Avis & Mark Ridley-Thomas Life Learning Center Opens

The Los Angeles Child Guidance Clinic unveiled the Avis & Mark Ridley-Thomas Life Learning Center not far from Exposition Park, where  transition age youth, ages 16-25, can  access high-quality mental health and social services to foster their emotional well-being and physical health, achieve lifelong economic stability, and build strong connections to positive support systems.

“The Avis and Mark Ridley-Thomas Life Learning Center is named after two pillars in our community. The LLC symbolizes hope and a brighter future for our youth and young adults. It’s also the right time for us to focus our attention on the social and environmental concerns impacting them and make a meaningful difference,” said Los Angeles Child Guidance Clinic President and CEO Charlene Dimas-Peinado.

“Avis and I are honored, beyond measure, to be the namesakes of the new Life Learning Center,” Supervisor Ridley-Thomas said. “These are our young people and they deserve to be lifted up and supported. We believe this reimagined center will be a life-changing and welcome addition to this community and it will complement the many new developments along the Vermont Corridor.”

In Los Angeles County, there are approximately 1.4 million transition age youth. Many of these young adults transition into adulthood successfully; however, an estimated five to ten percent are challenged due to a number of negative circumstances – poverty, housing insecurity, substance abuse, physical abuse, exposure to or a victim of violence and/or are members of marginalized groups based on race, ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation. Often, young adults in South Los Angeles are more vulnerable and socially isolated which can jeopardize their long-term success.

The Los Angeles Child Guidance Clinic is a nationally acclaimed community-based provider of holistic, innovative, and evidence-based behavioral and mental health services for children, young adults and families in Los Angeles. LACGC has assisted high-need families in historically underserved communities since l924. Each year, LACGC serves over 4,000 individuals at three community-based centers, 30 school-based sites, and directly to clients through field-based programming.