I am updating this as with our current cultural climate with COVID-19 is an ever changing structure within our communities. It will be announced very soon that Santa Cruz City Schools will be fill my online/distance learning at the very least, through the fall. Because of this ever changing situation, Malika has chosen to help working families that will be negatively affected by the lack of in person instruction and thusly, care for children while parents are intended to be working their jobs. We are now seeking financial help to assist Malika with providing day time instruction and care for our children. This will help our community members retain their employment positions and ensure parents ability to pay their rent, bills, and other daily needs. While also allowing safety procedures to be adhered to, do our children can still learn curriculum. We realize that times are hard for so many families, which is the main purpose of this fundraiser. We would like to assist as many families as possible during these trying times. Many families are financially unable to afford care and instruction for their children while also holding jobs. We would like this fundraiser to assist those families during this time. Please share and give what you are able. No amount is too small, and no share goes unseen. The Santa Cruz Learning Center was started in 2009 by Malika Bell and is co-owned with her wonderful husband Nate. Both born, raised and educated right here in Santa Cruz. Malika has continued to spread her love for Science and Stem with her students. Malika does not turn a family away for summer camp or homeschool support because of lack of ability to pay. She actively runs a sliding scale Summer camp and has had to continue paying rent at her spacious downtown location, despite lack of income because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Although they were able to continue with distance homeschool help, they were not able to continue the tutoring portion of the business. I am attempting to raise funds to help support Malika and her husband as in the past they fully supported myself and my daughter, when I was struggling financially. Without their generous care for my daughter. Surely, I would have lost my job and been in a horrible position. Please give what you can to help this sliding scale support to so many in our area. Let’s show Malika how much we appreciate what she gives to our community. Below is a concise blurb about our sweet Malika: Malika teaches Math, Science, and SAT/ACT Prep at the SC Learning Center and is an academic advocate. She tutors in math, and science and works with students (of all ages) on organization and educational planning. Until recently, she worked concurrently at UC Santa Cruz as the Director of STEM Diversity Programs. Malika was a re-entry​ college student (six years after graduating from Santa Cruz High in 1992) and transferred from Cabrillo College to UC Santa Cruz where she received her Bachelor's and and Master's degrees​ in Chemistry. Her research was in marine natural products as well as bioinorganic chemistry involving the photochemistry of nitric oxide. Prior to starting college, Malika trained at the Santa Cruz Women's Health Center to be a phlebotomist and a clinical laboratory assistant. She worked at Unilab, Santa Cruz Medical Clinic and performed home visits to do medical exams for life insurance applicants. Malika has been teaching and tutoring for around two decades and was raised by a local homeschooling consultant teacher for AFE (Patty Palazzo). During her time off, Malika enjoys spending time with her family in her hometown of Santa Cruz and on Lake Nacimiento. She has a fantastic husband (co-owner, Nate Bell) and two exuberant daughters (Leilani, 14 and Ruby, 9) who keep her busy traveling around the US for cheer competitions.