When students at Rancho Cielo sat down to design their own peer-to-peer survey questions, they didn’t ask about academic stress or college applications. Instead, they asked about safety and conflict […]
News
Nico Hernandez and the Discipline of Becoming a Chef
There is a moment—he will tell you this himself, though not in so many words—when everything rearranges. It happens not in the kitchen, not exactly, but somewhere between the work […]
Under bright lights, futures take shape
On Sunday, February 22, Rancho Cielo hosted its 16th annual Culinary Round Up (CRU) at the Portola Hotel & Spa. The ballroom filled the way it always does, slowly at […]
After School Program builds pathways to possibility
Terry Poole has played in the NFL. He knows the roar of a crowd, the pressure of the huddle, the grind it takes to compete at the highest level. But […]
Trunk or Treat, Día de los Muertos and more
Even the mini horses — yes, the mini horses (Puzzle the Pirate and Georgina the Magical Princess Pony) from our community partner Hope, Horses & Kids — stopped by Rancho […]
Rancho Cielo marks 25 years of changing lives in Monterey County
After about an hour of steady drizzling, the late-afternoon sun broke through the clouds, and the Sally Hughes Church Amphitheater came alive with music and heartfelt sentiments as Rancho Cielo […]
Ranch Cast
A Heartfelt Thank You
Episode 33: Business person Doug Whitman joins our Joe DeRuosi and Terry Poole, along with student cohost Reuben, to talk about why donating to the After School Program was so […]
Making A Difference
Episode 32: Fascinating program discussing how to end the “School to Prison Pipeline” along with working with students and their families to address learning issues. Joining us is the Executive […]
A Healthy Start
Episode 31: This week we talk mental health with Rancho Cielo Case Manager Jessica Montero and Harmony at Home’s Vikki Avila and Robert Martinez. Our student co-hosts Reuben and Jose share […]
Everything Old Is New Again
Episode 30: We’re talking cars this week with some of the folks who teach our students so well. Rancho Cielo instructors Marcus Evans and Ty Brooks join Communications Officer Adam Joseph […]
A Yurt, A Talking Pig and Hope
Episode 29: An interesting and fun program featuring the folks from Hope, Horses & Kids. Lori Tuttle and Christy Petit join our student cohosts, along with Tiffany Harbrecht, for a […]
Treatment, Recovery, Hope
Episode 28: An important program this week as my student cohosts Ruben and Javier, along with Adam Joseph and me, welcome Keala Hudgins from Salinas Valley Health for a […]
Featured Newsletter
2026 Spring Newsletter
Our 16th annual Culinary Round Up (CRU) fundraiser—the Peninsula’s premier food and wine event of the year—once again exceeded the previous year’s attendance, size and funds raised. It was our largest yet, made even more special by the expanded live auction space at the Monterey Conference Center, graciously provided by the City of Monterey. Events like Culinary Round Up don’t succeed through momentum alone. They flourish because of the people involved. I want to sincerely thank the Portola Hotel & Spa; our generous sponsors, attendees and donors; our dedicated volunteers; the talented chefs, restaurants and wineries; our event committee; Rancho Cielo staff; and, most importantly, our culinary students. Each of you helps make this event meaningful and memorable.
