Before Bella Stella Community: Supported Living Services ever opened its doors, it began in the halls of school. Jonathan Kiesler, a longtime educator and school principal, spent his career helping students grow, learn, and find their voice. But something lingered in the quiet moments after graduation and completion ceremonies: What happens next?

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For students with intellectual and developmental disabilities, the world after school can feel unclear and unforgiving. While classrooms may have offered structure and support, adulthood often arrives with far fewer guideposts. Jonathan had seen it too many times—families standing on the edge of adulthood asking: Will my child be safe? Will they belong? Will they be able to form real relationships? Will they have a life that feels meaningful, and truly theirs?

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And so, Bella Stella was born—not from a business plan, but from a deep concern and conviction. The name means beautiful star—a reflection of the brilliance that shines in each individual when they are seen, supported, and given room to grow. But Jonathan knew that heart alone wasn’t enough—he needed experience in the day-to-day world of supported living.

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That’s when he partnered with George Portan, a trusted leader in the world of residential care. George had spent years on the ground, managing residential care homes. He knew what it took to create stability. He understood the balance of compliance and compassion, and how to build teams that supported not just routines—but lives.

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Together, Jonathan and George created Bella Stella: a Supported Living Services (SLS) agency that combines the insight of education with supported living.

 

The vision was clear:

• Support should never stop at 22.

• A person’s life should reflect who they are—not what systems allow.

• Families deserve partners, not just providers.

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What makes Bella Stella different?

• We are founded at the intersection of education and care. Jonathan brings the lens of growth, identity, and inclusion from the school world; George brings the operational excellence and daily know-how of quality supported living.

• We don’t just “provide services”—we co-create lives. We work with each client to build toward independence, joy, and belonging—not just maintenance.

• We see families. We understand the questions, the fears, the victories that often go unnoticed. And we build trust through transparency, collaboration, and love.

• We value relationships over ratios. We believe that community doesn’t come from a program, but from being seen and valued as a full human being.

• We guide with empathy and expectation. We believe people with intellectual and developmental disabilities deserve to take risks, make choices, and grow on their own terms.

 

Bella Stella Community serves the North Bay Regional Center community with a deep commitment to dignity, agency, and possibility. This is more than a business. It’s a calling born from classrooms, sustained by care, and rooted in the belief that every individual deserves a life that feels like theirs.

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And it all started with one educator’s question—and one care provider’s answer.

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