A few months ago, we announced that the Snap Foundation was partnering with the My LA2050 Grants Challenge by pledging additional support to projects that develop pathways to the creative economy for underrepresented youth in Los Angeles. We are delighted to announce the Snap Foundation's five grant recipients.
True to its mission to elevate the voices of young people in the creative economy, the Snap Foundation relied on its Youth Advisory Council (YAC) to guide its grantmaking decisions. The YAC, composed of eight young leaders of color between the ages of 18 to 24 who are passionate about the arts and social impact, spent several weeks reviewing proposals from this year's My LA2050 applicants. They then presented their top recommendations to the Snap Foundation Board.
After careful consideration, the Snap Foundation YAC and Board are proud to award a total of $310,000 in grant funding to the following organizations investing in LA's creative future:
Shawn Kravich, Executive Director of the Snap Foundation, shared:
“In this especially challenging time, it's been so encouraging to see creativity and hope showcased in the work of each of the My LA2050 applications. We're so grateful to the Goldhirsh Foundation and all of the applicant organizations for letting us partner in this year's challenge!"
Thank you, Snap Foundation, for your partnership! We're so grateful for your dedication to the creative economy and the deep action of the Snap Foundation Board, YAC, and leadership.
The CREATE category envisions an LA that empowers all its residents to harness their talents in creating art and contributing to economic thriving. By the year 2050, Los Angeles will play host to the largest concentration of working artists and high-quality arts establishments. Our region will be an international leader in technology and innovation and a center for entrepreneurship that creates jobs and generates wealth for a diverse, inclusive workforce.
$100,000 Winner: Las Fotos Project elevates the voices of teenage girls through photography and mentorship, inspiring them to use cameras to explore their identity, advocate for their community, and create their future careers.
This Saturday, September 26 and next Saturday, October 3 from 10 to 11am, join Las Fotos Project on Grand Park LA's “Easy Mornings" live streams to learn helpful photography tips and tricks! Plus, check out their talented students' virtual photo exhibitions on the Las Fotos website.
$50,000 Winner: Lost Angels Children's Project (LACP) provides at-risk youth with educational programs and vocational skills trainings in classic car restoration and the arts to promote critical thinking and team-building.
In August, LACP graduated its first cohort from GOOD+LIFE Manufacturing Social Enterprise. GOOD+LIFE provides vocational training and paid apprenticeships in the industrial arts for young adults who are experiencing or at-risk for homelessness and unemployment. Check out the GOOD+LIFE catalog to commission a piece from LACP apprentices.
$25,000 Winner: LA Sanitation and Environment (LASAN) applied to My LA2050 with a groundbreaking proposal to create a centralized recycling hub where material byproducts from businesses can be repurposed instead of going to landfills.
It's true, LASAN does much more than garbage collection! The Department also runs a number of conservation and education programs to ensure that our City is sustainable and thriving, from offering free street trees and leading composting classes to educating residents about how and what to recycle.
$15,000 Winner: Grid110 provides free accelerator programs to early-stage founders, connecting them to a growing community of fellow entrepreneurs, mentorship opportunities, and critical resources.
Grid110 and partner Pledge LA are now accepting applications to the Fund for South LA Founders. They'll select 20 companies to join their Winter cohort and receive three months of tailored training and support, mentorship from other LA founders and investors, and $25,000 in non-dilutive funding. Apply now through October 9.
$10,000 Winner: Flintridge Center supports and provides opportunities to individuals of high-risk, high-need circumstances from various communities in LA County.
Since 2007, Flintridge Center has provided economic opportunities to the formerly incarcerated. The organization recently graduated the 36th class of Apprenticeship Preparation Program (APP) which integrates trauma-informed care and workforce development to prepare formerly incarcerated individuals for union construction careers.
Wildfire Season Resources and Ways to Help
It's just the beginning of this year's fire season, and wildfires are already raging in LA County and much of California. Below, we've compiled some resources to help you stay up to date on the fires and containment efforts in California and ways to help those impacted. If you have additional resources that you think might be helpful to share, email us at [email protected].
AQI Health and Safety
For the next few months, we'll all need to be more aware of the air quality in our area and take precautions when necessary. An air quality index (AQI) of greater than 100 means that sensitive groups should avoid spending time outdoors (primarily older adults, children, and people with asthma). When there's smoke in the air, you should stay inside when possible, avoid vigorous exercise, and be sure to stay hydrated. Read these tips for protecting your lungs during fire season and more.
