atascaderodemocraticclub.org@gmail.com
Building Community and Moving Forward
Our meetings are usually every 4th Thursday at 6:30 pm, upstairs at Atascadero Library. (Subject to change.)
Guest Speakers 2025
May 22
The Atascadero Democratic Club (ADC) is pleased to announce that Wendy Lewis will be its speaker for its monthly meeting on Thursday, May 22. The ADC meets at 6:30 PM in the Martin Polin Room, on the second floor of the Atascadero Public Library.
Wendy Lewis has served as CEO of El Camino Homeless Organization (ECHO) since 2018, leading the nonprofit through transformative growth. Under her leadership, ECHO expanded from a 40-bed facility to two campuses in 2020 offering 130 beds and comprehensive support services for those experiencing homelessness. Wendy previously spent a decade as Chief Operating Officer of the Food Bank Coalition of San Luis Obispo County. Her career reflects a deep commitment to addressing homelessness and food insecurity on the Central Coast.
Founded in 2001, ECHO has been empowering homeless people in San Luis Obispo (SLO) County to make positive change by providing food, shelter, and supportive services to restore individuals, couples, and families to a life of dignity in community.
Operating facilities in Atascadero and Paso Robles, ECHO has provided meals and a safe and secure overnight shelter to meet the immediate needs of people in our community who are facing hunger and homelessness. Upon being admitted to ECHO as residents, people are provided individual case management services to assist them in securing employment and finding permanent and sustainable housing. While living at ECHO, residents are taught life skills for employment, financial literacy, health care management and parenting.
Ms. Lewis credits ECHO’s effectiveness to the support of 1,500 community volunteers who contribute to the shelter’s programs. ECHO’s volunteers prepare and serve up to 150 dinners each night to shelter residents and people in need of a healthy meal. Among these charity workers are many members of the ADC.