Al Wooten Jr. Youth Center

During my senior year at Pepperdine University, as a part of my "Service Leadership Project" course, my classmates and I were tasked with the responsibility of consulting a nonprofit organization. My group and I, branded as "Envision Consulting," were given Al Wooten Jr Youth Center. Since that semester in 2014, I have served as the graphic designer for various Wooten branding materials, event branding, t-shirts, and much more! I am continuously grateful for the opportunity to work with an organization that fosters academic and professional advancement for children, teens, and families.

My name is Rebecca Arce and I joined the Wooten Center in 2017. I started as a intern and I learned so much. I was originally an interior design student but after working with Holman CDC I decided that I had interest in working for Non-profits. I am glad that Holman CDC sent me to the Wooten Center. I learned how to do basic office tasks as part of my job but I also learned what it takes to keep a place like the center open . I learned so much more than I thought. It takes grit and lots of love to keep open because we need a lot of resources but I know that not once has Ms. Naomi McSwain given up on this mission. The mission of this place to help students succeed and steer them away from the streets and violence and its what keeps us all going. Everyone that works here cares deeply about the kids. This place was a school for me it was my first real job and I am ever so thankful. I wish them nothing but the best and even though I am gone because of school this center has inspired me to never stop fighting for those that need it. South Los Angeles needs resources and kind people that are willing to spark a change!

I'm so very grateful to have had not only my children, but also children that were placed in my care, attend both the After School Program as well as Summer Camps at the Wooten Center. Building that connection between the staff and my family means the world to me. My children are now 23 and 18 and they still call upon the staff for guidance and assistance. It's nothing like that sense of driving off to work knowing your children are in good hands. Even as my children aged they have been given assistance by the staff. Anywhere from allowing them to volunteer for camps, scholarship information, job leads etc. The Wooten Center is such a blessing for the community. I recommend all parents consider The Wooten Center for their children.

I am a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Tau Beta Omega Graduate Chapter (Marina del Rey, CA) and my chapter works with the middle school girls at the center for our national organization program, Emerging Young Leaders (EYL). When I'm at the center, I'm consistently impressed by the passion and dedication of those who work there and the excitement of their students to be there. The center staff truly LOVES the kids they serve and are unwavering in their commitment to advocate for their educational enrichment. The work being done at the Al Wooten Jr. Heritage Center positively impacts the local community and changes the lives of all who attend.

My child has been apart of the center for about four years now and this is the best afterschool/summer program she has attended! During a presentation a couple of years ago the children had to describe how they felt about the Center and my daughter Shaylee's word was 'Love'. This is what Shaylee said "I feel loved when I'm at the Center, like I'm apart of a family when I'm here". I cried hearing her speak about the Center, because as a mother you need to know forsure you made the right choice of who is watching over your child. There is so much more I could say, like the learning experiences, home work help so thats finsih when we get home, college prep , the great field trips and allowing my daughter to be a Teen Helpler during the summer. She was so very proud, she said it felt like she had a real job. I would like to thank The Al Wooten Center, the staff, the Founder, the Board and Ms. Namoi for all they do. Sharee Alexander

I have been volunteering with the Al Wooten, Jr. Center for 6 years now and count it amongst the most rewarding experiences in my life. The children are bright, engaging, funny & sweet. Cliff & the rest of the staff continually impress me with their passion & energy. They are doing wonderful work. I feel blessed to have the chance to spend time with these kids and this amazing organization.

I have been volunteering with the Wooten Ctr for over 15 years. The kids are great and Cliff running the place is a true Miracle Worker. He has earned the respect of the kids and it's clear that the children have benefited from not just attending the Wooten Ctr but have become great kids due to their direct relationship with Cliff.

My name is Charles and I've been volunteering my time with the Al Wooten Jr Center for almost 8 years. I have found it to be a rewarding experience for me and the kids that I've come to know.

My name is Carmie and i have been volunteering for about 10 years with the center. It has been a very rewarding experience. Specially, if a child comes up to you, years later and tells you what you have share with them,has changed their lives for the better. Wooten Center has helped so many kids and I hope they will be able to help more in the future.

My name is Scott Miller and I am a Finance Professor at Pepperdine University. I have been actively involved with the Al Wooten Jr. Heritage Center for almost a year. My experience has been truly amazing in every single capacity. The patience, dedication and love shown by the staff is unparalleled. They work hard to keep the kids involved in a variety of activities and events and always do so with a warm smile. The positive impact of the Wooten Center’s work with the children is almost immediately visible. It is very rewarding to watch each of the kids grow and improve in almost every aspect of their lives. Naomi McSwain is a very talented and effective leader. Very few organizations can match the compassionate and effective environment that the Wooten Center has to offer. I enjoy volunteering my time at this organization on a regular basis because I know my time will be spent efficiently and it will have a large, lasting impact on the lives of many kids in the Los Angeles community.

My name is Fengyi Zhang. I am a international student at the Laguage Academy of USC. I am a 24-year-old Chinese. I am very glad to share my pleasent time in Al Wooten Jr. Heritage Center as a volunteer. This January, after viewing the home page of Al Wooten Jr. Heritage Center on Facebook, my husband, Haoyang Wen and I found that it is such a good place where we can spend time with children, make some contribution to them, and can also improve our English. With a little anxiety about our lack of English ability and work experience, we went to the Center and mentioned about our willing of being volunteers to Mrs. McSwain. Her kindness and the warm Al Wooden family relieve our nerves immediately. In the past three monthes, we have worked with so much fun whether as athletic assistant or as homework tutor. Nowadays, Mrs. McSwain will offer us a wonderful chance to give Chinese lessons to the students in the center. We are so looking foward to propagandize our own culture to all the children here. Thank for all the staff and children in Al Wooden family . You guys make our lives so colorful. We love you so much!

My name is Oralia Pacheco I had the honor to work with one special member; Vanessa Rojo. She constanly came to my high school during my eleventh and twelve grade, to help us prepair for the SAT. I had an amazing time learning a variety of techniques that I knew were going to benefit me. The knowledge she provided my peers and I was inmense because coming from a low income family I knew I was not able to afford a course with such strength. I wanted to do well in the SAT and taking part of this program I was able to raise my score aproximately 300 points. Later I took part of one on one counselor guidence in order to make successful decisions when applying to Universities. I really apreciate all the help, I recieved and I know other students benefited from this course and guidence. Thank you Al Wooten Center for helping me obtain acceptance to Universities.