Community Consulting Projects
Previous and Ongoing PArtnerships. The Engineering Writing Program has worked with orver 70 non-profit organizations
in the Los Angeles Area. Most partnerships have lasted over multiple semesters
and we consider many to be ongoing. Below is a list of the organizations we have
worked with.
A.D.H.O.C.
A. D. H. O. C. is the historic preservation-advocacy unit of the L. A. Stock
Company, a non-profit 501-3c corporation that was formed in 1977 by alumni of
Los Angeles City College's Theater Arts Department. Since its inception A.D.H.O.C.
has been responsible for the designation of three University Park National Register
Historic Districts and over thirty local Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monuments.
Additionally we are currently underwriting the activities of the University Park
H.P.O.Z. Board.
THE AFRICAN MILLENNIUM FOUNDATION
The African Millennium Foundation is dedicated to the empowerment of the African
people and creating continent-wide progress in agriculture, nutrition, health
and education.
ANGEL'S FLIGHT
Angel's Flight is a shelter that provides a safe, healthy residence for runaway
and homeless youth with the goal of creating a stable environment in their permanent
living situation, either through family reunification or long-term alternative
arrangements. The shelter is a 16-bed facility serving 10 to 17-year-olds for
up to 21 days and also offers counseling, schooling, and medical care.
ARTScorpsLA
Starting in 1992, community artists and local youth transformed a small site
in Highland Park called La Tierra de la Culebra into a community centerpiece,
featuring an amphitheater, pond, incised ziggurat, stage, mural panels, benches
and gardens. Its focal point is a 500 foot long Culebra sculptural centerpiece
designed and built by local residents and AcLA staff and volunteers. The neighborhood
youth who helped construct the environment also assumed responsibility for engaging
other members of the community to participate. With help from AcLA, these young
people learned how to organize and present celebrations utilizing intercultural
music, poetry, dance and participatory arts workshops, as well as visual arts
installations and after school multidisciplinary arts workshops. Over the last
ten years, tens of thousands of young people have participated in constructing
and presenting programs at Culebra.
Today, ARTScorpsLA maintains three sites (La Tierra de la Culebra, Chinatown
Studio, and Spiraling Orchard) in order to serve significant number of residents
in the Highland Park, Chinatown, and Temple-Beaudry (between Downtown and Echo
Park) neighborhoods. Each of these communities has its distinct characteristics
and challenges, but some elements are common to all three: they are home to large
numbers of immigrant families, whose lack of fluent English and educational attainment
are barriers to gainful employment. All of AcLA programs work to empower communities
through the arts.
THE AUTRY MUSEUM OF WESTERN HERITAGE
The Autry's mission is to look at life west of Mississippi in North America.
BENNY H. POTTER WEST ADAMS AVENUES MEMORIAL PARK
Located at 2413 Second Ave. near the intersection of Adams Avenue and Arlington
Street, the 2.3 acre facility was the meeting site of local gang members who frequently
committed acts of gun violence not only at night but during the day when people
were in the park. As of the March 1, 2003, park renaming not a single act of gang
related gun violence has occurred and that park use has increased substantially
by families and residents from our surrounding local neighborhoods.
THE BLAZERS YOUTH SERVICE
The Blazers is a 501c3 non-profit, community-based organization (CBO) in Central
Los Angeles. Its focus is providing a safe learning environment for k-12 children.
This organization is ready to embark on and undertake several ambitious endeavors
to develop a full-service community resource center.
BRESEE FOUNDATION
The mission of the Bresee Foundation is "to offer hope and wholeness and to work
toward reconciliation, empowerment and justice in our community." The Bresee Foundation
is a non-profit, social service organization that was established in 1982 and
named after Dr. Phineas F. Bresee, a Methodist minister and pioneer in social
development programs in Los Angeles at the turn of the 20th century. Dr. Bresee
was committed to building community and speaking out on the injustices in society.
