‘A light in the darkness for the people of Watts’

Visitors who tour the Presentation Learning Center in Watts most likely will be invited to join the tai-chi warm-up lessons led by co-director, Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Sister Jane Bonar.

“Respiren profundo (Breathe deeply),” Sister Bonar told a group of more than 20 women (and a couple of men) who showed up at 9 o’clock sharp on a recent chilly morning, right after Mass at San Miguel Church across the street.

Physical exercises, Sister Bonar told them, would help them in other ways.

“Nuestros problemas llegan y se van como las nubes (Our problems come and go as the clouds),” she told them in fluent Spanish, as she led them in basic exercises followed by acupressure activities, while soft music played.

Sister Bonar encouraged the adults to relax and focus not on their problems but on how to help “a nuestros hermanos en Japón” (our brethren in Japan). “The sun goes out to give us light, love and life,” she told them, reiterating the center’s motto, “A light in the darkness for the people of Watts.” Then the students headed to their classrooms in the two-story building adjacent to San Miguel’s rectory.

About 150 adults are served by the Watts chapter of the Presentation Sisters (Sister Bonar, co-director Sister Catherine Burke and Sister Mary Sullivan). They held their largest annual fundraiser on April 16, a fashion show where sewing students modeled their creations, for more than 200 people in an event put together by the sisters, donors, volunteers and students. A free-admission fashion show was held for the parish on the previous Sunday.

Meeting the needs
The learning center’s day courses are attended by Spanish-speaking stay-at-home mothers who take advantage of some free time while their children attend next door San Miguel School, and by unemployed immigrants, all of whom are looking to gain U.S. citizenship, to improve their English writing and reading skills, or to earn the General Education Development (GED) certificate. Some seasonal farm workers show up during their seasonal breaks, then return to the fields.

The evening classes are attended by gardeners, cleaning ladies, dental or doctor’s assistants and factory workers, among others, who desire to improve their English to get better jobs where they could earn higher salaries.

Seniors gather once a week at a crafts workshop where they knit scarves to be donated at Christmas to convalescent homes, or baby caps (donated to those less fortunate, or sold to raise funds for the institution).

The center was opened in January 2000 to serve the low-income immigrant community of Watts and neighboring cities, including Huntington Park, Compton, South Gate and Lynwood. Research conducted by the Presentation Sisters showed numerous needs, stemming from lack of information and education, the Sisters’ forte.

The Sisters set out to increase literacy and empower adults through education, offering classes in English as a Second Language (ESL), computer skills, U.S. history and citizenship test preparation.

Elective classes include nutrition, parenting, Spanish literacy (for those who never attended school in their native countries), crafts, sewing, ballet folklorico dancing, drama, music, art, tai-chi and aerobics.

Educational fieldtrips are offered twice a year and day care services are provided to make sure that parents do not miss classes.

A pool of St. Joseph of Carondelet Sisters and parishioners (mostly retired professionals) from American Martyrs (Manhattan Beach), St. James and St. Lawrence Martyr (Redondo Beach), St. Cornelius (Long Beach), and St. John Fisher (Rancho Palos Verdes) support the center working as teachers or tutors, taking care of the children, serving snacks or planning fundraisers. Other volunteers support the programs through their work at the Palos Verdes Resale Thrift Store, managed by St. John Fisher parishioners.

The Sisters’ efforts are much appreciated. “The Sisters are very good, they are very special,” said Level 4 ESL student Margarita Vidales.

Sandra Alcántara, a 33-year-old mother of three children, who grew up picking and packaging vegetables in the fields of her native Michoacán, Mexico, said she has learned about self-worth. The Watts resident will soon earn her GED diploma and might pursue a college degree, she said, noting how her parents did not have enough money to send her to school or even for food and clothing.

“I remember those days when we were very cold and hungry,” she commented.

Watts resident Maribel Ayala, a married mother of two young children, appreciates the time spent by the volunteers. The ESL student said she initially enrolled in the English classes to help her children with their homework, but as she advanced in the classes she felt motivated to keep on learning for her own sake.

“They encourage us and motivate us to continue learning,” she said. “They want us to increase our efforts for our own benefit as well.”

For more information about the Presentation Learning Center and volunteer opportunities, call (323) 563-3901, visit www.presentationlearningcenter.org or email Sister Jane Bonar, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .