Photo by Patty Courtland

Come and join us at the park that kids built! There’s a great Dia De Los Niños / Childrens Day event going on organized by the Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust and we’ll be providing the art project.

Come out and have your child (or you!) create your own book. Tell your story, your favorite things, your goals and dreams.

This is the park that children built. Literally. In 1982, a garbage-strewn lot in South Los Angeles was converted into an oasis of open space in a neighborhood that had none. The effort was led by a group of fifth- and sixth-graders and their teachers at Norwood Street Elementary School.

See the event on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/?sk=inbox&setup#!/event.php?eid=207174035969374

When: Sunday, May 1
Time: 12:00pm – 4:00pm
Location: Estrella Park—(South LA, North University Park)
1956 Estrella Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90007

And just for fun you can read more about the park here: http://www.communityworksinstitute.org/cwjonline/articles/parkkidsbuilt/parkkidsbuilt.html

The amazing artist James Jean (who designed an “I Art LA” tee for us) was interviewed for a really great article. It even has photos of his studio and artwork! Check it out here:
www.arrestedmotion.com/2011/02/studio-visits-james-jean-rebus-martha-otero/

His “I Art LA” tee is one of our best selling and has paid for a lot of art supplies!

Buy one yourself and support art and the youth of LA!!!

Here’s a straight link to his t-shirt:

http://www.thecentersouthla.bigcartel.com/product/bat

Look how easy we made it for you!

We had such a great time at EXPO Center’s Valentine’s Day Dance. The nice people there had a table and chairs and everything all set up for us. With balloons!

The youth made awesome Valentines day cards for their mothers, fathers, crushes, friends and family. There were a couple kids that didn’t even dance, they stayed outside making cards the whole time! And they were some really creative kids!

Even our volunteers got in on the action and made a few cards of their own.

What a fun night.

EXPO Center is having a Valentine’s Day Dance this for the youth (ages 10-17) this Friday February 11th, 2011. From 7pm-9pm. There will be games, music, food, and US! Making Valentine’s day cards. Come out and get crafty with us! We picked up some really cool paper, stickers, and metallic pens that we’re all looking forward to using.

Valentines themed hearts, skulls and crossbones paper for the older kids, how cool is that?

DETAILS:
Date: February 11, 2011
Time: 7pm-9pm
Ages: 10-17
Place: Multi Purpose Room
Address: 3980 Bill Robertson Lane, Los Angeles, CA 90037

We’re all signed up for the Empowerment Congress Summit Tomorrow. This comes at a perfect time. Remember the blog post Art Reduces Crime. And More!, now we’ll have a chance to talk with people in person about this very subject.

Here’s the workshop Jess signed up for:

Beyond Incarceration: Envisioning a New Probation Department. Los Angeles County runs the largest probation department in the world, with over 2000 youth housed in 18 probation camps and 2 juvenile halls at any given point in time. With a cost per probationer of over $7500 a month, an average camp stay of four and half months, and a recidivism rate between 50-75%, many have challenged the effectiveness of the existing system. Led by Supervisor Ridley-Thomas, many organizations have called for a consent decree to require Federal oversight over probation camp reform. In addition, the progressive alternative models that are being implemented around the nation provide resources and examples of what the Los Angeles County Probation Department should aspire to. This panel will explore these alternative models and discuss how Los Angeles County can best move forward with reform.

The plan is to print out the blog post, as well as other statistical information Jess has gathered. We’ll let you know how it goes!

More info about the summit below.

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What: Empowerment Congress Summit   (That’s the Second district folks.)