Find up-to-date information on the current air quality in your area.
Wildfire Updates
Local fire updates and recovery efforts in the City of Los Angeles.
Local fire updates and recovery efforts in Los Angeles County.
Statewide fire updates and recovery efforts in California.
Follow @CAL_FIRE and @LACoFDPIO on Twitter for live updates on the wildfires.
Evacuation and Emergency Resources
For information on how to prepare for a potential fire in your area, check out Ready for Wildfire.
Follow this home evacuation checklist if you need to evacuate.
Know where to go when you evacuate and find the temporary evacuation point in your area.
Find information about Public Safety Power Shutoff events in California and register for emergency alerts.
Head to the LAFD website for updates and locations of designated Smoke Relief Centers.
To find roads and highways that are impacted by the fires, head to the CalTrans website.
Ways to Help
Donate to Global Giving's California Wildfire Relief Fund.
Donate to California Fire Foundation
Donate to California Community Foundation's Wildfire Relief Fund
Contribute to the California Fire Foundation's Supplying Aid to Victims of Emergency (SAVE) program, which brings immediate, short-term relief to victims of fire and other natural disasters throughout California.
Make a donation to Airbnb's Open Homes Program or sign up to offer your space as free, temporary housing to those displaced by disasters.
Check out the California Community Foundation's regional relief efforts:
National Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month takes place each year from September 15 to October 15, paying tribute to the historical and cultural legacy of Hispanic/Latinx people in the US. In honor of Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month, we've curated a list of resources to help you learn more about this legacy and opportunities for you to safely engage in virtual events.
LEARN
Browse the website of El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument and learn about its history from the founding of El Pueblo de la Reina de Los Angeles in 1781 to the present time.
Discover the Latinx history of LA's Eastside from the Los Angeles Conservancy.
Check out the UCLA Library's collection of Latina and Latina Oral History recordings.
Watch this PBS film and learn about the Zoot Suit Riots of 1943.
Read the Natural History of Museum's collection of stories celebrating Latinx Heritage Month.
Read this article, “ Latino Identity in South Los Angeles – Across the Generations," on KCET about the findings of the 2016 study “Roots|Raíces: Latino Engagement, Place Identities, and Shared Futures in South Los Angeles."
ENGAGE
Participate in the Los Angeles Public Library's bilingual English-Spanish Los Angeles Libros Festival on September 26 from 10am to 5pm, live on Facebook and YouTube.
Attend "Searching for Your Indigenous Roots in Mexico" a virtual lecture from John Schmal via the Los Angeles Public Library on September 24 at 4pm.
Join one of this month's En Casa con LA Plaza Zoom Sessions
Experience this month's New Filmmakers Los Angeles (NMFLA) Film Festival, "InFocus: Latinx & Hispanic Cinema" on September 26.
On October 15 at 11am, join All Raise for Latinx VCs Talk Pathways into Venture and the Future of Work.
The CONNECT category represents our hope that Los Angeles will be a place where every resident is empowered to engage with others and contribute to civic processes. By the year 2050, LA will be the most civically engaged region in the U.S., with abundant platforms for residents to voice their opinions and influence local decision-makers. Our voting rates and volunteerism will lead the nation, and an expanded network of transportation options will facilitate the easy flow of people and ideas.
Below, learn more about the five My LA2050 winners making LA the best place to CONNECT.
$100,000 Winner: Ready to Succeed supports and empowers youth impacted by foster care with the resources, relationships, and opportunities they need to launch successful careers and lead meaningful lives.
RTS Scholars graduate from college at a rate 10 times greater than foster youth nationwide and are more likely to secure full-time employment. You can support RTS Scholars by committing your organization as a hiring partner, serving as an advocate, and more. Current and former foster youth enrolled in college can apply to join the program now through September 15.
$50,000 Winner: Union Station Homeless Services' mission is to help individuals and families rebuild their lives and end homelessness across the San Gabriel Valley.
Union Station still has impactful volunteer opportunities available during COVID-19. Check out the list of current volunteer needs. And, on September 30 from 5:30 to 7:00 pm, Join Union Station for Changing the Narrative: Does Housing Really End Homelessness, a virtual discussion about the Housing First model.
$25,000 Winner: LA Forward provides Angelenos with the resources and training they need to take constructive action and organize to make LA a better place.
LA Forward has a full calendar of virtual events available to those looking to get involved in local advocacy, centered around specific issue areas or focused on individual neighborhoods—from meetings on Housing Justice and Transportation Justice to gatherings for the Westside, South LA, South Bay, and San Fernando Valley.
