Community Education and Resource Centers  

The Purpose

The purpose of CERC is to increase the presence and accessibility of UCLA and the University of California in the local community and to strengthen our ability to form meaningful partnerships with community-based organizations in pursuit of our shared educational goals.

Goals

·         To make university's resources more accessible and more focused on addressing community-identified barriers that inhibit educational achievement of the community's youth

·         To assess UCLA's community-based activities and to develop a campus-wide, coordinated strategy in partnership with community leaders

·         To augment current UC efforts to improve the overall academic performance of partner schools and colleges that are near to CERC sites

·         To serve as a clearinghouse for brokering services to communities based on the needs of its youth

·         To have a measurable impact on educational achievement and the increased capacity for communities to collaborate across the city to enhance educational opportunity

CERC Model

The CERC initiative is a long-term partnership between UCLA and selected community partners to address systemic issues that inhibit the academic achievement of youth residing in these areas. The CERC sites serve as UC hubs in Los Angeles, bringing the talents of faculty, staff and students to work on the challenges faced by the communities of Los Angeles. The CERC provides a vehicle to work comprehensively and coherently within communities to devise and implement plans of action that address the educational, social, economic, public safety and health-related issues that impact the educational opportunities for the youth of these communities.

CERC sites will be multifaceted and will provide opportunities for faculty and students to engage in service learning and community service, field placement, and research. CERC seeks to create a networked community of learners in Los Angeles by enabling communities build the needed infrastructure to ensure a successful future for all of their children.

The Founding Set of Pilot CERC Sites Selected January, 2000

Each CERC site has identified immediate and systemic issues where UCLA would be a valuable partner in strategizing and implementing change. Working broadly and holistically, the partnership will be multifaceted and will draw on the talents of the university community and the Los Angeles communities.  The five CERC sites are Proyecto Pastoral at Delores Mission, Elizabeth Learning Center, Hope Street Family Center, The Inglewood Initiative, and Watts Labor Community Action Committee.

Proyecto Pastoral at Dolores Mission (Boyle Heights 90033): provides educational and cultural after-school programs, job creation, mentorship, violence prevention, child care and early childhood development, an alternative school, leadership development for youth and adults and emergency homeless shelter to residents of the Pico Aliso Housing Developments and surrounding Boyle Heights area.   Learn more about this site.

Elizabeth Learning Center (Cudahy 90201): is a model site for the Urban Learning Centers, a nationally replicated model for school reform. A LAUSD K-12 school, as well as a Community/Family Resource Center, ELC addresses barriers to learning and is a hub for social, health and community educational services. Two high school academies, in the areas of Information/Technology and Health, provide support for Career exposure and university preparation.   Learn more about this site.

Hope Street Family Center (Downtown Los Angeles 90015): In partnership with the UCLA School of Public Health, the California Hospital Medical Center’s Hope Street Family Center provides a comprehensive program of child, youth, and family services that strengthen academic achievement, as well as family stability and economic self-sufficiency.   Learn more about this site.

The Inglewood Initiative (Inglewood 90301): In partnership with the 100 Black Men of LA, the City of Inglewood, and LAX,  and building on an existing partnership between UCLA and Inglewood schools, the CERC will facilitate the development of a city-wide strategy to promote a college-going culture by working with the city to network community support, education, economic systems, training services, urban renewal, curriculum reform, and health and wellness.   Learn more about this site.