The Arc charts a new course as it marks 70 years of service

Clients of The Arc - Los Angeles & Orange Counties dance at a Valentine’s Day function. (Eric Pierce)

DOWNEY – For seven decades, The Arc - Los Angeles and Orange Counties has quietly served individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities across Southern California. Now, under Executive Director Emilio Sosa, the nonprofit is repositioning itself for the next 70 years — with sharper messaging, expanded programming and a renewed push for community support.

Sosa, who has led the organization for four years, said his early focus was straightforward.

“When I started, the bottom line was to keep the doors open,” he said. “The organization was struggling financially coming out of COVID. We were really just trying to stay afloat.”

Today, the nonprofit serves approximately 110 individuals from 22 cities across Los Angeles County, including Downey, Compton, Watts and even Santa Monica. Participants attend programs focused on creative arts, culinary arts and life-skills development, all rooted in what the state now calls “person-centered programming” — services tailored to the interests and goals of each individual.

“We no longer just say we serve people,” Sosa said. “We educate and serve people with a purpose. Everything we do now has a mission-driven purpose behind it.”

From grassroots to modern nonprofit

Founded locally in the 1950s as part of the national Arc movement, the organization traces its roots to parent-led advocacy efforts that fought for education, civil rights and community inclusion for people with intellectual disabilities. The broader Arc network, established nationally in 1950, has long championed equal opportunity, integrated employment and fair wages for people with disabilities.

Sosa said that history remains foundational but the structure needed updating.

“We’re moving from a grassroots organization into a 21st century nonprofit,” he said. “That means having the right governance, the right technology and a very clear message about who we are.”

Over the past year, the board expanded its capacity from 15 to 20 members and rewrote its bylaws. A new three-year strategic plan — set for adoption this spring — includes updated mission and vision statements, new core values and a plan to expand services into North Orange County and additional areas of Los Angeles in 2026.

Technology upgrades have also been part of the overhaul. When Sosa arrived, the organization was still operating on landlines from a phone provider that had gone out of business years earlier. Today, the facility uses voice-over-IP systems, touchscreen workstations and updated devices to support participants’ learning and communication.

Serving a growing need

While much of the organization’s funding comes through California’s Department of Developmental Services, reimbursement rates have long lagged behind actual operating costs.

A statewide rate study conducted several years ago found providers were underfunded by 40 to 50 percent. Although increases were implemented, they were based on outdated data and did not account for significant minimum wage hikes, healthcare costs and inflation.

“The rates we’re reimbursed at are based on a study from eight years ago,” Sosa said. “If you did that study today, you’d see we’re underfunded again.”

That funding gap is why community-based fundraising has become critical.

The Arc Walk: Advocacy in motion

The organization’s largest annual fundraiser, the Arc Walk, blends awareness, advocacy and community celebration. The event draws families, supporters, civic leaders and participants together to raise funds and visibility for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

“It’s our largest advocacy and awareness fundraiser,” Sosa said. “We try to net $100,000 from that event alone, and even then, it helps cover the gap.”

Beyond fundraising, the walk serves as a visible reminder of the organization’s mission: equal access, equal opportunity and full integration into community life.

The nonprofit also hosts a golf tournament and recently launched an arts gala, which drew 150 attendees in its inaugural year — far exceeding expectations. Proceeds from the arts event went directly back to the artists with disabilities who created the showcased work. A formal gala celebrating the organization’s 70th anniversary is planned for August.

Still, Sosa said the Arc Walk remains the most important public-facing event.

“When the community shows up, it sends a message,” he said. “It tells individuals with disabilities that they matter, that they’re valued and that they belong.”

Looking ahead

With expansion plans on the horizon and a refreshed strategic vision nearly complete, The Arc - Los Angeles and Orange Counties is positioning itself not only as a service provider, but as a regional leader in disability advocacy and inclusion.

For residents in Downey and throughout Southeast Los Angeles County, attending the Arc Walk is more than a charitable outing. It is an opportunity to stand alongside families, educators and advocates who believe in community integration and dignity for all.

As Sosa put it, “We’re here to serve more people. That’s why we exist. But we can’t do it alone.”

Registration and sponsorship information for the Arc Walk is available at thearcwalk.org