New La Luz building sees the light

Two years, $1.4 million later, nonprofit's dandy digs are ready to serve|

Rising like a symbol of a bright future, the new La Luz Community Services Building is complete. The ribbon cutting ceremony is Friday, Aug 26, at 11 a.m. and the open house will continue throughout the day until 5 p.m.

Replacing a dreary, decades-old home that was converted into makeshift office space, the new 2,400-square-foot structure at 17560 Greger St., has four offices, six cubicles, two conference/class rooms and a kitchen. Most importantly, it has small intake rooms, where clients can discuss their often-stressful situations without everyone else in the building within earshot. “It is so important to have privacy,” said La Luz Executive Director Juan Hernandez.

The new wood-framed building with stucco and metal siding is painted a fresh grey with goldenrod trim. The existing La Luz Booker Hall Community Center, which sits alongside the new building, has been painted to match, and new landscaping surrounding the buildings was donated and installed by Waldron Landscaping and the Sonoma Rotary. “We wanted to create a campus-like feeling,” said Ken Adelson, the La Luz board member who oversaw the construction project.

On a recent morning, Hernandez and Adelson each had beaming smiles, full of appreciation and joy that the $1.4 million project was successfully completed on time and slightly under budget. Hernandez worked on this and other responsibilities without an office since the old building was demolished last December, and Adelson has dedicated much of his time, along with his wife, Karen, who was the volunteer interior designer, to seeing the welcoming center come to fruition.

In August 2012, La Luz received a $25,000 Impact 100 grant to improve the entrance of the old building. As plans and discussions got underway for improvements, the board of directors ultimately decided to look at whether it was feasible to instead replace the building. By September of 2014, after exhaustive research and meetings with neighbors, regulatory agencies, building contractors and potential donors, the answer was yes, La Luz would move forward with the building project.

Board members Kimberly Blattner and Marcelo Defreitas, along with Hernandez, formed a capital campaign committee and went about raising the necessary funds, both from private individuals and government agencies. Bevan and Associates was hired as the architect and Devcon Construction was the builder. And now the building is a reality.

La Luz was founded in 1985 by Ligia Booker to provide a place for immigrants to go for help in emergencies and with building new lives in Sonoma. Since then it has been the primary resource in the Valley for disadvantaged families experiencing economic and social crises and seeking opportunities to become economically self-sufficient. It was deemed a California nonprofit agency in 1990 and 10 years laster was deeded the two properties at 17560 Greger St. in the the Springs, that once housed a Methodist church.

It offers English as a second language classes, financial literacy workshops, computer classes, provides counseling with a licensed therapist, parenting classes, employment counseling, nutrition classes, provides heath care mobile clinics and distributes emergency food, among other services. Its motto is, “A catalyst for change in Sonoma Valley through health, education and financial security.” It has become known as the place to go to if you need help with most any problem.

“Most people who come here have a problem, so the last thing you want is for it be dull and dreary,” Adelson said, standing in a bright reception area with colorful chairs, yellow hanging lights and a nook for children to play.

“I am relieved that the hour-by-hour, day-by-day responsibility is coming to an end,” he said, seeming his smile is permanent. “This has taken a lot of effort and a lot of time by a lot of people.”

“This new building enhances the reputation of La Luz. Shows that La Luz is committed to be here to stay,” Hernandez said. “It is great knowing that in 30 years this building will still be in the community. Every decision was made with the intent of what’s best for La Luz in the long term.”

The brightness of the building’s design is a hopeful reflection La Luz’s shining future.

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