$15,000 Winner: Boyle Heights Beat/Radio Pulso is a bilingual community news project produced by youth and a trusted source of information in Boyle Heights.
This summer, the Boyle Heights Beat youth journalists released their 32nd print edition and published an assortment of digital articles, including a series of photo essays in partnership with Las Fotos Project entitled “Con Safos" that highlight public safety issues in their community. Take a look at the series.
$10,000 Winner: Creative Acts heals trauma, builds community, raises power, and amplifies the voices of the most marginalized through art.
This week, Creative Acts launches the newest, virtual cohort of its Art Attacks program. Art Attacks uses drawn art, spoken word poetry, and more to teach with youth incarcerated in Los Angeles County Juvenile Halls and Camps the value of their voice and the importance of voting. Learn more about the impact of Art Attacks and Creative Acts' other programming.
Today, Friday, September 4th, the City of Los Angeles turns 239 years old!
Last year, on LA's 238th birthday,
we asked local leaders to share their wishes for our city. While not all of the wishes have come true (yet!), LA continues to make progress towards its future.
In 2020, LA has faced a unique set of challenges and opportunities, from the COVID-19 pandemic to Angelenos taking the streets for racial justice. As LA begins its 240th year, we asked our incredible grantees, who work all across our city with a diverse range of communities, to share what they wish to see in LA's future.
LA FORWARD
2020 CONNECT GRANTEE
“Los Angeles is so much more than its stereotypes. It's full of amazing people from all different parts of the country and the world, a rich kaleidoscope of culture and humanity. Amid the pandemic, its resilience is being tested more than ever before.
For the 239th birthday of the City of Angels, LA Forward is wishing for government officials to rise to the scale of the enormous challenges we face. We've already seen an unprecedented surge of civic participation as Angelenos demand racial justice and a path to a just economic recovery that invests in communities, rather than leaving them burdened with debt. That's why we're part of the Healthy LA coalition of 330 organizations. And that's why we're using our LA 101 series of initiatives to support the people of LA in taking control of the systems that shape their lives. We're starting with engaging educational guides that make local issues accessible and civic teach-ins tailored to the moment."
STRATEGIC ACTIONS FOR A JUST ECONOMY
2020 LIVE GRANTEE
“We believe that the fate of Los Angeles should be decided by those who dwell here, no matter how much money we have or where we come from, because our vibrant and diverse community has been built by all of us.
In these troubled times, our birthday wish for our city is to stop evictions and cancel rent; no one should be without a home when home is the safest place to be. Housing should be as much of a public good as roads and schools and streetlights and parks. Los Angeles has led the world as a creative force in many fields, and we should now turn that creativity towards constructing solutions to the pressing issue of housing, ensuring that everyone has a safe, affordable and healthy home in the city that we love."
9 DOTS
2019 LEARN GRANTEE
“Happy Birthday, Los Angeles! 9 Dots' wish for the year ahead is that we unite and learn from the many challenges we face during COVID-19 and remote learning. We wish that all students in elementary education in Los Angeles have access to a quality computer science education, preparing them for tomorrow's best jobs. With only 9% of California's elementary schools offering computer science courses, let's ensure that Angeleno students are prepared to become leaders in the tech industry in the years that follow. Let's support our educators who are putting in incredible work to continue providing education to students virtually.
This year, 9 Dots is continuing to work with 20 schools, over 270 teachers, and over 8,000 students to provide CS education virtually. We are thrilled to continue to share the joy and creativing of coding each year. Together, let's make Los Angeles a leader in CS education."
UNION STATION HOMELESS SERVICES
2020 CONNECT GRANTEE
“The strength and resilience of Los Angeles is rooted in its diversity and interconnectivity. However, not all Angelenos are granted the dignity of safe and affordable housing. It can be difficult for our most vulnerable community members to thrive here. At Union Station Homeless Services, we believe in the ability of our people to innovate and fearlessly execute new solutions to end homelessness in LA County. Through our Community Allies Program, we prioritize human connection as we match volunteers to work closely with people experiencing homelessness. This shared humanity enriches the lives of both the participant and the volunteer equally, as they grow and learn from one another, truly embodying the heart of Los Angeles. We are proud to provide permanent solutions to get individuals and families off the streets for good.
Our birthday wish is to end homelessnes, and to further connect our community. Happy Birthday, Los Angeles!"