In addition to founding the Church of the Nazarene, he established homes for unwed
mothers, provided food to the hungry, and developed several other cross-cultural
community development programs. The Bresee Foundation was established to continue
this tradition of building community.
CALIFORNIA AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM
The California African American Museum researches, collects, preserves and interprets
for public enrichment, the history, art and culture of African Americans with
emphasis on California and the Western United States. Their 44,000 sq. ft. facility
houses three galleries and a 14,000 sq. ft. sculpture court, a conference room,
a research library, administrative offices, exhibit design, artifact storage areas
and a museum store space.
CARECEN
CARECEN is a 501(c)(3) non-profit community-based organization serving more than
25,000 Central American and Latino individuals annually. Over the last 19 years,
CARECEN has grown into the largest Central American/Latino community center in
the United States. With a staff of 32 and an annual operating budget of over $1
million, CARECEN serves the community at its three-story, 22,500-sq.ft. Community
center located in Pico Union/Westlake, west of downtown L.A. CARECEN empowers
the immigrant community through four building blocks: 1) Immigration Legal Services
designed to lead to permanent residency; 2) Academic Enrichment designed to foster
educational success; 3) Community Technology designed to integrate technology
and reduce the digital divide; and 4) Civic Participation designed to foster citizen
and non-citizen participation in quality of life issues and forge new leaders
who are able to move the community toward equality and excellence.
CHALLENGERS BOYS & GIRLS CLUB
Challengers Boys and Girls Club, a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization, was founded
in 1968 by L.E. "Lou" Dantzler as a response to the acute recreational and cultural
needs of the youth of South Los Angeles. Our mission is to promote the optimum
social development of youth ages 6 to 17 by providing a safe place for them to
learn and grow. We accomplish this by providing at-risk children positive alternatives
to alienation and juvenile delinquency by means of comprehensive programming in
five core areas: Character and Leadership Development; Education and Career Development;
Health and Life Skills; Sports, Fitness and Recreation; and the Arts.
CLINICA MONSENOR OSCAR A. ROMERO
Clinica Monsenor Oscar A. Romero was founded in 1983 by a coalition of concerned
southern California health professionals attempting to assist the influx of immigrants
fleeing war and repression in Central America who had no other options for health
care. In less than two decades, Clinica Romero has been transformed from a small,
rudimentary operation staffed entirely by volunteers into a large-scale, full
service, fully staffed facility. It provides primary medical and dental care,
health education, and effective community empowerment and community mobilization
services to the working poor and the indigent in and around central Los Angles
and specifically, the Pico-Union/Westlake corridor, one of the poorest communities
in Los Angeles. Last year, approximately 50,000 patient visits were provided at
no charge to these individuals.
COALITION FOR CLEAN AIR
The Coalition for Clean Air is an environmental non-profit organization dedicated
to restoring clean, healthful air to California by advocating responsible health
policy; providing technical and educational expertise; and promoting broad-based
community involvement. The Coalition currently has six full-time staff members
and a budget of almost $500,000.
COALITION FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH
The Coalition for Community Health, a non-profit community-based organization
working in Central and South Central Los Angeles since 1981, has recently incorporated.
The Coalition focuses on issues and implements programs that address the health
access needs of low-income and under-served community members in this area.
COALITION FOR HUDSON HEALTH CENTER
Hudson CHC is a component of the Los Angeles County + University of Southern
California Healthcare Network. It is located near the USC campus at 2829 South
Grand Avenue. Hudson CHC provides a wide range of ambulatory healthcare services
and serves about 90,000 patients annually.
DIVINE PROVIDENCE PRESCHOOL AND KINDERGARTEN & ST. JOSEPH RESIDENCE
Divine Providence Preschool and St. Joseph Residence were founded by the Sisters
of the Company of Mary, who took refuge from religious persecution in Mexico.
The Company of Mary is one of many Orders of Religious Women who are focused on
the mission of educating young people.
