Community Invited to Youth Center’s Party

The newly established Hank Lacayo Youth Center is inviting the community to attend its first holiday posada, a traditional night of food, music and entertainment, on Thursday.

The free event will feature authentic Mexican food, amateur entertainers and an appearance by Santa Claus, said Joel Martinez, assistant director at the center.

Worshipers will also lead a religious procession and reenactment of Joseph and Mary’s search for shelter in Bethlehem, said Martinez.

Founded in April of this year, the Hank Lacayo Youth Center is operated by Hermanidad Nacional Mexicana, a 45-year-old nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting immigrants’ rights.

The center offers recreational activities, such as basketball, boxing and folk dancing for youth and provides counseling programs for families, said Martinez. It also houses a continuation school, Central High School, for students in grades eight through 12.

The goal of the center, Martinez said, is to help neighborhood youths overcome the obstacles that have led to high crime and high school dropout rates in the area.

“We give youths something to do,” Martinez said.

“This is a place where young people can go to do sports or hang out, and where they or their families can come for counseling when they don’t know where to go.”

The youth center is named for Henry “Hank” Lacayo, a national labor leader of Mexican descent who, for many years, has been involved in Latino and immigration issues.

The posada will begin at 6 p.m. at the youth center, 7915 Van Nuys Blvd.