New county service center for Florence-Firestone

 

FORIMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                   CONTACT:  Angie Castro, (213) 703-2823

Supervisor Gloria Molina’s Office

                                                                       

                       

 

A “COUNTY HALL” TO CALL THEIR OWN:   FLORENCE-FIRESTONE RESIDENTS’ NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION EFFORTS CULMINATE WITH NEW SERVICE CENTER PROVIDING ACCESS TO LOCAL COUNTY AND SOCIAL SERVICES

 

 

LOS ANGELES COUNTY (June 23, 2010) --- Celebrating the culmination of neighborhood revitalization efforts in the Florence-Firestone community, local residents were joined today by
Los Angeles County Supervisors Gloria Molina and Mark Ridley-Thomas today in dedicating their very own “County Hall” – the Florence-Firestone Community Service Center offering accessible and local county and social services.  Also in attendance were community leaders, artist Willie Robert Middlebrook, county agencies and service providers.

 “The Florence-Firestone Community Service Center marks the culmination of successful community revitalization efforts that have brought many new improvements, beautification projects and much needed services to the Florence-Firestone community,” said Molina.  “The Service Center will make county and social services more accessible to local residents, and is an example of residents and the county working together to make local government work for everyone.”

The $5.4 million Service Center includes a computer learning lab, conference rooms,

offices and a state-of-the-art multipurpose room equipped with a full-use kitchen, and fitness room with exercise equipment.     

In addition to their respective Constituent Services Offices, Molina and
Ridley-Thomas, secured Community and Senior Services, Consumer Affairs, Registrar-Recorder, Senior Services and employment placement offices at the Center. 

Community leader Joe Titus said, “I was born and raised in Florence-Firestone and have lived here 82 years, and I am so happy to see our many dreams come true -- especially our new Service Center.  Our community has worked closely with the county to beautify and improve our neighborhoods, and we are grateful for the many services we receive and for our new and improved Florence-Firestone. ”

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MOLINA/Florence-Firestone Community Service Center, 2-2-2-2

 

The Center is adjacent to a Sheriff’s sub station and offers residents access to:   

 

• Birth/Marriage Certificates and Passport Services
• Community and Seniors Services – and Elder Care Programs
• Computer Classes and Freelance Use
• Consumer and Fraud Prevention Assistance, Mediation and Conflict Resolution Services
• Dial-a-Ride and Transportation Assistance
• Emergency Food and Utility Bill Assistance
• English as a Second Language Classes
• Food Distribution Services and Food Nutrition Management Services
• Home Ownership Information Assistance
• Library assistance and book/video rentals
• Job Referrals and Training
• Nutrition Education and Fitness Training Workshops
• Senior Citizen Food Services and Job Training Services

 

Funding for the Center was made possible from County Capital funds, and Supervisors Molina’s and Ridley Thomas’ community project funds.  

Willie Middlebrook’s “Short Stories” mural, which was designed specifically for the Florence-Firestone community, adorns the Service Center’s entry lobby and was unveiled at the festivities.  The 6 ft by 16 ft public art piece features human faces combined with illustrations of plant, animal life and landmarks in the Florence-Firestone community. 

Born and raised in Compton, Middlebrook considers his digital “photographic paintings”, collaborative endeavors and says, “Art is about an understanding focused towards a single goal; to speak to and about our people, our communities.”  

Revitalization and improvement projects initiated by Molina in the Florence-Firestone include the La Alameda Shopping Development, Roosevelt Park improvements, the recent opening of
“El Parque Nuestro” -- a “green” park at the intersection of Converse Avenue and Gage Avenue; new public-private housing; resurfacing of local streets; the Florence Avenue Streetscape project and other improvement projects.

For more information about services at the Florence-Firestone Community Services Center, contact: (323) 586-6502.                               

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