El Concilio profile: Many Mansions and One Step a la Vez

In one of the community recognition highlights of the year, El Concilio Family Services will presents its 26th annual Latino Leadership Awards at a gala on Saturday, June 6 at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center.

Awards this year will go to José Alamillo, a professor at California State University Channel Islands; Richard Camacho, president of the Vietnam Veterans of Ventura County; Marisa Montgomery, a registered nurse who provides support to monolingual Spanish-speaking new moms and dads; Miguel Undurraga, a senior at Rio Mesa High School; Capt. Lawrence Vasquez, commanding officer of Naval Base Ventura County, and Christopher Williams, a sergeant with the Oxnard Police Department.

Also being honored are two community nonprofit organizations, Many Mansions and One Step a la Vez.

Rick Shroeder, president of Many Mansions, will be representing the nonprofit organization when it is honored on June 6 at El Concilio Family Services's annual Latino Leadership Awards. Photos courtesy of BB Rivas / El Concilio Family Services.

Many Mansions is a nonprofit organization that provides housing and support programs to low-income and disadvantaged residents in many cities in Ventura County. Its programs are designed to assist in breaking the cycle of poverty and increasing skill sets to achieve greater stability and self-sufficiency.

The organization, founded in Thousand Oaks in 1979, collaborates with other local nonprofit organizations, service providers and faith-based organizations to help its clients and the community at large. It develops affordable housing by renovating rundown apartment buildings or by constructing new apartment buildings. It then manages the apartments and populates them with low- and very-low-income families and individuals, many of whom are homeless and have a disability. It currently manages 14 properties and 500 units of affordable housing.

“At our supportive housing properties, Many Mansions provides onsite services including case management job development, life skills and other services so that their residents may develop the necessary skills to develop self-sufficiency, independence and social integration,” the organization stated in its nomination letter. “For our youth, Many Mansions is trying to break the cycle of poverty through education. All children are invited to participate in Many Mansions’ children’s programs, including its Homework Tutoring Club, summer camp and school liaisons — all emphasizing education and advancement. All of Many Mansions’ services are free of charge.”

According to one nomination letter, “Before I was housed at Many Mansions, I didn’t have a healthy environment to study in, to sleep in, or to take control of the important things in my life, such as my therapy dog ‘Puppy.’ I started drinking at 11 years old and no one paid attention to whether partying or school mattered more.… At one point in my life I didn’t think I would be able to reach l8 years old. Now I am able to have a place to sleep and study comfortably and have more than enough space for Puppy and me. It’s been awhile since I was able to have a place called home and I couldn’t be any happier to call this place my home. I owe every thank you in the world to Many Mansions.”

One Step a la Vez will be honored during El Concilio's Family Services' annual Latino Leadership Awards to be held June 6 in Oxnard.

One Step a la Vez provides programs to empower young people, cultivate awareness and bridge the gaps of inequality for its program participants and its community. It was formed in 2004 by 12 Latino youths who also chose the name, blending both languages to respect the dual heritage of the community. It was created to bring services to the often overlooked and underserved community.

Initially providing afterschool mentorship through its relationship with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ventura County, it gained its 501c3 status in 2012 and started adding re-entry services to youths in juvenile hall and offering classes and support groups for parents including domestic violence, parenting, mental health, college and career counseling, individual and drug counseling, work experience and training, English-language, cooking and independent living skills classes.

The group has also expanded its advocacy efforts in the communities of Fillmore and Piru, successfully working with Chevron to speed up the clean up an adjacent superfund site from 50 to five years, advocating for a new skateboard park in Piru and advocating for its drop-in teen center.

According to one nomination letter, “The center is always busy with different activities going on. Beside the services, it is a welcoming environment where youth can come after school and meet with friends, play video games, read, complete homework, use the computer lab, make a snack, chat, or just be. Participants also have the opportunity to participate in educational excursions such as college tours and museums, to name a few. The One Step Center is a hidden gem in Ventura County. Their dedicated director and founder, Lynn Edmonds, has dedicated countless hours, sweat and tears to assisting the youth in making their vision of a better life come true.”