Community

Community Within the Community

A look at how successful downtown Los Angeles non-profits (CLLL, HOLA, the Salvation Army Youth Center, and Challengers Boys and Girls Club) build trust, growth, and commitment with the families they serve.

For the past three years Iridescent has provided hands-on science courses at ~ 30 schools in the downtown Los Angeles area. However, in order to provide the community families with a workspace for long-term projects, we are now looking for a physical space that can be used for teaching and preparation work.

In order to get a sense of the Los Angeles community and gain insight on ways that Iridescent could become a thriving and functional partner in the neighborhood, I took a look at various successful non-profit organizations in the area: The Center for Life Long Learning (CLLL), The Heart of Los Angeles (HOLA), The Salvation Army Youth Center, and Challengers Boys and Girls Club (CBGC). Although very different from each other, these organizations also had striking similarities. There's a beautiful sense of hope that lies deep among their staff and members. Sure the community is filled with thousands of families trying to provide their children with the basics; but alongside these people and their aspirations are hundreds of non-profits trying to do the same thing, struggle to survive. So how do they do it? There were a few words that never failed to come up during an interview, “respect”, “growth”, and “commitment”. These words not only applied to the children involved in the community programs but also the volunteers, workers, and parents.

RESPECT: In order to earn the respect of the community families, each organization reaches out, they provide a comforting atmosphere and a haven for its members. The CLLL painted their gates and walls with spirited colors. HOLA has begun to clean up the Lafayette Park for community use. The Salvation Army painted a large mural on their wall. The CBGC created schools and day care programs within the area. Once the people of the community gained a sense of trust for the organization, they were able to become involved and follow the high standards that the organization placed for its members.
COMMUNITY GROWTH: Each organization makes it their responsibility to rear the children towards being successful and moral members of society. The volunteers and teachers pinpoint where a child's talent lies then build off it. They help the children to excel in their best abilities while also offering other resources. The growth of the parents is also always a goal. In this time of economic instability many families have great intangible demands; whether mental, emotional, or supportive, the families need a safe place to connect and work with each other. The organizations often build strong bonds between parent and child. As the members grow, so does their desire to give back to the community, thus the organization can grow.
COMMITMENT: There must be a commitment to the cause. The organizations' volunteers and workers must be selfless and the child members must be self-fulfilling. The commitment of the community provides a full proof plan for learning and change.

Giving goes both ways. No organization can function without the shared resources of another. The organizations provide activity, health care, and education for those that need it, and in return the community wants to give back. The WANT to give back is how the communities function within the community. Mortimer Jones executive director of the Salvation Army Youth Center said, “In order to succeed, this can't be a job it has to be a passion.”

A closer comparison of the four organizations:

Establishment

Center for Life Long Learning: Small; 6 years in its location; transient families; 7-18 year old members.
Heart of Los Angeles: 5 directors; over 1,000 kids; 20 years in its location; application process; 6-19 year old members.
Salvation Army Youth Center: Serves over 4,000 youth and their parents; 7 years in its location; no age limit on members.
Challengers Boys and Girls Club: 3,500 children; 40 years in its location; 6-17 year old members; application process.

Volunteers

Center for Life Long Learning: College students; local professionals; retired teachers; elderly services.
Heart of Los Angeles: College students; local professionals; SAT prep tutors.
Salvation Army Youth Center: College students; corporate and local professionals; Center for Student Missions; Archdiocese Youth Employment.
Challengers Boys and Girls Club: College students; local professionals; parents; teachers; junior members.

Fundraising

Center for Life Long Learning: Grant writing; individual donations.
Heart of Los Angeles: Grant writing; individual donation; golf/bowling competitions; summer camp drive; hosting major events.
Salvation Army Youth Center: Grant writing; individual donation.
Challengers Boys and Girls Club: Grant writing; individual donations; golf tournament; pancake breakfast; Citibank gala.

Effective programs

Center for Life Long Learning: After-school tutoring and homework help; computer lab; free snack bar.
Heart of Los Angeles: After-school tutoring and homework help; one-on-one focus; soccer and sports activities; 12 week courses of the child's choice; art, cooking, LGBT, sex ed, college prep; offers mental health care for families.
Salvation Army Youth Center: After-school tutoring and homework help; family services; licensed day care; dance, fitness, kitchen, library, arts, game rooms, food, skate park; computer lab.
Challengers Boys and Girls Club: After-school tutoring and homework help; transportation; character and leadership development; health and life skills; radio broadcasting, film editing, arts, music, dance, fitness, sports, cooking; field trips.

Partnerships

Center for Life Long Learning: Teachers Without Borders; City Scholars Foundation; LA Food Bank; Dole Foods.
Heart of Los Angeles: Salvation Army; Bresee; Boys and Girls Club; LA Lakers.
Salvation Army Youth Center: Archdiocese; Youth Admissions; LA Clippers; USC; LA Food Bank; Center for Student Missions.
Challengers Boys and Girls Club: Disney; United Way; McDonald's Teaching Healthy Habits; HOLA; Q Fraternity.

Security

Center for Life Long Learning: Background checks; gate; police cooperation; surveillance camera.
Heart of Los Angeles: Background checks; gate; police cooperation; constant chaperone; alarm.
Salvation Army Youth Center: Background checks; gate; police cooperation; constant chaperone; alarm; windows in every room; surveillance cameras; everyone is searched.
Challengers Boys and Girls Club: Background checks; gate; police cooperation; front desk check; alarm; strict non-gang-related dress code for civility of children within the grounds.

Essentials

Center for Life Long Learning: Gain the trust of the community; have a good PR plan; competitive staff; know your demography.
Heart of Los Angeles: Asset based: build off the individual child's talents; equality and respect; high moral values; confidence.
Salvation Army Youth Center: Gain the trust and respect of the community; passion for the cause.
Challengers Boys and Girls Club: Build confidence within the child; involve the parents; build off the talents of the child; parental volunteers; shuttle transportation.

Problems

Center for Life Long Learning: Tagging; homeless wanderers; awareness; family attendance; parents with limited education; inconsistency with student volunteers during the summer.
Heart of Los Angeles: Parental want for child to work or be domesticated instead of continue school; cultural misunderstandings; values clashing; parents with limited education.
Salvation Army Youth Center: Transient culture; on the gang separation line; not enough volunteers; transportation; parents with limited education; awareness for the youth center's services (breaking the stereotype that the Salvation Army is one big thrift store).
Challengers Boys and Girls Club: Discipline; parent disputes over fees and attendance; optional tutoring — the children aren't forced to attend homework help and often pick an activity over learning.