La Luz Center

La Luz Celebrates Cinco de Mayo

Over 250 friends and neighbors came to celebrate at La Luz Center's family oriented "Cinco de Mayo" party last Saturday.  Crowds spilled out of Booker Hall and into the street where they were delighted by dance performances given by the Grupo Azteca Xontotl, and Ballet Folklórico Quetzalen. The center's courtyard was filled with families enjoying Mexican food and drink donated by a dozen local businesses. Party-goers included Susan Gorin to several La Luz Board members, as well as diverse group of neighbors and friends from the Springs community.  There was a dunk tank manned by staff members and volunteers, a bounce house, music by PoshFM Mixer DJ Cal and a raffle.  

Raffle prizes were generously provided by The Lonesome Cowboy, Cuban Jack’s Smoke Shop, The Sonoma Mission Inn, Sonoma Cinemas, Barking Dog Coffee, Sonoma Valley Fitness, Mary’s Pizza Shack, CC Salon, Amadeus Salon, Sonoma Salon, Sonoma Valley Grange, Old Sonoma Public House, Sonoma Valley Health Center, Ms. Silvia Floriano, and Emily’s Bakery.

Food was provided by Jalisco Tortilleria, Gourmet Taco Shop, El Brinquito Market, El Molino Central, La Morenita #2, Taqueria Los Primos, La Hacienda Taqueria, Plaza Tequila, La Favorita, Iñiguez Panaderia y Tienda, El Gran Taco and Whole Foods. 

Dance performances were given by the Grupo Azteca Xontotl, and Ballet Folklórico Quetzalen. Throughout the event, music was provided by PoshFM Mixer DJ Cal. 

"It was a great neighborhood party, a chance for families to hang out together and enjoy our beautiful property," said La Luz Executive Director Juan Hernandez.  "Everybody relaxed, had fun and enjoyed the nice day"

Photo:  La Luz Board member and Sonoma Valley High School bilingual counselor Betsy Chavez... with Frida Kahlo

La Luz Hosts Latino Films For Sonoma Film Festival

La Luz’s booker hall became “Booker-Wood,” in mid April, as the big screen, popcorn and film enthusiasts filled Booker Hall for the Vamos al Cine program of the Sonoma international film festival.

Saturday started with the 'Colombian Contingent,' director of animated film 'Gordo calvo y bajito/ Fat Short and Bald'.  Carlos Osuna was greeted by Ligia Booker, founder of La Luz, with her signature delicious 'empanadas' that took Carlos right back to Bogota.

Then on to Argentina, with the award-winning "Mia" about discrimination and isolation (some in the audience really identifiied with this) by the transgender community in Buenos Aires. The screening was followed by a lively Q&A with director Javier Van de Couter, who came from Buenos Aires.

Venezuela followed with its submission to the Oscars as best foreign film 'Rock, Paper, Scissors' a thriller about how the children's game of the film's title changed a family forever amid the violence in the streets of Caracas. 

To close the night, a fun comedy about soccer from Spain and Argentina-- "Fuera de juego/ In Offside".

On Sunday by 1:00 pm  expectations were  high—moms and kids lined up with cameras waiting for one of their own who is making it big in Hollywood: Demian Bichir, Oscar nominated last year for best actor in ‘a better life’ and now the star of a TV series on ShowTime.

Oscar had received the festival’s spotlight award the night before.  He introduced his brother’s film ‘Hecho en china/Made in China’.

Right at 1:30 the black Rolls Royce pulled in and Demian came out with his beautiful blonde girlfriend Stephanie. Families and women who knew him well from his many film and TV roles in Mexico wanted their photos with him, and he was very obliging!

The staff of La Luz welcomed him. He presented his brother’s film saying also “it’s so important to have this opportunity to see films that otherwise would not be shown. I applaud those who support this effort and hope you enjoy an afternoon of great films!”

Celebrity presence continued with the protagonist of ‘Acorazado,’ award-winning Silverio Palacios, who came from Mexico city to talk about how comedy is so important in film.  This was an unlikely one, about immigration. A very surprised child in the audience couldn’t believe that the guy who was drawing in the film was also standing right by him! And there was “The Zebra” with lessons on Mexican history about two guys wanting to join the revolutionary forces and traveling in a zebra they found at a circus, which they called ‘a gringo horse’!

