{"id":58937,"date":"2014-12-20T14:50:27","date_gmt":"2014-12-20T22:50:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/theavtimes.com\/?p=58937"},"modified":"2014-12-20T15:13:07","modified_gmt":"2014-12-20T23:13:07","slug":"av-youthbuild-opens-palmdale-dream-center","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theavtimes.com\/2014\/12\/20\/av-youthbuild-opens-palmdale-dream-center\/","title":{"rendered":"AV YouthBuild opens Palmdale Dream Center"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"LEFT:<\/a>
[Left] AV YouthBuild Executive Director Rossie Johnson embraces YouthBuild participant Rehonda Trotter, after Trotter\u2019s emotional remarks at the opening celebration for the Palmdale Dream Center Thursday, Dec. 18. [Right] The sign outside the new facility was created by a talented YouthBuild participant, Johnson said.<\/figcaption><\/figure>PALMDALE \u2013 Antelope Valley YouthBuild on Thursday celebrated the completion of the Palmdale Dream Center, a new transitional housing program and outreach facility located at 38518 5th Street East in Palmdale.<\/p>\n

The 6,000 sq. ft. facility was constructed over the past three years by more than 360 students and alumni from AV YouthBuild, in partnership with the city of Palmdale and Paving the Way Foundation.<\/p>\n

Come January, the Palmdale Dream Center will house homeless young adults who lack positive support systems, but are striving to succeed and need a stable and affordable place to live. A wing of the facility will house single mothers and their children. The facility has the capacity to house up to 19 individuals; tenants will be provided support services in a nourishing environment during a six- to 24-month transitional period, according to AV YouthBuild Executive Director and Founder Rossie Johnson<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"More<\/a>
More than 75 supporters and well-wishers attended the opening celebration.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cThis facility represents the rebuilding of our community and transforming lives,\u201d Johnson said. \u201cIt\u2019s about recognizing dreams.\u201d<\/p>\n

The opening celebration Thursday brought together more than 75 supporters and well-wishers. The emotional ceremony included remarks from Johnson, State Assemblymember Tom Lackey<\/strong>, Palmdale Councilmember Fred Thompson<\/strong>, Neighborhood Services Director Mike Miller<\/strong>, students and staff from AV YouthBuild, and other supporters of the project. Following the ceremony, attendees toured the new facility, which includes 11 bedrooms, four bathrooms, two kitchens, two living rooms, two meeting rooms, two laundry rooms and an activity center.<\/p>\n

Celebrating the Dream Center!
\n<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\"[L<\/a>
[L to R] AV YouthBuild Co-founder Olivia Altamirano; Palmdale Sheriff’s Station Captain Don Ford; State Assemblymember Tom Lackey; AV YouthBuild Executive Director Rossie Johnson; Palmdale Councilmember Fred Thompson; and Phil Matero, Youth Build Charter School of California.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"California<\/a>
California Assemblymember Tom Lackey presents a commendation certificate to the Palmdale Dream Center. \u201cI\u2019m proud to be a supporter of something that needs to be replicated throughout this area,\u201d Lackey said. \u201cWe\u2019re so grateful for the example that YouthBuild sets for the entire country.\u201d<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Jessica<\/a>
Jessica West (left) and Rehonda Trotter (right) spoke about their experiences as participants in AV YouthBuild. West spoke about the pride she felt in having been a part of building the Palmdale Dream Center. Trotter was overcome with emotion as she spoke about the challenges in her life that brought her to AV YouthBuild. The teen mom said she learned to \u201cnot let your challenges overcome your dreams.\u201d<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Following<\/a>
Following the opening ceremony, supporters toured the Palmdale Dream Center.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Local<\/a>
Local businesses or individuals may \u201cadopt\u201d a room at the Dream Center by purchasing the items needed to furnish and decorate the room of their choosing. To find out more about the new Palmdale Dream Center and how you can help, contact Antelope Valley YouthBuild at 661-266-8900 or email palmdaledreamcenter@gmail.com.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"[L<\/a>
[L to R] AV YouthBuild Mentor Coordinator Jamaal Brown, Palmdale Sheriff\u2019s Station Caption Don Ford and AV Pageantry Director Waunette Cullors tour the co-ed wing of the Palmdale Dream Center. Cullors is \u201cadopting\u201d two rooms at the new facility. \u201cIt\u2019s important for AV Pageantry to support this project because we\u2019re supporting girls, and I think this is a very good program to get them back on their feet,\u201d Cullors said. \u201cWe want them to know that they\u2019re loved, they\u2019re part of the community, and they should have the best of things.\u201d<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"The<\/a>
The new Palmdale Dream Center transitional housing site is located at 38518 5th Street East in Palmdale.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Palmdale Dream Center needs your support!<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Local businesses or individuals may \u201cadopt\u201d a room at the Dream Center by purchasing the items needed to furnish and decorate the room of their choosing.<\/p>\n

You can also support the project by donating other household items, including mattresses (twin size); linens and beddings (blankets, pillows, etc.); kitchen items (silverware, plates, bowls, cups, utensils, small appliances, etc.); bathroom supplies (towels, mats, etc.); cosmetics (toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, conditioner, etc.); and cleaning supplies (mops, brooms, dustpans, etc.). Cash donations are accepted, and all donations are tax deductible.<\/p>\n

To find out more about the new Palmdale Dream Center and how you can help, contact Antelope Valley YouthBuild at 661-266-8900 or email palmdaledreamcenter@gmail.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

PALMDALE \u2013 Antelope Valley YouthBuild on Thursday celebrated the completion of the Palmdale Dream Center, a new transitional housing program and outreach facility located at 38518 5th Street East in Palmdale. The 6,000 sq. ft. facility was constructed over the past three years by more than 360 students and alumni from AV YouthBuild, in partnership […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":58976,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/theavtimes.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58937"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/theavtimes.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/theavtimes.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theavtimes.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theavtimes.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=58937"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/theavtimes.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58937\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theavtimes.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/58976"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/theavtimes.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=58937"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theavtimes.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=58937"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theavtimes.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=58937"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}