Deskside Chat with the Board: Ariff Sidi

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We had the privilege of sitting down with one of our newest Board members, Ariff Sidi, former GM & Chief Product Officer at Edgecast, a division of Verizon Media. During our conversation, Sidi shared some of his major career accomplishments and his convictions as a father and how these experiences led him to join the Board at Children’s Institute.

Ariff, you’ve had quite an impressive career – from engineering to product management to media and tech! Could you walk us through your professional journey, highlighting some of your achievements?

I started off in software engineering at Qualcomm, having graduated from the University of California, San Diego. In the beginning, my work was hands-on, writing code. While it was intellectually challenging, it was also a bit removed from the consumer experience, and I wanted to create products that touched people’s lives more directly. That led me to Disney, where I began migrating from engineering to product management.

During my 12-year tenure at Disney, I built a variety of products and technology that people were using and enjoying daily, which I loved. I also played a central role in the development of ABC’s industry-first video streaming platform, which my team built in only 62 days, and kicked off an entire industry transformation that is still ongoing today! In the process, I filed 10 patents, won an Emmy award and two additional Emmy nominations. I also earned an MBA from UCLA during this time.

After my time at Disney, FOX and a couple of start-ups, I went on to become the Chief Product Officer at a division of Verizon During my time at Verizon, I led the business through two private equity transactions, after which I decided to take some time out to spend with my family.

 Wow, what an incredible impact you’ve made across multiple industries! It must’ve been a rollercoaster of an adventure to be part of an unprecedented transition from traditional media to streaming, and congrats to you!

Can you share about what motivated you to join Children’s Institute’s Board of Trustees?

Ultimately, being a father of two young kids in the same age range as Children’s Institute’s children is what motivated me to join and why Children’s Institute’s mission and work resonates with me personally.  I recognize that a stable and healthy childhood makes a huge difference in launching young people into successful and happy adults. If I were to think of my own kids in anything but the best conditions – not being cared for, not having access to education, feeling unsafe, not having the opportunities they currently have, not having their dad around, etc. – it’s heartbreaking.

Knowing that not all children are afforded these opportunities, and that Children’s Institute is pushing hard to change that is the source of my motivation to get involved. I’m hoping that I can use my skills as a technologist, business leader, and dad to support Children’s Institute and the great work it does.

That’s wonderful to hear and thank you for your incredibly big heart and desire to help the children of Los Angeles, particularly those who are consistently marginalized and underserved. Children’s Institute’s North Star states that all children and families can achieve educational success and emotional wellbeing to build lasting pathways to lifelong health and economic mobility. Can you share what specifically connects you to Children’s Institute’s North Star?

I want to start off by sharing a quote by Martin Luther King Jr, from his book, “Why We Can’t Wait.”

It is obvious that if a man is entered at the starting line of a race 300 years after another man, the first would have to perform some impossible feat in order to catch up.

While this quote is specifically about racial inequality and reflects the challenges that many African Americans face today, I think it is has quite a lot of relevance to the work of Children’s Institute. It is difficult to compete if your starting line is so far behind your peers. That’s why the work of Children’s Institute and its work in early childhood education and head start programs is so important. How one starts their lives impacts their future and their early years in childhood carry forward into adulthood. I believe in a fair playing field, for kids most of all.

Let’s give these kids a better start to ensure better outcomes in the future.

What a powerful motivator. It’s true that to make a lasting impact, it often starts with the early stages of childhood. That relates to a statement that was recently made by a fellow Board member, Sunil Gunderia, who said, “The most effective and efficient societal investments in education are those made in early childhood education.”

Now that you are a member of Children’s Institute’s Board, what is something you would like to accomplish in your work and advocacy through Children’s Institute?

There are three parts to what I’d like to accomplish as a Board member of Children’s Institute:

First, in an early meeting with Martine Singer and Catherine Atack, before I became a member of the Board, they had mentioned that Children’s Institute has been around for over a hundred years – since 1906, which is about the time LA Children’s Hospital was established. But a major difference is the level of public awareness between the two. I would like to help build awareness for Children’s Institute and its work through my efforts and connections.

Second, because of my background in tech, I hope to be helpful in guiding the use of technology to drive and improve efficiencies to contribute to better outcomes internally.