DUBNOFF CENTER
Dubnoff Center is a private, non-profit, publicly funded special education day
school and clinical, vocational and residential treatment facility. The agency
serves a total of 275 people, ranging in ages from 2 to 22, with intensive learning
and developmental needs, residing in the greater Los Angeles area. Established
in 1948 and located in North Hollywood, the Dubnoff Center is one of the first
private special education schools to be certified in California.
EIGHTH COUNCIL DISTRICT, LOS ANGELES CITY COUNCIL
THE EIGHTH DISTRICT EMPOWERMENT CONGRESS NORTH AREA NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT
COUNCIL
On April 27, 2002, the Los Angeles City Department of Neighborhood Empowerment
(D.O.N.E.) officially certified the Eighth District Empowerment Congress North
Area Neighborhood Development Council. Overall, the council's main responsibility
is to identify community concerns and resources as well as create partnerships
with our city government to address local needs and issues. The North Area Neighborhood
Council area is home to approximately 40,000 residents and encompasses the following
areas: To the North the 10 Freeway, to the East the 110 Freeway, to the South
Martin Luther King Blvd and to the West Arlington Avenue.
EL NIDO FAMILY CENTERS
El Nido Family Centers is a non-profit social service agency in Los Angeles.
They serve a variety of people in need, including pregnant teens, families under
stress, and children at risk.
EL MONTE COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH CENTER (EMCHC)
The El Monte Comprehensive Health Center (EMCHC) opened for services October
3, 1983. EMCHC is a two story 89,000 square foot facility which provides a wide
range of primary and secondary ambulatory care services. EMCHC is a component
of the LAC+USC Healthcare Network and serves as the link to the LAC+USC Medical
Center, providing geographically accessible health care services to the residents
of the San Gabriel Valley. EMCHC's catchment area covers 62 square miles with
a population density of 6670 persons per square mile. The County facilities in
the San Gabriel and Pomona Valley do not provide inpatient or a full scope of
specialty health care services. As a result, contractual agreements with hospitals
and private physician groups have been developed to provide adequate geographic
access to health services.
EUREKA COMMUNITIES
EXCELLENT EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT
Excellent Education Development (EXED) is a non-profit organization that develops
and manages charter public schools in lower income communities in Southern California.
The mission of EXED is to dramatically improve the quality of public education
by creating access to K-12 schools with high student achievement, through the
vehicle of community-based charter schools.
FAME RENAISSANCE
FAME Renaissance is an economic development initiative of FAME Assistance Corporation
and was established on August 1, 1992, by Dr. Cecil L. Murray to enhance business
and economic development in the African American community. FAME Assistance Corporation
is a California nonprofit 501c3 corporation and is an affiliate of First African
Methodist Episcopal Church of Los Angeles. Business incubation, the process of
supporting small business development, is a major step toward the realization
of FAME Renaissance's goal of improving the economic conditions of the African
American community in the West Adams Corridor. FAME Renaissance's Business Incubator
will serve to promote and accelerate the growth of small businesses through an
array of business support resources and services, equipment, and office space
all located at the FAME Renaissance Center at 1968 West Adams Blvd.
FAMILIES IN SCHOOLS
Families In Schools (FIS) is a non-profit organization that strives to create
strong family, school and community partnerships to help ensure that children
become healthy, educated and productive members of their community.
FIRST AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL ZION CHURCH
In 1796, The African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church was founded in New York
City. The church was an outgrowth of the Methodist Episcopal Church and was necessitated
because of discrimination and denial of religious liberty. The founders of the
church determined that this denomination would dedicate itself to the liberation
of the human spirit. The early society was known as the "Freedom Church." Spiritual,
social, and economic emancipation were the hallmarks of their faith.
FIRST UNITARIAN CHURCH
First Unitarian Church is one of the large, old churches in the Mid-Wilshire
corridor whose congregation has greatly diminished in numbers over the years.
