Community Learning Resource Centers

The strategy developed for solving the community’s educational challenges including the creation of a variety of additional educational and community resources.  The long term goal calls for placing five of these centers (CLRC’s) in strategic locations around the city and school district.

At the beginning of 2004, PEP opened the two first CLRC’s offering computer based and hands-on learning in reading, math, social studies and science for students in grades K-12.  The CLRC’s also provide homework help, introduction to computer classes, web design classes, ESL classes, Parent and Me classes, reading club, family nights, parent training and open lab hours where everyone in the community is able to use the computers.  The centers also offer an educational resource library where members of the community can find information on colleges and universities, financial aid, work-force training programs and events occurring throughout the region. Lastly, the centers include a library of books for students and adults to read throughout the day and even borrow to read at home.

Each year the CLRCs serve over 1,400 children and their parents.  Our work in the centers is supported by generous grants from foundations such as the James Irvine Foundation, the California Community Foundation, the Verizon Foundation as well as local companies such as Paramount Petroleum who have provided exemplary support to the program.  In addition the program received a jump start as a result of a $200,000 Federal Earmark from Congresswoman Linda Sanchez.

Our chief partners in the CLRCs are the City of Paramount which provides a facility at Spane Park and Emmanuel Church which also provides a facility as well as a wealth of experience and many volunteers for the program.  In addition to providing facilities and other support the City of Paramount underwrites a significant portion of the staffing costs each year.

PEP Testimonials

What do the kids say? Each month the children at the Community Learning Resource Center at Spane produce a newsletter, below are some of their unedited comments.

“There are only two things that I like about this center.  I like the math and spelling.  I also want to keep it say.  I like activities here.  I like to play checkers and win everyone.”

Graciela Gonzalez

“What I think about the CLRC is that it’s great.  I like the CLRC because there is this program called Plato.  I like this program because you learn”

Christian Chinchilla

“I want to learn about math and computers.  I want to learn more English that is why I come here.  But also for fun”

Edgar Ramirez

“I came here so I can learn and make new friends.   Want to know the rules, by ABCs but best is to learn to read”

Jessica Perez