South County Crosscultural Council
Our Story
The South County Crosscultural Council was founded over twenty years ago to integrate newer residents into Laguna Beach
A Bit of History...
The South County Crosscultural Council was founded over twenty years ago with the gaol of offering critical support and resources to newer residents into Laguna Beach. Starting with living room dialogues, where neighbors of diverse cultural backgrounds shared their life stories, we realized the need to offer support, resources and English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) classes. We continue to create an atmosphere of open communication within our community, one built on mutual respect, understanding, and care.
La Playa Center
In 1996 our volunteer teachers began instructing students in the Sunday school space at St. Mary's Episcopal Church. Now housed in Laguna Beach and San Juan Capistrano, La Playa Center offers 3 levels of free adult ESL instruction and encourages participation in community events to help students become successful in their new surroundings.
Since 2004, the Crosscultural Council has also worked with the Laguna Beach Unified School District in its outreach to Latino families in the community.
Laguna Day Worker Center
In 1999, with the ongoing financial support of the city of Laguna Beach, the Crosscultural Council began to operate the day labor site the City had established in Laguna Canyon, and changed the name to the Laguna Day Worker Center. At the LDWC, contractors and homeowners can find reliable, honest, and hardworking employees, as our staff matches workers with the employers' specific tasks. Workers pay a $1 fee when they arrive at the site at 7 a.m., and pay an additional dollar if they are hired for the day. We ask contractors and homeowners to donate $5 per visit to help us maintain the site. We uphold the dignity of work by providing workers with a safe and organized setting to seek employment. The LDWC benefits employers and employees, residents, and the community at large.