Kayla Yokoyama Dodge ’03

Volunteering and giving back has been something I’ve done since MJS and have continued with great passion to this day. I am a mom and realize that it’s important to have a village. Over time, I've learned how South Central LAMP is that village for many women. They empower moms in their program with education and resources while their kids are in the LAMP licensed preschool. It’s a holistic approach whereby empowering mothers and their children, you are helping the family and uplifting the community.

I have been volunteering or giving to South Central LAMP for at least four years now, and I've been on the Board for a year. I love that South Central LAMP is guided by the community they are serving. It was all started by women religious 30 years ago who went door to door in South Central LA asking what people needed in the community. This practice of asking what is needed continues to this day, which has taught me that you can have great ideas, but if you don’t get input from the stakeholders and the community, it could be a fix no one will use. Bringing it back to the community really grounds all the work and ensures it is meaningful to the mothers and their families. I have also realized that making a difference begins on a small scale -- just as a large tree comes from a small seed -- and that investing in our local communities is the key to building a brighter future for everyone.