Los Angeles County and Community Organizations Host Unaccompanied Children and their Families at Welcome Fair
LOS ANGELES – Today, the Los Angeles County Office of Immigrant Affairs (OIA), in the Department of Consumer and Business Affairs (DCBA), and its partners hosted a free community event to provide vital information and services for unaccompanied children and their families.
The Welcome Fair for Unaccompanied Children and their Families was a one-day event at East Los Angeles College, bringing together dozens of County departments, LA City agencies, and community organizations to provide services in a welcoming, safe and supportive environment. Available resources were provided to the families in attendance, including immigration orientations; educational access services; employment and career guidance; health and wellness information; nutrition and food resources; and arts, culture, and recreational activities.
Along with OIA, co-hosts included Los Angeles County Chair of the Board of Supervisors Hilda L. Solis; Esperanza Immigrant Rights Project a program of Catholic Charities of Los Angeles Inc. (Esperanza); Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti’s Office of Immigrant Affairs; Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice (CLUE); and Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE).
“In launching the emergency intake site for unaccompanied children at the Pomona Fairplex in partnership with President Biden, I made a commitment to ensure unaccompanied children would be welcomed by our community and network of organizations, including our County family,” shared Chair Solis. “I am so thankful to today’s partners in helping us make sure that youth and their sponsors receive the support they need to live healthy and productive lives.”
“Los Angeles is a place of belonging, where immigrants have made their homes for centuries,” said Mayor Garcetti. “We are proud to welcome these children and their families, and help connect them with the support and resources needed to start a new life.”
“This Welcome Fair demonstrates the power of community,” said Rafael Carbajal, DCBA Director, “where organizations and individuals come together to serve young people and their families in a time of need.”
“The LA County Office of Immigrant Affairs is here to welcome all immigrants and their families into the LA County family, and to help them get access to wraparound support services,” said Rigo Reyes, OIA Executive Director. “From health and nutrition to arts and culture and everything in between, there is always valuable help for everyone.”
“Esperanza Immigrant Rights Project serves thousands of unaccompanied minors by providing free legal representation and community education,” said Kimberley Plotnik, Esperanza’s Director. “The Welcome Fair communicates a powerful and timely message – that all immigrants are welcome in Los Angeles and that local stakeholders are standing together to support them.”
“We know that these children and their families will need to overcome many barriers to learning as they navigate through uncharted territory in a completely new environment,” said Los Angeles County Superintendent of Schools Debra Duardo, MSW, Ed.D. “These resources are essential to ensuring that all students have equitable access to a quality education that addresses the needs of our most vulnerable school communities.”
Other agencies providing services included: LA County Dream Resource Center; Los Angeles Unified School District’s School Enrollment Placement and Assessment (SEPA) Center; Math on the Border; Johns Well Child and Family Center; La Linterna at Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles; Clínica Romero; Amanecer Community Counseling; USC Telehealth; International Institute of Los Angeles; The Echo Park Refugee Welcoming Center; Homies Unidos; YMCA; Opportunities For Youth; San Fernando Valley Refugee Children Center; and Los Angeles-based artist and educator Phung Huynh.
