Ongoing Programs

Housing Security, Family Stability, and Anti-Displacement Resources, Referrals, and Case Management

Host and Support Crossroads Weekly Food Distribution Program
Utility Bill Assistance

The Watts Century Latino Organization provides various resources for family stability. Our Crossroads Weekly Food Distribution Program ensures that families have access to nutritious meals, reducing the burden of food insecurity. Additionally, we offer assistance with utility bill payments to ensure that essential services are maintained and household income is maximized. Our organization is committed to holistic case management, addressing various aspects of individuals' and families' well-being to promote enduring stability and resilience within the community.

Executive Director Emeritus Arturo Ybarra and Partners

at 2022 Watts Housing Clinic

Provide referrals to legal, housing support, and tenants’ rights resource providers
Tenants Rights Workshops

The Watts Century Latino Organization aims to foster housing security among Watts residents by offering informative workshops, case management, and advocating for policy shifts to better support marginalized populations. Our Tenants Rights Workshops teach renters about their legal rights and how to navigate landlord-tenant relationships confidently. We also conduct Homeownership and Foreclosure Intervention Workshops that provide guidance and resources to those looking to purchase their first home or are facing foreclosure threats. These workshops are essential educational resources, helping community members make informed decisions and take proactive steps to achieve stable housing.

Homeownership and Foreclosure Intervention Workshops

This programming is an extension of our historic legacy of providing critical foreclosure prevention intervention during the height of the Great Recession, where we assisted hundreds of Watts residents from losing their homes. In addition, based upon WCLO’s track record of advocacy, leadership development and housing access counseling, we were selected to serve as the community-based lead for the TCC Displacement Avoidance Plan and work closely with the Mayor’s Office to deliver essential anti-displacement housing and financial education resources. To date under the TCC grant, we have assisted 400+ individuals with access to rental assistance, eviction and foreclosure prevention, legal representation and financial education services.

Human Development and Empowerment Services (re-launching in 2024)

ESL Workshops
Computer Literacy Workshops

The Watts Century Latino Organization recently re-launched its empowerment services in 2024. The organization has introduced ESL workshops and Computer literacy workshops to uplift the community. The ESL workshops provide valuable language skills to non-native English speakers, enhancing their communication abilities and increasing their agency with navigating life and accessing opportunities. At the same time, the Computer literacy workshops equip participants with the essential digital skills needed to navigate the modern world with confidence. By offering these comprehensive workshops, the organization aims to empower individuals with the tools they need to succeed in today's society. WCLO is committed to empowerment and strives to create a more inclusive and thriving community for all.

Financial Education

Annual Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA)
Money Management, Savings and Banking Literacy Workshops

Watts Century Latino Organization promotes financial education in the community through our free Annual Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA) and Savings and Banking Literacy Workshops. Our VITA program provides free tax preparation services to low-income individuals and families, while our Savings and Banking Literacy Workshops offer skills to manage finances, build savings, and access banking services. We provide individuals with the resources to make informed financial decisions and achieve greater economic stability. We offer these services in partnership with Haven Neighborhood Services. Since 2023, we have hosted 4 tax preparation events, assisting 45 individuals with filing returns which resulted in $69,143 being returned to Watts residents. For more details, please review our Impact here.

Youth and Adult Leadership Development

WCLO serves as a host and training site for:
- 5LA Nuevo Comienzo Youth Boxing Program
- Mayor Karen Bass Angeleno Corps youth career development program
- Charles R. Drew University of Science and Medicine Watts Community Studio Young Ethnographers Program
- Local high school and college youth completing community service hours

Watts Century Latino Organization is a crucial leader in promoting youth leadership development through various programs and collaborations. We serve as a training and placement center for the City of Los Angeles Mayor's Office Angeleno Corps youth career development program, which offers youth aged 16-30 with valuable opportunities to explore different career paths and develop essential skills.

We also partner with Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science's Watts Community Studio Young Ethnographers program, which engages youth in community-partnered research and community engagement. We also help local high school students complete their community service hours by providing mentorship and meaningful learning and service experiences that contribute to their personal and professional growth. Our goal is to empower the next generation of leaders and changemakers in our community through these initiatives.

Our leadership development work builds upon our track record as an anchor for leadership training and development for Watts and South L.A. residents in the areas of advocacy, education reform, community safety, housing rights, and more. WCLO’s former Latino Leaders Institute developed and trained hundreds of residents to own their voice and fight for the outcomes they desired to see in the community. Many notable leaders in Watts, including those serving on the Watts Neighborhood Council, public housing Resident Advisory Councils, and Commissions, developed their skills and experience at WCLO under the tutelage of Arturo Ybarra, the late co-founder and long-time Executive Director. For more about WCLO’s history, click here.

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