April 2026 Newsletter

April 2026

Newsletter

A Letter from our Executive Director

Dear South Central LAMP Community,

In today’s truth telling series, I will be veering off slightly...

But first, today marks 328 days since ICE began kidnapping people in Los Angeles. There have been at least 55 deaths in ICE detention centers, and currently an estimated 72,000 to 75,000 individuals have been taken from their communities and placed into detention facilities. As of early 2026, over 500 children under the age of five have been detained by ICE, the same age as the children we serve in our Family Literacy Program…

However, today, I would like to take the time to share a truth that I learned during my time at South Central LAMP, and one that was shaped by Sr. Cathy Garcia, RSHM. This year, Sr. Cathy retires from South Central LAMP after 19 years of service! And I have been blessed to have known her for 17 of those years.

When I first met Sr. Cathy, I was in a very different place in my life. My daughter was four and I was trying to balance work and home life. I was preoccupied with my responsibilities as a mother, wife, daughter, sister, friend. My life consisted of check lists, and rarely did I take time for myself, much less to reflect on my life itself. Instead, I was on autopilot.

Sr. Cathy, however, lived with intentionality.

Her life experiences shaped her value system, and she brought that with her every day, everywhere. It was honestly inspiring. She is the great great g randdaughter of immigrants from Mexico, and it manifests in her passion for the women we serve.

She is also an activist, deeply committed to equity and social justice, and a fierce fighter for women’s rights. These are values she didn’t just hold—she modeled them, and in doing so, taught them to all of us.

One of the most meaningful lessons I’ve learned from Sr. Cathy is what self-love really looks like. She taught us that our birthdays are sacred—that they deserve recognition and celebration. So, she ensures to start celebrating her birthday at least a week in advance. There were years when I completely forgot my own birthday. Through her example, I realized I was not living with intention, and I was also not showing myself the love I deserved, and like me, many have been inspired by the values Sr. Cathy models. One staff member now makes it a point to take her birthday off every year—to care for herself any way she wants.

I recently was featured in an article for Voyage LA (link below), and I think it reveals a lot about why Sr. Cathy impacted me, and so many others. I know that I am not alone in trying to unlearn unhealthy or untrue values we may have picked up during our childhood and formative years.

I know you don’t love this kind of attention, Sr. Cathy, but it’s important for us to say it anyway. You have changed the lives of so many people, and I wanted to make sure you truly know that.

So, on behalf of the South Central LAMP community, thank you, Sr. Cathy, we are so grateful for your time, love, and the legacy you are leaving behind. “Quienes somos? Somos mujeres fuertes,” “Who are we? We are strong women!” We will be sure to remember that every year when we take a day off for our birthdays!

Please join me in thanking Sr. Cathy Garcia, RSHM for 19 dedicated years at South Central LAMP!

Diana Z. Pinto

Executive Director

P.S. Click here to leave a message for Sr. Cathy Garcia, RSHM.

Voyage LA's Inspiring Chat with Diana Pinto

Truth Telling Q&A with Mary

We’re honored to highlight the perspective of one of our dedicated staff members in this edition of our Truth Telling series. Their words offer a meaningful glimpse into the passion and purpose that drive our work each day and reflect the deep commitment our team brings to supporting the families we serve.

As the daughter of immigrants, someone who was born here, what are some of your biggest fears during this time?

One of my biggest fears is that my belonging could be questioned because of the color of my skin or my last name. I was born here. This is my home. And yet, sometimes it feels conditional. I fear a future where citizenship could be revoked, where I could be rendered stateless, not fully here, not fully there, suspended between lands like an unanswered question. I also fear that using my voice could put my safety at risk. Speaking up, standing for others, or advocating publicly can feel unpredictable and dangerous. I was taught to use my voice and my light to make the world brighter. And still, some days that lesson feels heavy. I am learning to carry my fears alongside my courage, naming them but not letting them paralyze me. Change happens when people show up, even trembling, even imperfectly. The cost of silence is far greater than the cost of speaking.

What has been the most challenging aspect during this time?

The most challenging part has been showing up in a country that often questions our right to exist. Loving this country while mourning the way it is treating families like mine.

What would you want readers to know or understand about how policies like this administrations have affected you personally?

Policies don't live on paper; they live in our bodies. They shape how freely we move, how tightly we hold our children's hands, how alert we remain in spaces meant to feel ordinary. Even as a citizen, I feel the weight of being seen as a suspect before I am seen as a human.

Do your children understand what is going on? And if so, how have you explained this experience to them?

