September 28, 2018

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

This year South Central LAMP celebrates 25 years of empowering families through our educational programs! As the daughter of an immigrant, I know firsthand how important these programs are to the success of the families we serve and feel so blessed to be part of this milestone.

Over two decades ago, Sisters from eight congregations of women religious canvassed South Los Angeles to better understand how to serve the community who had just experienced the civil unrest of 1992. In response to the needs of the community, South Central LAMP was established to create programs that supported women and children, a population that had been underserved for many years. Today more than ever, we are committed to continuing the work started 25 years ago. Our family-centered program prepares children ages 0-5 for kindergarten and helps mothers develop important language, parenting, and advocacy skills. South Central LAMP’s services are especially vital during these uncertain times. We remind the community that they are important to us and that we not only believe in them, but we want to be part of their success.

South Central LAMP is much more than a family educational program — we are a place where families come together in a safe and welcoming environment, a place where women are taught — sometimes for the first time — that they are powerful, valuable, and key to their children’s and families success. For 25 years, South Central LAMP has firmly believed that to empower families we must invest in the potential of each woman that enters our program. We know and believe that strong mothers foster strong children, and we are grateful to all those who have helped to send forth a whole generation of children in whom we saw promise, and who have become young women and men of promise!