A Place Called Home open in 1993 with 12 children ages 9 -20 years old, in gang infested area of South Central Los Angeles. Today APCH has over 4000 members and has become the most successful anti-gang program in the United States. On August 26 a reunion of early members will take place at APCH.

A Place Called Home (APCH, www.apch.org), which opened its doors in 1993, is hosting a reunion for past members on Friday, August 26, 2005 at 4:00pm. The youth center was founded by Debrah Constance (author of Fat Stupid Ugly: One Woman’s Courage to Survive, Health Communications, Inc., 2004, www.fatstupidugly.com) as an after-school safe haven where children could grab a snack, do their homework and play among friends. Today, APCH continues to serve the community with expanded programs. Students can earn a diploma, improve their literacy and math skills, join basketball and soccer leagues and become eligible for scholarships to college or trade school.

Among the early APCH members who will be participating in the reunion are: Lorenzo Tate, who became a member at age 17 and now owns his own bus company; Dewey Bedford, who became a member at 15 and is now a Program Director for Jenny Craig; Lawrence Lowe, who joined APCH at 14 and is now in the U.S. Navy, married with a son; and Monique Edwards, who became a member at 15 and now works at APCH as Youth Leadership Supervisor and is working to becoming a lawyer.

The event will take place at A Place Called Home, 2830 S. Central Avenue, Los Angeles 90011. For additional information, please call APCH at 323-232-7653.