My children understand more than I wish they had to. I once overheard another child tell my daughter, "Speak English, we are in America," while she was already speaking English. Some nights they struggle to fall asleep, whispering fears that we could be separated because they heard another child talking about it as well. They are deeply connected to their American roots, proudly reciting the Pledge of Allegiance every morning. They don't yet fully grasp that the country they pledge loyalty to doesn't always extend that same unquestioned loyalty back to families like ours. I try to meet their fear with calm and truth. I try to validate what they feel. We talk about hurt people hurting people and the importance of fairness, spreading kindness, and standing up for people even when it's hard. I juggle protecting their sense of safety while teaching them of the injustices going on.

What has surprised you during this time?

What has surprised me is how social media can quickly normalize and desensitize us to acts of violence, yet it can also be a powerful tool to bring us together. I've seen people show up for one another in small, quiet ways that don't make headlines, but make all the difference. There's something deeply human about the way families lean toward each other when systems feel unstable. Working at SC LAMP, I'm often left in awe and honored to stand alongside those who continue to act even in fear, transforming that fear and anger into protection and space for those who cannot.

Anything else you’d like our readers to know?

For many of us, children of immigrants, this fight isn't abstract, its lived. It's layered with the struggles and sacrifices of our parents, and the dreams and possibilities of our children. We live in the tension between gratitude and vigilance. And still, we are here. Rasing children. Contributing. Healing. Building. Loving deeply. Each small act is its own resistance. Showing up. Caring. Persisting. Refusing to let fear or injustice define us.

Adult Education Program Update

In April, our program parents participated in a school field trip that was both meaningful and empowering. Sally Ride Elementary School welcomed our families for a tour of their Transitional Kindergarten (TK) and Kindergarten classrooms, as well as their STEAM lab. Throughout the visit, our parents were highly engaged, asking thoughtful questions about student-teacher ratios, communication with staff, school safety protocols, extracurricular opportunities, and the support available for students who may need additional academic help.

What made this experience especially powerful was what followed. Like seeds planted in the spring, the mothers in the Family Literacy Program who attended returned to share what they had learned with the rest of the group. They presented highlights and reflected on what stood out to them. Their voices sparked curiosity and meaningful dialogue, with other mothers asking questions and actively engaging in the conversation. It was a beautiful reflection of growing leadership and confidence, reinforcing the idea that empowered parents are their children’s first and most important teachers.

Jessie Hernandez

Adult Education and Programs Manager

Early Childhood Education Program Update

This month, our classrooms explored the theme of trees through engaging, hands-on learning experiences. Children were introduced to a variety of trees, discovering their different sizes, textures, colors, and the important roles they play in nature. They also learned about the life cycle of a tree, including how it begins, grows, and changes over time. Activities included outdoor observations, creating simple charts, making art with collected leaves, and studying the animals that inhabit trees and the fruits they produce.

In our infant program, we also used the Creative Curriculum to explore the “Trees” theme through sensory-rich activities.

In PCILA, our focus was on enhancing friendship and problem-solving skills. Mothers and children collaborated to identify intense emotions, including worry, and practiced constructive methods to manage them. Through role-playing, songs, storytelling, and guided discussions, families learned strategies to foster positive relationships and effectively use words to resolve conflicts.

Samira Alvarez

Children's Education and Programs Manager

and

Ilce Moreno

ECE Site Supervisor and EXPL Coordinator

EXPL After School Program Update

In April, the EXPL Program centered around STEAM activities focused on trees and plants. Throughout the month, students participated in hands-on science experiments designed to help them better understand how plants function and grow. One of the key activities was leaf testing with food coloring. In this experiment, students placed a leaf in water mixed with food coloring and observed how the dye traveled up the stem over the course of 1–3 days. This activity allowed children to visually explore the process of transpiration, showing how water moves through plants and evaporates from the leaves.

In addition, students grew their own bean plants. Each child planted a bean in soil using a cup and cared for it by watering regularly. Over time, they observed and tracked their plant’s growth, helping them develop patience and a deeper understanding of plant life cycles.

April also included exciting special events. On April 15, 2026, the EXPL program hosted a special workshop for boys and their parents. This workshop provided a supportive space to discuss growth, development, and changes in their bodies in an age-appropriate and informative way.

Additionally, on April 22, Amanda Keller, a Dance Teacher from Gabriella Charter School 2 - Historic South Central, visited the program for a unique parent-child dance experience. This special activity gave families the opportunity to bond, have fun, and enjoy an active experience together—something new and exciting for our program. Students also expressed their creativity through outdoor art activities, sitting on the grass and painting trees on canvas while observing nature around them, combining art with real-world inspiration.

Overall, April was a month full of learning, creativity, and memorable experiences for our students and their families.

Ilce Moreno

ECE Site Supervisor and EXPL Coordinator

and

Maria Solorzano
EXPL Lead Teacher