Today we’d like to introduce you to Ed Lynch.
Hi Ed, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My story starts in 1988, I was volunteering with a nonprofit organization, LA Goal in Culver City. At that time, I had no experience with the disabilities community. Two years later the reason was clear. My daughter Mychal was born in December 1998 and appeared to be developmentally on track.
When she was just shy of being two, it became apparent that she had a neurological disorder that would over five years, take away her abilities. Eventually, she required quite a bit of support due to her loss of fine and gross motor skills and loss of language. At that time there wasn’t any program that we felt comfortable having her attend that could provide her with the support she needed. Mychal passed away at 7 1/2 years of age and would be 34 if she were here today. I started Mychal’s Learning Place in 2001 and opened our doors in 2002 as an after-school program. I’ve committed my life in honor of my daughter and all that she taught me. So shortly after we moved into our current location in Hawthorne in 2011, we added our adult day program that is focused on independent living skills, job training and employment. We also opened up two social enterprises, Mychal’s bakery/coffee and Mychal T-shirt printing and embroidery. My vision is for Mychal’s Learning Place to be here long after my time here.
My daughter is my inspiration and the reason I get up every morning, always looking to create more opportunities for our participants. She has taught me the importance of this very moment, that there are no guarantees for tomorrow. My life has meaning because of Mychals. I’ll always be grateful that she chose me to be her father.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Raising a child with special needs can have its challenges. Finding good programs and individuals that having a caring heart that you can trust with your child. Running a nonprofit always comes with financial challenges, raising money to run our programs, addressing a long waiting list for individuals who just want to work. To find those community partners that are willing to give our participants a chance. Also, convincing local businesses to give our participants a chance. These are only a few obstacles and challenges we have. This shouldn’t stop us from confronting those and moving forward.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m most proud of our students who struggle to have the same opportunities that we all get to have. Our participants show themselves to be capable and able and just want and opportunity to work and be contributing members of society. A couple of stories that sums it up for me are. Jose came into the office of our Path to Independence Adult Day Program and told staff “No one is going to hire me because I have autism”. Hearing that is heartbreaking and with and 85% unemployment rate it’s tough to find partners in the community that will consider training and hiring someone with a developmental disability. Jose started working at Modernica, a furniture manufacturer in Los Angeles. He has been employed with Modernica for almost seven years. The pride he feels is what the work is all about.
Another story that speaks volumes is a story about Melanie (name has been changes) who started training to be one of our Catering barista’s at one of our local partners, Mattel Toys in El Segundo. Anxiety plays a big part in the personal lives of our participants. We had been setting up at Mattel for 6 months at the time and Melanie was hit with overwhelming anxiety and had to walk away for the coffee booth. She took a break, came back and finished the day. Today, five years later when she is working at our cafe at the Torrance Memorial Specialty Center, you would not be able to point out who Melanie is. With support, encouragement we can gain success and walk through our challenges. There are many more stories to share as well as creating more for a very deserving group of individuals.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
There is probably a little risk in anything we do. I started Mychal’s Learning Place with limited knowledge in regards to starting a nonprofit, creating a program that could make a difference. Risk shouldn’t stop us from following our hearts. Before we started our successful social enterprises we had started a couple that didn’t work out. It didn’t stop us for continuing to try and create opportunities for our participants. When we started the coffee and bakery business, we didn’t have experience in that. We learned about how to run a bakery and coffee service that our participants can participate with. When we met with Torrance Memorial Hospital and Sodexo about running their cafe space. We said without missing a beat, “we can run this”.
Again, no formal experience in running a cafe, but the willingness to try. And we’ve been there for a 1 1/2 years now. In 2018 we got the idea to open up a t-shirt printing and embroidery business to provide more job training and employment opportunities. The print shop is currently at a location in Redondo Beach and again, the students like the cafe, bakery and any other job opportunities we have found are showing that with the right supports, the can achieve the quality of life that we have. We are currently looking to open our own bricks and mortar coffee shop in the south bay. Talk about a risky business idea. But it’s the right idea. Imagine walking into a cafe where the food is good, the drinks are good, amazing service in. an environment that tells a story. Where 80 of the trainees/employees have developmental disabilities. And where they are doing all the jobs in the cafe, making your sandwiches, espresso drinks, taking your orders, running the register and so much more. The risk is worth it.
I will say that I’ve surrounded myself by people who know much more than I do. You can have the most amazing vision and it does require a village. If I didn’t take the risk back then, I’m not sure what I’d be doing. My wife Carol would tell you that I don’t see barriers and will just jump in and give it a try.
Stay tuned, who knows what the next opportunity that presents itself.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.mychals.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mychalslearningplace/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MychalsLearningPlace
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mychal’s-learning-place/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MychalsLearningPlace
