The 2008 Cherry Blossom Festival Committee and the City of Monterey Park are pleased to present the 11th Annual Cherry Blossom Festival on April 19 & 20, 2008 at Barnes Park, located at 350 S. McPherrin Avenue; Monterey Park, CA.  Entry to the Festival is FREE.

Planned and coordinated by community volunteers, the Cherry Blossom Festival strives to provide a cultural arts event that offers a forum for learning, entertainment, fun, and support of community. 

So take the time to see, hear, and taste a bit of the Japanese and Japanese American culture through a first-hand experience of watching traditional Japanese dancing, hearing the resounding beats of the taiko drums, observing the mastery and various skills of martial arts, participating in the ancient art of the tea ceremony, or buying hand-made crafts or food with an Asian flair. Other highlights of the Festival include games & crafts for children, and numerous cultural displays.

Ms Princess Ramey gave us a great presentation about the Childrens Outreach Program at the Childrens Law Center, our group donated some money and toys

 Princess V.F. Ramey, Community Outreach Coordinator
Ms. Ramey joined CLC in 1993, after working briefly in family law and mediation. Ms. Ramey has served on a number of committees and boards, been featured on the Discovery Channel, and was honored as a "Foster Care Hero" by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors in 2003. In addition to supervising other trial attorneys, Ms. Ramey serves as the CLC Community Outreach Coordinator. In that capacity she manages donor-related programs and oversees the CLC intern program and recruitment of interns.

  Children's Court

Almost 30,000 children who are victims of abuse and neglect are entrusted to the care of the Los Angeles County Juvenile Dependency Court system.

The court's primary mission is to ensure that these youth are safe, healthy, and secure. Whenever possible, the court strives to preserve and strengthen families so children can be raised in their own homes. When this is not possible, the court orders provision of temporary foster homes and supervises the children’s care.

 The court works to ensure that all youth receive permanent homes in a timely fashion, either through reunification with their rehabilitated parents or through adoption, legal guardianship, or long-term foster care.  In Los Angeles County Dependency Court proceedings, children are appointed their own attorney, usually a lawyer from the Children’s Law Center.

In an effort to be sensitive to children’s feelings and make the court proceedings less intimidating, Los Angeles established the country’s first courthouse especially designed for children and families.  The Edmund D. Edelman Children’s Court in Monterey Park features twenty-five courtrooms designed to be more accessible to children.  Well-appointed waiting areas reduce stress and trauma. Special areas accommodate family visits, and other areas provide activities to help occupy children awaiting court appearance.  An auxiliary Dependency Court located in the Lancaster Courthouse serves children and families living in the Antelope Valley.

For more information about the Los Angeles County Juvenile Court, see www.lasuperiorcourt.org