Written by: Valentina Sanabria, Lead Media Specialist, El Sol Neighborhood Educational Center 

No community should ever have to choose between being safe and having a place to grow, learn, and connect. 

However, for many families in San Bernardino, that’s been the reality. 

Not because they lack resilience. Not because they lack ambition. But because they’ve been denied access to spaces designed for them. However, there is a community that refused to accept that reality. 

A community that stepped forward and became the hero of its own story. 

This is the story of a group of moms who came to El Sol Educational Center tired, worried, with stress and fears. Moms and their youth who searched for belonging, and who refused to give up until they found it. 

There were stories, of community leaders and promotores who walk alongside their neighbors every single day. These are individuals who, despite systemic barriers, continue to push forward. 

Not quietly. Not passive. But with clarity, courage, and conviction. They are not waiting for change— they are demanding it. For years, this community has navigated a landscape where safe, accessible spaces are limited— or nonexistent. Spaces where youth can simply be kids. Spaces where families can gather without fear. Spaces that support not just recreation— but healing, education, growth, and connection.  

Instead, many are left navigating: 

• Isolation. 

• Health disparities. 

• Limited access to opportunity. 

And the data confirms what families already know. According to Inland Empire Community News, 73% of residents in San Bernardino do not visit local parks because they do not feel safe. Seventy-three percent. That’s not just a statistic. That’s a message. 

A community saying: “We don’t feel safe where we’re supposed to belong.” When safe spaces disappear, the consequences don’t wait. Young people disengage. Families fall further behind. Cycles of inequity deepen. 

However, this is not a story about what this community lacks. This is a story about what’s possible when that community is finally supported and heard. 

Because the community didn’t stay silent. They spoke up. They organized. 

They shared their truth.  

They told us: 

• We need a space that is safe. 

• A space where our children can grow. 

• A space where we feel seen, supported, and connected. 

• A space for healing. 

This vision didn’t come from theory. It came from lived experience. 

From voices that have too often been overlooked—but refused to be ignored. 

This is where El Sol Neighborhood Educational Center steps in—Not as the hero. 

But as the guide. 

For over 30 years, El Sol has worked alongside this community—building trust, developing leaders, and creating pathways to opportunity. 

Each year, reaching over 500,000 individuals through health, education, and workforce programs. But most importantly—we listen first. 

And then we build…together. Because our promotores—our community health workers—don’t just serve the community. They are the community. They come from the communities they serve and therefore know the needs firsthand. They are living them. 

After listening, learning, and standing alongside residents, one thing became clear: Something had to change. 

After several focus groups and extensive interviews with not only community members but community leaders, we set our minds and efforts to build a facility that could bring that healing to our community. Together, we envisioned a space that could meet the community’s full reality—not just its challenges, but its potential. 

And that vision became the El Sol Park & Learning Center. This is not just a park. It is a response. A solution. A promise. A multi-use, community-driven space designed to address the root causes of inequity. 

This will be a place where: 

• Young people are safe, engaged, and inspired. Families access critical resources. 

• Individuals build skills for the future. 

• Culture, healing, and connection are centered.  

Even at just 30% utilization, this space will serve over 64,000 people annually. That’s over 5,000 people every month. Now imagine what happens when we unlock its full potential. 

Because this is where the story begins to change. Imagine a young person, who now has somewhere safe to go after school. A parent who finally accesses the resources they need to stabilize their family. 

A community that begins to heal—not just physically, but socially and economically.This is what transformation looks like. Not a single program—but an ecosystem of support. 

Every hero’s journey has a turning point. A moment where everything can change. This is that moment. Because the community has already done its part. 

And what those moms requested years ago… A place to heal. Because when a community is given space—It doesn’t just survive. It rises. And it connects! 

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This story was developed through IEHP Foundation’s Inaugural Storytelling for Fundraising and Advocacy Cohort.