About seven years ago, the church was ready to sell the building and look for
a smaller site, but through increased rental income, member giving, and a few
significant bequests, the church has restabilized and is planning for future growth
in membership and ministry. They have a number of programs going on in the church
throughout the week, mostly non-profit renters whose programs serve the community.
FOSHAY LEARNING CENTER
Foshay Learning Center is a K-12 school located at 3751 Harvard Blvd. They provide
an innovative learning environment and are a member of USC's Family of Five Schools.
THE FOUNDATION FOR SUCCESSFUL SOLUTIONS - PROJECT T.E.C.H.
Foundation for Successful Solutions-Project T.E.C.H. (Project T.E.C.H.) is a
community technology and community-building project established by Karen and Benjamin
Wade in 1999. The primary mission of Project T.E.C.H. is to provide solutions
for success to traditionally underserved groups, through experiences and opportunities
that blend the high tech high touch skills necessary to compete and thrive in
the 21st Century. In spring 2001, Project T.E.C.H. setup a computer lab and began
offering free computer classes at the Tom Bradley Youth and Family Center in Mid-City
Los Angeles. Since that time, the project has served more than 300 children, youth,
adults and seniors, including youth with special needs. Project T.E.C.H. is a
sponsored project of the Community Partners' incubator for emerging community
initiatives.
GOOD SHEPARD CENTER FOR HOMELESS WOMEN
Good Shepherd Center for Homeless Women was established as an independent program
of Catholic Charities in response to the need to serve one of the fastest growing
segments of the homeless population in Los Angeles: women and children. In 1984,
responding to the urgent needs of homeless women in nearby MacArthur Park/Wilshire
area, Good Shepherd initially opened as a drop-in center and an emergency shelter,
serving up to thirty women at a time. Known as the Languille Emergency Shelter,
it houses 30 women nightly for stays of up to six weeks. In 1987, Good Shepherd
Center launched its mobile outreach program and opened the Hawkes Transitional
residence. Homeless women benefit from existing supportive services for a term
of six months or longer based upon need.
GRACE LUTHERAN CHURCH
Grace Lutheran Church is a congregation strategically located to provide important
outreach and spiritual services to the community surrounding it which has great
needs-- spiritually, emotionally and materially. It has a good core group of members
with respected leaders on which to build and strengthen the existing congregation.
Grace is a historic Los Angeles city church, community based, with ample facilities
to provide a variety of ministries.
GRACE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
Grace United Methodist Church is presently going through transition. Under the
new leadership of Paster Hill, Grace United has ideas for many outreach programs
and youth programs which they feel would be beneficial to the community.
HEALTHVIEW, INC.
HealthView, Inc. owns and operates Harbor View House, the largest non-profit
residential facility for the mentally ill in California, offers extensive programs
and services daily to assist up to 287 residents in receiving convenient medical/dental
care, counseling, continuing education, and recreation. Additionally, HealthView
operates Terrace Lynwood, a 178-bed non-profit Residential Facility specifically
designed, furnished, and staffed for elderly residents who may need assistance
with daily activities but still want to remain independent. In June of 1999, a
special secured Alzheimer's Care Unit was added to HealthView Terrace Lynwood
to meet the needs of those suffering from Alzheimer's disease in the community.
HealthView also runs Life Care Plus, a non-profit home health agency licensed
through the State of California, Department of Health and Human Services to provide
homebound patients in Los Angeles County with access to integrated medical services
ordered by their own physician. Life Care Advantage, a non-profit home health
agency, and Adult Day Health Care are also HealthView initiatives.
THE HEART PROJECT
The HeArt Project (HP) is a non-profit organization that produces a yearlong
comprehensive arts education program to nine public continuation high schools
and one low-income housing community center. Since 1992, HP has worked with more
than 250 artists to provide over 2000 LA teenagers with the long-term consistent
arts education that is lacking in their schools and through that education, promote
positive self-expression, self-esteem and expanded opportunities for academic,
career and personal growth.
