Pomona College center is a return to its origins

Claremont institution opens downtown site for tutoring and art projects

Pomona College once again has a presence in the city with which it shares a name.

The college, part of the Claremont Colleges consortium, opened a community center Saturday in downtown Pomona, signifying its return to the town where it began.

Though the college initially opened in a Pomona cottage near downtown, it moved to Claremont in 1888.

The community center that opened Saturday will serve as an extension of the campus and offer after-school activities for teens, such as tutoring, art projects, and workshops on college access.

A grand opening ceremony took take place Saturday at the 63 W. Second St. location and featured family-friendly activities.

“We are here to serve and strengthen our ties with the people of Pomona, particularly the youth,” Sefa Aina, the college’s associate dean for community engagement, said in a news release. “We want this to be a place that builds community, supports learning, and serves nonprofits and other Pomona organizations.”

Eventually, the plan is to use the new space downtown to teach classes and hold workshops on grant writing and management, the release stated.

The location for the center was aided by Pomona College alumnus Ed Tessier, who helped found the Pomona Arts Colony and whose firm is renting the downtown space to the college.

“The college moved to Claremont in 1888, but the Pomona College family always remained engaged here, making a difference,” Tessier said in a release. “Those efforts will only grow in ambition and impact now that scholars, residents, visionaries and volunteers can work together in one space.”

The hours for the center will be 2-6 p.m. for the afterschool activities Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays to start. The center will continue to gather input and add in more offerings as needed.

“Pomona is in our very name,” said Aina. “And we are proud to be back in Pomona in this new way.”

PHOTOS BY TERRY PIERSON — STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Pomona College, which is based in Claremont, returned to the city of its founding with its Community Center in downtown.

Pomona College Community Center Director Sefa Aina, left, takes a selfie with Anne Thorward of Newcomers Access Center during the opening ceremony of Pomona College Community Center in Pomona on Saturday.

Visitors listed to Pomona Arts Colony co-founder Ed Tessier tell stories during the opening ceremony of Pomona College Community Center in Pomona on Saturday.