And third, also related to technology, but more specifically as it relates to its externally facing products. I hope to be helpful in guiding the use of technology to improve products and services delivered to CII’s children and families.

That’s wonderful! We’re so excited to have you onboard! On a personal level, can you share some of your hobbies?

I have a bunch of hobbies, most of which lean pretty technical. I enjoy photography; I also enjoy sailing and powerboating; I’ve always been big into cars and had an amateur racing license at one point; I do a lot of DIY from electrical to plumbing to carpentry to metal work; I do some content creation; and I’m building an AI home automation system. I’m probably forgetting something. One day I will get a private pilot license, but my wife has forbidden me to do that while we have young kids!

Are there any other interesting facts about yourself?

I mentioned I had several patents from my time at Disney. There’s a high likelihood, probably a certainty, that you have come across and experienced one of my patents if you’ve ever watched a streamed video with ads in it. If you’ve noticed the countdown timer during an ad or how you can’t skip the ads, you’ve come into contact with one of my patents!

Thank you so much for your time, Ariff. It was a pleasure getting to know you and your desire to make a positive impact on the lives of children. Welcome to Children’s Institute!

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Vaccines: What You Need To Know

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As we ease back into the school year, we want to recognize that August is National Immunization Month. In addition to staying up to date on your child’s regular vaccines, we encourage you to consider the COVID-19 vaccine for you child. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and pediatricians at Cedars-Sinai put together an article to answer a few common questions when considering if your toddler or preschooler should get vaccinated. Here are a few things you should know.

How old does my child need to be to get the COVID-19 vaccine?
The FDA has approved for children 6 months to 4 years old to receive the vaccine. In California, you can schedule vaccines through MyTurn.ca.gov.

Is it safe for my child to get the vaccine?
It is completely safe for your child to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Healthy children should especially follow local protocol for receiving vaccines and wearing masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19 to other, more vulnerable children. Cedars-Sinai writes, “It’s understandable that some people have reservations about the vaccine, but it’s important to remember that the COVID-19 vaccines currently available have been through rigorous safety testing and were required to meet the same standards as other vaccines—such as chickenpox and polio—that have been given to children for many years and are known to be safe and effective.”

Which vaccine is “better”?
The safest vaccine to get is whichever is available to you first. Both the Moderna and Pfizer “are safe and effective.” However, Dr. Priya Soni, Assistant Professor of Pediatric Disease at Cedars-Sinai Guerin does “urge parents to consider timing and availability as they make their decision.” Moderna requires two stronger doses while Pfizer is given at lower doses across three injections.

Will this harm my child later in life?
There are no known long-lasting side effects from the COVID-19 vaccine. Dr. Soni reports that “there are no long-term health effects of these vaccines other than they will protect your child from contracting and developing potentially devastating complications from this virus.” While you or your child may encounter mild symptoms from the vaccine, this is normal and not anything to be concerned about.

In the coming weeks, we will be partnering with Cedars-Sinai to host free vaccine clinics around Los Angeles county. We will be sure to share the dates and times of these clinics so that you and your family can prepare to go back to school safely. Check you email and our social media for updates and information.

Los mejores momentos de 2018 del Instituto de la Infancia

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Este mes, nos tomamos un momento para hacer una pausa y repasar algunos de los momentos más destacados del Children's Institute durante el año pasado. En 2018, adoptamos un ambicioso plan estratégico que duplicará el número de niños y familias a los que atendemos en los próximos 10 años. Como parte de este plan estratégico, el año pasado nos dedicamos a ampliar los servicios centrados en apoyar a los niños y las familias que se enfrentan a situaciones adversas en Los Ángeles. Esto incluyó el lanzamiento de una nueva iniciativa en Watts para apoyar a los niños y las familias expuestos a la violencia armada. También buscamos formas de ofrecer nuevas experiencias a los niños de nuestros programas, como asistir a una obra de teatro, acampar o montar su primera bicicleta.