HEBREW UNION COLLEGE - JEWISH INSTITUTE OF RELIGION
Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute Of Religion (Huc-Jir) is a religious
and scholarly learning community dedicated to: developing Jewish professional
and lay leaders to transmit and apply to contemporary life the sustaining values,
responsibilities and texts of our tradition; applying the open and pluralistic
spirit of the Reform movement to the study of the great issues of Jewish life
and thought; and, advancing the critical study of Jewish culture and related disciplines
in accordance with the highest standards of modern academic scholarship. The Los
Angeles School occupies a five-acre site in the center of the city, adjacent to
the University of Southern California. The academic center was established in
1954 to strengthen and provide leadership for the proliferation of Jewish communities
and Reform congregations throughout the Western United States. The Los Angeles
School now provides the full four stateside years of the rabbinical program, following
the Year-in-Israel Program that is mandatory for all first-year rabbinical students.
HOLA YOUTH CENTER
Heart of Los Angeles Youth (HOLA) is a non-profit youth organization that annually
provides over 850 young people quality fine arts, athletics, job placement and
educational programs. The program's target population is at-risk youth ages six
to 19 who the organization hopes will find realistic alternatives to drugs and
gang lifestyles through HOLA's off-track and after-school programs.
HOOVER INTERGENERATIONAL CARE
Hoover Intergenerational Care, Inc. is a nonprofit agency providing child care
and early education and academic enrichment to children whose ages range from
2 1/2 to 14 years. They have served this community since 1977. There are 43 children
enrolled in the early care and education program and 28 children enrolled in the
academic enrichment program.
THE HUMAN SERVICES NETWORK OF LA
JAY NOLAN COMMUNITY SERVICES
Jay Nolan Community Services was founded in 1975 by the Autism Society of Los
Angeles. JNCS serves about 650 children and adults with autism and other developmental
disabilities throughout Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, surrounding counties
and in San Jose. Jay Nolan provides three types of services: a) supported living
- they support 100 adults with autism to live in their own homes/apartments/condo's/etc.
with whatever assistance and support is required, b) they support over 140 adults
to work, volunteer, attend school, recreate, etc. in the community and c) they
support 400 hundred children in typical day care and preschool programs, YMCA,
clubs and associations, in their family homes, in an integrated camp, vacation
program, etc.
KOREAN YOUTH & COMMUNITY CENTER
The Korean Youth and Community Center (KYCC) is a multi-service non-profit organization.
KYCC provides clinical, academic, youth development, economic assistance, and
environmental services for the surrounding multi-ethic Koreatown community.
THE LOS ANGELES CONSERVATION CORPS
The Los Angeles Conservation Corps is an independent non-profit organization
founded in 1986 by former US Trade Ambassador and Commerce Secretary Mickey Kantor.
In the spirit of the Civilian Conservation Corps, and following the blueprint
of the state-funded California Conservation Corps, a program was developed in
which young people from inner city communities could, at the same time, gain work
experience, develop trade skills and contribute to their communities. The Corps'
mission is to serve and uplift the diverse communities of Los Angeles and to conserve
the natural and human environment. The Corps does this by providing young people
with opportunities for developing educational work-related skills to advance their
own personal and career opportunities, creating stronger ties between them and
their communities through community involvement and service, exploring avenues
for personal growth and development in a respectful and nurturing environment
and developing leadership skills to contribute to the advancement of all people.
LOS ANGELES MEXICAN CULTURAL INSTITUTE
The Mexican Cultural Institute of Los Angeles was established in 1990 with the
primary goal of fostering and enhancing greater understanding and communication
between the peoples of Mexico and the United States, including Mexican-Americans,
Mexican immigrants, and other Latino cultures living in Los Angeles. The goals
of the Mission are accomplished through ongoing social and cultural exchanges,
presenting visual and performing artists whose work crosses the cultural divide,
or whose talents and achievements exemplify and honor Mexican and American cultural
traditions. The Institute also supports a strong educational program, believing
that education is a primary path towards fostering better understanding amongst
communities.
