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Haven Academy of the Arts

February 25, 2025

Develop character in youth from the underserved communities of Los Angeles by bringing Haven Academy’s after-school performing arts program directly to their neighborhood.

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​Our programs at all 3 sites are explicitly designed to make use of the performing arts’ powerful ability to develop the inner assets that help children succeed academically, personally, and ultimately professionally and become productive members of society.​
Bring performing arts education programing to arts desert communities that don’t have the funding, training, or support to build a program on their own. 
Build academic skills through participation in the arts, improving success in school.
Create an extra-curricular alternative to gang participation or other negative behaviors.
Encourage youth affected by challenging living environments to discover how their talents and gifts can take them beyond their current circumstances. 
Join other community programs in addressing the barriers to academic and career success faced by youth who have experienced poverty in Los Angeles County. 
Increase the number of youth that Haven reaches each year who are affected by poverty and at risk for negative impact behaviors. ​
Track student growth at camp sites over multiple years using the DAP (Developmental Assets Profile) in order to study the effect of arts education on disenfranchised youth and compare how different communities benefit from the program.

LA City Programs
Haven Pico Union
Each year, our HPU students rehearse for and perform 3 musical theatre shows: A Fall/Winter Musical Review, a Spring Musical, and a Summer Theatre Camp. All programs culminate in a fully costumed, choreographed, and lit live performance for the local community. Our programs are explicitly designed to make use of the performing arts’ powerful ability to develop the inner assets that help children succeed academically and personally.

Modeled after our Pico Union programming, this brand new year-round site brings quality arts education to the West Adams community in downtown Los Angeles.
Each year, our HWA students will rehearse for and perform 3 musical theatre shows: A Fall/Winter Musical Review, a Spring Musical, and a Summer Theatre Camp. All programs culminate in a fully costumed, choreographed, and lit live performance for the local community.

hART of the City Summer Theatre Camps
Our hART of the City program offers tuition-free Summer Theatre Camps with instruction in acting, music, and dance, designed to develop character and life skills in our students. Camps are explicitly designed to make use of the performing arts’ powerful ability to develop the inner assets that help children succeed academically, personally, and ultimately professionally, in order to become productive members of society.  All camp sites partner with a church, school, or community group already invested in a low-income area of Los Angeles County, targeting youth grades K-8 who are vulnerable to the negative impacts of their environments. 

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Friendship Foundation

February 24, 2025

Meet Hugo 🐾 our four-legged FRIEND 🐶
We asked Hugo what he likes most about his job… he answered with “there’s never a ruff day and I pawsitively love my Friends!”
How many likes can we get for therapy dog and man’s best friend @hugo.maxwell2015
#therapydog
#mansbestfriend
#fourpaws
#inclusion
 
 
Click here to learn more about Friendship Foundation.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Access Books

February 17, 2025

The Violence Prevention Center is a bright light in Los Angeles and we feel privileged to be able to support their mission. These bags were filled with necessities (and new books donated by us and our partners at the Book Foundation) and given to victims of domestic violence that had just fled homes other difficult living situations.

Click here to learn more about Access Books. 

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Fringe Benefits Theatre

February 11, 2025

WHO?

We are an ever-expanding alliance of artists, educators, parents, social justice activists and youth dedicated to creating theatre that promotes constructive dialogue and action about diversity and discrimination issues.

 

WHAT?

Fringe Benefits is a groundbreaking educational theatre company whose workshops and productions have earned the commendations of educators, parents, and community leaders.

Fringe Benefits offers tools for constructive dialogue and action on issues of tolerance and diversity.

We are dedicated to using theatre to build bridges within and among diverse communities and to promoting social justice. We help schools and communities understand the damage caused by intolerance and discrimination and to address these issues through the creative process.

 

WHERE?

Fringe Benefits is based in Los Angeles, California. While most of our programs are conducted in Southern California, we can and do travel just about anywhere, scheduling and funding permitting!

