Celebrating 20 Years of Study Lounge
More Than Homework: Celebrating the Impact of Study Lounge
At Venice Community Housing’s recent end-of-summer camp celebration, laughter, applause, and nostalgic stories filled the room as students, families, staff, and volunteers gathered to honor student achievements and reflect on the program’s rich history.
Since launching in 2005, VCH’s after school programming has served more than 500 students, offering crucial academic support, creative arts, summer camp activities, and memorable field trips to places like the California Science Center and the Natural History Museum. Between 2005 and 2009, VCH operated after school programming out of Mark Twain Middle School. As the needs of local students and families evolved, so did the program: it became VCH’s Study Lounge and moved to the Washington Courts property, bringing programming directly into one of VCH’s affordable housing communities. For several years, Study Lounge also operated at additional VCH communities and schools, expanding its reach to serve students in multiple locations.
“Learning comes in various ways, it’s not just sitting in a classroom,” shares program founder Bridgett. “Many families in our neighborhood couldn’t afford paid tutoring or after school care, leaving children without the one-on-one help they needed, especially language support. VCH created Study Lounge to directly meet that need.”
For Affordable Housing Services Coordinator Vina, who has led Study Lounge in recent years, the program’s greatest success wasn’t measured only in academics, but in the community it created.
“From summer camp and arts and crafts to field trips and everyday moments together, Study Lounge gave students opportunities to learn, grow, and shine,” Vina says. “We’re so grateful to every staff member, volunteer, and family who helped make that possible over the years.”
A highlight of this year’s celebration was recognizing individual student growth, exemplified by participants like Certificate of Excellence recipient Luna.
Luna’s Story: Nurturing Creativity and Big Dreams
For eight-year-old Luna, who will enter the third grade this fall, Study Lounge has been a welcoming space to learn, grow, and shine over the last three years. An artist at heart, Luna spends hours creating colorful patterned drawings and writing stories for her class.
“My favorite part of school is probably writing,” Luna shares. “I like writing stories for my teacher… and practicing my writing.”
Living in Los Angeles with a close-knit, supportive family, Luna credits her family as her biggest source of encouragement. With the guidance of her family and the Study Lounge staff and volunteers, Luna has built the confidence to pursue ambitious goals. When asked about her future, her eyes light up with possibilities: she aspires to protect others and dreams of potentially becoming a doctor, a dancer, a singer, or an artist.
Luna’s dreams underscore the core mission of Study Lounge: providing a safe, enriching environment where young students gain academic tools, express their creativity, and build a foundation to achieve their dreams.