Foodbank of Southern California, a Black-led food bank based in Long Beach, provides much-needed groceries to L.A. County’s most food-insecure communities, especially communities of color. Under new CEO/President Brian Weaver, the food bank has seen expansion and innovation across a number of domains.
Starting July 22, teenage residents at Jordan Downs, one of L.A.’s largest public housing communities, will earn a paycheck while learning hands-on skills like carpentry and welding, launching them on pathways to careers in industries facing strong demand and a critical lack of qualified workers.
The Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) announced on Oct. 11 that it is the recipient of a $3.9 million Clean California Local Grant Program award.
The 17th Annual Taste of Soul Family Festival, South L.A.’s premiere live and in-person outdoor event, proudly welcomes The Whispers to the Bakewell Media Stage presented by Chevy on Saturday, Oct. 21, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., on Crenshaw Boulevard, from Obama Boulevard to Stocker Avenue.
Vaccinations are in store for the entire South L.A. population if the staff of Kedren Health Center has their way. The organization vaccinated more than 500 people on April 10 at a mobile clinic stationed at First AME Church of Los Angeles.
City Planning, the largest planning department in the United States, has named its first Chief Equity Officer Faisal Roble to lead in a newly-created position to spearhead racial justice efforts within the Department. This role will also help address implicit bias in City Planning policies and outreach. With more than 30 years of experience and most recently holding the title of Principal City Planner, Roble will help craft City Planning’s Racial Equity Action Plan that will better guide diverse outreach and engagement that informs 35 distinct communities during the City Planning process.
Appointed by the Director of Planning Vince Bertoni in response to Mayor Eric Garcetti’s Executive Order No. 27on Racial Equity in City Government, Roble has a robust history of serving various community groups around Los Angeles. His experience includes managing visions for South, Southeast and West Adams-Baldwin Hills-Leimert communities. Part of his work helped address racial injustice, equity, as well as economic disinvestment. His leadership in over 20 projects has helped bolster affordable housing and sustainable communities. Most recently, he oversaw projects of significant importance to the South L.A. community, including the redevelopment of Jordan Downs from 700 units of public housing into a 1,073 unit, mixed-use, mix-income neighborhood with a full-service grocery store, commercial and community services and more than five acres of parks and open space.
Veniceball unveiled the Watts Oasis, an art-infused basketball court and community garden on Saturday, March 23, to provide a safe space and resources to the underserved Watts community. “I discovered this court that was hanging on a string here 10 years ago and I always thought it would be nice to kind of upgrade the facility,” explained Nick Ansom, founder and CEO of the Venice Basketball League. The Watts Oasis court refurbishment was the tenth of its kind, part of Veniceball’s Build Courts Not Walls global campaign. With the help of 100 volunteers and Watts Towers artist in residence, Augustine
Under the theme, “Watts is Worth It,” city officials, developers, residents, and activists broke ground on the new Jordan Downs public housing development on Monday.