LOS ANGELES - The fiscal year 2003 Omnibus Spending Bill that passed through Congress in early February included a Department of Health and Human Services construction grant for $240,000 to benefit the Atwater Community Wellness Center. This center will be a vital component of the new Los Angeles Community College satellite campus soon to be built at the old Van de Camp bakery building in Atwater Village.
Representative Xavier Becerra (CA - 31), whose congressional district includes both the LACC campus and most of Atwater Village, championed the inclusion of this grant by the House Appropriations Committee in the FY03 Omnibus Bill.
The Wellness Center will offer preventative screenings and other health services in a community that has an abnormally high incidence of diabetes, asthma, pediatric asthma and heart disease. The $240,000 grant will come from the Health Resources Services Agency, and is earmarked for purchasing equipment to assess and treat these aforementioned illnesses.
In addition to the Wellness Center, the new campus will have 45 classrooms, a library, a bookstore, a student services office and several community-based programs serving northeast Los Angeles.
At a check presentation ceremony on the LACC campus Wednesday, April 23, Rep. Becerra praised Dr. Mary Spangler, President of LACC, and all of the school's administrators for their bold plan. "By choosing the Atwater community as the home for its Wellness Center, LACC and its administration has demonstrated concern for those residents of Los Angeles who have minimal to no access to medical and education resources.
"With the establishment of the Atwater Wellness Center, LACC will effectively become a community, state and national leader in risk prevention and wellness by providing health, fitness and diagnostic testing services for communities in need," Rep. Becerra said.