Grand opening set for teen center

Miguel Alonso celebrates his victory over Connie Barajas playing the Rosetta Stone software Connect 4 game at One Step Center, the new after-school center for teens in Fillmore. Juan Carlo / Star staff 02/03/09 in Fillmore: Mercedes Williams-Evans works inside the computer room on scholarship information at the new after-school center for teens in Fillmore with a major part of its funding from Proposition 63, the so-called millionaire's tax, which California voters passed in 2004 to raise the income tax rate on the highest-income earners. The center will have its grand opening on Saturday, Feb. 7, although its doors have already opened and it has been offering various after school activities. The center, with the bilingual name "One Step a La Vez," or "One Step at a Time," offers computers, homework help, counseling and peer support groups, yoga and more. Students who spearheaded a new teen center in Fillmore will help stage its grand opening Saturday to display its activities and give thanks for the community’s support.The One Step Center opened in September for teens 13-19 but was not fully operational until this week, when several student assistants joined the staff and the center spread out, now occupying two rooms in Trinity Episcopal Church’s parish hall. “It’s someplace where kids can go and Rosetta Stone Latin America Spanish not worry about being judged,” said Stephanie Gonzalez, 17, secretary of One Step’s all-teen board of directors.“We’re excited about the grand opening because we want more people to come, learn what we do and how we can help teens,” added the Fillmore High School senior. She prepared a presentation for Saturday describing some of the center’s activities, which include homework help; a computer lab; cooking, nutrition and yoga classes; mentoring and counseling.Work started in 2005 The center was years in the making.In 2005, a youth committee — formed to increase mental healthcare — picked a dual-language name for their board, One Step a la Vez, or One Step at a Time, said Lynn Edmonds, a retired educator who wrote a grant application that netted $73,000 toward the center’s yearly operational cost of $150,000.The grant money comes from Proposition 63, approved by state voters in 2004, which increased the income-tax rate on California’s highest-income earners. The ballot measure sent new revenue to counties to be used for “transformational mental health services for the underserved, minority, poor populations,” said Hilary Carson, 25, of Santa Paula, the center’s coordinator.The directors’ dual-language Rosetta Stone English name, One Step a la Vez, reflects dual heritage, said Edmonds, former principal at Piru, Fillmore and Moorpark schools.Carson added that the center has a motto of “making changes poco a poco” (little by little).Positive effects already seenAmid comfortable chairs, games and exercise area and food, the center is designed for teens to feel free enough to express concerns about such issues as school, substance abuse, depression, anger management, grief or eating disorders, whether for themselves or as family issues. Scholarship and career support is an integral part, too.The center’s positive effects have already begun, said Luis Munoz, 18. A Fillmore High School freshman four years ago, Munoz was among students originally organized by Edmonds to discuss needs of Fillmore and Piru teens and “how to get more mental health services for people who don’t have access to those services, or can’t get out to get them,” he said.“We thought One Step would be an answer,” he said. Now a freshman at Chico [Rosetta Stone ] State University majoring in international relations, Munoz credits his advocacy for One Step for “giving me confidence, skills in leadership, public speaking, time management (and) communication.”The grand opening events, which are free and open to the public, will be in two parts.From 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Fillmore Options counseling services at 828 W. Ventura St., second floor, will offer a formal blessing, tour, art project and canned food drive. Then, from 12:30 to 3 p.m., the One Step Center at 600 Saratoga St., in Trinity Episcopal Church’s parish hall, will offer food, prize drawings, games and other activities for kids, and dance performance by Kalpuli Huitzilin Ihuan Xochitl.The center is open 3 to 6:30 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays.The activities are in the church hall, but it is a secular activity, Carson said. Anyone who wants more information or to volunteer to start a class or workshops may call 910-6642 or go to myonestep.