CROP SWAP LA
2020 LIVE GRANTEE
“Dear Los Angeles—2020 is the year to return to our foundations, so we may grow yet again. Back in 1781 when LA was founded, it was common practice to cultivate the land as a means of lifestyle and advancement. Now in 2020, we see the need to get back to those ways, not only for food security, but also environmental responsibility.
So from our gardeners at Crop Swap LA, we wish the City to have a healthy return to its agricultural roots, where local water is used creatively for food production, and jobs naturally develop as big opportunity meets big need. We remain committed to cultivate unused land, including residential front yard spaces, so we can create a local and sustainable food production infrastructure for the masses. We harvest unwanted fruit from backyard trees, and aim to educate the community on ways they can become self-sufficient by growing food at home.
Together, we can revive the spirit of this City, and it begins in the soil."
CREATIVE ACTS
2020 CONNECT GRANTEE
“Los Angeles has been the birthplace of our work for social justice and transformation of the “justice" system. The unique intersection of the Arts & social justice positions LA as a leader in the radical reimagining of how America treats people who are systems-impacted. In LA County, approximately 500 children are currently incarcerated. Our work uses the Arts as the vehicle for them to understand their power and how to use the tool of voting to make change in the communities targeted for incarceration. Our birthday wish for our city is that we pull out the roots of injustice—systemic racism and inequity—and that we center the Arts and those most impacted in the process.
Creative Acts is an organization that seeks to transform urgent social justice issues through the revolutionary power of the Arts; to heal trauma, build community, raise power, and center the voices of those who are or have been incarcerated."
NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM
2019 PLAY GRANTEE
“As we join in celebrating Los Angeles' birthday, the Natural History Museum's wish is that all Angelenos have equal access to science, nature, history, and culture. With classrooms and field trips looking very different for the coming year, we are committed to meeting this challenging moment and finding new ways of engaging the community. Our new, free Virtual Classroom designed for school districts throughout the County, including the 735,000 students and teachers in LAUSD, will ensure access to the museums' world-class collections, exhibitions, and engaging programming.
We are thrilled to share our outdoor Nature Gardens and Butterfly Pavilion once again with the public beginning on September 11, and look forward to when we will be able to welcome visitors back to our indoor spaces as well. In the meantime, stay safe Los Angeles! And thank you for making our museum one of the County's most beloved destinations for 107 years and counting."
JENESSE CENTER
2020 LIVE GRANTEE
“Jenesse is dedicated to breaking the cycle of domestic violence and addressing the multi-faceted barriers to safety and self-sufficiency that are experienced by victims of domestic violence in South Los Angeles.
On its 239th Birthday, Jenesse wishes LA to become a city in which every person lives in a safe environment, free from oppression and with the opportunity to thrive. Jenesse's culturally sensitive programs and services not only transition families from crisis to self-sufficiency, but transform the lives of clients and the community at large by offering education, referrals and resources that go beyond shelter. Removing a victim from a violent home is just the first step in our care continuum. Jenesse's trauma-informed and culturally appropriate programs and services include a 24-Hour Hotline; Emergency Shelter and Transitional Housing; Fully Staffed Legal Service Center; Children/Youth Programs; Mental Health Services; Workforce Development Programs; and Medical, Housing, and Public Benefits Advocacy."
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA COLLEGE ACCESS NETWORK / LET'S GO TO COLLEGE LA
2020 LEARN GRANTEE
“Los Angeles' college students are dealing with pressures that no one has dealt with before; but their resilience and dedication to their own futures and that of their communities are lessons for the rest of the city. We must support them!
Organizations across the city have joined forces to launch Let's Go to College LA. This campaign connects students to a virtual hub where they can find timely information, valuable resources, and virtual workshops to navigate college during COVID. Let's Go to College LA is here to serve students through these times and make their success a priority for our city. Our students are our future. Let's dedicate this birthday to them!
We invite you to celebrate the City's birthday by encouraging any college student you know to visit www.letsgotocollegeca.org and follow @gotocollegeca on Instagram and Twitter!"
LOS ANGELES MARITIME INSTITUTE
2020 PLAY GRANTEE
“The ocean and coastline of Los Angeles are iconic features, invaluable natural resources, and critical economic drivers of the City. Yet, geographical, economic, psychological, and social inequalities in the City create barriers that keep many of its population from the benefits of these extraordinary public resources. It is well-established that outdoor education and recreating in nature lead to positive social and emotional development and improved academic learning in children. Now more than ever, it is critical that young people get opportunities to enjoy and learn from nature in the City's outdoor spaces.