To cap the evening off with beauty, a documentary about the behind-the-scenes of beauty pageants… lots of gorgeous little girls who dream to be miss universe.

For a weekend, patrons of the festival, and visitors from as far as Chicago enjoyed films and filmmakers side by side with farmworkers and Latino families. It was truly integration through the cultural entertainment of film @ La Luz!

Claudia mendoza-carruth

Program Director/ Vamos al Cine, President of the Board/ La Luz Center

 

Ministering the Community at La Luz

Source: Sonoma Valley Sun

La Luz Center for family resources in Boyes Hot Springs is active, colorful and crowded. It exudes a feeling of warmth, safety and hope, and its new executive director, Juan Hernandez, radiates those same qualities, along with a healthy dose of confidence.

“Juan has brought an intuitive understanding of the culture and needs of the community we serve,” said Board Chair Claudia Mendoza-Carruth. “When our clients see a Latino in a position of leadership who serves as a role model, there is a sense of pride... of 'si se puede'.

Hernandez is the first Chicano executive director of La Luz, a position he has been training for since he was a boy in the Pico Rivera area of East Los Angeles. The son of a minister, he “grew up in non-profit, in the trenches of community issues,” he says.

“This is my first time being executive director, but I don’t feel like it. In non-profit I went from administrative assistant to program coordinator to program director, so I know what’s needed,” says Hernandez. Most recently, he was director of educational programs at Calistoga Family Center.

His education began when people in his neighborhood mobilized to install a stop sign at a dangerous intersection; He saw how everyone could make a difference at a community level. He went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from UC Riverside and a master’s degree in psychology from Sonoma State, with an emphasis in organizational development, and work in all aspects of non-profit service.

A large white board with the heading, “Executive Director’s 2013 Focus,” stands out against a burgundy wall in Hernandez’s office. Just five months on the job, he is already reaching his initial goals.

He spent his first 30 days on the job getting to know his staff and what they needed in order to be an effective team. The next 30 days were dedicated to meeting with each of La Luz’s 22 board members. He says is in awe of the people on the board and the contributions they bring to the table, and attributes his early success to their vision, decisions, strategy and fundraising efforts.

“If those things hadn’t been in place, coming in would have been more difficult. Because of them, I get to focus on what I need to do.” During the subsequent 30 days he developed relationships with partnering agencies, and connected La Luz with county services.

On Friday mornings, between 9 and 11, St. Joseph’s mobile health van and the Redwood Empire Food Bank set up at Booker Hall. He enjoys using that time to make personal connections with the people in the community.

“One of the things I respect about him is that he’s hands-on and down to earth. You’ll see him talking with clients and volunteers, getting to know them while they’re waiting,” says office manager, Sharon Somogyi.

For Hernandez, it’s all about impacting in people’s lives. “I can go out into The Springs and find somebody who, in some way, has a connection with La Luz,” he said.

 The services La Luz provides are numerous: Classes in everything from childhood development and General Equivalency Diploma (GED) to computer training; help with translations and forms for benefit programs like Cal Fresh and MediCal; and tax help, legal referrals, emergency food resources, rental assistance and vineyard worker services. 

La Luz is not here to solve everybody’s problems, because that is impossible, Hernandez says. “But if you come to La Luz, you will find hope. If you follow up on the information we give you, you will get the help you need.

Hernandez is, in essence, a minister to the expanding Sonoma Valley community, always honoring La Luz founder Ligia Booker and her mission of giving hope to the people who come through the door. “We’re about creating self-advocacy,” he says. “We don’t want to be enablers.” 

 

La Luz ESL Students are EMPOWERED!!

Forty-six students from three different English language classes held at La Luz Center and off site classes at El Verano School received certificates for having successfully completed the course and taking the competency Ventures test during Fall Semester 2012.

The emotional awards ceremony was attended by students, their spouses and children, community leaders, La Luz board members and volunteers, and major supporters representing the Todd Trust of the Community Foundation Sonoma County.

 It was truly a family-community celebration, and the graduates were energized, proud, and empowered.

Students were commended for having finished the semester and for taking the end of semester competency Ventures test, as well as a few students from each class with perfect or near-perfect attendance.  Many volunteers come every week—some come twice—for two hours, to practice conversation and provide individual help.

