The Community Center of La Cañada Flintridge (Youth Programs)

The Community Center of La Cañada Flintridge Youth Programs offers year-round activities that include arts, dancing, music, visual arts, theatre, ceramics, basketball, yoga, martial arts, pickleball, an intramural kickball league, chess, a book club, cooking, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) classes, and preschool. The program also runs Summer Camps, Spring Break Camps, Thanksgiving holiday week camps, and Winter vacation camps, along with special events such as a Cornhole Tournament, Family Bingo Night, and a Thanksgiving 5K Run and Food Drive.

• Ages: 0–18 years old
• Schedule: Main Center Office hours Monday–Friday 8:30 am–5:00 pm; Preschool Office hours Monday–Friday 8:00 am–4:00 pm

The Community Center of La Cañada Flintridge is a nonprofit organization established in 1948, originally known as the La Cañada Youth House and built entirely by volunteers in 1951, later renamed the Roger Barkley Community Center in 1998, and becoming the Community Center of La Cañada Flintridge in 2007. Its mission is to enhance the well-being of the community by bringing people of all ages together for enrichment, recreation, and social programs, and it has served the needs of thousands of children and adults over the last 75+ years. The Center offers a renowned ceramics program founded in the 1960s by glazing master Helen Jean Taylor, which runs six days a week year-round, has five kilns, and provides both comprehensive instruction and independent work time.

The preschool is located in a former residential home and includes four light and bright classrooms and a large, park-like yard. The Community Center offers programs for every age group and interest and has a Financial Assistance Program that provides partial scholarships based on individual needs and circumstances. The Thanksgiving 5K Run and Food Drive is now in its fourth decade.

The Community Center is funded by grants, donations, rentals, class fees, and fundraisers such as ceramic sales in May and December, a Cornhole Tournament, a Family Bingo Night, and the Thanksgiving 5K Run and Food Drive. It has been involved with organizations including Center Theatre Group, the Autry National Center, United Way of Los Angeles, Junior Achievement of Southern California, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, City of Angels Community Choir, La Cañada Unified Schools, Child Educational Center, Red Cross for community outreach during the pandemic, Lotus Petal Foundation, La Cañada Flintridge Chamber of Commerce and Community Association, Descanso Gardens, Huntington Library, La Cañada Tournament of Roses, and La Cañada Trails Council. In 2014, Deb Jordan was named one of Business Life magazine’s Woman Achievers.

The leadership team includes Michael Powers (Executive Director); Nathan Murrell (Ceramic Studio Director); Danielle Caputo-Seiler (Preschool Director); Amy Rick (Preschool Assistant Director); Loren Barker (Ceramic Studio Coordinator); Ella Tamny (Youth Ceramics Program Coordinator); Anette Shafrazian (Adult Ceramics Senior Instructor, Kiln Coordinator); Ethan Stern (Glass Program Coordinator); Jack Krimmel (Performing Arts Program Coordinator); Grace Kim (Program & Marketing Director); Andi Fordyce (Office & Facilities Manager); Jenna Greene (Marketing & Social Media); and Rebecca Jespersen (Accountant). The Board of Directors includes Dan Sernett (President), Maureen Siegel Sprowles (Secretary), Georgina Fernando (Immediate Past President), Mike Leininger (Past President), Ara Aslanian (Past President), Alex Martinian (Board Member), Deb Jordan (Board Member), Ganesh Sankaran (Board Member), Mike Delaney (Board Member), and Pam Stumbaugh (Board Member).

Last updated April 2, 2026.