The Los Angeles Maritime Institute wishes Los Angeles a Happy Birthday and a future where EVERY child in LA has an equal opportunity to access the educational, recreational, and spiritual gifts the ocean and coast have to offer."
PEDIATRIC THERAPY NETWORK
2020 LEARN GRANTEE
“Happy Birthday, Los Angeles! As you celebrate your 239th birthday, here at Pediatric Therapy Network (PTN), we're celebrating our 24th birthday!
In the fall of 1996, a group of therapists and parents created our center with the mission of leading the way in helping children, families, and communities reach full capabilities through innovative therapy, research, and education programs. At PTN, we believe every child, regardless of their socioeconomic status or diagnosis, can achieve their fullest potential through early identification, early intervention, and early education. We know you believe that too, Los Angeles, which is why we're so proud to call you home.
Our birthday wish for Los Angeles is the same wish for PTN—that every child be given the opportunity and the tools to succeed because with that the future will look bright indeed!
Happy Birthday LA, from your friends at Pediatric Therapy Network!"
LOST ANGELS CHILDREN'S PROJECT
2020 CREATE GRANTEE
“Our wish for LA is for our youth to realize that there are opportunities out there, and jobs! Don't be discouraged.
Out here in Lancaster, CA, Lost Angels Children's Project has partnered with the City of Lancaster, Los Angeles County Office of Education, and America Job Corp Center to train and employ youth who are just entering the workforce. Our program is called Good Life Manufacturing, and our goal is to make sure that Lancaster has a skilled labor force to fill living-wage careers in the manufacturing, aerospace, vehicle assembly and related industries. We call it "Good Life" because we believe that if you work hard, that's what you'll get: "A Good Life!" Stay strong, LA, and Happy Birthday!"
LAS FOTOS PROJECT
2020 CREATE GRANTEE
“Happy Birthday, Los Angeles! Las Fotos Project teen photographers have been documenting your beautiful people and cityscapes for the past 10 years, and we fall in love with you every time they do! The cultural intersections you create inspire our students every day. Their photographs tell their stories of skateboarding down your streets, and having birthday parties in your parks, cruising your boulevards and making memories with the friends they met in your communities.
Our birthday wish for you is for the people who make you vibrant – the artists, musicians, street vendors, young innovators and entrepreneurs – to thrive, and for your communities to find peace and justice so that you can continue to shine. <3"
FLINTRIDGE CENTER
2020 CREATE GRANTEE
“At Flintridge Center, our wish is to see a Los Angeles where families thrive, youth reach their full potential, and equality and opportunity are accessible to all. We are ready to spend LA's 240th year dismantling structural inequities by providing pathways to opportunity for justice-impacted populations. We are honored to continue this work alongside incredible, hardworking individuals and organizations making Los Angeles the city we all envision. Happy Birthday, LA!"
LOS ANGELES AUDUBON SOCIETY
2020 LEARN GRANTEE
“Happy Birthday, LA! On our City's 239th birthday, Los Angeles Audubon Society celebrates Los Angeles and its rich biological heritage, which is imperiled by thoughtless planning and building. Our wish is that people of all ages would connect to this natural landscape and learn about the birds, plants, and nature of the city and work to protect and restore species and habitats so that they survive into the future together with us. Our programs at Los Angeles Audubon Society provide those educational and advocacy opportunities for so many Angelenos, and we look forward to what this year has in store."
HARLEM LACROSSE LOS ANGELES
2019 PLAY GRANTEE
“On your 239th birthday, we celebrate the city's rich history and diversity. We are proud to be from a city that leads, and looks optimistically toward progress and change. Harlem Lacrosse wishes for a level playing field, where a young person's zip code no longer determines access to opportunities. Harlem Lacrosse is addressing this gap by supporting students, growing the game of lacrosse, and starting brand new programs in South LA, Inglewood, and Compton - all places where the sport has never before been played. So many pioneering middle schoolers who join our programs are experiencing sports for the very first time.
Los Angeles has a strong tradition of college and professional sports; now it's time to ensure that every young Angeleno has the chance to PLAY!"
The PLAY category represents our vision of a Los Angeles where people of all ages have easy access to high-quality, sustainable venues to get active, explore the outdoors, and appreciate our natural environment. By the year 2050, people of all ages will enjoy safe neighborhoods, vibrant park space, and abundant recreational opportunities.
Below, learn more about the five My LA2050 winners making LA the best place to PLAY.
