By Luis Chacon

The Salesian Family Youth Center in Los Angeles Visits the Don Bosco Community Center in Port Chester

On April 3rd, JC and I had the opportunity to visit the Don Bosco Community Center in Port Chester. As committed laymen of the Salesian mission, we were eager to learn about the programs and initiatives that this center has developed to serve the needs of the community. We were not disappointed – the center offers an impressive array of programs and services that truly embody the Salesian spirit of solidarity and outreach.

During our visit, we met with the CEO of the center, Jerry, and other members of the administrative team. They graciously took us on a tour of the facilities and provided detailed information about each program. We were particularly impressed by the center’s efforts to support workers in their labor rights, provide after-school services to students, and offer clothing donations and copying services to the homeless. Additionally, the center provides a dining room for people in need, as well as other programs that serve the community in various ways.

Jerry, a layman committed to the Salesian mission, leads the center. His dedication and passion for serving the community was palpable throughout our visit. We were inspired by his leadership and the work of the center’s staff and volunteers. It was clear that the center has a deep commitment to the values of the Salesian mission.

At the Salesian Family Youth Center, we are currently planning to start a network of Youth Centers at the National level to share strategies, experiences, and best practices that we have had as Youth Centers over the years. We believe that this collaborative effort can help us all to continue growing in a strategic, organized, and Salesian way. Our visit to the Don Bosco Community Center in Port Chester has reinforced our belief that this kind of collaboration is essential to the success of our mission.

We are grateful for the opportunity to have visited the Don Bosco Community Center in Port Chester and to have met Jerry and his team. Their work is an inspiration to us all, and we look forward to continued collaboration with them and other Salesian centers across the country.

In the words of Don Bosco, “Do everything for love, and nothing for reward.” Let us all continue to embody this spirit in our work and our collaborations with one another.