Dream Cities | Los Angeles, CA
1650 East 104th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90002
Phone: 323-568-5500
Fax: 323-569-6066
Learning Center DirectorJesús Salasjsalas  usdreamacademy [dot] org | Mentor CoordinatorWendy Castrowcastro usdreamacademy [dot] org |
Feature Story
The votes are in! Los Angeles DreamKids, Beatriz Pelayo and Jovanny Mendoza, were selected, by a group of their peers, as the Los Angeles Learning Center DreamKids of the Year! These honors came about as a result of Beatriz and Jovanny’s leadership and positive behavior during the school year.
To celebrate Beatriz and Jovanny’s accomplishments, 30 Los Angeles DreamKids and six parent chaperones, took a charter bus trip to Sea World in San Diego – two hours from the Center in Los Angeles. All of the students had an excellent time learning about marine wildlife and the importance of conservation. But the guests of honor, Beatriz and Jovanny had an extra special treat: the opportunity to directly interact with the dolphins at Sea World!
“Honoring students for their behavior has been especially rewarding,” says Center Director, Jasmine Taylor. “When students are praised in front of the group it helps model good behavior for others and they catch on. I’ve even seen an increase in students volunteering to help with clean-up, setting up activities, and helping one another. Congratulations to Beatriz and Jovanny for setting a great example and we’ll definitely keep this up next year.”
Our History in Los Angeles
The Los Angeles Learning Center opened in June of 2007. Located at Edwin Markham Middle School in Watts, California, the Center provides the following program for 55 students each day: homework/tutoring, spelling and math bee, computer labs, DreamBuilding Workshop and Connections, a communications workshop.
Because Edwin Markham Middle School is a feeder school for six housing developments, it serves many students who do not have the opportunity to take many trips outside their respective neighborhoods. The Los Angeles Learning Center orchestrates several field trips to fulfill these needs and have visited many educational and recreational facilities including the Skirball Cultural Center, the Museum of Tolerance, the University of Southern California, the Long Beach Aquarium and many others.
The Los Angeles Learning Center is also the only U.S. Dream Academy Center to serve students throughout the day in a program called the “Classroom Enrichment Program.” Through this innovative course, over 150 students use the Center’s computer lab bi-weekly to work on the Pearson Learning software, called SuccessMaker.
About Our Staff
Learning Center DirectorJesús M. Salas is an educator with a wealth of experience working with at-risk population of students and facilitating adult learning experiences. His work in education began in high school while volunteering in an after school program for abused and at-risk children. His passion led him to join Teach For America upon graduating from Florida State University, where he studied criminology, creative writing and history. Prior to becoming Director of the Watts/Los Angeles Learning Center, Jesús served as an educator and instructional coach at Edwin Markham Middle School for five and a half years. He received a Masters degree in secondary education from Loyola Marymount University. Jesús is a co-founder of InnovatED, Inc., and a doctoral student at UCLA. |
Our Los Angeles Partners in the Dream
California Senator Rod Wright
Greater Love Christian Center
Helping Other People Excel (HOPE)
Beyond the Bell
LA Conservation Corps
Boys & Girls Club
USC TRIO Program
Fulcrum
Greater Mount Sinai, MBC #2
Community Harvest Foundation
Los Angeles Mayor's Office
Watts Gang Task Force
Women of Watts
Councilwoman Janice Hahn
Partnership for Los Angeles Schools
Upcoming Events
There are no upcoming events scheduled for this learning center at this time. Please check back later.
