evLovE

  From Youth Justice Coalition WE ARE ASKING YOU TO TAKE ACTION IMMEDIATELY TO SAVE THE PICO YOUTH AND FAMILY CENTER - ONE OF L.A.'S MOST POWERFUL, CREATIVE AND TRANSFORMATIVE YOUTH CENTERS.  PLEASE READ THE STATEMENT BELOW AND SIGN THE PETITION. > Please sign a petition to help protect the Pico Youth and Family Center, a small grassroots organization that is working to transform the lives of young people of color and providing them with an alternative to the streets in Santa Monica. The organization is being targeted by a small group of officials in Santa Monica City Hall that are opposed to the organization’s model of transformation that includes youth leadership development, community organizing and advocacy. Please send this petition out to your list and help deliver a message to Santa Monica to preserve PYFC. > Click here for the Petition to all of the City Council Members and the City Manager ...

*From Youth Justice Coalition* Last night at approximately 6pm, Henry Sandoval - a long-time youth leader and organizer with the Youth Justice Coalition and graduate of FREE L.A. High School - was shot across the street from Chuco's.  The bullet struck him in the side of his chest just below his left armpit as he was driving. He was not the intended target - every one who knows Henry also knows that he lives, breathes and spreads unity, integrity and peace.  But as many have said, in L.A. bullets have no names. It's 2 am, and he just came out of surgery.  The surgeons reported that the bullet hit his heart and lung but did not do permanent damage.  The bullet has been removed and he is in stable condition. As he was lying on the floor at Chuco's waiting for the paramedics, he asked that everyone pray for him.  Please, whoever you look to for stren...

Courtesy of Youth Justice Coalition Join us at Chuco's on Halloween for our Haunted Jailhouse followed by a special screening of Precious Knowledge documenting the inspiring struggle to save ethnic studies in the Tucson Public Schools.  The Jailhouse is intended to educate L.A. on Prop 34 (Death Penalty) YES , Prop 35 (Human Trafficking) NO and Prop 36 (Three Strikes) YES .  Everything is free including the snacks!

Photo Credit: Richard Ross of youth detained at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall in Downey Release of Groundbreaking National Report FAMILIES UNLOCKING FUTURES Solutions to the Crisis in Juvenile Justice Today, Tuesday, September 25, 2012, the Youth Justice Coalition, as a part of the national network Justice for Families, assembled on the steps of the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration to release a report exposing the crisis in the juvenile injustice system. Based on over 1,000 surveys with parents and family members of incarcerated youth and 24 focus groups nationwide, Families Unlocking Futures aims to correct misperceptions about system-involved youth and their families, and demonstrates the need for families’ active participation in redesigning the youth justice system in order to secure safer and more prosperous communitie...

Embrace the Arts-Get to know the ARTIST in you!   FALL CLASSES  - $5 per class (Oct. 8 – Nov. 24) No registration required - come on day of class Tuesday Drums  -  Marcus L. Miller 4 – 5 pm  (7 – 12 years) 5 – 6 pm (13 years and up) Drawing & Painting  -  Raul Baltazar 4 – 5:30   (7 – 12 years) Wednesday Keyboard  -  Aeros Pierce 2:30 – 3:30 pm, (Adult / Senior) 4 – 5 pm, Beginner (7 – 18 years) 5 – 6 pm, Returning Students (7 -18 years) Thursday Early Childhood Ukulele  -  Daniel Corral 4 – 5 pm, Beginner (3 - 6 years) Guitar  -  Daniel Corral 5 – 6 pm, Beginner (7 -18 years) 6 - 7 pm, Beginner (Adult / Senior) Friday Line Dance  -  Nawili Gray 11 am – Noon (Adult/Seniors) Crafting Circle – Cheryl Williams Noon – 2 pm (Adult/Seniors) Saturday Teen Art – Raul Baltazar   Noon – 2pm  (13 – 19 years) Every third Sa...

Over the past two weekends, something phenomenal has been taking place in local markets in South Los Angeles. Community Market Conversion (CMC), which is a program through the Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Los Angeles, has hosted a series of Health & Wellness Events.  On Saturday, November 19, 2011, I had the privilege of not only attending but volunteering at the event held at local store Money Saver's Meats. Money Saver's Meats is well known in the community for having the best Chicken links in South LA as well as having organic vegetables, fresh meat and herbs. It is owned by Los Angeles Native, Ozabe Banks. It is located at 3233 W. Florence Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90043. Filled with great food, music, face painting by the amazing Kai Sapp, nutritional information, resources, and vendors such as Youth Justice Coalition, this event was absolutely exceptional.  The wealth did  not  cease with that, there were also superb cooking...