McCARTY MEMORIAL CHRISTIAN CHURCH
McCarty Memorial Christian Church is located at 4101 W. Adams Blvd. As an inner-city
church, it has suffered the fate of many such organizations and has to deal with
a dwindling membership and a changing neighborhood. They hope to revive the church
and are seeking help on various projects to help in this endeavor.
MILKEN FAMILY LITERACY & YOUTH TRAINING CENTER
The Los Angeles Urban League has operated programs for over 75 years to strengthen
the community through workforce development and job placements, tutoring, economic
development, parent education and direct social services and advocacy. The Los
Angeles Urban League's Milken Family Literacy and Youth Training Center operates
a family literacy program designed to improve the academic and job related basic
skills of youth and adults. Literacy instruction utilizes computer based academic
skills improvement in reading, writing, math, listening and problem solving skills
incorporating classroom instruction, interactive video and one-on-one tutoring.
The program provides quality program activities to assist youth and their families
in developing the skills to compete for, obtain and retain meaningful employment
as well as higher educational attainment. In addition to basic literacy training,
the program contains strong and relevant reinforcements in the areas of life skills,
pre-employment, work maturity, self-esteem and motivation.
MURCHISON STREET SCHOOL
Murchison Street School is a USC partner school in the Health Science Campus
community. Located in a lower social-economic-status neighborhood, Murchison services
all school-aged children from the Ramona Gardens Housing project. With little
to no social resources located within the actual community, residents must often
depend on Murchison to keep updated learning tools accessible to them.
NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY
The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County has offered its visitors an
opportunity to explore the natural and cultural history of our world since its
opening in 1913. During that time, it has become one of the world's leading museums
in exhibitions, education and research. The institution's collections comprise
over 33 million specimens, artifacts, and works of art covering 4.5 billion years
of the Earth's history, encompassing zoology, geology, history and anthropology.
Together with a program of research, exhibitions and education, the collections
support the museum's mission to "reveal the history of Earth and the evolution
and diversity of life and culture."
NEIGHBORHOOD EMPOWERMENT AND REVITALIZATION (NEAR)
NEAR is a non-profit corporation and was established in June 1993 by two community
block clubs, Van Buren Community Restoration Association and Adams Normandie Neighborhood
Association, to revitalize the community by means of neighborhood empowerment,
assistance to first-time home buyers through adaptive re-use of historic structures,
and commercial development. NEAR's efforts are concentrated within the boundaries
of Van Buren and 22nd St. south to Jefferson Blvd; Normandie east to Vermont,
west.
PACIFIC ECONOMIC COOPERATION COUNCIL
Inaugurated jointly by President Ronald Reagan and Secretary of State George
Shultz, in 1984, the U.S. National Committee for Pacific Economic Cooperation
(US-PECC) represents the United States in the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council
(PECC). PECC is a unique partnership of senior individuals from business, governments
and research who work in a non-official capacity, on practical policy issues to
increase trade, investment and economic development in the Asia Pacific region.
PECC now has 23 member economies. US-PECC and the other twenty-two national committees
of PECC assist the forum on Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) by developing
studies on major issues of trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific region and
by representing the views of the private sector in the APEC governmental process.
PARK WINDSOR BAPTIST CHURCH
Park Windsor Baptist Church is a transitional congregation, having moved from
an all-Anglo congregation to the present 98% African American congregation. We
are located between Washington Prep High and Morningside High in South Central
Los Angeles, approximately two miles from Southwest College. The area is residential
with some apartments and a growing Hispanic population.