Al igual que en años anteriores, nuestros éxitos en 2018 se vieron impulsados por el firme apoyo de nuestra gran comunidad de Los Ángeles. Los eventos contaron con el apoyo, la asistencia y la organización de voluntarios increíbles, y los amigos y empresas locales de CII donaron artículos en especie. Los donantes que financian los servicios esenciales de CII continuaron apoyando a nuestra organización con un número récord de donaciones. Terminamos el año con muy buenos resultados, recaudando casi un millón de dólares en nuestra gala inaugural Cape & Gown, celebrada el 14 de noviembre, en la que homenajeamos a los defensores de los niños Beth y Bob Lowe, junto con Frank, Berta y Sam Gehry.

Ya hemos comenzado a trabajar para lograr un impacto aún mayor en 2019, y le mantendremos informado a lo largo del proceso.

Suministrado para el éxito

Celebramos a nuestros graduados de Head Start de cuatro años con un evento de regreso a clases para garantizar una transición exitosa al jardín de infantes. Los niños recibieron mochilas llenas de útiles escolares proporcionados por Age of Learning.

«Siempre ha sido nuestro objetivo preparar a nuestros niños y sus familias para la escuela. La donación de mochilas garantiza que nuestros niños que comienzan el jardín de infancia tengan todo lo necesario», afirma Justine Lawrence, vicepresidenta de Head Start, CII.

El poder curativo de las artes

Los jóvenes de nuestroPrograma Individualizado de Habilidades de Transición y del Complejo Educativo Santee disfrutaron de una representación de «Emergency»,de Daniel Beaty, en el Centro Wallis Annenberg para las Artes Escénicas. El espectáculo unipersonal combinó poesía, música y humor, mientras Beaty interpretaba a una serie de personajes que se enfrentaban a los efectos del trauma.Más informaciónsobre el evento.

Apoyo a los niños expuestos a la violencia armada

Hemos puesto en marcha una nueva iniciativa en colaboración con la Fiscalía de la ciudad de Los Ángeles y el Departamento de Policía de Los Ángeles para ayudar a los niños de Watts que han estado expuestos a la violencia armada. El equipo REACH garantiza que los niños y las familias de Watts reciban servicios de intervención y apoyo adecuados y oportunos en situaciones de crisis a través del Children's Institute y otras organizaciones colaboradoras. Más información sobre la colaboración.

Engranajes para niños

Nuestro evento anual Gears for Kids se desarrolló sin contratiempos gracias a nuestros socios deHaworth. Socios de 24 importantes empresas de diseño construyeron bicicletas con los niños de nuestro programa extraescolar Power-Up. Al final del día, cada niño se llevó su bicicleta a casa.In-N-Out Burgerenvió un camión de comida para que nuestros niños y voluntarios mantuvieran la energía.

Campistas felices

Celebramos nuestro octavo retiro anual Camp Booth enBooth Ranches, en Fresno, donde los niños pudieron disfrutar de la naturaleza y forjar lazos de amistad. Los jóvenes pudieron ver una película bajo las estrellas, interactuar con caballos y preparar s'mores. Camp Booth fue organizado por Loren Booth, antiguo miembro de la junta directiva y colaborador desde hace mucho tiempo.

El Día de las Profesiones de UCLA abre nuevos horizontes para los jóvenes

Los jóvenes de nuestro programa extraescolar Power Up se unieron a nosotros para celebrar nuestro primer Día de la Universidad y las Carreras Profesionales. El evento fue organizado por la Asociación de Antiguos Alumnos Latinos de la UCLA. Los niños crearon currículos y determinaron las habilidades que necesitarán para hacer realidad los trabajos de sus sueños. Los estudiantes y antiguos alumnos de la UCLA también hablaron con los niños sobre sus trayectorias universitarias y profesionales únicas.

La gala Cape & Gown recauda 1,3 millones de dólares para servicios sociales

El Children's Institute recibió a 400 invitados en el Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows de Santa Mónica para homenajear a Beth y Bob Lowe y a Frank, Berta y Sam Gehry en la primera gala Cape & Gown. El evento recaudó cerca de un millón de dólares para los programas del Children's Institute. Más información sobre este exitoso evento.