Why are so many students dedicated to attend these classes?  --To prepare for better jobs, to help their children with homework, to take a more active role in their community, to set an example for their families… 

 “The students were very happy, they were filled with pride,” said Maricarmen Reyes-Larios, who oversees the classes and knows every student by name. When developing the program, La Luz strived to make the classes easily accessible for students. The cost was just $25 for the semester.  During morning sessions, low cost childcare was provided to ensure students with kids could still attend class.

 The registration date for Spring Semester will be on January 8, 2013. For more information on class schedule and registration time please call 707-938-5131. 

Sonoma Mothers Reach out to La Luz Mothers

"Mothers should help and support each other!" That was the reason given by the Sonoma Valley Mother's Club for their choice of La Luz as a primary benefactor of this year's charitable giving. La Luz was selected because of its emphasis on helping mothers and children in need. The mission of the Mother's Club is to create an atmosphere of support, education and socialization for mothers of young children and their families.

We are so grateful to this group of caring women. ¡Mil gracias a todas ustedes---y feliz navidad!"

Blattners Contribute $50,000 to La Luz Center

Kimberly and Simon Blattner of Sonoma have contributed $50,000 to La Luz Center, one of the largest donations the local non-profit has ever received. La Luz is an organization that educates and empowers primarily members of our immigrant community.

The purpose of the Blattners’ gift is to provide seed money to establish a loan fund that will encourage Latino entrepreneurship. 

As Simon Blattner explained, “A good example would be a business person who wants to expand a landscaping business but needs $1,000 for equipment.  He would probably not qualify at a bank, and the process could be intimidating.   We want to create a place where a person can go, and feel encouraged and respected.   Development of small businesses is good for Sonoma Valley and will foster Latino leadership in the community.”  

Simon was the managing partner for the SF Local Development Corporation in 1968. He had the gratifying experience of assisting minority entrepreneurs with their business plans and obtaining permanent financing for their enterprises.  He noted that not only did this process change individual lives, but also contributed to a thriving business climate.

The Blattners' gift was announced at the last board meeting chaired by Kimberly, who served as La Luz’s President of the Board of Directors for two years. Simon has served on the La Luz Advisory Council since 2006 and is dedicated to giving motivated entrepreneurs the opportunity for small loans.

Kimberly stated, “The mission of La Luz is to empower our community through education, self-advocacy and leadership.  We see this program as a significant tool for empowerment.”

Executive Director Juan Hernandez, enthusiastic about the opportunity for La Luz clients, said, “We are grateful to Simon and Kimberly Blattner for their confidence in La Luz's programs and our ability to connect with developing business ideas. While this gift is restricted and won’t cover daily operating costs, it will add a much needed component to our community and to our objectives at La Luz Center.”

ESL Clases Stay in Sonoma Valley

When the Sonoma Valley Adult School lost its funding last spring, La Luz Center immediately stepped in and applied for a grant to continue the English as a Second Language (ESL) classes for Sonoma Valley residents.  The La Luz Center received a $71,000  grant from the Todd Trust - part of the Sonoma County Community Foundation - to continue these crucial classes for the next two semesters.   With the collaboration of Sonoma Valley Unified School District through Principal Maite Iturri, La Luz Center partnered with El Verano School to host two of the ESL evening classes. 

Through the generosity of our major donors, morning classes will also continue at Booker Hall.   Fortunately, the La Luz Center was able to hire back several of the experienced teachers who had had been working with the Adult School and were already familiar with the curriculum.

Maricarmen Reyes Larios, Coordinator of Educational Programs and Leadership at La Luz Center, has been instrumental in organizing all the classes. According to Maricarmen,   “Our mission is to make sure we provide the tools so the students can become active participants who will help shape the economic, cultural and social aspects of our community.”

La Luz Center intern, Rachael Meyn, from the American University in Washington D.C. will also administer a needs assessment for the ESL students. This study will ensure that their basic needs (food, shelter and health) are met in order to create a stable environment for learning that will encourage students to stay with the course, in addition to helping La Luz obtain statistics for current and potential educational grants.

