A Letter from our Executive Director

In early June South Central LAMP celebrated the end of the school year with two very special graduations, one for the mothers and one for the children. At the women’s ceremony, I had the opportunity to thank the mothers for taking the time to invest in themselves, as they all had completed their studies in our program. I shared that as an adult it is often challenging to develop oneself. There are many reasons for this, time, resources, support, and even self-criticism. We all ask ourselves, why am I still in this phase of my life, when I see others ahead or much more self-developed than me? The truth is, I shared, we all evolve or mature at a different pace, for many reasons. Perhaps your development was stunted by your home life, by poverty, by a lack of loving parents, and whatever the reason, it is important to remember this is not a competition. We are not here to compete to see who evolves faster, or to feel bad about this timeline we created in our head, we are here to heal and to grow for the rest of our lives. The most amazing part of this journey is to see who you were, who you are, who you can be, and through this process, your light just shines.

South Central LAMP’s acronyms are intentional, we want to be a beacon of light, hope and love to all those who need it. It also symbolizes the light within the mothers and children which is illuminated while here at SCLAMP. The journey these women take is often filled with challenges; some we can’t even imagine. These women have invested in themselves, and the goals they achieve are directly correlated to their realization of that inner light, this benefits not only themselves and their families, but the community. Their accomplishments show others how they can grow too. It inspires others to look at their lives through a different lens as well, one of hope. Our journeys, no matter how inconsequential we believe they might be, are crucial to helping us elevate the good in the world.



Remember, the ocean is made of drops of water, and so is our society. Every time a member of our society heals, is educated, builds their self-esteem, or finds their magic, it benefits us all. The work we do at South Central LAMP is not just about the women we serve, or the community we serve, it’s about making our world a better place for everyone. 

Diana Z. Pinto

Executive Director

CAMP LAMP!

Our families had an incredible week at CAMP LAMP this year! The theme was STEAM – and the children created piñatas, abstract art, and we also scheduled the always exciting volcano explosion!

The mothers learned how to make pupusas, a traditional food from El Salvador, led by one of the program participants, and they were also instructed on how to make paper flowers led by a South Central LAMP alumna mother. Thank you, Maricela!

The families also experienced two different field trips during the week. The first was a trip to Seaside Lagoon where they swam and enjoyed a day in the sun. The second was a visit to Underwood Family Farms – a favorite of our families – where they learned about farm to table foods, picked their own fruits and vegetables, learned about the animals onsite, and took a tractor ride. Thank you to the Friars Charitable Trust for making CAMP LAMP possible, we are so incredibly grateful for our dedication to South Central LAMP!

Our families learning about Underwood Farms.

Mother's learning to make pupusas from a fellow participant.

Children enjoying their newly created piñata!

Our families enjoyed a tractor ride at Underwood Farms!

Camp LAMP mothers with their flower creations!

Families enjoying Seaside Lagoon!

Adult Education Program Update

​Congratulations to the Family Literacy Program Class of 2024! Their commitment to education and personal growth is truly inspiring. We were also privileged to have alumna, Candida Saquic, join us as a guest speaker. She shared her journey and how South Central LAMP helped her meet her goals, providing heartfelt encouragement to our graduating mothers. Her words resonated deeply, highlighting the lasting impact of the program.

Many thanks to our fantastic adult education team of Sr. Cathy, Derek and Hannah, as well as our Family Advocate, Angie. Your dedication to our mothers helps empower them on a daily basis.

We also kicked-off summer with

free eye exams through our partnership with QueensCare Health and Faith

Partnership, which supports our community's health. We are truly blessed by our alliance with QueensCare, and look forward to continuing to provide healthcare and wellbeing for our families and the surrounding community in the coming year.

We hope you all have a wonderful summer filled with learning, laughter, and new skills. Congratulations once again to our

remarkable graduates! We look forward to seeing the incredible things you will

accomplish.

Jessie Hernandez

Adult Education and Program Manager

Commencement Speaker, Candida Saquic, with graduates.

Students with ESL Coordinator, Sr. Cathy Garcia.

All of the mothers in our Family Literacy Program

Early Childhood Education Program Update

It's time for graduation!

Our Pre-K students are now Kindergartners!

We are so proud of our 24 pre-K students who graduated on June 7, 2024!  Congratulations! We are so excited to see you thrive in kindergarten in the fall!

A big thank you to our teachers for finishing the year strong. All our children, from our infants to our graduates, would not have had such a successful year without all your hard work and dedication. An extra shout out to our teachers in Room 5, Cecilia and Carolina (below), for helping our preschoolers get ready for their big day. 

Ilce Moreno

Site Supervisor &

Expanded Learning Program Coordinator

Please Note: Our NEW Mailing Address

As of July 1, 2023, when mailing to the South Central LAMP,

please address your letter to:

South Central LAMP

P.O. Box 11336

Los Angeles, CA 90011

Stay Connected with South Central LAMP!

For more information on ways to support South Central LAMP, please contact our Development Director, Nicole Burcham, at nburcham@southcentrallamp.org,

visit our website, and follow us on social media to learn more about our programs.