WATTS, Calif. – From gang member to counseling director, the woman in charge of the new counseling center open in Watts has come a long way since she dedicated her life to helping others.

Marianne Diaz joined a gang when she was 14 years old. Now she’s 60 and the director of outreach services for the Southern California Counseling Center.

“It shows that people who do provide service and counsel are humans too,” said Diaz.

Diaz has scars. She had her gang tattoos lasered, cut, and scrubbed off when she didn’t want to be defined by her gang membership anymore. Nevertheless Diaz says she is a gang member for life.

For years Diaz worked her way up from misdemeanor charges all the way to attempted murder. When she got out of prison her life started to change thanks to the very same officer who arrested her. The officer got her involved with youth-gang services for the city and County of Los Angeles, trying to reach kids before they join gangs.

The Watts location opened almost a year ago. At SCCC, Diaz uses her knowledge of the streets to reach people in their neighborhood.

Since she was a felon, Diaz cannot be a licensed therapist. Instead, she is a paraprofessional, who manages many licensed professionals as well.

“We methodically put together this place so it isn’t too bougie you know what I mean,” said Diaz.

Clients only pay what they can. The rate isn’t based on tax returns, but what feels right. For some the therapy only costs $5 an hour, but it’s still not an easy sell.

“Honestly in my community in my culture sometimes, well not sometimes, we don’t necessarily believe in therapy like that,” said Sho King.

King was a client for years. Now she is interviewing to be a receptionist at the center.

“I think we’ve built a little oasis within the community that people love coming to,” said Diaz.

Even though she grew up 10 miles away in Lennox, Diaz has come a long way.