We have toured our productions to and led workshops and residencies in hundreds of schools, universities, community and religious centers, theatres and conferences throughout the United States, and in Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom.

 

WHEN?

We offer a variety of different programs throughout the year, both during the school/work day, after school and on weekends. Programs vary in length from 90 minute plays and interactive presentations, to three-hour and full day workshops, In-Services and Master Classes, to week-long institutes, and year-long Residencies.

 

WHY?

Fringe Benefits’ programs have been lauded as a highly effective form of early hate crime prevention. We are committed to “waging peace” by working with communities to find creative and positive responses to intolerance and bigotry.

Fringe Benefits’ work promotes the idea that every human being deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.

Click here to learn more about Fringe Benefits Theatre. 

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Sages and Seekers

February 10, 2025

Looking to listen into an amazing #podcast? Check out the Crow’s Feet: Life As We Age Podcast, episode “Real Life-Changing Magic: When Older Adults and Teens Actually, Like, Connect” featuring our founder Elly Katz. Listen to how Katz developed the Sages & Seekers program, the impact our programs has on older adults and young adult, and how you can tackle #ageism in your community. Sages & Seekers hopes to “bring together the life and energy of youth with the wisdom of our elders” via our programs.
Sounds interesting, and you’re looking to learn more after the podcast? Check out our website: https://sagesandseekers.org
Click here to learn more about Sages and Seekers. 

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Kingdom Causes Bellflower

February 3, 2025

Housing & Homelessness

Our Place Housing Solutions’ vision is that every person has a home and is connected within a community. OPHS is the main homeless service provider for adults the cities of Artesia, Bellflower, Cerritos, Compton, Downey, Lynwood, Norwalk, and Paramount.  We provide outreach, case management, and limited financial assistance to help end homelessness in our community.

Employment Creation

Good Soil Industries is a social enterprise (a non-profit business) with a mission to help our community’s hard-to-hire men work their way out of poverty. We do this by providing 3-6 month transitional jobs for men with criminal records and other employment barriers through our landscape social enterprise business, in addition to workforce development services to neighbors throughout Bellflower.

Margaret’s House

Margaret’s House is a beautiful 3-unit hospitality home that provides transitional housing and services for families with children in the Bellflower Unified School District. Traditionally, homeless shelters separate by age and gender; our unique model seeks to maintain the intact family unit and provide stability for the children by keeping them in their school and community. 

Bellflower Ministerial Association

The Bellflower Ministerial Association is a partnership between KCB and pastors from over 25 congregations in Bellflower. Pastors meet together monthly to pray, encourage one another, share information and resources for ministry, and coordinate community events and services for the glory of God. Meetings take place on the 3rd Thursday of each month at 10am.

Volunteer Mobilization

We mobilize over 400 volunteers each year through our various weekly programs and annual community events: Saturday Morning Homeless Breakfast & Showers, Homework Club, the Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast, National Day of Prayer, Community Christmas Store, and special events like the Downtown Art Walk and Citywide Ice Cream Social.

Click here to learn more about Kingdom Causes Bellflower.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

The Eli Home

January 28, 2025

PROGRAMS
Our focused programs aim to empower those affected by homelessness, abuse, addiction, and other life-altering situations. We offer various services to help rebuild and inspire our clients toward a brighter future. Our programs include shelter, community renewal, and mothers’ addiction recovery. The Eli Home believes in second chances and is committed to making a positive difference in the lives of those in need.

SHELTER
Our shelter program offers a beautiful and peaceful environment for abused children under 12 with their mothers with 24/7 staff to facilitate programs including parenting training, parent-child interaction, anger management, individual and group counseling, and job training to ensure families move forward to violence-free permanent housing.