PEOPLE COORDINATED SERVICES
People Coordinated Services of Southern California, Inc. is a non-profit corporation
founded in 1939 as a community-based social service agency. Today, it operates
14 program sites and provides services to the following populations: health and
dental services for children 0-5, after-school programs for middle and high school
age children, parent education, residential and outpatient services for adults
in recovery, and supportive services for seniors, including meals and case management
for the homebound and congregate senior activities to promote the extension of
their ability to live independently. The goal of its programs is to provide services
that empower its clients to achieve and maintain self-sufficiency.
PERSONAL CARE TECHNOLOGY
The mission of Personal Care Technology (PCT) is to provide the highest quality
of goods, services, training, and recreation to the disability community. The
core services of PCT include training for care providers, information and referral,
advocacy, benefits counseling, transportation, housing, and long term care planning.
PHYSICIANS FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR) for a generation has served as the
conscience of the medical community. In 1985 PSR was the recipient of the Nobel
Peace Prize. At present, Los Angeles PSR is involved in four major areas of activity
including environmental toxins, national security, radioactive waste, and progressive
communications.
RARE EARTH NETWORK
Rare Earth Network, Inc., is a California non-profit corporation devoted to research
and dissemination of comprehensive environmental information on land use in the
state. Specifically, they publish a web-based environmental inventory that shows
for each county the major land owners, the major polluters and hyper-links to
groups that are working to preserve open spaces and clean up toxics problems in
each county. The goal is to provide a resource for students and activists and
to present the "big picture" of the State's environmental issues.
READING IS FUNDAMENTAL OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
In 1972, Reading Is Fundamental of Southern California, Inc. (RIFSoCal) came
to life in a Santa Fe Springs city park where a local librarian read to neighborhood
children. During the past 30 years, the program grew from a few children in one
park to 32,500 children in sites throughout the Southern California region. The
RIFSoCal mission is to promote literacy in Southern California by motivating children
to read and inspiring them to be life long readers.
REDEEMER COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP
Redeemer Community Partnership (RCP) is a non-profit, community-based organization
serving the neighborhood near USC's campus. The organization's founders are residents
of the neighborhood and have been running a tutoring program for grade-school
children since 1997 called "Adventures Ahead." RCP incorporated in September 2001
to better meet the funding and staffing needs of this growing program. Adventures
Ahead is currently staffed by 4 part-time instructors and 20 volunteers and provides
tutoring for 25 children, grades K-7, 2 afternoons per week.
REMEDIAL READING AND LEARNING CENTER
The Remedial Reading and Learning Center provides one-on-one instruction to as
many as 650 youth aged 8 to 18 who are unable to keep up with their classwork
due to poor basic reading and math skills. At RRLC, students receive four to six
hours of individualized instruction weekly. Students are tested and counseled
to determine their learning problems. Communication with parents and schools is
vital.
ST. COLUMBKILLE SCHOOL
St. Columbkille School is a K-8 school located in South Central Los Angeles.
It was founded in 1923 by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur and is part of the
Department of Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of LA. The archdiocese ranks
schools according to the financial level of the families 1 being the wealthiest
and 10 being the neediest. St. Columbkille is a level 9 school meaning that its
students tend to come from low socio-economic backgrounds. Many are first or second
generation immigrants for whom English is a second language.
ST. THOMAS CHURCH
St. Thomas Church is in the Pico-Union area and is a heavily Latino congregation.
Most are Central American immigrants, having been displaced by the wars, disasters
and poverty in the 80's and 90's, but many are from the Mexican state of Oaxaca.
The English speaking part of the Church is mostly Philipino. St. Thomas is a large
Church with over 8,000 families; there are 10 Sunday services and a full range
of ministries and services. Most of the congregation are below the poverty line
-US Census data shows the immediate area as having an average income of $24,000
per family. In 1999 the Church suffered a devastating fire, totally destroying
its worship space, which has since been rebuilt and expanded.
