SELA Cares Center

The SELA Cares Center in Southeast Los Angeles, launched by ABC and partners, provides critical resources and support for immigrant families, including deportation preparedness, health and mental health services, an Immigrant Welcome Center, and specialized support for the LGBTQ+ community, while also strengthening the community and advocacy efforts.

Events & Workshops

Workshops and events are organized and facilitated by our partner organizations and held periodically. Please check this page for updates on upcoming opportunities.

Join Us for the SELA Community Gathering: Edible School Gardens – Life & Wellness!

We’re excited to invite you to an important event hosted by the SELA Innovate Public Schools team: SELA Community Gathering: Edible School Gardens – Life & Wellness! This event will bring together school officials, nonprofit leaders, and community members to explore the vital role of edible school gardens in promoting student nutrition, wellness, and overall well-being.

At this gathering, we will discuss how creating edible gardens in schools not only teaches students how to grow their ownorganic fruits and vegetables but also helps foster a healthier relationship with food. By incorporating these gardens, we can enhance physical health, mental wellness, and social-emotional development, supporting students in a natural, holistic way. This is particularly important as we continue to navigate the challenges brought on by the pandemic and other societal impacts.

Edible gardens are an essential part of the Whole Child Approach, offering students more opportunities to thrive in Academics, Health, and Life!

Event Details:

  • Date: Friday, March 14th, 2025
  • Time: 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
  • Location: NewStart Housing Corporation

Community Resources

In addition to the workshops and events organized by our partner organizations, the SELA Cares Center shares valuable community resources from trusted organizations and local initiatives. Below, you’ll find services and opportunities available in the community.

Education

Legacy Youth Leadership – Leadership Program

Legacy Youth Leadership is a nonprofit organization that works to build a socially conscious & active generation of young people. LYL provides free educational & activism programs as well as leadership coaching & mentoring to young people to supplement students’ existing school & youth development. Students develop the following skills: Self Awareness, Social Awareness, Goal Setting, and Strategic Planning.

Click here to apply. Open year-round.

Earn College Credit with CLEP

  • “Students take CLEP exams at official CLEP test centers or at home with remote proctoring.”
  • “CLEP exams are offered year-round at more than 2,000 CLEP test centers worldwide.”
  • “CLEP exams take about 90–120 minutes to complete, depending on the exam subject.”
  • “Students receive their CLEP exam scores immediately after completing the exam (except for College Composition and Spanish with Writing).”
  • “ANYONE can take a CLEP exam.”

Click here to register for a CLEP exam! Open year-round.

Latino Film Institute – Youth Cinema Project

The Youth Cinema Project (YCP) is project based learning that produces competent, resilient, real world problem-solvers and bridges the achievement and opportunity gaps by creating lifelong learners and the entertainment industry’s multicultural future.

Click here to learn more. Open year-round.

Help Me Grow LA

Help Me Grow LA supports all families in promoting young children’s development and lifelong success by connecting them to developmental services and supports that promote their child’s well-being.

Click here to learn more.  Open year-round.

Economic Prosperity

Wildfire Assistance and Resources from LAEDC | Asistencia y Recursos por Incendios Forestales de LAEDC

In response to the recent fire and wind storms in Los Angeles, LAEDC has compiled several resources on its website to support residents and businesses. These include emergency shelter assistance, disaster relief funds, health and safety updates, business recovery loans, and community support services. Each resource offers specific services to aid recovery, from financial assistance to mental health support. For more information and access to these resources, visit the LAEDC website.

En respuesta a los recientes incendios y tormentas de viento en Los Ángeles, LAEDC ha recopilado varios recursos en su sitio web para apoyar a los residentes y negocios. Estos incluyen asistencia para refugios de emergencia, fondos de ayuda por desastres, actualizaciones sobre salud y seguridad, préstamos para la recuperación de negocios y servicios de apoyo comunitario. Cada recurso ofrece servicios específicos para ayudar en la recuperación, desde asistencia financiera hasta apoyo en salud mental. Para obtener más información y acceder a estos recursos, visite el sitio web de LAEDC.

