Resource Center in the ready

Lake Los Angeles - TheCenter@Wilsona by SBCC is up and running and providing services, resources and channels to the Lake Los Angeles community and those communities on the east side of the Antelope Valley. These services and resources are here meaning traveling to other locals to seek help is a thing of the past. Geography is on our side.

Tuesday, July 25, Erika Schwerdt, SBCC Program Manager, Shirley Harriman and Carlos Baltazar, SBCC Youth Development Organizer, recorded a podcast for the first time from the TheCenter@Wilsona by SBCC headquarters office which has been rehabilitated, rejuvenated and revived from when it was Healthy Start in the 90’s. Many wonderful memories came flowing back, people who were served so well, about Rachel Chavez and the wonderful work she did for the community all those many years.

There is a reception counter and a large lounge area for folks to gather and visit, a children’s playroom to keep the little ones busy while mom and dad conduct their business, a craft/create room, storage, private conference/therapy room where clients of TheCenter@Wilsona by SBCC can have one-on-one conversations with visiting agencies, office space, bathroom with shower and an agency room where staff members of non-profits and agencies can meet with their clients.

There is a pop-up Podcast Center for interviews and conversations, equipment courtesy of Engineer Robert Schwerdt.

Today’s podcast covered some of the history of the building and the many people who were helped under the guidance of Wilsona’s Healthy Start.

Erika Schwerdt stated, “For quite a while the community has needed a resource center and things just never panned out the way we thought would work.

“SBCC knew when the State of California created an opportunity to apply for a grant, we knew we needed to apply. We needed to expand the TheCenter@Wilsona by SBCC so we could offer the same programs at our main center in Wilmington and provide them here in Lake Los Angeles.

“Through an unprecedented collaboration with the Wilsona School District that said ‘yes, we need this help’, we knew we needed to begin offering programs in January before we had this building ready.

“The first week in August we will be here every day from 9:00am to 5:00pm to help people with CalFresh, Medi-Cal, other applications, GED and many other services plus providing answers to any general questions and referring people to the right agency for help. Spanish and English is available.

“We will make sure everyone needing the basic services offered throughout the Antelope Valley will not have need to travel to receive them because we are here.”

The address is 41625 170th Street East, entrance off East Avenue M-8.

By Shirley Harriman