On May 23rd, the seats were full, the energy was electric, and the laughter was contagious. Jest Improv hosted a special show and silent auction fundraiser for Nate’s Place — and the Ventura community showed up in a big way, raising $1,500 to support peer recovery in our region.

Jest Improv is a Ventura-based improv and comedy group founded in 2018. They perform every weekend at The Bunker Theater in midtown Ventura. They also offer creative, welcoming classes at spaces designed to help people connect, take creative risks, and find their voice. Co-founder Alex Tron brought that same spirit of community to Nate’s Place, where he volunteers his time teaching improv and comedy classes and supporting grant writing efforts.

Alex knows firsthand what it means to find connection when you need it most. After years of struggle, it was the discovery of real community — through the Diversity Collective, therapy, and creative outlets — that changed the course of his life. Today, he channels that experience into advocacy and service. He’s a graduate of USC Law School (Class of 2022), a former fellow with California Rural Legal Assistance, and now practices at The Social Impact Center, where he works on behalf of communities who need a strong voice.

Sobriety, community, and purpose have been the through-line of Alex’s journey since 2018 — and his commitment to Nate’s Place reflects all three.

We are so grateful to Alex, the entire Jest Improv community, and everyone who attended, bid, and donated. Events like this remind us that recovery doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens when people show up for each other.