December 16, 2025

Hahn honored Assemblymember Lisa Calderon, Center staff, others involved in opening

Los Angeles, CA – This morning during the public hearing of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, Supervisor Janice Hahn celebrated the first full year of operation of the Greater Whittier LGBTQ+ Community Center with a presentation honoring diverse partners that made the opening of the Center possible. Among Hahn’s honorees was California State Assemblymember Lisa Calderon, who in 2021 secured funding in the amount of $4.2 million from the state budget to fund the Center’s construction.

“I am so proud of the work we’ve done and so grateful to this extraordinary coalition of partners who helped make our vision a reality,” said Hahn. “It was not an easy process. I remember seeing the dilapidated building and hearing the pushback from some in the community who did not want this Center in their neighborhood. But we had a vision and saw the need, so we pushed forward. One year later, this Center has already helped so many.”

Since opening in Fall 2024, the Center has served more than 1,000 clients with its range of services, which include mental health and substance abuse services, legal assistance, health and wellness support, support groups, and more. The Center, which is operated by the Los Angeles Centers for Alcohol & Drug Abuse (L.A. CADA), also hosts social and cultural events.

“When the center opened, we set out to create a safe and welcoming space for all, one that affirms dignity and belonging for everyone and anybody who walks through the doors. In the first year alone, the center has become a lifeline for so many individuals and families,” said Assemblymember Calderon during this morning’s presentation. “I look forward to continuing our partnership as we expand the center’s reach and ensure it remains a vibrant, inclusive welcoming place for all.”

Hahn also presented County scrolls to the Center’s director, Damonté Watson, as well as to Michael Owh, director of the County’s Internal Services Department which designed and built the center. The space—a set of offices in a County-owned building that were unoccupied since the beginning of the pandemic—was identified by Hahn to build the center, the first dedicated LGBTQ+ space in that region of Los Angeles County.

Additional media available for download:

Photos from today’s presentation:
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Footage of today’s presentation
Video from opening day at Whittier LGBTQ+ Center (Credit: LA36)