Southeast Los Angeles Financial Resources | Recursos Financieros para el Sureste de Los Ángeles

We recognize the systemic barriers that disproportionately affect Latina/o communities, including limited access to economic opportunities. Additionally, we deeply understand that equitable access to financial resources is crucial for developing generational wealth for Latinas/os. In response to the issues highlighted by our community, we have brought together these resources and tools for individuals, small businesses, and communities on their path to financial success.

Click here to read more (English) Open year-round.

Reconocemos las barreras sistémicas que afectan desproporcionadamente las comunidades latinas, incluyendo el acceso limitado a las oportunidades economicas. Además, entendemos profundamente la importancia al acceso equitativo a recursos financieros es crucial para el desarrollo de un patrimonio generacional para los latinas/os. En respuesta a las cuestiones destacadas por nuestra comunidad, juntamos estos recursos y herramientas para individuos, pequeñas empresas y comunidades en su camino hacia el éxito financiero.

Para leer más, haz clic aquí. (Español) Open year-round.

Pathways LA

Pathways LA strengthens low-income and vulnerable working families, promotes high quality early care and education services for children of all abilities, develops knowledgeable early care providers and promotes economically resilient communities.

Click here to learn more. Open year-round.

Home Rise

Step Up provides innovative, community-based Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) and comprehensive case management services for those experiencing housing insecurity via developments in Los Angeles, Monterey, Orange, San Bernardino, and Sacramento Counties across California, and in Seminole County, Florida. New locations coming soon in the Coachella Valley in Riverside County, California. Step Up is a “Housing First” provider. Housing First advocates the provision of client-preferred services based on the premise that individuals know what is best for themselves, that services are to be directed by an individual’s self-determined goals.

Click here to learn more. Open year-round.

SHE IS HOPE LA

SHE IS HOPE LA is a nonprofit organization providing emotional, physical, and financial tools and services to help guide single mothers through every aspect of supporting themselves and their child/children.

Click here to apply. Open year-round.

CalFresh

CalFresh is for people with low-income who meet federal income eligibility rules and want to add to their budget to put healthy and nutritious food on the table. The CalFresh Program, federally known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), issues monthly electronic benefits that can be used to buy most foods at many markets and food stores. The CalFresh Program helps to improve the health and well-being of qualified households and individuals by providing them a means to meet their nutritional needs.

Click here to apply. Open year-round.

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) – helps keep families safe and healthy through initiatives that assist families with energy costs. To qualify, you must be a resident or property owner in an eligible city, and have total household monthly gross income within the HEAP income guidelines. Click here for Spanish translation.  Open year-round.

Health

DACA Recipients Now Eligible for Covered California | Los beneficiarios DACA ya son elegibles para Covered California

Starting November 1st, DACA recipients can apply for health insurance through Covered California and receive financial assistance to lower their monthly premiums! The open enrollment period runs from November 1, 2024, to January 31, 2025. For more information on how to apply, click the link here.

El 1 de Noviembre, los beneficiarios de DACA pueden solicitar un seguro de salud a través de Covered California y recibir asistencia financiera para reducir sus primas mensuales. ¡El período de inscripción abierta va del 1 de Noviembre de 2024 al 31 de Enero de 2025! Para más información sobre cómo solicitar, haz clic en el enlace aquí.

Health4All Resource Roundup

The Health4All leaders have assembled a hub for resources related to the Medi-Cal expansion for undocumented adults aged 26-49. This hub will be continuously updated with upcoming webinars, events, and information. Open year-round.

Financial Resources for Cancer Patients

There are many agencies and organizations that work to help provide direct financial assistance to low-income families as well as free or affordable health care. Asbestos.com can help find financial aid for cancer patients and their families living with mesothelioma. Open year-round.

Department of Health and Human Services

The HHS Health Resources Services Administration has community-based clinics across the U.S. that provide health care services on a sliding fee scale based on financial need. The HHS also runs the HealthCare.gov Marketplace that offers health insurance that is partially subsidized based on income. Open year-round.

