 The brief synopsis
hopefully captures the essence of Gwen
Bolden. Once the
essence is captured the dream is expected. In the 80s when
her husband was alive, Northrop Grumman enabled the Bolden's to
purchase a parcel of land in Lancaster. The dream, to
build a residential school that would be a place where young
people who were struggling to find their paths could come and
find respite and direction. The dream was modeled on the
Boy's Town concept. Catching youth before crime,
drugs, gangs, or dropping out did. Catching those whose
parents were tearing out their hair, catching those who needed
to have a different environment, catching those who didn't know
their value. Creating a Safe Haven.
The Gwen Bolden Youth Ranch
would be the place, where when parents needed a place to send
their youth to 'chill', they would be welcomed. The
residential aspect of the community would be small cottages with
'house parents', there would be an on-sight school, a gymnasium
and recreational center, animals, a general store, and clean,
quiet, open air.
The parcel of land was
purchased in 1981 through the grant from Northrop.
All things were systems go, then William Bolden was killed
in an automobile accident and a gang member injured a daughter
of one of the founders of the organization. Things stopped
for a while, and then a little while longer.
In the meantime, Ms. Bolden
never stopped working with the children, advocating on behalf of
children, providing after-school tutoring on-site at
various local elementary schools. The program grew; it
moved and changed addresses but never changed focus. The
foundation received grants, donations, in-kind contributions and
spoke of the ranch as if it were a reality. But the dream
was still a dream.
Now we fast forward to 2003,
and the time is now. Ms. Bolden is aware that she may not
see the completion of the facility, but all whose who know her,
have no doubt that she will be present physically to welcome the
first group of young people to the ranch. Conditional use
permits are being applied for, site plans are being draw, the
survey was resurrected, and the dream has been ignited.
The ground breaking ceremony
(yet to be scheduled) will bring life to the land.
Initially a fence with an arch that faces Pear Blossom Highway
will be erected to mark the spot. The arch will speak to
the truck drivers and others who drive by on a daily
basis. The arch will commemorate
those who dreamt the dream with the Bolden's and have
transitioned. The arch will be the first in a series of
many phases towards dedication and grand opening. Each day
as we pray we are one day closer to the answer, each day that we
travel on this journey we are one day closer to the dream,
dreamt many years ago: The Gwen Bolden Youth
Ranch.
Dream the dream with us!
For more information, contact us
on-line or call 323.293.6581.
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