May 2025 Newsletter

A Letter from our Executive Director

Dear LAMP Community,

Happy Mother’s Day to all and Happy Mental Health Awareness month. I’d like to take a moment to reflect on how these two meaningful observances intersect.

Let’s begin with some powerful statistics. Research shows that postnatal depression may affect 42% of migrant women compared to 10-15% of native born women. Antenatal depression rates are also higher among migrant populations (Collins et al. 2011b; Miszkurka et al. 2012b). Among Latinas, up to 40% are expected to experience a maternal mental health disorder, including postpartum depression (Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health).

These numbers reflect deep-rooted issues—social isolation, immigration status, cultural stigma, financial hardship, and limited access to healthcare—all of which can weigh heavily on a mother’s well-being. And as we know, a parent’s mental health profoundly influences a child’s development.

At South Central LAMP we understand the importance of mental health in a mother’s life and how it affects their children. Raising a healthy child starts with supporting their parents, in our case the mothers. Through our Family Literacy Program, we offer a holistic, integrated approach that includes:

• Parenting classes infused with Nurturing Skills for Families and Abriendo Puertas curricula, which promote self-awareness, resilience, and positive parenting.
• Dedicated mental health workshops are woven into our programming.
• Biannual home visits to offer support where it’s often needed most—at home.
• Open-door access to our staff (including myself!) for one-on-one check-ins.
• Most importantly, a welcoming space where mothers connect, laugh, eat together, and share stories, creating strong social bonds and community.

While we know that no single program can address every mental health need, we are proud to partner with organizations like QueensCare and provide referrals to trusted professionals when more specialized care is required. Our approach towards our mission is always holistic, because human beings are complex, and if we don’t recognize the nuances, we miss an opportunity to bring the right services to those we serve.

I hope this gives you insight into how we address maternal mental health at South Central LAMP. Your continued support is critical—how we live, the policies we choose to adopt, and how we spend our money, reflect the values we hold as a society. This Mental Health Awareness Month, I hope you will remember to care for your own mental health and support those in need.

As someone who suffered from post-partum depression and was undiagnosed for far too long, I know that my journey would have been far worse had I not had the support of my loved ones. Not everyone is blessed to have a supportive family; that’s why our work matters. Because when mothers are supported, children thrive. And that’s the kind of future we all want to build—together.

With gratitude,

Diana Z. Pinto

Executive Director

Adult Education Program Update

May was a month full of gratitude, wellness, and celebration at South Central LAMP! During Teacher Appreciation Week, students in the Family Literacy Program organized a warm and thoughtful potluck to recognize and thank our dedicated staff.

We partnered with QueensCare Mental Health for Children’s Mental Health Day, offering a parent workshop on children’s mental well-being. Children received goodie bags with pinwheels to encourage calming breaths, and parents were gifted self-care kits—thank you, QueensCare, for supporting our families!

We also celebrated the wonderful mothers in our program with a special activity and lunch. One of our alumnae came to host a workshop and teach everyone how to make silk flowers in honor of Mother's Day!

Jessie Hernandez

Adult Education and Programs Manager

Early Childhood Education Program Update

As the end of the school year is rapidly approaching, our theme of the month is "Transitions." Our preschoolers are discussing and preparing for the transition to kindergarten, and our infant and toddler classrooms are preparing to transition up their own levels as well.

Our study focus is on the butterfly life cycle and simple machines, each transitional in their own way, helping our ECE students understand the exciting changes to come!



Ilce Moreno

ECE Site Supervisor and EXPL Coordinator

EXPL Afterschool and Root Down LA

This spring, South Central LAMP's Expanded Learning Afterschool Program had the incredible opportunity to partner with Root Down LA for a series of enriching visits to their local garden site. These regular trips allowed our students to dive into the world of gardening, cooking, and healthy eating in a hands-on, engaging way.

Root Down LA, a dedicated organization focused on improving nutrition education in South Los Angeles, welcomed our EXPL students and their families with open arms. Each visit featured interactive lessons where students learned about the benefits of fresh foods over processed options, how to plant, nurture, and harvest fruits and vegetables, and how to turn their garden harvest into nutritious, delicious meals. These lessons not only taught valuable life skills, but also empowered our students to make healthier choices and understand where their food comes from.

We are deeply grateful to Root Down LA for their generosity, expertise, and commitment to our community. Thank you for making this spring a season of growth, learning, and wellness for our EXPL students!

It's not too late to RSVP for the Empowerment Awards

Tuesday, June 10th, 2025

6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Annenberg Community Beach House

Santa Monica

We hope you will join us for a memorable evening as we celebrate and recognize the following individuals and Community Partners for their remarkable contributions and impactful work with South Central LAMP:

Marilyn Stambler

President of Friars Charitable Foundation

with the Person of the Year Award



Valerie Woodard

Kindergarten Teacher at St. Martin of Tours School

with the Outstanding Community Partner Award

Maria Alcalde and Fr. Paul Fitzpatrick

St. Martin of Tours Parish

with the Outstanding Community Partner Award

Celebrate, Connect, and Make an Impact

During our lively cocktail reception you’ll meet our inspiring Empowerment Awards honorees and hear how they’ve helped transform families’ lives at South Central LAMP.

You’ll also connect with our dedicated board and committee members, shop from our Teacher Wish List, and discover meaningful ways to support our mission and help build a brighter future for our community.

For more information on purchasing tickets or making a donation, please contact, Nicole Burcham, Development Director, at nburcham@southcentrallamp.org or 323-234-1471 Ext. 101.

Teacher Wish List Items are

Available for Purchase!

Our Teacher Wish List items are now available for purchase, offering a meaningful way to support our dedicated educators! Each item on the list—from classroom supplies to educational tools—helps ensure our teachers have the resources they need to create engaging, effective learning environments. By purchasing a Wish List item, you’re not only easing the financial burden from our budget, but also directly enhancing the quality of education and care we provide. Your generosity helps our teachers thrive—and in turn, helps our all students grow and succeed. Please also consider sharing our Teachers Wish List with your friends, family and colleagues!

For questions regarding Teacher Wish List Items, please contact Audrey Rudolph, Development Associate, at arudolph@southcentrallamp.org or 323-234-1471 Ext 107.

Our Mailing Address

When mailing to 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.