Learn more about what UCLA Watts Leadership Institute is all about and what they are accomplishing. 

“Jorja Leap and Karrah Lompa, co-founders of the Watts Leadership Institute (WLI), spoke with us about WLI and its unique collaborative, leader-led training model. They launched WLI in 2016 to support small nonprofits and real community leaders in Watts, a historically under-resourced community in South Los Angeles. Most of the participating nonprofits are small—the kind that work out of the back of their car or the public library—but the difference they’re making every day in their community is tremendous.

Even though Leap and Lompa are honorary residents in Watts, with Leap working for more than 40 years in Watts, they insist on being invisible outside of the community. They want attention to be placed on the true community leaders and their efforts, and not on them as WLI co-founders. “We want to be invisible support, to help from behind. We want this to grow and to always be in Watts, owned by Watts,” Lompa said.

Our conversation with Jorja Leap and Karrah Lompa has been edited and condensed for clarity. “

Click here to read the full article. 

Watch this video to learn more about what Journey Out is all about!

Click here to learn more about Journey Out.

“Poetry is not only dream and vision; it is the skeleton architecture of our lives. It lays the foundation for a future of change, a bridge across our fears of what has never been before.” -Audre Lorde

In 1995, Street Poets founder Chris Henrikson began teaching a poetry workshop in an L.A. County Juvenile Probation Camp as a volunteer through the Writers Guild of America. In 1997, he and the alumni of that workshop, known collectively as Street Poets, joined forces with the NYC-based DreamYard Project to form DreamYard/LA. Street Poets worked under that fiscal umbrella from 1997 to 2005 when they made the decision to reclaim their original name and become Street Poets Inc., an independent CA non-profit corporation 501(c)3.

Click here to learn about more 2021 recipients.

“Kinoshita Elementary Principal Jackie Campbell gets chills when she sees how much her fourth and fifth graders enjoy reading after school with their volunteer tutors — especially when one considers their age differences.

Selected Kinoshita Elementary School students are reading virtually with senior citizen volunteers twice weekly, Campbell says, in a program sponsored by the Parentis Foundation.”

Click here to keep reading.

The Friendship Foundation supports parents and families who have children and young adults with special needs by providing a safe, accepting and inclusive environment where they can enjoy sports, art, music and many other social programs with their peers. Our friendly staff and helpful volunteers create a fun experience for all. It is our belief that every person is precious and capable of love, connection and friendship.

Programs are targeted to specific age groups while some encompass a broad gathering of all ages including parents.At each program, children with special needs are paired with student volunteers for an event full of fun peer interaction. The Friendship Foundation serves to augment our local educational systems and professional therapies by creating a natural setting for individuals with special needs to practice their learned skills amongst their peers.

MEETING THE NEED.

Jubilee is a new kind of non-profit. We’re an impact organization. We’re creative, flexible, and our focus is always on effectively meeting the needs of the many communities we serve. Jubilee prioritizes relationships, servant leadership, health, and wholeness in our pursuit of a more just and equitable Los Angeles. In our work, we develop relationships and leaders, encourage social entrepreneurship and social activism, build communities and opportunities for growth. From healthier kids to more engaged young adults our programming is transforming L.A.

Click here to learn more about Jubilee Consortium.

Our wonderful volunteers creating engaging spaces for children to learn, read, and grow Access Books could not do it without you!

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.

Testimonial