National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics

The National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics helps people find medical clinics and pharmacies in their area. They work to ensure that uninsured and underinsured people have access to health care. Open year-round.

Caring.com

“A little-known yet growing concern among social service workers and those operating homeless shelters across the United States is the increasing number of older Americans experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

Around the country, federal, state and locally funded programs exist for the purpose of helping Americans, and older Americans in particular, access resources such as emergency housing financial assistance and rapid rehousing support. In this guide, we’ll help you learn about available resources for emergency housing and how to access them.” Open year-round.

Los Angeles Community Garden Council

The mission of the LA Community Garden Council is to strengthen communities by building and supporting community gardens where every person in Los Angeles County can grow healthy food in their neighborhood.

Click here to learn more about what community gardens are near you and how you can become involved. Open year-round.

Get Vaccinated!

To find a free COVID-19 vaccine near you, visit VaccinateLACounty.com and click on “How To Get Vaccinated” or call the Public Health Vaccine Call Center at 833-540-0473, open daily 8:00 am to 8:30 pm. 

No appointment is needed at many locations, and free transportation may be available. You do not need insurance, and you will not be asked about your immigration status. In-home vaccination is available for people who are home-bound.

To find flu vaccines near you, call your doctor or local pharmacy or call 2-1-1 LA County information line (you can ask for locations where flu vaccines are low cost or free). See “Where Can I get a Flu Immunization” for more information. Open year-round.

“When our communities are targeted and exploited, we must uplift and come together to ensure that we’re not only taking care of our immediate needs but also preparing our communities for an uncertain future,” 

– Vanessa Aramayo, CEO and President of ABC

Our Partners

This effort would not be possible without our partners, who are uniting to support immigrant families.

Council of Mexican Federations in North America (COFEM)

COFEM is a nonprofit organization aimed at creating opportunities for Latino Immigrants in North America, with a special focus in California. A community-based umbrella organization established by a league of  federations or groups of people who share ideas and have continually participated in efforts to improve educational, health, social, and political conditions for our communities. 

Everyone On

Everyone On’s holistic approach to digital inclusion connects under-resourced communities to affordable internet and computers, trains individuals and organizations on digital skills and resources, and advances fair and just policies. 

Human Services Association (HSA)

HSA is a private nonprofit agency whose principal mission is to provide families with compassionate and comprehensive care to promote wellness and build strong communities. 

Innovate Public Schools

Innovate Public Schools is a nonprofit organization dedicated to building the capacity of parents and families to organize, advocate, and demand high quality schools for their children.

Latino Equity Alliance (LEA)

LEA advocates for safety, equity, and wellness for the Latinx Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer + community. The organization strongly focuses on youth empowerment, family acceptance, educational equity, public health, and civic engagement. Through coalitions, they strive to build power to elevate the LGBTQ+ voices in Boyle Heights and the greater East Side communities of Los Angeles.  

NewStart Housing Corporation

NewStart Housing Corporation is currently designated as a Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO) in the Cities of, Huntington Park, Fontana, South Gate and the County of Los Angeles. It is driven by a long-term vision to provide quality affordable housing to low-income seniors and families whom may otherwise not have many options for adequate shelter.    

SELA Collaborative

The Southeast Los Angeles (SELA) Collaborative is a network of organizations working together to strengthen the capacity of the nonprofit sector and increase civic engagement in Southeast LA.

SoCal CAN

SoCal CAN holds the shared belief that no single program, organization, or institution alone can solve the educational inequities that exist in our communities. Collective action is necessary to achieve large-scale change.    In every aspect of our work, we create opportunities for our members to lead, collaborate, and advocate

Southeast Community Development Corporation

Southeast Community Development Corporation, through education and technology, creates an environment in which individuals are inspired to explore, discover and learn, ultimately empowering children and adults to be confident and innovative individuals who contribute positively to the community.