American Province Ministry Connections April 2022

Providence Center    Siria Ana Rivera - Executive Director http://www.providencecentershcj.org/

Shaakinaa Drakeford-Cheatham, our Youth Program Coordinator, has been a part of the Providence Center family for over four years. She first started as a teacher in our Power afterschool program, where she taught 4th-6th graders, and we supported her as she began and completed a Master’s program in Human Services. Today, Shaakinaa continues to serve as a teacher to students and works directly with our Teen Leaders and Youth Advocates. Shaakinaa provides one-on-one guidance and organizes and supervises personal and professional development opportunities throughout the year and during our annual Summer Leadership Academy for our students. She serves as an excellent role model for our afterschool students and teens and younger staff members. Shaakinaa has served as an interim director, graciously stepping up when the team needed her. She is a great example of hard work, passion, and commitment to our mission, and is an invaluable member of our team. This past Fall, Shaakinaa and her husband Derek welcomed a beautiful baby boy, Kairo, into the world, growing the Providence Center family by one more! We are so proud of how much Shaakinaa has grown throughout the past few years. She is the perfect example of why investing in a young professional is so important.

South Central Los Angeles Ministry Project (SC LAMP) Diana Pinto - Executive Director http://www.southcentrallamp.org/

This year’s International Women’s Day celebration offered several of our mothers the opportunity to participate in a panel discussion of women who shared experiences similar to theirs.

One panelist was a former student of South-Central LAMP, a second panelist was her daughter, now working at SCLAMP. The third panelist also currently works with us as our Front Office Manager, doing so for over 20 years. The discussions focused on both challenges and successes each panelist encountered on her journey to empowerment. Two panelists who are mothers described their biggest challenge – to let go of the expectations of what a woman should or should not be. They shared that they had to “fight” to get an education and often were judged for trying to “better” themselves. The daughter of the former student touchingly described how her mother’s fortitude was her inspiration to go to college. She said she saw how hard her mother fought to receive an education at LAMP, now determined she would not let her mother’s sacrifices go to waste. Seeing how LAMP had supported her mother, she wanted to be part of the work we do.  While this event may have been small in number, the reflections shared had a profound effect on the attendees, reinforcing all that SCLAMP strives to instill in our students. These panelists they met were, in fact, a living testament to the positive effects which occur when we allow ourselves to let go of presupposed expectations and seek to find our own way. How proud we are of our graduates who now make such a difference in our world, no matter where they live or work!

Casa Cornelia Law Center    Carmen M. Chavez, Esq. - Executive Director http://www.casacornelia.org/

Responding to global crises with compassion and commitment to the protection of human rights.   As we witness violence around the world, including the recent attacks on the sovereign nation of Ukraine, there is a heavy mix of purpose and sadness. Purpose, because through Casa Cornelia's mission and the U.S. justice system, we are able to uplift the rights of survivors from around the world. Sadness, however, is inevitable because the casualties of these wars will result in millions displaced, stateless, or diseased.

Nevertheless, in our corner of the world, Casa Cornelia's committed staff and volunteers continue to serve a growing number of individuals seeking a safe haven. In 2021, we responded to the needs of 1,949 vulnerable children, women, and men. More than half of them are minors, and over forty percent of the total were detained. With your help, these children, families, and asylum seekers now have a second chance to live without violence.   One of these courageous stories is that of Peter*. After his brother was murdered by organized crime, Peter and his family fled to the United States seeking a safe haven. After contacting Casa Cornelia, our attorneys took their case and represented them in immigration court, successfully obtaining asylum on their behalf. Now, Peter, his wife, and their child are safe from violence and the looming fear of kidnapping and torture. They have newfound hope for a better future as a family. Please keep them and all our clients in your prayers.    *Name and photographs have been changed to protect client confidentiality.

Sponsored Ministries of the Society of Holy Child Jesus  Casa Cornelia Law Center * Providence Center Co-Sponsored Ministries of the Society of Holy Child Jesus South Central Los Angeles Ministry Project (LAMP) *  Cristo Rey St. Martin College Prep * Hope Partnership for Education *  Cristo Rey New York High School * Washington School for Girls    ~ ~ ~   Ministry Connections is a monthly publication highlighting ministries sponsored or co-sponsored by the Society of the Holy Child Jesus.