Our Story
Meet Publisher
Naomi McSwain
As a newspaper reporter in the 1990s, I covered a lot of gang violence in Los Angeles County. One story impacted me so much I left my career as a journalist to start FamilyTime Calendar, originally published in print in 1996 and now, 30 years later, in digital form.
Our slogan “The Place to Go for Something to Do” comes from that story featuring a 20-something-year-old young man who said he joined a gang because he didn’t have anything else to do.
Shortly after my story came out, gang members shot the aspiring truck driver who said he wanted to drive far away from his hometown because he was tired of "watching" his back. I heard his family moved him out of town but don’t know if he survived.
I developed FamilyTime after praying for the young man and for solutions. I published it for seven years before closing it to serve as executive director of two community centers, including one named after my cousin, killed in a drive-by shooting in 1989.
I worked 17 years at that nonprofit agency, Al Wooten Jr. Youth Center in South LA, retiring in 2023, now serving on the board. Reviving FamilyTime has been among my top retirement goals.
The passion to provide alternatives for young people and a resource for parents remains at the heart of this publication. The young man said he got into trouble because his middle class mom and dad were always at work. He called himself a “latchkey kid.” Home alone.
With two sons, I know what it feels like to want your children engaged in positive pursuits but not know where to look. I know how hard it can be to find something different and affordable that everyone can enjoy. It’s a dilemma faced by parents and grandparents of all persuasions.
FamilyTime Calendar is the place to go for something to do. Create your own personal "My Calendar" portal for the best experience choosing and planning the things you want to do.
The featured sites and activities are primarily in South Los Angeles where I was born and raised. It includes surrounding cities and different cultures to bring people together.
As always, your tips, feedback, and support are wanted to help us reach and serve more people. Thank you for joining us in this journey to give our youth and families the love and attention everyone wants and needs.
In Community,
Naomi
Above: Naomi with her sons Matthew and Timothy (LtoR) in an original FamilyTime photo.
Center: Naomi as a reporter on a "ride along" with a Compton Police helicopter pilot.
Below: Naomi with her husband Randy at a Wooten Center Volunteer Day.