March 2019 eBlast
Appreciation Luncheon Brings Pacoima Community Together

On Thursday, February 21, El Nido hosted an appreciation luncheon for our kitchen donors and supporters. Many of those who attended contributed to the building and equipping of the Culinary Training Kitchen at our Pacoima FamilySource Center.

Guests included Los Angeles City Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez 7th District, who presented City proclamations to our very generous donors. Also in attendance were Rushmore Cervantes, General Manager of the L.A. Housing + Community Investment Department, and Jessica Orellana , Valley Field Deputy District #3 for Los Angeles County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl’s Pacoima office. They both thanked our donors and congratulated El Nido, our youth in the culinary program, and their families.

Culinary instructor Wendy Centeno led the El Nido students in preparing, cooking, and serving the luncheon. The cool weather provided the perfect atmosphere for guests to enjoy lattes and cappuccinos prepared by our students in the Barista Training program. Guests were impressed seeing the completed kitchen and hearing the program’s impact on the youth.

The training kitchen emphasizes healthy preparation of food, and trains clients in the culinary and business aspects of restaurant management.
El Nido Junior Board and Gang Reduction Program host “KickNic” for Pacoima Families

Over 100 youth and families from El Nido Family Centers’ Gang Reduction and Youth Development (GRYD) program were treated to a party in the park with their families thanks to the members of the newly organized El Nido Junior Board of Directors. The Kickball Picnic (or “Kicknic”) was held at Ritchie Valens Recreation Center in Pacoima on Saturday, January 26, and provided guest with a generous array of family games while El Nido’s culinary students prepared food for all. 

The Junior Board, a group of motivated and community-minded young professionals, raised funds for the event and worked with El Nido staff to organize the day.  Juliana Soic, Founder and Chairperson of the Junior Board, says, “Our focus in putting together this event was community visibility and engagement, with an eye to bringing together El Nido’s donors, volunteers and its served community in a fun, casual, and family-friendly environment. We want to use this opportunity to show El Nido’s clients that El Nido’s supporters are fervently and personally invested in those clients’ success and their continued participation in El Nido’s life-changing programming initiatives.” 


The Junior Board raises money to provide educational opportunities for vulnerable and at-risk youth, and you can support their mission, and these youth, by making a donation at this link (write ‘Junior Board’ in the memo field).

El Nido Family Centers 818-830-3646