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UPrinting/UCommunity
May 2018
Our appreciation to UPrinting for their partnership providing discounted printing services for our nonprofit youth center. We receive 10% off every order plus a $100 credit to start. We are officially a participant of their UCommunity - UPrinting Nonprofit Sponsorship Program. Always quality products and service! For more information, visit www.uprinting.com.
United Way Award to Wooten
May 2018
Congratulations to our executive director Naomi McSwain for being the first recipient of the United Way of Greater Los Angeles Power of Her Award. United Way honored her at a reception this month at the Pacific Design Center. Thank you UWGLA!
Vision Award to Thomas McCarthy
April 2016
Our Vision Awards honoree for 2017 is Thomas McCarthy. Tom is a long-time donor at the center. He is co-president of a real estate development firm currently helping us develop plans to improve and expand our facilities. We appreciate his volunteer and financial contributions building success for our students, providing a great role model in the fields of commercial real estate, green advocacy and more. Click here for his bio.
AKA Award to Wooten Executive Director
March 2016
Thank you to AKA Sorority International Tau Beta Omega Marina del Rey Chapter for presenting one of three community partner awards to our executive director Naomi McSwain. Naomi accepted the trophy on behalf of the center at a lovely Scholarship Jazz Brunch at the Marina del Rey Hotel.
The AKA event also raised funds for youth scholarships and honored Marcia Reed, principal of 186th Street Elementary. A posthumous award to former AKA member Dr. Lacey Wyatt was accepted by her mother and daughter.
AKA has provided volunteers and donations at the center for about four years via step dance, leadership classes and conferences, Christmas gifts, etc. They paid for and installed a mural on our 91st Street wall with a quote from our founder, who passed away last year.
New golf classes offered at center
February 2016
We have recently partnered with Helping Youth Through Golf (HYTG), which offers on-site instruction for beginner golfers and golf course instruction for more advanced learners all at no cost to the students or our program. Instruction is held every Wednesday from 5-6pm at the center. See. www.hytg2011.com.
UCLA builds and plants container gardens
January 2016
We were very happy and thankful to host students and faculty from UCLA at the center today making a positive impact for children on our nation's King Day of Service. Thank you UCLA students and staff, Volunteer Center director Shannon Hickman, Chancellor Gene Block and project coordinator George Sell.
Thanks for the volunteers, materials and expertise and a very fun day showing our students how to build, plant, paint and beautify their surroundings.
Thanks for the discussion group on going to college! Thank you for the investment in our youth (over $8,000 in labor and materials!) and some homegrown snacks via our new and improved garden...oranges, lemons, strawberries, lettuce, tomatoes, broccoli and kale.
Kinecta plants drought-tolerant garden for King Day of Service
January 2016
So much fun today for an early King Day of Service with Kinecta Federal Credit Union. From breaking up asphalt to digging holes and stuffing them with drought-tolerant plants purchased by Kinecta. Thanks to all the Kinecta volunteers and Wooten staff, parents and youth who turned out to beautify our grounds and community. Pass by 91st Street at Western to check out the garden and mural with a quote from our founder Myrtle Faye Rumph. Calling for love, understanding and compassion for our youth!
Word Warriors III by Wooten Center alumnus Takia Tizzi Green
January 2016
Awesome night with the premiere of Word Warriors III, written, produced and directed by Wooten Center alumnus Takia Tizzi Green. The documentary focuses on the use of words as the weapon of choice over violence. It features a cast of poets including Amiri Baraka in his last interview, Malcolm Jamal Warner of The Cosby Show fame in a way most have never seen and Wooten alums Gregory Bell and Matthew Sutton, among others. Look for the documentary soon as several distributors were there to check it out. You can preview the trailer now online at www.wordwarriors3themovie.com.
UCLA installs playground mural
October 2015
On Saturday, more than 7,000 Bruins volunteered across Los Angeles, providing an estimated 38,000 hours of service to the region’s schools, veterans, homeless shelters and more. Over 600 organizers and approximately 6,500 new freshmen and transfer students lent a hand at 48 sites for UCLA’s seventh annual Volunteer Day, an event that kicks off the academic career of almost every new Bruin.
Projects included mural painting and beautification at schools and shelters; distribution of school supplies and dental hygiene kits; restoration of nature trails; landscaping; technology tutoring with seniors; and interactive activities with school children. Chancellor Gene Block joined volunteers at some of the sites, speaking at Al Wooten Jr. Heritage Center and Second Street Elementary School.
Wooten adopts i-Ready tutorials for adaptive and blended learning
July 2015
The Wooten Center uses the i-Ready online assessment tool to identify student needs in reading and math in the afterschool and summer programs. The assessments for grades 3-12 are based on state content standards to determine grade level achievement or challenges. See www.i-ready.com. Assessments are given three times per year in the afterschool program, and twice in the summer to track progress. Students also receive continuous lessons plans that identify and challenge individual needs of improvement based on state standards.
Summer Fun Camp features computer animation
June 2015
Summer Fun Camp is here! Registration is open now for the seven-week program June 15 to July 31 at the Al Wooten Jr. Heritage Center. Students in grades 3-9 will study computer animation and receive help preparing for their next grade levels, among other activities. Computer animation taught by cartoon artist David Brown.
Wooten founder homegoing at age 83
January 2015
Homegoing services were held today, January 16th, at Faithful Central Bible Church for our founder Myrtle Faye Rumph. Thank you to all of the family and friends, new and old, that turned out to make her day special. Best wishes to her Ross family, church family and Wooten family. Our children have lost a great advocate but that spirit of love and care for our kids lives on.
Wooten Center Recognized as Service Enterprise Organization
2014
LA Works and the Points of Light Foundation conducted a review of our volunteer management practices in 2014 and selected the Wooten Center as a certified Service Enterprise organization in recognition of our work recruiting, engaging and recognizing volunteers and interns.
Wooten Founder Receives 2010 Presidential Citizens Medal
August 2010
Myrtle Faye Rumph, founder of the Al Wooten Jr. Heritage Center, was one of 13 recipients of the 2010 Presidential Citizens Medal award, our nation’s second-highest civilian honor. Mrs. Rumph received the award from the President at the White House on August 4, along with the other winners from across the country.
The Presidential Citizens Medal was established in 1969 to recognize American citizens who have performed exemplary deeds of service for their country or their fellow citizens. President Obama selected the winners out of a final pool of about 30 people. He chose to use the 2010 Citizens Medal to recognize Americans whose work has had a significant impact on their communities but may not have garnered national attention.