Early Head Start se expande a Compton

CII inauguró su primer programa Early Head Start en Compton. El programa, que atiende a 140 bebés y niños pequeños, ofrece servicios fundamentales para preparar a los niños para el éxito futuro. Para celebrar la gran inauguración, CII invitó a los niños, las familias y los miembros de la comunidad a un evento con comida y música.

Una nueva casa en Long Beach

Al día siguiente de celebrar la inauguración del nuevo Compton Early Head Start, CII se dirigió más al sur para celebrar la gran inauguración de nuestro centro de Long Beach. El galardonado centro, de 1858 metros cuadrados, fue diseñado por DSH // architecture.

El Festival Familiar de Invierno difunde el espíritu festivo

En diciembre, celebramos nuestro Festival Familiar de Invierno anual. El evento abrió las puertas de nuestro campus Otis Booth a más de 2500 niños y familias. La jornada incluyó momentos especiales para los niños, como cuentacuentos, manualidades y decoración de magdalenas. También hubo una carrera de obstáculos y muchos obsequios para los niños y las familias que participan en los programas del CII.

Trabajar en equipo

Más de 30 miembros del personal del CII terminaron el año completando la rigurosacarrera Spartan Race. Con varias impresionantes muestras de trabajo en equipo, el grupo superó sus límites al escalar barreras y balancearse en circuitos de cuerdas para terminar como un equipo. Quienes compiten en las carreras Spartan demuestran camaradería hacia los demás participantes, aceptan el desafío de lo desconocido y se proponen demostrar que pueden lograr cosas difíciles. Misión cumplida.

¿Quieres saber más sobre CII?

Lea nuestro Informe Anual yel Informe de Impacto de 2018.

Marque la diferencia en las vidas de los niños y las familias expuestos a la adversidad y la pobreza haciendo una donación de fin de año en estas fiestas.

 

For One Employee, the Holidays are a Full-Time Job

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Having served as the President & CEO’s Executive Assistant for seven years, leading holiday decorating at Children’s Institute was not originally in Josh Pleiness’ job description. When a contractor fell through for decorating the Otis Booth Campus five years ago, Josh jumped at the opportunity.

It doesn’t take much time talking to Josh to realize he loves the holidays. He puts up three different trees at home and has so many decorations personally, he needs a separate storage unit. This December, he wrapped up another year decorating the Otis Booth Campus as well as the Long Beach, Watts, Burton Green and Mid-Wilshire campuses.

“There’s always something going on in my head,” he said. “I do thoroughly enjoy holiday decorating, but everything I do stresses me out sometimes.”

Josh described both of his parents as creative and being the original inspiration for his enthusiasm for the holidays. He fondly remembers his family bonding over putting ornaments on trees and stringing garland.

Growing up with one parent in the military, he got to experience how different regions celebrated. He spent time in Florida, Germany, Michigan and Alaska. When he got his degree in interior design and interior decoration from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, he saw an opportunity to apply those skills to holiday decorating.

“It is all about families being together and spending time together.”

At CII, Josh sees an extra level of importance in his work. The decorations are a chance for the children and families served at CII to feel togetherness during the holidays. For many, past Decembers may have been a difficult or even traumatic time. Josh’s work helps provide a backdrop for happier memories and experiences.

“It is all about families being together and spending time together,” he said.

Josh remembers one year when a boy around the age of six had just come out of a therapy room. He was in a program that works with school-aged children, and clearly upset about something. He had just been crying. Josh invited him over to help him put the ornaments on the tree. Josh said he joined him in decorating for quite some time and the boy was eventually laughing at the end of it.

Experiences like these motivate Josh to go above and beyond simply pulling decorations out of storage and putting them up. Last year, he built a giant dreidel from scratch. A previous year he noticed the paint chipping off the ornaments so he carefully hand painted them to stay within budget and ensure everything looked perfect.

Knowing that the end of the year can be a stressful month for many staff, Josh sees the decoration as an opportunity to bring happiness to staff who may be feeling stretched. He said staff will often approach him and say how much they appreciate the decorations. It is something many look forward to during this time of year.

While Josh’s dream would be to one day design and decorate the holiday celebration at the White House, he is happy knowing how many people appreciate his work at CII. Josh jokingly said the only downside to all of his work is that it eventually must come down.

“If it were up to me, I’d leave it up all year,” he said.