24 hour shelter

Managing social skills

Building respect

Healthy child-parent interaction skills

Managing emotions

Vocational training and assistance

Individual and group counseling

Extended services year round

Referral of services and resources

Assistance with obtaining permanent housing

CHILDREN OF ADDICTS
RECOVERY PROGRAM
A new program that began in September 2019. The Eli Home residential recovery program provides housing and extensive case-managed program services to homeless children and their mothers with substance use disorders (SUDs). There is a desperate need for programs that shelter homeless recovering mothers and their children together.

Support System

Housing Options

Sobriety Assistance

Legal Assistance

Vocational Training And Assistance

Individual And Group Counseling

Referral Of Services And Resources

 

EAST STREET COMMUNITY
RENEWAL INITIATIVE
ESCRI serves a three-square-mile area surrounding Eli home that is a predominantly low-income, densely populated, and high-crime area, which can create stressors that may result in family violence.

Financial Education

Job Training

Family Counseling

Social Services

Parenting Education

After School Tutoring

Teen Club

Food Distribution

Health Education Service

Citizenship Classes

 

Click here to learn more about The Eli Home. 

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Fallbrook Food Pantry

January 28, 2025

​Purpose
Fallbrook Food Pantry believes a nutritious diet is essential to the well-being of the individuals in our community.  We believe every individual should have access to a healthy and nutritious diet. We practice being good stewards of the funds and items donated to us and never violate the trust of our community.  We respond to people in-need by advocating dignity, respect, and fairness for all people by providing hope through nurturing love and emotional support.  Most importantly, we encourage our clients to become self-sufficient, independent, and productive members of the community.
 
Nutrition Guidelines
Fallbrook Food Pantry is committed to providing a variety of nourishing foods from every food group to all clients.  We commit to providing the following at every distribution: 
 
Fresh Fruits & Vegetables

  • Each person receives 8-10 pounds of fresh produce weekly
    • 6 or more different fresh fruits
    • 6 or more different fresh vegetables

Whole Grains

  • 1 or more whole grains
  • Examples include:
    • 100% whole grains
      • Ex. rolled oats, barley, Bulgar, faro, millet, quinoa, brown rice, wild rice
    • Whole grain rich bread, pasta, and tortillas
      • Contains whole grain as the first ingredient (ex. 100% whole wheat, whole corn, etc.)

Proteins

  • 1 or more lean proteins
  • Examples include:
    • Poultry, lean beef, lean pork (fresh or frozen)
    • Fresh whole eggs
    • Canned white meats
      • Low sodium, canned in water when possible (ex. low sodium canned chicken)
    • Fish
      • Fresh, frozen, or canned in water
    • Canned/dry beans or lentils
      • No sugar or salt added
    • Nuts/nut butters
      • Unsalted, no sugar added (when possible)

 
Purchased Products:

  • FFP is committed to having our purchasing reflect a balanced diet as described by Feeding America, San Diego Food Bank, and USDA’s MyPlate.
  • FFP will continue to approach nutrition holistically and consider physical, spiritual and cultural needs.

 
Donated Products:

  • We will communicate healthy food drive and donation guidelines to all donors:
    • Meat and proteins: beef stew, chicken stew, chili, tuna, lentil soup, peanut butter, nutritional drinks for seniors (i.e. Ensure)
    • Dried goods and canned goods: all canned fruits and vegetables, pastas and pasta sauce, canned and bottled juices, macaroni and cheese, dried beans and peas, rice, breakfast cereals and oatmeal, bread, tortillas, crackers, soups, flour, sugar, cooking oils
    • Dairy: powdered and canned milk (unsweetened)
    • Baby items: baby foods (no formulas)
  • For safe handling purposes, FFP does not accept donations in glass containers.

 
Distributed Products

  • FFP does not distribute:
    • Alcohol
    • Soda
    • Candy
    • Damaged and unsafe foods
  • Soda and candy is offered to volunteers but not distributed to clients

 
Donations to our Partners

  • Foods provided by FFP to our partners organizations will reflect our nutrition values with the goal to provide foods from all 4 food groups
  • FFP does not provide food to partner organizations that we do not ourselves distribute (i.e. sodas, candy, damaged goods, etc.)

