Our mission: Improving individuals’ well-being by addressing physical, emotional, and social needs through the narratives of our lived experiences—humanizing our approach.
Our center
OUR CENTER EXISTS TO OFFER A SAFE OUTLET FOR SELF-EXPRESSION AND CONNECTION, WHERE INDIVIDUALS CAN RECEIVE SUPPORT WITHOUT BARRIERS, PARTICIPATE IN FREE ACTIVITIES, AND FEEL AT HOME IN A SPACE BUILT FOR COMMUNITY.
The importance of our work
We believe lasting change begins with human connection. By investing in individuals and their immediate environments, we help strengthen personal responses, prevent negative outcomes, and create ripple effects that lead to healthier families, safer neighborhoods, and stronger economic foundations.
Our work is guided by lived experience—real stories shaped by resilience, empathy, and overcoming adversity. By honoring these stories, we build trust, remove barriers, and create space for self-expression, healing, and opportunity—laying the foundation for long-term, community-driven solutions.
Equity Statement
For over eight years, we have worked alongside communities across San Diego County, delivering essential services and promoting healthy, stable lives. Through this work, we have witnessed firsthand how poverty is not a personal failure, but the result of deeply rooted racial, gender, and economic inequities shaped by systemic racism.
We embrace our responsibility to confront these realities and to actively advance equity in everything we do. This commitment represents a meaningful evolution of our organization—one rooted in accountability, reflection, and action.
Our goal is to ensure every individual feels seen, heard, and respected. We recognize that privilege, unconscious bias, and structural injustice affect both our work and the communities we serve, and we remain committed to addressing these barriers with honesty, humility, and purpose.
Meet the founder
Oscarin Ortega, a native of Oceanside, CA, knows firsthand the challenges local families face. Having endured early-life hardships, he transformed his life through education, training, and mentorship.
Motivated by his journey, Oscarin founded Lived Experiences, a platform dedicated to supporting underserved community members. Today, he guides individuals toward healing, self-expression, and opportunities for productive, prosperous futures.
Volunteer opportunities
Whether you’re helping to distribute food, mentoring young adults, or helping us fold laundry, the best way to give back to your community is to volunteer. Join our efforts!
Donate to our Community Center
Our center needs a lot of love and with your help we can it keep performing at its best for people who need it the most. Please consider donating to our community center.
Feedback matters
“We love the boxing class!” -Hugo
Making connections through experiences
