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Making a difference at Gabriel’s House

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Dozens of volunteers converged on Gabriel’s House for a work day on Saturday. Located at 38533 4th Street East in Palmdale, the Neighborhood House is named in memory of 8-year-old Gabriel Fernandez (top right).
Dozens of volunteers converged on Gabriel’s House for a work day on Saturday. Located at 38533 4th Street East in Palmdale, the Neighborhood House is named in memory of 8-year-old Gabriel Fernandez (top right).

PALMDALE – More than 75 volunteers turned out Saturday to lend a hand in painting and cleaning Palmdale’s newest Neighborhood House.

Palmdale Neighborhood House #3  is named “Gabriel’s House,” in memory of eight-year-old Gabriel Fernandez, who was tragically killed this year after prolonged child abuse. (Read more here).

“We have a large number of volunteers that want to make a difference,” said Palmdale Mayor Jim Ledford. “It’s a tragedy what we’ve experienced, so here is a very positive opportunity to come together and do something significant to set the stage for even more great things in the future.”

L to R) The Art Branch Founder Jimmy Lu, Palmdale City Councilmember Tom Lackey, and Palmdale Mayor Jim Ledford break for a chat at the ‘Gabriel’s House’ Volunteer Work Day.
(L to R) The Art Branch Founder Jimmy Lu, Palmdale City Councilmember Tom Lackey, and Palmdale Mayor Jim Ledford break for a chat at the ‘Gabriel’s House’ Volunteer Work Day.

Gabriel’s House will provide children in the area with the opportunity to develop their creative talents, city officials said.

The 1,400-square-foot, three-bedroom home is expected to be completely transformed into a music and performing arts center by next month, according to Mike Miller, Director of Neighborhood Services for the City of Palmdale. The garage is being converted into a dance studio, with hardwood floors and mirrored walls, Miller said. The bedrooms will serve as music rooms where children will receive lessons in singing and playing musical instruments, Miller said. Three pianos were donated to the house already, Miller added.

“Hopefully the kids who come and participate in these programs will be doing performances at the Palmdale Playhouse,” Miller said.

Gabriel’s House will be run by The Art Branch Foundation, a nonprofit organization established in 2008. Founder Jimmy Lu said programs will feature all the major aspects of art, including dance, acting, drawing, film, music and photography.

“We have top-notch instructors and we’re providing all these services for free. To be a part of it, kids just have to come in and sign up,” Lu said. To learn more about The Art Branch Foundation, register for classes or make a donation to Gabriel’s House, visit www.TheArtBranch.org.

Sights from Gabriel’s House Volunteer Work Day 

Eight-year-old Chayse gets a helping hand from Acton resident Tami Lamb in painting a door in one of the bedrooms that will be converted into a music room. “I heard about [the cleanup] on Facebook so I decided to come,” Lamb said. “Kids need a place to go and this is important.”
Eight-year-old Chayse gets a helping hand from Acton resident Tami Lamb in painting a door in one of the bedrooms that will be converted into a music room. “I heard about [the cleanup] on Facebook so I decided to come,” Lamb said. “Kids need a place to go and this is important.”
Former Miss Palmdale Stefanie Naylor was all smiles as she worked. “I love getting involved in the community and I believe in the power of the arts, so I just wanted to be a part of making this place happen,” Naylor said.
Former Miss Palmdale Stefanie Naylor was all smiles as she worked. “I love getting involved in the community and I believe in the power of the arts, so I just wanted to be a part of making this place happen,” Naylor said.
Palmdale resident Alfredo Flores said he came out with his family to give back to his community. “We heard about Gabriel’s story and it really touched our hearts, so we’re just trying to give back a little bit,” Flores said.
Palmdale resident Alfredo Flores said he came out with his family to give back to his community. “We heard about Gabriel’s story and it really touched our hearts, so we’re just trying to give back a little bit,” Flores said.
For Karen Mendoza, the cause hit especially close to home. “I was once a child of abuse myself, so it brings back memories,” Mendoza said. “For children not to know that they have somebody they can count on, it sucks. So now that all this has come together, hopefully we can get the word across that there is somebody out there for all of us.”
For Karen Mendoza, the cause hit especially close to home. “I was once a child of abuse myself, so it brings back memories,” Mendoza said. “For children not to know that they have somebody they can count on, it sucks. So now that all this has come together, hopefully we can get the word across that there is somebody out there for all of us.”
Semi-retired Palmdale resident Marsha Furman said Gabriel’s House would positively impact the neighborhood. “I live over on Carolside near Desert Sands Park, so these are my neighbors and this is all positive for our neighborhood,” Furman said. “We’re on the upside of changing the attitudes and possibilities in this area and I just want to be a part of it.”
Semi-retired Palmdale resident Marsha Furman said Gabriel’s House would positively impact the neighborhood. “I live over on Carolside near Desert Sands Park, so these are my neighbors and this is all positive for our neighborhood,” Furman said. “We’re on the upside of changing the attitudes and possibilities in this area and I just want to be a part of it.”
(L to R) Robert E. Alvarado, Elena Montgomery and Tina Alfaro and were on hand to help register the volunteers.
(L to R) Robert E. Alvarado, Elena Montgomery and Tina Alfaro were on hand to help register the volunteers.

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Filed Under: Acton, Palmdale

11 comments for "Making a difference at Gabriel’s House"

  1. Can anybody just come or is their any one I could get I contact with? so my daughter could learn a instrument and interact with other kids..

  2. This is a great place for a child who has a been abused. I was a child of extreme abuse and I had to live someone else’s a choice for me. At least these kids will have a fighting chance. If I would have gotten to live in this kind of place when I was a kid perhaps drugs and alcohol and fighting and crime wouldn’t have been as easy as a choice for me because I would have learned someone does care for me. Life on the streets as a beginner teens is rough. Good job AV.

  3. If you don’t have something nice to say please don’t say nothing at all. For respect, please. It’s easy as that.

  5. Love that NO COUNTY DCFS workers volunteered to assist in this.
    Granted, he wouldn’t be gone if it weren’t for their ill work ethics. Least they can do is give some extra time IN MEMORY of the little boy they didn’t save. Goes to show you how little they really care about CHILDREN. We should just call them the Department of We Want To Control Your Parenting and Other Services. Children services shouldn’t be included.

  6. the comment was directed about the fact that somebody now has this house as their neighbor, nothing to do with the kid it is named after!

    • Really???? That’s ur comment??? What’s wrong with you?? That poor little boy endured more pain and sadness than most people can even comprehend!!! He didn’t deserve to be be tortured and beaten to death!! He was a beautiful innocent child! And as devasting as his story is, he deserves to be immortalized in a positive way so that his death will not be in vain!! This is amazing proof that there are still good people in the world. People that care. People that don’t only care about themselves!! The world needs more of this!! How heartless of you to try to make something so positive into a negative!! Humanity needs more of these selfless caring people and less ignorant a** holes like you!! You should be ashamed of yourself!!!

      • Don’t take it that personal, because it is too late, the boy is already dead, and there is no way to save him… There is only one way to save other kids like him – to sue social workers, those who failed to do their job right.. So, if you really want to make a difference, go ahead and organize the protest at their office, bring as many people as you can, and make a huge scene, to make sure that those lame workers end up in jail, because they are primary reason of why the boy is dead, besides monsters parents of course.. About the house – I would just demolish it, too many horrible things happened there.

        • Why would you demolish a house provided to make a difference? Get the fact straight Gabriel did not live in that house so therefore he did not die there. Read the story listen before making a statement. If you didn’t lend a helping hand in making a difference then don’t be angry come out and support to help save other children.