When: Saturday, January 15th 2011

Time: 8am-12pm

Where: USC’s Bovard Auditorium in the middle of its campus near Figueroa Street and Exposition Park Boulevard

Register: www.empowermentcongress.org

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The Empowerment Congress attempts to engage the communitiy, encourage participation, educating and informing the community about how government works, developing strategies that shape policy and legislation and connecting the community with resources,

Founded in 1992 by then Los Angeles City Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas, the Empowerment Congress served as a model and precursor to the City of Los Angeles’ Neighborhood Councils. Now that Ridley-Thomas represents  nine cities (Los Angeles, Carson, Compton, Culver City, Gardena, Hawthorne, Inglewood, Lawndale, and Lynwood) and many neighborhoods of unincorporated areas (Athens, Baldwin Hills, Del Aire, East Compton, El Camino Village, Firestone, Florence, Graham, Ladera Heights, Lennox, Marina del Rey, Rancho Dominguez, View Park, West Carson, West Compton, West Rancho Dominguez, Westmont, Willowbrook, Windsor Hills, Wiseburn) as a county supervisor, the EC has expanded.

After the speakers, residents will break into small groups. Per the website:

Town Centers: Economic Development Strategies for Traditional Neighborhoods. A tremendous amount of assessment and planning has been done to develop targeted Economic Development Initiatives throughout the Second District with the goal of improving local economies through enhanced transportation infrastructure, local job creation and retention, and community asset building. This panel will provide an in depth overview of priority projects in the Second District and discuss their impacts on mobility, sustainability and job creation.

Citizen Participation in Policy Reforms at the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). Troubles in the child welfare system have become a constant headline in Los Angeles. While much of the focus has been on a “child death problem”, Second District residents face many other concerns such as protecting parental rights in dependency disputes and ensuring that the department has proper information and technology to make informed decisions. In this session, participants will discuss policy issues that negatively impact children in the care of the Department of Children and Family Services and their families. Through an interactive dialogue session, participants will be empowered to design solutions to these issues.

Out of the Shadows: Strategies to Identify and Treat Mental Illness In a County. where one out of eight adults has been diagnosed with depression and 10% are known to live with frequent mental distress (stress, depression or emotional problems for more than 14 days in the last month), few families go untouched by the challenges related to mental health. Given the increased stress associated with the economic downturn as well as the increase in first-time homelessness, education around mental health issues is more necessary now than ever. This panel will inform and empower participants to recognize mental health indicators and discuss ways that families, friends, faith-based entities, co-workers and others can help.

Beyond Incarceration: Envisioning a New Probation Department. Los Angeles County runs the largest probation department in the world, with over 2000 youth housed in 18 probation camps and 2 juvenile halls at any given point in time. With a cost per probationer of over $7500 a month, an average camp stay of four and half months, and a recidivism rate between 50-75%, many have challenged the effectiveness of the existing system. Led by Supervisor Ridley-Thomas, many organizations have called for a consent decree to require Federal oversight over probation camp reform. In addition, the progressive alternative models that are being implemented around the nation provide resources and examples of what the Los Angeles County Probation Department should aspire to. This panel will explore these alternative models and discuss how Los Angeles County can best move forward with reform.

Social Justice through the Arts: While art, in all its forms, is a source of creativity and self expression, it can also be an effective vehicle for advancing a social justice agenda. A noteworthy example of this is the Watts Towers, a collection of 17 interconnected structures, built by Italian immigrant construction worker Sabato Rodia in his spare time between 1921 and 1954. In this panel presentation, participants will dig into the historical, cultural, architectural and sociological significance of the Watts Towers, learn about the creative partnerships that have been forged to preserve this important work and identify opportunities to advance a social justice agenda through art. The panel will also explore other local examples of how social justice is being promoted through the arts.

Emergency Preparedness: Is Los Angeles Ready for the Big One? In an era of domestic terrorist attacks, hurricanes and mammoth oil spills, Americans have learned that both natural and manmade disasters are inevitable occurrences. Yet in each of these disasters, the role and action of both local and federal government has undergone significant scrutiny. In this session, panelists will discuss how prepared Los Angeles County is to handle a local emergency and learn how to prepare themselves and their families.

