Catholic Charities of San Bernardino and Riverside Counties

SAN BERNARDIO, CA - "May 6th, was a day of earthly delights for the participants celebrating Earth Day 2009 by planting trees, flowers, and a vegetable garden in the courtyard of the newly renovated “Focus 92411 – Homework Center.” In existence for five years, the “Homework Center” is located on the Westside of San Bernardino on Western Avenue. The center has been a successful venture between Catholic Charities, Community Hospital of San Bernardino, Cal State San Bernardino, San Bernardino Public Health Department and community residents.

On hand at the Earth Day Celebration were local community youth, Catholic Charities volunteers, Community Hospital of San Bernardino Staff and the Mayor of San Bernardino, Pat Morris. Mayor Morris was very excited to participate in the event, exclaiming, “I came to work” and together with several volunteers planted the first fruit trees and vegetables.

The Earth Day Celebration was symbolic of the “Homework Center’s” commitment to inspire the youth of the area to take an active role in “thinking globally and acting locally” as well to instill a philosophy of healthy living through proper nutrition. Planting the garden will also serve as an entrée to make the Center a more attractive setting for youth and their families to gather.Beverly Earl, Catholic Charities’ Director of San Bernardino County Family Assistance Programs, commented “It was a day of the community coming together”. She also indicated that the celebration was in line with the purpose of the “Homework Center “ which was established to address the gaps in services in the area of San Bernardino. Part of the self-improvement programs at the “Homework Center” are issues addressing obesity in youth. She hopes that the community garden will give the youth a chance to “learn about healthy whole foods, the experience of growing their own food, and to bring nature into an urban setting”.

The “Homework Center” offers stability in a challenging urban environment. Besides tutoring, and homework preparation, the center emphasizes reading, exercise, drill team classes and after-school activities. “We have about seventy-five youth that come to participate during the month. During an average week we are interacting with thirty youth a day,” said Ms. Earl. “The ‘Homework Center’ also encourages the socialization of the youth by providing cultural and artistic field trips to which they might otherwise not have access. “Volunteers tutor and we also engage the parents to become more involved in their youth’s education.” Currently the youth have experienced theatre events, the soul circus, the San Diego Chargers game, and the Museum of Tolerance.

The Catholic Charities “Homework Center” staff hopes to expand on their services so that they include a community choir, recruit a choir instructor, offer piano lessons, and expand the physical education program.