San Ysidro officials cut the ribbon on a highly anticipated Parent Community Center, a place meant to help prepare community members for success.
"This is actually really huge," San Ysidro Unified School District Board President Marcos Diaz said. "The population here in San Ysidro, as far as adults are concerned, over 50 percent do not have a HS diploma, so we're trying to change that with the children, with the new generations coming forward making sure we strive to educate the parents as well as the children."
The center, located at 4350 Otay Mesa Road, is run by the San Ysidro School District. It offers parent workshops, English classes, computer and internet access and other learning opportunities meant to support parents and community members.
Community and school volunteer Olga Espinoza got emotional as she talked about the center opening up, gesturing around her to the computers.
"We just need this kind of center here," she said, adding that it would help many parents as well as students by supporting their educational growth, job growth and personal growth.
"It's for the community, not just for the parents...It's a good thing," Espinoza said.
Families that attended got a better idea of some of the resources available to neighborhood residents.
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"This is just the beginning. The younger we can get the children involved in these programs, the longer they will stick with it,' Diaz said. "One of the key factors is making sure the parents are also involved, that they believe, that they can see what we’re doing. When they can come to this parent center and be part of that process… all that helps get them involved."