La Luz Center is devoted to offering courses to our community at little or no cost.  All classes began on September 18th and cost only $25 per student per semester.  There has been a great demand for ESL.  Two evening classes meet at El Verano School on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings  for beginner - high intermediate.  Morning classes are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays in Booker Hall at La Luz for the beginning to high-intermediate as well, and child care is available for participating parents at low monthly cost of $5 per child.

Although the classes are currently filled to capacity, thanks to our generous donors there will be another semester beginning the second week of January.  La Luz Center is also looking for ESL volunteer tutors who can assist students with English lessons and how to use the ESL textbook. If anyone is interested in volunteering, please call 707-938-5131 Ext. 106 or at volunteer@laluzcenter.org.

“Education is a major part of our mission statement and thus we aim to empower our community through education that leads to self advocacy and leadership in their family and in the community.” states Juan Hernandez III, the new Executive Director at the La Luz Center.   “We are delighted that our community members will continue to be able to attend classes in a convenient location and learn basic language skills that will be crucial to their success.”

La Luz is a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting our Sonoma Valley neighbors, who contribute to the economic, cultural and social well being of our community. La Luz provides English language training, teaches computer skills, distributes food, hosts medical services, offers crisis counseling, and supports events that celebrate the richness of our multicultural community.

Index Tribune: "First Latino director hired at La Luz"

Souce: sonomanews.com

After securing the annual $100,000, Impact100 grant, and celebrating the most successful fundraiser in its history, La Luz Center has been on an upswing this summer. The Valley nonprofit marked another milestone by installing the first Hispanic executive director in the organization’s 27-year history when it hired Juan Hernandez III in August.

“He is the very first Latino to work as the director,” beamed Claudia Mendoza-Carruth, president of the La Luz board of directors. She added that the change was important as the organization largely serves the immigrant population, most of whom are Hispanic.

“Our clients can look up to him and their children can see what he is doing and know that they can do it too. Their parents can say, ‘Look, look who you can become.’ That’s one thing we don’t have in Sonoma Valley, those types of role models,” Mendoza-Carruth said. “That’s one of the most powerful things we can give our community and the clients we serve.”

Hernandez brings with him a vast array of experience, which Mendoza-Carruth said made him an ideal leader for La Luz. Born and raised in East Los Angeles, Hernandez grew up with a minister father, and working with the community played a significant role in his childhood. He earned a bachelor’s degree at UC Riverside, and then was one of a handful of fellows selected for the Management Leadership for Tomorrow program in New York City, a specialized training aimed at getting minorities into advanced business degrees. He went on to earn a master’s degree in psychology, with an emphasis on organizational development, from Sonoma State University. Most recently, he served as the director of educational programs at the Calistoga Family Center, an organization similar to La Luz providing resources and information to the immigrant community.

“It’s not just my time in Calistoga, but my life experience and my education that I’ll bring to La Luz,” Hernandez said. “When I first came to La Luz, I said, ‘This is exactly the type of organization I want to work in.’”

Hernandez explained that he briefly volunteered at La Luz while he was attending Sonoma State, but the commute proved difficult for a fulltime student. He also applied for the position of executive director two years ago, but the board ultimately selected Yvonne Hall.

“It was a time of administrative turmoil at La Luz. (Hall) came to fill the desk for almost no pay,” Mendoza-Carruth said, adding that Hall had always said she’d give La Luz two years before she wanted to go back into retirement. During her tenure, Hall brought financial stability to the organization, even convincing all staff members to take a pay cut so no one would get laid off. As the two years drew to a close, the 22 members of La Luz’s board of directors formed a search committee and reviewed 40 applicants before selecting Hernandez for his ambition, experience and education.

“She (Hall) is now happy in retirement again. We’ve invited her to be a permanent advisor to the La Luz board,” Mendoza-Carruth said.

Hernandez began in August, just as La Luz was working on plans to expand its physical space, thanks to the $100,000 grant from Impact100. “Juan basically arrived and on the first day was looking over financials and budgets for the project,” Mendoza-Carruth said.

While he spent the first month working closely with the staff to understand how the organization functions, Hernandez is now interested in strengthening La Luz’s outreach in the community by collaborating with other groups and organizations. He said he plans to review the programs and services to find opportunities to better serve clients. He also plans to work more closely with the county, especially when it comes to grants.

“We don’t receive any money from the county, which has grants for the exact services we offer. I want to know why,” he said.

