CityTypes: The Humanitarian

Coming from a home where her parents only spoke Spanish, Sadie Cerda said the task of translating fell to her, and she learned from a young age to take care of those around her.

In that spirit, she taught English to her family and helped them fill out the paperwork to register as American citizens. To her it was only natural to turn her helping nature to those in need. 

Even as a child, "I was basically the adult" she said. "I always wanted to make things better in my family and the world."

Cerda's 38-year-old humanitarian organization--St. Augustine Volunteers for Emergency Services (S.A.V.E.S)--has been honored with the Social Justice Award from the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, the Benemerenti Humanitarian Award from the Vatican, and an official recognition from Sheriff Lee Baca for outstanding Community Service. 

Additionally, Cerda was recently honored as Culver City's "Senior of the Year" at the Walt Disney Music Center Grand Hall.  "People say I should hang all my awards and trophies in my office," she said. "But that's not what I care to do."

Instead, her office features a black and white photo of people standing in a bread line.  "You never know which one in the line is Christ," Cerda said.  "You have to treat them all as if they were."

Click on the pictures to continue reading Patch's new CityType series, designed to get behind the people that make the city go 'round.