 2026⁣
⏰ 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM⁣
📍 Spring Tea Gardens at the historic Spring Field Banquet Center, Fullerton⁣
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💙 Sponsorship opportunities available⁣
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✨ Seats are limited—this event will sell out!⁣
👉 Purchase tickets www.waymakersoc.org⁣
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📞 Questions? Contact Heather Stoerck at 949-250-0488 ext. 276⁣
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Sip. Savor. Support. Make an impact—one cup at a time.⁣

02/03/2026

As Human Trafficking Prevention Month comes to a close, we reflect with gratitude, purpose, and a renewed commitment to work that continues far beyond January.

Our final awareness event, OCHTTF’s 4th annual Know More, Do Better 4.0, brought together students, educators, advocates, and community partners to learn the realities of human trafficking and take action to prevent it. This year, the conference reached 760 middle school students across Orange County, expanding into South Orange County for the first time through a partnership with Saddleback College, alongside our long-standing event at Vanguard University.

What began as a one-time initiative has grown into a countywide effort rooted in collaboration and prevention through education. The heart of this year’s conference centered on one word: Power.

Survivor advocate Martha Trujillo of reminded students that their worth exists right now, before labels, judgments, or expectations. Her message also challenged adults to ask “what happened?” instead of labeling youth as “bad” or “troubled.” Students learned that trafficking doesn’t always look like what’s portrayed in movies; it often begins with attention, connection, or secrecy. When confusion takes hold, power is lost, education restores it.

Students were engaged, present, and listening. They learned how to recognize exploitation, trust their instincts, and ask for help, understanding that seeking support is not failure, but survival.

Human trafficking impacts entire communities. Prevention starts with awareness, grows through education, and is sustained by collective action. While January may be over, this work continues every day.

At Waymakers, we remain committed to prevention education, survivor support, and community collaboration. If you’re interested in getting involved, we invite you to join us in building safer, more informed communities.

Thank you to everyone who showed up, spoke up, and committed to doing better, together, we are helping young people recognize their value, their voice, and their power.

01/30/2026

Waymakers, alongside our partners in the Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force , was honored to receive a proclamation from the Orange County Board of Supervisors. This formal recognition designates January 2026 as National Human Trafficking and Modern-Day Slavery Prevention Month. ⁣
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As a dedicated collaborative partnership, the OCHTTF remains committed to protecting victims, supporting survivors, holding traffickers accountable, and educating our community on the realities of human trafficking.

01/28/2026

Change isn’t just a concept, it’s built by those who see what’s possible 💙

Our 2025 Impact Report is officially here, and while the numbers show our scale, the stories show our heart.

In the last year, we’ve seen incredible growth across Orange County:
⚖️ $2,149,472 in financial restitution secured for victims.
🏠 1,241 youth and family members sheltered in times of crisis.
🌱 13,699 counseling hours provided to help families heal.

But behind every data point is a person like Abby, who finally found a safe place to call home; Joshua, who gained the tools to be the father his family deserves; and Jessica, who turned a moment of crisis into a journey toward her college degree.

We believe that with the right tools and compassionate guidance, anyone can move from crisis to confidence. Swipe to see the impact you helped us make this year.

Together, we are Waymakers.

01/22/2026

A Message of Gratitude 💙
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We have officially begun the Winter 2026 Sexual Assault Crisis Intervention Training, and as we look over the 48-hour curriculum, we are struck by the profound importance of this journey. This training represents more than just a schedule of classes—it is a vital commitment to the survivors in our community.⁣
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To our speakers and trainers: Thank you for sharing your deep expertise. From legal systems and forensic exams to the nuances of supporting LGBTQ, elder, and teen survivors, you are providing our volunteers with the essential tools they need. Your guidance ensures that when a survivor reaches out, they are met with competence, empathy, and clarity.⁣
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To the survivors who join us: We are especially grateful for your bravery. By sharing your lived experiences, you transform abstract concepts into human reality. You teach our volunteers how to listen with their hearts and remind us all why this work matters. You are the most powerful teachers we have.⁣
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The Road Ahead for Our Volunteers⁣
This intensive training prepares our volunteers for two of the most critical roles at Waymakers:⁣
• The 24-Hour Sexual Assault Hotline: Providing an immediate, calm voice in a survivor’s moment of greatest need.⁣
• Hospital Accompaniment: Standing by a survivor’s side during a forensic exam (r**e kit) to offer unwavering support and resources.⁣
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A Special Full-Circle Moment⁣
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We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to Dr. Nicole Sabatini Gutierrez, LMFT, who recently led a vital session on Crisis Intervention.⁣
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Dr. Gutierrez’s journey with Waymakers is a testament to the power of this program: she began her career right here as an undergraduate intern and then SAVS volunteer.⁣
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This work is difficult, but because of your dedication, our volunteers will not go into the field alone. ⁣
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If you missed out on this volunteer training we will have one again in the summer, so keep a lookout.⁣
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Address

440 Exchange, Suite 250
Irvine, CA
92602

Website

http://waymakersoc.org/

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Our Story

In 1972, a University of California, Irvine professor, a few of his students and a Costa Mesa Police Department captain were among a small, dedicated group who recognized the need to provide diversion counseling for delinquent youth and their families. Their efforts created what would become the nonprofit Community Service Programs. Over its 45-year growth, CSP evolved to serve youth, adults and families living in Orange County involved or at-risk of involvement with the justice system by designing and implementing some of the most respected prevention and intervention programs in Southern California. Although the sheer size and scope of CSP’s growth eclipsed its humble beginnings and grew to include sheltering children, supporting victims, resolving conflicts and educating communities, the people of CSP never lost sight of the importance of counseling youth and families. Their vision always focused on helping people make their way, and in 2017, CSP adopted a name fitting its purpose, promise and potential: Waymakers.