September 28, 2016

Diana Pinto – Executive Director, South Central Los Angeles Ministry Project (SC LAMP)

SC LAMP is a co-sponsored ministry of the Society of Holy Child Jesus.

South Central LAMP’s program year has officially begun, and we are so excited to welcome both returning and new families. One of the best parts of working at South Central LAMP is observing how our returning families have grown throughout their time with us. They walk into our gates with so much more confidence than when they first started our program. The children know our names, smile at us without hesitation, and they even know which way to go to get to their classrooms. Mothers walk into SC LAMP as if it is their second home, filled with confidence and energy. They no longer need to ask how they can help. They just dive in to fill a need, whatever it may be.

Already we are anticipating and witnessing growth this year. Even with the confidence and success our mothers have experienced and enjoyed, we also know that for them the prospect of completing our three-year literacy program and graduation can be daunting. Our goal remains the same — to support these women with as many resources as they need in order to help them make as seamless and positive a transition to “life after SC LAMP.” This year we have added a workshop on computer basics, recognizing that technological skills are essential in today’s job market. Helping our mothers be as prepared as possible for the competitive work force is a high priority for SC LAMP. We look forward to sharing much more with you as the year progresses!