Pepperdine Alumni Digitized Youth Center Library
Volunteers and faculty organized and cataloged over a thousand books to support literacy at the Al Wooten Jr. Youth Center.
Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in Philanthropy
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Pepperdine University alumni and faculty recently visited the Al Wooten Jr. Youth Center in Los Angeles to digitize the facility library. The service project supported literacy efforts in the community by sanitizing books and updating the center computer system.
Why it matters
Organizers prioritize literacy in low-income communities as a core pipeline for future academic and professional success. This initiative provides students with modernized resources that ensure sustained access to educational materials.
Volunteers processed 1,230 books for sanitization and entered 437 titles into the digital database. Additionally, donors provided 91 new books valued at more than $1,000 to bolster the center collection.
The players
Pepperdine University
This private research university is based in Malibu and frequently engages in community service initiatives through its alumni network and faculty.
Al Wooten Jr. Youth Center
Located in Los Angeles, this non-profit organization provides after-school programs and academic support for local youth.
Foster Grandparent Program
This national initiative connects older adults with volunteer opportunities to mentor and support children in their local communities.
The details
The team from Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology worked alongside the Foster Grandparent Program to revitalize the library at 91st and Western. Volunteers meticulously cleaned the collection and generated QR codes to integrate the books into the new library database.
Timeline
Step Forward Day was established as an annual service event in 1988.
The most recent service project took place in September 2026.
Market Landscape
This project continues a long-standing tradition of institutional philanthropy established by the annual Step Forward Day. By partnering with local youth centers, the university strengthens its regional footprint and deepens community ties beyond its Malibu campus.
Local students at the center will now benefit from a modernized library system that simplifies checking out materials. The influx of new, donated books ensures that residents have access to high-quality educational resources without personal costs.
The takeaway
Digitizing local community libraries helps bridge the digital divide by making inventory management more efficient for non-profits. Residents and local supporters can improve outcomes by donating books that align with current youth literacy curricula.
Further reading
For more information on community development initiatives, visit the Philanthropy section.
More information
Learn more about student resources by visiting the Al Wooten Jr. Youth Center information.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Los Angeles Sentinel.
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