To Friends of the Café on A:
You are probably aware of the work that we have been doing in the greater Oxnard community for two decades. About 15 years ago we, with the help of people like you, we were able to realize the dream to establish the Café on A. It has since become a hub (the ombligo) for the collective interests of people who want to make a difference in the lives of youth who have been forgotten or ignored by mainstream society.
Since opening the Center, we have helped countless at-promise youth and adults find their way to a better place as stewards and community servants. Through our award winning program known as the KEYS Leadership Academy, where we provide academic guidance and remediation within a safe and loving environment, we have been able to help over 2,000 youth and adults enter a college or university. Despite the immense odds that faced them, through the Café, they became success stories.
We established the Acuna Art Gallery, one of the great art galleries of the Southwest, which showcases Chicano and Latino Art. We also created the ACCESS Water program to help teach children and youth from the poorest neighborhoods of the city to swim. Now, over 500 babies, youth, and parents have received certified swimming lessons.
We also created another award winning program known as “Dirty Little Secrets” that is designed to allow victims of incest and domestic violence to recover through the healing, transformational, and redemptive power of the confessional narrative. We have self-published 10 books of poetry, short stories and plays. In essence, it has always been the mission of the Café on A to stand and make a difference for the betterment of life for the youth that so many times are forgotten because they have strayed so far from the beaten path. As one of our supporters stated “The Café on A has always been a sanctuary for the throwaway youth that a lot people in this society would like to pretend don’t exist. Somehow the Café has figured out how to reach them with art, culture, social mentoring, and healing. This Center is a treasure of the community and we need to support and protect it.” (Dr. Jaime Casillas).
One of the hardest things for us has always been asking for financial contributions but if we don’t ask for help, we cannot continue to exist. Won’t you please consider making the Café on A your yearly non-profit recipient of choice. We are a 501(c)3 non-profit, federal ID #00223314.
All donations are tax deductible and with your contribution you can be assured that we will continue our community social justice work on behalf of our at-promise youth and their families.
Please send donations to:
LOVE IS THE KEY Foundation EERD,
Box 1387, Oxnard, CA 93032-13