American Province Ministry Connections October 2020

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

We at LAMP mark a month since reopening and the launch of our new schedule. Normally I would share news of the children’s pitter-patter and how they are adjusting to school life, along with the progress of their moms . However, with COVID 19, our program looks very different.  We decided our theme would be “adjust, adapt and respond.”  We knew that if we were going to get through the challenges of this pandemic, we would need to be flexible and ready to do precisely this - adjust, adapt and respond!

Being flexible has not been easy, change rarely is, and when one works with a community disproportionately affected by COVID 19, challenges are even greater. An incredible reality, however, is that these challenges enable help us to see things differently. At the end of the day, how we achieve our mission is not as important as fulfilling our mission. We created a hybrid program that allows families to bring their children one day a week, pick up packets to take home, and then join their class on zoom and class dojo*.  We soon realized that just because our current schedule does not look like regular programming does not mean it is not valuable. I am newly excited to see how dedicated our families have been to their education and those of their precious children.   But I am not surprised, because our mission has always attracted those who want to better their lives and the lives of those they love! *https://g.co/kgs/b4TiAz

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

Earlier this month, Casa Cornelia Law Center collaborated with two philanthropic organizations -- This is About Humanity and Chicano Federation -- to provide crates filled with necessities for 17 of our client families and complete a beautiful mural under the guidance of artist Mario Torero. These families represent seven countries in Latin America, Africa, and Europe, including individuals who speak Spanish, English, French, and Mayan.

Just over half of the recipients are immigrant survivors of crime here in the United States. The others fled their countries because of persecution, hoping to seek asylum in the United States. Additionally, the Law Center's staff distributed much-needed gift cards donated by This is About Humanity to the clients. These donated items and gift cards will help mitigate the economic hardships of our clients due to the pandemic and adjustment to life in a new country.  The Law Center is most grateful for these partnership, begun in 2018, one which has had a significant impact in the local San Diego community. We invite you to learn more about Casa Cornelia’s Asylum Program and to read some of the Law Center’s successful client stories. Photo credit: Carlos Solorio

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

Aisha Morales was 9 years old and in the 4th grade when she first joined Providence Center’s afterschool program. Aisha was so inspired by her Teen Leader (high school students we hire every year to work in our afterschool program) that she wanted to come back after graduating from our program to become a Teen Leader herself, and she didn’t stop there. Aisha is now a proud Teen Leader who continually lights up a room with her smile and energy. She says being a Teen Leader has taught her patience, responsibility, and time management.

Aisha has more recently joined our YA! Program as a youth advocate. As a youth advocate, she is currently participating in Providence Center’s Teen Trauma Ambassador Program and will soon help to bring awareness to her community about the importance of being trauma-informed. As a junior in high school she is also preparing for her transition to college with the support of one of our partners, Bright Horizons Foundation. BHF is a program that focuses on college access for underserved youth.

Aisha Morales is a model example of the impact that our programming has on our future leaders. At Providence Center we lead by example and we teach our youth to do the same. We could not be more proud of this young lady and we are positive she is having a big impact on the lives of so many of our afterschool students.

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.