Director Lenila Batali told Rotarians about her amazing program!
D’Vine Path’s Executive Director Lenila Batali talked about her original plan to continue her career as an architect. Her daughter Tiana was diagnosed with Autism thirty years ago and changed Director Batali’s plans in the best way.
It all started with an workability program for neurodiverse adults with farming and agriculture classes. Director Batali learned how much she loved training autistic children! She continued teaching viticulture, hospitality and wine-making. Those first classes in 2019 occurred on her patio with students aged 20 through 23. Five students obtained full-time jobs!
A 2020 fundraiser resulted in large donations. D’Vine Path continued to grow with the purchase of the Manor located in Olive Hills and a larger teaching staff in 2022. The Manor has an amazing rotunda, and rooms that can house classes in agriculture and hospitality, In the large master bedroom, there are art classes with students’ art arranged on the walls The eight acres contains a vineyard for wine making, gardening storage, a pen for two beloved donkeys and several storage tents. A beautiful stream runs along the property - a beautiful site with the recent rains.
Director Lenila Batali talked about the classes held at D'Vine Path.
Manor improvements continue to support more training programs! The kitchen is almost done and prepped for the culinary education. With the flooring in, the granite countertops are coming in soon. This means the focus changes to moving classes out of the garage, so it can be updated with funds from our Rotary District Grant. Our club has partnered with the Rancho Santa Fe Rotary on a grant to provide floral display cases, display stands, risers and other supplies to create D’Vine Petal where students will eventually create and sell floral arrangements from the renovated garage. D'Vine Petal will be both classroom and a floral shop training.
D’Vine Path’s newest student said that joining D’Vine path was the best day in his life because he found his people. Find out more about D’Vine path on their website. Since the video did not play well on the laptop, you can click on Our Story - D'Vine Path to enjoy it.
Get your tickets on their website now! Enjoy D'Vine Path's 2024 Talent Show "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" on Saturday, March 23rd.