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 granddaughter 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, 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