The Pilipino Workers Center (PWC) held the grand opening of its first community hub within the San Fernando Valley in Panorama City on Feb. 20 which provides services, resources and information for Filipino immigrant workers and their families.
The facility, in addition to hosting community meetings, workshops and educational events, will provide service navigation to connect workers with immigration-based services and legal assistance. On-site staff can speak in several Filipino dialects, including Tagalog.
The LA County Department of Public Health’s Community Health Worker for Sustainable Outreach and Navigation grant provided partial funding for the site. The workshops at the facility will help promote the department’s health programs and services.
Several local and state officials, including LA City Councilmember Imelda Padilla, Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, State Sen. Caroline Menjivar and Aquilina Soriano Versoza, PWC executive director attended the grand opening.
“For years, PWC has been a powerful grassroots force in Los Angeles – advocating for workers’ rights, fighting wage theft and ensuring dignity and economic stability for all immigrants who are most vulnerable to abuse on the job site,” said Padilla. “I am very impressed by the high-caliber work they’ve done through direct support, workshops and policy advocacy.”
Daniel Jefferson, PWC policy associate, said that their office in LA’s Historic Filipinotown acts as a venue for the community to celebrate cultural holidays, including Larry Itliong Day and Philippines Independence Day, and they want to bring a similar gathering space to the valley.
“We want to be part of bringing more resources and visibility into the valley [where our community] exists,” Jefferson said. “In Historic Filipinotown, there are issues that need to be addressed and we want to be part of that solution, but we also know that the valley needs attention too. We’re ready to meet with partners, local community leaders and elected leaders in that process.”
The Pilipino Work Center is located at 8237 Sepulveda Place #2 Panorama City.