Gateway Educational Services will hold a grand opening for its new tutoring and wellness center at noon, Tuesday, Jan. 23 at 218 North I St., Lompoc.

In partnership with pediatrician Dr. Cindy Blifeld, Gateway will open a wellness center offering wrap-around services such as educational support, mental health, and nutrition.

It will connect their clients with other support services as well.

The wellness center will focus on reading literacy for Black/African American and Latinx students in grades K-4 from Lompoc.

“The students we serve are bright and passionate youth who face socio-economic barriers and discrimination in the education system,” Gateway said. “These students are falling behind grade level, which impacts their future opportunities.

“These are the students most in need of educational support.”

Lompoc students have been under-resourced, according to Gateway. Lompoc Unified School District has the highest percentage of Black/African American students in Santa Barbara County. Unfortunately, Black/African American and Latinx students are disproportionately underserved and struggling to make significant academic progress, Gateway said.

Gateway provides educational support to all demographics. The past four years have been challenging for African-American students, Gateway said.

After a year of nationwide protests and demands for changes in policing, African-American students are feeling the weight of these issues. Gateway provides mentorship and support to African-American students through its educational programming.

Gateway’s mission is to create access and equity through education. Tutoring services begin the week of Jan. 22. For more, email info@gatewayeducationalservices.org, or visit
www.gatewayeducationalservices.org/.

Gateway Educational Services was established in 2009 by educators, business professionals, and community leaders wanting to change access to education and how students learn.

Dr. Blifeld, is a pediatric nephrologist in Lompoc. She is affiliated with area hospitals, including Lompoc Valley Medical Center and Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital.

She received her medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine and has practiced for some 20 years.