Potential Big Changes Coming to Tom Bradley Youth & Family Center

Big changes may be coming to the Tom Bradley Family Center. Of the 21 Family Source Centers in Los Angeles, only 4 (including Tom Bradley) are funded by the city with Federal grants. A variety of non-profit community development organizations operate the other 17 Centers.

Because of cuts in the Federal budget, programs that assist the disadvantaged are the first to go and the Los Angeles Housing Department has made a recommendation to the Housing Commission to defund the Tom Bradley along with the two other centers. If the Commission supports the changes they will pass their recommendation to City Council. If approved, Tony Nicholas, director of Tom Bradley for 15 years, along with assistant director Andrea Solomon and Eddie Nuno program co-ordinator, will be relocated to a Family Center in Watts, one of two centers still funded by the Federal grants. The programs they have developed at Tom Bradley and our community will go along with them. It is likely that Community Build, a non profit focused on youth issues, will take over the Tom Bradley center.
AprilTony Nicholasweb
Tony Nicholas, who was raised in our community and has a deep affiliation and affection for it, is disappointed. Councilman Wesson has been appealed to but there may not be much he can do. As Council President, he would have to fight to refund all three defunded centers for an approximate total of $900,000 per year. The money would have to come from the general fund, a very difficult proposition. Tony wonders why city money from the general fund is used to support things like useless decorative medians along Pico while programs that help feed and educate the poor are so easily eliminated.

With the loss of the bowling alley and skating rink at Midtown shopping and now the programs at the Tom Bradley, community resources that help the poor, and friendly gathering places for our youth, seem to be dwindling in Council District 10. 

Photo by Dawn Kirkpatrick
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Established in August of 2008 by writerartist Dianne V. Lawrence, The Neighborhood News covers the events, people, history, politics and historic architecture of communities throughout the Mid-City and West Adams area in Los Angeles Council District 10.

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