He said he was most excited to get involved with the Sonoma Valley community. “I see me in our clients and I am able to connect, it is a unique thing,” he said. “They kind of look at me like, ‘Wow, there’s a Latino here now.’ It changes the dynamics.”

But he said he doesn’t want the fact that he’s Latino to define his role or the organization. “One of the things I want people to know is that La Luz doesn’t only serve Latinos. We’re an organization that helps people in need,” he said. “I want our organization to be nimble enough where we can focus on the needs of Sonoma Valley.”

Hernandez is married and his wife, Veronica Ortiz-Hernandez, is a high school Spanish teacher. In addition to his work and family, Hernandez is a passionate sports fan, especially when it comes to USC football.

“I am an excellent football coach, so maybe Sonoma Valley High School will let me come and coach one of their young teams,” he laughed.

Reflections from Patti England, Chair, Impact100 Grant Program.

La Luz Wows Members and Prospective Members.
Reflections from Patti England, Chair, Impact100 Grant Program

On Saturday morning, September 29th, more than 50 Impact100 Sonoma members and prospective members met at Booker Hall, a former church building, now the meeting room for a vast array of activities sponsored by La Luz and their community partners. After a warm and enthusiastic welcome from La Luz Board President Claudia Mendoza-Carruth, Impact100 Sonoma President B.J. Bischoff and Membership Chair Ann Reder shared a bit of Impact100 history and described the benefits of membership.

But that day, the focus was really on La Luz. We enjoyed a tour of their facilities and learned all about what happens in the relatively small footprint of La Luz. In Booker Hall (named for Ligia Booker who started La Luz 30 years ago from the back of her car) and the adjoining patio, everything takes place from child care to counseling sessions, to English and computer classes, to parenting classes and food distribution, to a free animal spay clinic sponsored by Pet's Life Line. Every space is utilized in multiple ways to provide services to the largely immigrant and low income population that La Luz serves.

The tour moved to the offices next door and Juan Hernandez, the new Executive Director, and Kara Reyes, the Program Director, continued to amaze us with what can be accomplished in the small house where clients are met and helped with whatever brings them to La Luz on any given day. Roughly 1200 people are served in some capacity each month. It was obvious that La Luz needed more space in which to provide their growing services. Local Architect, George Bevan, shared some ideas for the expansion build-out that the Impact100 grant will help to fund. The majority of our $100,000 grant will fund new and expanded staff for counseling and education.

The best part of the morning, though, was listening to the personal stories of some staff members and how La Luz fostered them first as clients, then as volunteers, and eventually to becoming paid members of the staff, learning the skills necessary to be advocates for the community. One young mother shared her story of coming to La Luz as a small child with her parents, volunteering at La Luz as part of her senior project, becoming a receptionist, and later becoming a skilled Family Advocate. When another staff member congratulated her on her recent U.S. Citizenship, there wasn't a dry eye in the whole room.

La Luz' mission 'to empower the community through education, advocacy and leadership' happens every day and it is done with dignity, respect and sensitive compassion that touched everyone attending.

All photos provided by Russ Johnson.

Film Society celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month at La Luz

Join Sonoma Film Society in celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month!

When: Saturday, Sept. 22

Location: La Luz Center  ~ 17560 Greger St. ~ Sonoma, CA 

Time: 6:00 - 7:30 ~ Reception. Food by Rancho Viejo & Winecourtesy of Robledo Winery

Tickets: $30 (non Film Society Members) - includes film, food & wine

Buy Ticket

Canela has screened at the Chicago Latino Film Festival and The Berlin Film Festival this year and this is your chance to see this wonderful film.

Tradition, family and the love for cooking are a little girl’s gifts as she touches the lives of the people she loves. Maria, a precocious child, has enough energy and creativity to bring joy and happiness to her grandmother and the residents of the community. She shows the community the meaning of love and respect for the traditions of our grandparents. A wonderful film for the whole family.

La tradición, la familia y el amor por la cocina son el regalo de una pequeña niña que toca las vidas de las personas que ama. María, una niña precoz, tiene la suficiente energía y creatividad para aportar alegría y felicidad a su abuela y los residentes de su comunidad. Ella les muestra el significado del amor y el respeto a las tradiciones de nuestros abuelos. Una película maravillosa para toda la familia.