Urban Ecology and Green Technology – How It Applies To Your Community Communities throughout the Second District are faced with serious environmental concerns. Whether you live near an active oilfield or land that is currently being investigated for groundwater contamination, have concerns with air quality or lack of open space, an array of environmental issues can challenge your quality of life and wellbeing. This panel will engage community members in a conversation about how they can access the necessary tools and knowledge to take leadership roles in gathering environmental data and then use that data to improve their ecosystem and the social health of their communities. Participants will have an opportunity to join a year long program, sponsored by the Empowerment Congress and Loyola Marymount University that will provide them an opportunity to further hone their Environmental IQ!

Redrawing the Map: Citizen Participation in LA County’s Redistricting Process Redistricting is the process by which governments re-allocate populations within their respective jurisdictions to ensure that district boundaries contain roughly equal numbers of residents for purposes of representation. As such, the boundaries created by decennial redistricting define the terrain of electoral competition and, ultimately, the composition of legislative bodies at the local (city council, county board of supervisors), state and congressional levels. While the Board of Supervisors and local cities will soon gear up for redistricting, the public must understand the impact it may have on them, and how they can engage in the process. This panel will provide a technical overview of the redistricting process and discuss the opportunities and importance of local participation.

Youth Voices: Creating Opportunities for Youth Empowerment in the 2nd District (Youth Only: 15-21) There are few safe and welcoming spaces that provide a venue for frank and honest dialogue about the issues of importance to youth. This session will allow for a self-inspired and facilitated dialogue among youth to discuss important issues related to education, health, safety and justice. Participants will have an opportunity to put pen to paper and visually depict their ideas and opinions on a board, followed by a chance to tour the “gallery” space and share their renderings.

The Power of Multi-Organizational Networks: Limited space with 1st Priority to 2nd Saturdays participants. As nonprofits are forced to thrive in an environment in which resources are scarce, the power of working in multi-organizational networks provides great opportunities for coordination and systems change. The purpose of this session will help organizations identify opportunities to form a network and develop a foundation upon which a network can begin to operate. With the right structures and planning in place, networks of diverse organizations can successfully work together as equal partners to pursue a common social or civic purpose over a sustained period of time. This will be open to participants in the Second District’s 2nd Saturday’s program, with limited space available.

About 20,000 young people are on probation in Los Angeles County right now, and more than 40 percent of these youths will head right back to jail. Board Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas commissioned a report on making transition back into society more successful, and it makes some serious charges.

“We need to be smart about reentry,” Ridley-Thomas said.

The report found that some county juvenile detention camps have good reentry programs; some, but not all. The programs make sure that young people have a safe place, healthcare, addiction treatment, a support system and a plan for avoiding gang life before they leave. But the report argues that these transition services need to become institutionalized.

The researchers pointed to a few exemplary Los Angeles-based organizations as models for the Department of Corrections.

Well all we can say over here is: Don’t forget about art!!!

Art can lower crime, dropout rates, behavioral problems and more. And it’s signifigantly cheaper than the alternatives.  Here are the facts:

In the STAR program in Florida “each participant in Florida’s arts intervention program is only $850 per year—compared with as much as $28,000 per youth in the typical juvenile boot camp.”

And the Outcome of the STAR program: At the start of the STARS Program, 75& of the children were making less than a C average; now 80% are making a C average or better. Since the program’s inception, juvenile crime has dropped 28%, and for youth ages 11 and 12, the rate of recidivism has dropped 64%.

In Washington there’s the Experimental Gallery. Their goal is to teach responsible citizenship through the arts and the humanities. Their program offers workshops in creative writing, painting, drama, graphic design, sculpture, and videography are led by community artists and humanities scholars.

The Outcome of the Experimental Gallery: students in the Experimental Gallery overcome their behavioral problems by 75% and are 50% less likely to commit another crime.