THE SCHOOL OF LITTLE ANGELS
The School of Little Angels is a non-profit organization serving the View Park
community for the past 34 years. They provide education and child-care for children
ages two months through twelve years old in a safe, clean, and educationally enriched
environment.
SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH
Second Baptist Church is the oldest African-American Baptist church in the Los
Angeles community. Founded in 1885, the church has a rich history of service to
its congregation and the surrounding community. The church operates several non-profit
organizations that benefit the community such as The Children's Center which serves
98 pre-school children, Griffith Gardens and Kilgore Manor, two apartment buildings
with 84 units for senior housing, Henderson Community Center, which provides housing
for abused women and children.
SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS-LOS ANGELES
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Los Angeles is a non-for-profit
organization that provides veterinary, shelter and adoption services to abandoned
and abused animals and educates the community on animal overpopulation, proper
animal care, animal cruelty issues, dog bit prevention, and respect for all living
things. Working throughout Los Angeles County since 1877, spcaLA is dedicated
to enhancing the bond between animals and people. In addition to extensive animal
rehabilitation and adoption services and animal cruelty investigation, the Society
works with both children and adults to provide humane education, animal assisted
therapy and temporary housing of the pets of domestic violence victims.
STONER AVE. ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Stoner Ave. Elementary School is a Title 1 school with an over 90% minority population
of 781 students and is located across the street from the Mar Vista Gardens Housing
Project.
SUNSHINE MISSION
The Sunshine Mission/Casa de Rosas, Inc., is a non-profit emergency housing and
transitional living facility for homeless and low-income women located on the
southeast corner of Hoover and Adams. Up to eighteen women can be accommodated
through the mission, which offers free housing and two meals a day at no cost
for up to ninety days. The Casa de Rosas Hotel offers low-cost, private rooms
and meals for low-income women. Up to fifty-five women can be accommodated at
any given time.
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CENTER FOR BARIATRIC MEDICINE & DIABETES
Recent medical research has linked morbid obesity with adult onset (Type II)
diabetes, cardiovascular disease, sleep apnea, and severe osteoarthritis. Specific
strategies for prevention of this multi-dimensional disease are of the utmost
importance to public health. Healthy patterns of nutrition, lifestyle changes,
and surgical options such as bariatric surgery are amongst the many options available
to people suffering from obesity.
KECK SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, DEPARTMENT OF NEUROSURGERY
The Department of Neurological Surgery currently has 11 full-time faculty and
sixty-six volunteer faculty. The teaching faculty are dedicated to the concept
of subspecialty expertise. Each of the faculty has one or more areas of special
clinical interest that serve as a resource for secondary and tertiary neurological
care as well as role models for the future careers of our neurosurgical trainees.
The efforts of the faculty are centered at four USC teaching hospitals: USC University
Hospital, USC/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Children's Hospital of Los Angeles
and LAC+USC Medical Center.
VARIETY BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB
Variety Boys and Girls Club is located in the Boyle Heights area of Los Angeles.
and is a non-profit agency working with at-risk children 7-17 years old. Variety
offers programs in their Games room, Gym, Arts and Crafts, Library, and Computer
Learning Center.
VERMONT SLAUSON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
The Vermont Slauson Economic Development Corporation (VSEDC) is a non-profit
organization whose primary mission is to facilitate the community development
of the Vermont Slauson area by providing programs structured to revitalize the
physical, economic, and social life of the community. A major part of its work
is in microenterprise development made possible through entrepreneurial training
and technical assistance programs directed to low and moderate income Los Angeles
residents.
WILSHIRE CHRISTIAN CHURCH
The Wilshire Christian Church, located in the Wilshire/Normandie area, was built
in 1926 and is in a growing stage after the active roles had dropped to low numbers.
WOODCRAFT RANGERS
Woodcraft Rangers is a 501(c)(3) based in Los Angeles. Its mission is providing
after-school and camping programs to at-risk and low income youth. The Agency
has served Los Angeles youth since its 1920 inception.