$100,000 Winner: The City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks enriches the lives of LA residents by providing safe, welcoming parks and recreation facilities with affordable activities for people of all ages.
Did you know? Rec and Parks manages 16,000 acres of parkland and 92 miles of hiking trails! But with facilities closed due to COVID-19, Rec and Parks is bringing its programming to your home. Head to RecConnectLA for free virtual fitness classes, educational activities, and more.
$50,000 Winner: The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF) is bigger than baseball, envisioning a city where every Angeleno, regardless of zip code, has the opportunity to thrive.
LADF applied to My LA2050 for funding to support the construction of its largest project to date, installing the three Dodgers Dreamfields at Gonzales Park in Compton. The new facilities will honor baseball legend Jackie Robinson and his family. Watch this video to learn more about the project.
$25,000 Winner: The Los Angeles Maritime Institute (LAMI) serves to empower youth to discover their greater potential through at-sea experiences aboard educational sailing vessels.
Teachers and caretakers of at-home learners: LAMI is providing a free “Virtual Voyage" science curriculum that addresses California K-12 standards through maritime topics such as the water cycle, the physics of sailing, and ocean pollution. Check it out!
$15,000 Winner: Public Matters is a creative studio for civic engagement, addressing the trust gap between institutions and agencies in historically marginalized neighborhoods and communities.
Public Matters has leveraged its unique talent for using the arts as a lever for social change in solving some of our region's most pressing problems, from food justice to traffic safety. Follow @publicmatters on Instagram for updates.
$10,000 Winner: Urban Warehouse teaches youth the value of education through its after-school program, where they use skateboarding as an academic incentive and incorporate art activities.
Every Friday from 10 am to 2 pm, Urban Warehouse operates a pop-up food pantry at its site in East Los Angeles. During COVID-19, the organization has partnered with LA Care to increase its capacity and serve 500 families per week. Find details on the Urban Warehouse website.
In March, we shared that the Annenberg Foundation would again be partnering with the My LA2050 Grants Challenge and be providing $50,000 of additional funding to the winning organizations to support their efforts around diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). This is Annenberg's sixth year as a My LA2050 funding partner and its third year providing DEI grants to winners.
We're excited to announce that this year's first-place My LA2050 winners—Las Fotos Project, Pediatric Therapy Network, Ready to Succeed, Clinica Msr. Romero, and the Los Angeles City Department of Recreation and Parks—will each receive an additional $10,000 grant from Annenberg. This funding will allow these five organizations to conduct an analysis of the composition of their board, staff, volunteers, and those they serve and take concrete steps to ensure that diversity, equity, and inclusion are present across all aspects of their work.
Below, find a statement from Marsha Bonner, Senior Director of Programs, Community Grantmaking, and Special Initiatives at the Annenberg Foundation:
“The Annenberg Foundation is proud to continue its partnership with LA2050 this year with support for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives of this year's top winners. At a time when our communities are facing the dual pandemics of COVID-19 and systemic racism, it is critical that we provide DEI support to organizations that have bold visions to make Los Angeles a more equitable city. We believe that investing in DEI during these unprecedented times will allow organizations to meet the pressing needs of their respective communities, and equip them to be effective change agents in addressing social inequities across Los Angeles.”
We're grateful to have the Annenberg Foundation as a longstanding partner in the philanthropic space, and we're even more grateful for their continued commitment to furthering diversity, equity, and inclusion in Los Angeles County. Thank you!
There are just 75 days until the 2020 Election!
Now's the time to ask yourself: Am I eligible to vote? Am I registered at my current address? Do I want a mail-in ballot, and if so, have I signed up for one?
In anticipation of the 2020 election, we want to make sure that every Angeleno is prepared. Figuring out voting deadlines and eligibility can be confusing, so we've compiled a guide with the tools you'll need to be empowered and civically engaged. Below are some resources that we hope will help:
Important dates and deadlines:
October 6: Voting by mail begins
October 19: Last day to register to vote via by mail or online*
October 24: LA County Vote Centers open for early voting
November 3: 2020 Election Day!
*Provisional registration is available through Election Day
Voter registration resources:
Vote-by-mail resources:
In March, we announced that Citi would be joining us as a funding partner for this year's My LA2050 Grants Challenge. Citi pledged $25,000 for an applicant whose work focused on small business development, financial inclusion, or housing, with a special focus on projects that address the racial wealth gap in Los Angeles.
After thoughtful consideration and conversation, