Our Programs: Inclusion in Action
At Ryan’s Mission, our programs turn inclusion into action. From meaningful employment to our welcoming community garden, every initiative is designed to bring people of all abilities together through purposeful work and shared experiences. Whether we’re crafting candles and soaps, tending herbs, hosting workshops, or recycling candle jars for a second life, each program creates opportunities for growth, connection, and sustainability. Together, these efforts build confidence, friendships, and a stronger community for everyone.
Inclusive Employment
Hands-On Work, Real-World Skills
Participants learn workplace skills through candle and soap making, packaging, and event support. With guidance from peers and volunteers, they build confidence, friendships, and lasting routines.
Impact: Consistent engagement, skill growth, and meaningful community participation.
Community Garden
Grow, Learn, Connect
Our garden provides a welcoming outdoor space where participants and volunteers work side by side to plant, harvest, and enjoy nature. Herbs are dried and used in our crafted goods, linking the garden to other parts of the mission.
Impact: Builds motor skills, reduces stress, and creates sensory-friendly opportunities for connection.
Candle Jar Recycling
Renew Your Used Candle Jars
Through our Candle Jar Recycling Program, the community donates used candle jars that participants clean, prepare, and reuse to make new candles. This hands-on process not only reduces waste but also creates meaningful skill-building opportunities, while inviting local partners and families to join in sustainability efforts.
Impact: Promotes sustainability, lowers material costs, and provides purposeful roles for participants while engaging the wider community.
Donation bin can found at the Community Pool at CLU.
100 Overton Ct. Thousand Oaks, CA 91360.
Workshops & Events
Inclusive Learning for Everyone
From beginner candle workshops to seasonal garden days, our events bring families, schools, and businesses into the experience of inclusion. These gatherings raise awareness while also sustaining our mission through fundraising.
Impact: Expands community understanding, strengthens partnerships, and celebrates shared purpose.
Programs That Grow Together
Each of our programs is connected — employment builds skills, the garden supplies materials, and workshops spread awareness and raise support. Together, they create a circle of inclusion that benefits everyone involved.
