South Central Los Angeles Ministry Project (SC LAMP) was founded in response to the 1992 civil unrest in Los Angeles by a collaboration of eight congregations of Catholic sisters. They canvassed the devastated neighborhood and asked how they could better support the community as it struggled to rebuild and survive.
In the responses the sisters heard a strong desire from mothers to enhance their parenting skills, improve their English literacy, and prepare their children for school and later success in life.
In dialogue with the local community, the founders developed family-centered programming that has grown to include, English as a second language (ESL) courses, parenting classes and early childhood education for children ages 0 – 5.
Today, at SC LAMP we provide a holistic approach to empowering families in the community. We believe that in order to support change in each family, the women we serve must feel confident in themselves and their ability to be their child’s first teacher, and advocate.
We do this by providing programs that develop skills to support learning at home. We offer inter-generational literacy activities, parenting and ESL courses, family advocacy, health education services, and access to a variety of community resources. Our family advocacy includes home visits for support and to address special family challenges.
All our programs are free of charge.
South Central Los Angeles is a blending of cultures and communities. In the immediate neighborhood that SC LAMP serves, there are more than one half million persons with approximately 55 % of Hispanic or Latino background and over 40% of African American background. The population is younger, has fewer persons with four-year degrees and more children in poverty than other portions of the city. The average median household income is less than $30,000. Given these statistics the need for the early childhood education, ESL and family programs offered by SC LAMP is evident.
In our most recently completed program year, we served a total of 265 individuals, including 102 adults and 163 children. Since its humble beginnings in 1992 we estimate that we have directly served over 2000 families and touched the lives of thousands of individuals.
SC LAMP is proud of its staff of 21 educators and administrators who together carry out our mission. Every day they commit to creating the best environment for the families and children we serve. Thanks to their hard work, the families know they are surrounded by a knowledgeable, talented and constant network of support.
ADMINISTRATION
Diana Z. Pinto, Executive Director
Luz Saucedo, Office Manager
Xavier Sosa, Finance Operations Manager
Ninette Ayala, Development Director
Leila Guizar, Office Assistant
PROGRAM STAFF
Claudia Garcia, Program Director
Guadalupe Aquino, ECE Assistant
Blanca Arreola, ECE Educator
Araceli Estrada, ECE Educator
Cathy Garcia, ESL Coordinator
Ilce Moreno, ECE Educator
Leticia Larios, ECE Educator
Rocio T. Mendez, ECE Educator
Caron Salazar, ESL Instructor
Maria Elena Romero, ECE Educator
Helen Santillan, Family Advocate
Derek Sijder, ESL Instructor
Carla Silva, ECE Educator
Maria Soriano, ECE Educator
Norma Velasquez, ECE Educator
The Parent Advisory Board allows parents the opportunity to take an active role in the SC LAMP program, establish a sense of program ownership, improve communication and develop leadership skills. Participation is voluntary, however more than 25 mothers have elected participate. The Parent Advisory Board meets regularly, provides input for program improvement and organizes events.
Daughters of Charity
Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary
Sisters of the Holy Faith – California Province
Sisters of the Holy Family
Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary
Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet
Sisters of St. Louis
Sisters of Notre Dame
Sisters of Social Service
Society of the Holy Child Jesus
Our Board of Trustees is our governing body, committed to interpreting the original vision of SC LAMP’s founders to meet and respond to the current needs of the community through SC LAMP’s social and educational programs. The Board of Trustees includes a member or lay delegate from each founding order and other professional lay persons.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Teresita R. Ruiz, Board Chair
Assistant Manager
First Republic Bank
Sr. Lisa Megaffin, SND, Board Vice Chair
Director of Mission Advancement Services
Sisters of Notre Dame
Susan S. Rosenberg, Board Treasurer
Retired Finance and Administration Executive
Sr. Angela Hallahan, CHF, Board Secretary
Daniel Bir
Principal, Polsinelli LLP
Sharon Corbitt
Representative for the
Sisters of the Holy Name of Jesus and Mary
Mary Fitzpatrick
Representative for the
Society of the Holy Child Jesus
Margaret Graf
General Counsel
Archdiocese of Los Angeles
Steve Masterson
Attorney, Andrade Gonzalez LLP
Sr. Teresita Saavedra, SSS
Sisters of Social Service
Butch Schuman
Founder, Chairman & CEO
Agro Farming Corporation
Sr. Judith Wright, CSJ
Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet
Become a part of South Central LAMP.
