Oak View’s guardian

Andrew Wainer

OAK VIEW -- Sherri Medrano knew the Oak View community liaison job was a

taxing one when she assumed the position in September.

Feuding families, economic hardship and gang activity were just some of

the problems Medrano expected to confront on a daily basis.

Her great-aunt, Fran Andrade, who for 30 years occupied the position of

providing aid to members of the largely low-income community, encouraged

her to keep an emotional distance from the duties.

But even with Andrade’s words of wisdom and a knowledge of what the job

entailed, Medrano was not ready for what happened during her first month.

On Oct. 8, a 4-year-old girl was struck by a car while crossing Slater

Avenue with her grandmother. The Oak View Elementary School

kindergartener died at the UC Irvine medical center shortly after.

“I had never dealt with the death of a child, and I hope I never have to

deal with it again,” Medrano said.

The tragedy set Medrano off on a string of experiences she never would

have expected nor desired to encounter.

“When I heard about the accident, I immediately left the school [Oak

View],” Medrano said. “I went to the family’s house to let them know that

I was there to help them in any way they needed.”

Medrano took the family to church to speak with a priest, helped them

with funeral arrangements, and visited them every day to offer emotional

support.

Medrano said the child’s death really hit the parents when she took them

to pick out a tiny casket.

“They started crying when they saw it,” Medrano said.

Medrano said she still visits the family on a regular basis and has

invited them to her own home as a way to express solidarity.

The tragedy triggered an outpouring of support from the Oak View

community, made up predominantly of Mexican immigrants.

“It was incredible how the community pulled together,” Medrano said.

“Thousands of dollars were donated to pay for the burial plot.”

The many acts of selflessness she sees on the job help to balance the

pain of dealing with the community’s problems, Medrano said.

During the holidays, Medrano helped distribute hundreds of Thanksgiving

and Christmas dinners to needy families. The dinners, along with hundreds

of toys, were donated by Huntington Beach businesses and individuals.

“Just to see the kids’ faces when they got the toys made it worth the

effort,” Medrano said.

The daily routine of the liaison job, Medrano said, consists of the

laborious process of making Oak View a better place to live.

“We offer so many services,” Medrano said. “There are family counselors,

gang prevention specialists, food and clothing donations.”

Medrano said she never knows what to expect when she arrives at her

office inside the Oak View school.

“My job consists of being spontaneous,” she said. “Whatever problem comes

through my door, I have to deal with [it].”

On a typical day, Medrano said, she might help someone fill out child

support papers, translate welfare documents, or offer a shoulder to cry

on.

Oak View school principal Karen Catabijan said Medrano is measuring up to

the challenges of the new position.

“She is warm, willing to work with parents and reach out to the

community,” Catabijan said.

She said that while Medrano is still learning the ins and outs of the

job, “she has done an outstanding job learning the basics.”

Medrano’s predecessor, Andrade, also gave her great-niece kudos.

“It was overwhelming for her at the beginning, but she has a big heart,”

Andrade said.

But Medrano said she still struggles with he emotional strain of her

work.

She said one of the job’s greatest challenges is not taking it home with

her.

“I still lay awake in my bed at night,” Medrano said. “I keep thinking

about the problems I hear and how I can help.”