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​
Continuing Considerations

  • The nutrition policy will be reviewed on an annual basis.

Click here to learn more about Fallbrook Food Pantry. 

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Kids and Horses Inc.

January 27, 2025

What Makes a Therapy Horse?

First off, contrary to some beliefs, therapy horses are not perfect. People in our industry our very aware that the perfect dream horses does not really exist; however, there are some pretty special equine partners out there that are ready to make a difference in the lives of so many.

 

Job Description

Therapy horses have to be used to being pulled out for lessons throughout the day. Unlike a lot of other horses, they aren’t able to do a long ride and rest for the remainder of the day. Often they have two to three lessons scattered throughout the day’s schedule. On top of that, they have to be used to different riders getting on their backs every day and having a variety of handlers tack and lead them. Therapy horses are commonly surrounded by a small army of people and are exposed to a variety of toys, props, noises, over the topline activity, etc. Not every horse can do this, but we sure do love and appreciate the ones that are ready, willing, and love their jobs.

 

What are we looking for?

Our program is currently on the look-out for some new equines to join our herd. Here is a small list of what we are hoping to find. We are open to some discussion on the size and age standards. 

~ Perfect age range for us (at the moment) is between 10 and 20 years old.
~ Size-wise we usually look for 14-15hh. We appreciate the stocky horses that can carry adult-sized riders, but we also enjoy having some narrower horses for our little riders. We are on the hunt for a Draft/Quarter Horse cross! 
~No major health problems or lameness issues.
~We aren’t usually picky about breeds of horses. It all depends on their background and temperament, but you won’t usually find any of the typically high-strung breeds on the property.  So far, we have had good luck with ranch and trail horses, and we have had a couple of retired three-day eventers work phenomenally with our clients.
~We appreciate horses that are versatile, solid, quiet, calm, tolerant, patient, good with people, able to accept a lot of sensory input (toys, noises, etc.), and not typically spooky.
 

 

How does it work?

We usually lease all of our horses from their owners. The horses are brought to the ranch for an assesment. Our equine manager and her team of staff and/or volunteers go through some steps to decide if we should accept the horse into the trial program. The horses than go through a 60-90 day trial in which they are exposed to what a day of lessons look like through mock lessons and one-on-one sessions with the horse team. From there, the horse may or may not graduate into becoming one of our prized therapy horses. All of our horses are well-taken care of and loved on daily.

Do you have a horse that you think might make a good therapy horse? Fill out the form below and let us know!

PROGRAM HORSE QUESTIONNAIRE FORM 

Click here to learn morea baotu Kids and Horses.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Elevate Your GAME

January 21, 2025

Elevate Your G.A.M.E. (EYG) was founded in 2002 by Gipson Lyles (chairman of the board) and Michael Freeman (the executive director).

Michael Freeman met Gipson Lyles (principal of Compton High School in 2001) at his high school class reunion dinner in the fall of 2001. Gipson was there to make an appeal for help. Michael responded to Gipson’s appeal and went back to Compton High to meet with Principal Lyles to discuss how he might help. At that meeting, Gipson and Michael agreed to work together to launch a mentoring program at Compton High School. A few months later on April 13, 2002, Elevate Your G.A.M.E. was born with a kick-off event that matched the first set of mentors with the first set of students.

Now, over 2,500 students have been mentored since 2002 and EYG participants have a 95% graduation rate. EYG students have received scholarships and have been accepted to universities across the United States including: UCLA, USC, Tuskegee, Xavier, Pepperdine, UC Berkley, Biola and many other colleges and universities.

Elevate Your G.A.M.E.’s ultimate goal is to spark a movement of mentoring that spreads into every urban community in America.

Click here to learn more about Elevate Your GAME.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

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