June 22, 2023

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

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

“How does one become a butterfly? she asked pensively. “‘How does one become a butterfly?’ she asked pensively. ‘You must want to fly so much that you are willing to give up being a caterpillar.’” -Trina Paulus

At the beginning of the school year, I shared the above quote with the mothers during the leadership workshops. It is truly a profound parallel to the journey of each of these women. For many of the women we serve, South Central LAMP is the very first place they learn that they have a choice of either remaining a caterpillar or becoming a butterfly. Often, like the caterpillar, they face very difficult times in their transformation. Why? Because by the time the caterpillar ends its journey, it will no longer be a caterpillar. It will have morphed into a completely different species. It will look different, have different needs, and contribute to their environment very differently. Just as the caterpillar fights its way out of its cocoon or “norm,” many of the women who decide to move forward find themselves at odds with what they thought they knew and what they are learning. Last week, at our Family Literacy graduation, we celebrated five women who had the courage to make this challenging decision of personal transformation. These women did what few people do. They looked inward to break out of their cocoon, to free themselves, even for an unknown future!

One of the most rewarding gifts for us at SC LAMP is to witness and share in the magic of their transformations.

Here’s to many more butterflies!