First published in the Jan. 26 print issue of the Pasadena Outlook.
Pasadena resident Marcie Gilbert was recognized by the Los Angeles Rams as a “pLAymaker” honoree prior to a recent Rams game at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood.
Gilbert is the executive director of Calibrate, which has reached more than 1,000 youths at 15 L.A. County locations.
Calibrate “transforms and elevates the lives of tomorrow’s leaders from underserved communities,” according to the organization’s website. The students can “experience their best selves, feel valued for the potential they bring to the world, and prepare to reinvest their time and talents back into society.”
The majority of which are in Watts and South L.A. One of the programs is Partnership for Success Pasadena, where robust programming has been developed for youth, teen mentors and parents.
The Rams “are dedicated to becoming the greatest community partner in Los Angeles and highlighting leaders that are advocating for justice, addressing disparities and inspiring change,” the team said in a statement. “In honor of this commitment and in memory of Kenny Washington (No. 13), the Rams [will] recognize 13 Angelenos annually who are committed to moving our city forward. Continuing the legacy of groundbreakers like Kenny and Woody Strode, each “pLAymaker” is defined by core values those men exemplified, including perseverance in the face of adversity, dedication to their goals and the Los Angeles community, fortitude through breaking barriers and inspiring others around them to make a difference.”
Gilbert, an educational therapist, has been actively involved in various aspects of education since 1994, when she was also trained as a facilitator for Connections — the name of her nonprofit’s social-emotional learning program.
In addition to coaching children with learning disabilities, she has also served as a college guidance adviser, classroom teacher, school administrator and researcher. Her master’s thesis, “Hear My Heart: Listening Circles Provide Protective Factors for Underserved Teens,” provides an in-depth examination of Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and how to shape successful schools in underserved communities.
As a wonderful added bonus, each of the Rams’ “pLAymakers” honorees received $5,000 for their nonprofit organization and also a cruise to anywhere in the world they choose.
Gilbert, who received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Stanford University and a master’s degree from California State University, Northridge, said to the Rams organization: “The money helps us meet the demand for mental health services, for sure, but it’s the honor and the recognition by this organization. Because I have to say, I’ve done my homework into seeing what our resources are here in Los Angeles, and the Rams really are about the community.
“I see it in the work you do, the relationships you build,” Gilbert added. “We call you guys in my household our ‘Ramily,’ so it is an amazing honor to be part of the ‘Ramily’ because it feels like a reflection back of our own value and integrity because that’s what we see in you.”
