Zeke's light
What's Zeke's Light
Zeke’s Light Initiative is a radiant beacon for children whose worlds have been dimmed by domestic violence, honoring the gentle, joyful spirit of Zeke Best—a 10-month-old bundle of wonder whose gummy smiles and wide-eyed curiosity lit up his family’s days like the first rays of dawn. Born in January 2023, Zeke’s brief life was a testament to unfiltered innocence and unbreakable warmth, mirroring his mother Kali’s resilient heart. In his memory, we create havens where young survivors can rediscover play, creativity, and safety—transforming shadows into sparks of hope, ensuring no child walks alone in the dark, but instead emerges with the light they were born to shine.
Our Promise
We promise to cradle every child touched by domestic violence in arms of unwavering safety, where playrooms become sanctuaries and counselors weave threads of trust to mend fragile hearts.
We vow to ignite their innate sparks through creative havens and empowering lessons, transforming whispers of fear into roars of possibility, just as Zeke's gentle joy once lit our world.
Above all, we commit to a legacy of radiant hope—ensuring no young soul dims alone, but rises fierce and free under the glow of tomorrow's dawn.
Get Involved
In our first year, Zeke’s Light Initiative at Kalico Forest aims to touch 100 children directly—via safe play spaces for 30, creative workshops for 25, education for 20, and advocacy for 25 families—while reaching 10,000 online with stories of hope.
This goal echoes Zeke's joyful spark, weaving his legacy into shields of safety for young survivors of domestic violence. Join us—every connection keeps their light shining bright.
Support Kalico Forest Today
Safe Spaces
Education & Empowerment
Creative Healing
Through our Safe Spaces program, we want to craft child-centered sanctuaries within shelters and community centers, where little ones can exhale the weight of fear and simply be—surrounded by soft corners for quiet reflection, colorful play areas brimming with toys and books, and the gentle presence of trained counselors ready to listen without judgment.
Inspired by Zeke’s serene nature, these spaces prioritize emotional security with age-appropriate activities that rebuild trust, from puppet shows that coax out hidden giggles to cozy reading nooks that whisper tales of bravery. Here, children learn that home can mean safety again, fostering the foundational peace that allows their spirits to unfurl, one tender moment at a time.
Creative Healing
Education & Empowerment
Creative Healing
Creative Healing invites children to paint, sing, and storytell their way through the unseen wounds of trauma, channeling Zeke’s innate curiosity into workshops led by compassionate therapists who transform crayons into bridges and melodies into mending threads.
Sessions will blend art with gentle guidance—crafting lanterns that glow with personal symbols of strength or composing songs that release bottled-up emotions—creating a canvas where pain meets possibility.
Drawing from Zeke’s joyful explorations in flour-dusted kitchens and sunlit trails, these experiences honor the healing power of imagination, helping young hearts process grief not in isolation, but in a symphony of colors and sounds that echo resilience and renewal.
Education & Empowerment
Education & Empowerment
Education & Empowerment
We hope to equip children with the tools to dream beyond their circumstances, offering tutoring in core subjects alongside life skills classes that spark self-assurance, from goal-setting adventures to simple budgeting games tailored for young minds.
Mentorship pairings will connect kids with positive role models who share stories of overcoming odds, while our scholarship fund plants seeds for future aspirations, whether in higher education or vocational paths.
Echoing Zeke’s effortless charm that drew everyone close, this program builds not just knowledge, but a quiet confidence—a belief that their voices matter and their paths can lead to horizons wide and welcoming, empowering them to step forward with the spark of possibility Zeke embodied.