In the words of Richard Romley, Maricopa County District Attorney in
Arizona, “As a prosecutor, I know that crime prevention pays far greater
dividends than prosecution. To this end, I make RICO funds available to
after-school arts and social programs for at-risk children that stimulate
imagination, develop skills and contribute to character development.
Children whose hearts and minds are nourished and challenged in
wholesome ways—such as by art, dance, theater, and sports—are much less
likely to succumb to the lure of crime.”

I could really go on with facts and statistics like this for days. Art affects us and our communities in so many positive ways. What I’d really love is for The Center : South LA to be able to be a part of statistic reporting like this. We’re doing what we can without a permanent space. And I’m proud of what we’ve done so far. But with some funding we could do SO MUCH MORE!!! Funding to pay for a space of our own. We’ve have amazing teachers ready and willing to teach great classes like graphic design, silkscreening, dance, etc… But classes like this require a space of our own.

Donate, please. Let’s do more.

You can email Mark Ridley-Thomas here: markridley-thomas@bos.lacounty.gov

Join us for a fun Holiday Wreath Making Class. This one’s for the adults!!!

Decorate your home this holiday season with a beautiful wreath you made yourself.

Class size is limited so register today!

To Register: email hello@thecentersouthla.com
Exact address to come once you’ve registered.

Class Fee : $10

Much thanks to Julio with the Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust, for inviting us out to get artsy.

Friday, November 12th : 6pm to 8pm.
Caribbean Cuisine Food Party!
featuring Kamilche Sea Farms Mussels
Hosted by Shema Muhuga, a friend of CSU at his Playa Del Rey residence, this food party will feature the mouthwatering flavors of the Caribbean. Soca and Calypso will be the music playing for the evening along with video footage from the October 2010 Los Angeles Carnival and the February 2010 Trinidad and Tobago carnival. As always local seasonal produce will be highlighted, but a special item for this evening will be a treat for sea food lovers. Kamilche Sea Farms has been farming mussels in the Puget Sound since 1981 and since 1986 has specialized in the culture of the premium Mediterranean mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis).  These mussels, common to Spain, are believed to have been brought over to the Pacific centuries ago on the bottoms of Spanish Galleons.  Today Kamilche Sea Farms grows these mussels starting with premium hatchery seed.  Suspended from long lines in the rich deep waters of the Puget Sound, a premium mussel is ready for harvest in less than a year. Kamilche Sea Farms’ growing waters, in Totten Inlet, have been state certified since 1926. This bay is designated by the Washington Department of Ecology as a “Unique Growing Area” due to its pristine waters and high shellfish productivity. Strict watershed protection measures ensure that it will remain pure for generations to come. A huge thank you to Kamilche Sea Farms for the donation of the mussels for this Food Party, we encourage you to check out http://www.kamilcheseafarms.com and support those businesses that support sustainable communities. A detailed menu and address for the event will be sent to those that RSVP, but you can be sure to get home cooked gourmet food, featuring locally grown and beyond organic produce, at an incredible price of $20.00, along with great company and the knowledge that your dollars are supporting a great cause.
Spaces are limited, so RSVP soon to Dyanep1@csuinc.org or call 323 299 7075.

Saturday, November 13th : 9am to 1pm.
Garden Gateway Workshop Series
Planting to Amend Soil + Healthy Greens
EXPO Center/CSU Urban Farm, corner of King and Bill Robertson Lane (formerly Menlo Ave), 3980 S. Bill Robertson Lane., LA, CA 90037, next door to the senior center, enter from Bill Robertson Lane. Garden Gateway Project Workshop Series takes place on the 2nd Saturday of every month. The Community Gateway to Building Food Self-Reliance –  Free Gardening, Nutrition and Cooking Workshop! In partnership with: The EXPO Center, UNO and USC Keck School of Medicine Childhood Obesity Research Center.
To RSVP call 323 299 7075 and please be prepared to attend the entire workshop.  Download flier at http://www.csuinc.org