LACA Celebrates 35 Years of Aid to Youth

Less than five years after county officials threatened to take over its mismanaged Head Start program, a revitalized Latin American Civic Assn. will mark its 35th anniversary Saturday with an event that will double as an open house for its new administrative headquarters.

The association provides meals, health care and instruction to more than 1,000 low-income children in the San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys.

In 1993, the county Department of Education determined that the agency had violated federal spending guidelines in its child-care programs.

After a reorganization that included the resignation of then-director Ralph Arriola, the group was just beginning to get its financial house in order when its offices and warehouses were seriously damaged in the 1994 Northridge earthquake.

It has taken almost four years for the association to rebound from that disaster, said Irene Tovar, executive director.

“Thirty-five years is a long time, and we want to say thank you to the community and all of those people who have stood by us over the years,” Tovar said.

“It also gives us a chance to look toward the future with the opening of our new administrative building. It symbolizes our commitment to improve the quality of life of the poor and powerless by making them self-sufficient.”

Saturday’s celebration, which is open to the public, will include art displays, music, dancing and a variety of activities for young people, Tovar said.

Los Angeles Police Chief Bernard Parks, Assemblyman Tony Cardenas (D-Sylmar), state Sen. Richard Polanco (D-Los Angeles) and other officials are expected to attend.

Established in 1962 in response to what was seen as neglect of the area’s Mexican American population, LACA has focused its energies on helping preschool children.

About 1,400 children ages 3 to 5 are enrolled in the group’s 30 Head Start programs in the San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys.

The open house will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at LACA’s new location, 340 Parkside Drive in San Fernando.

For more information, call (818) 361-8641.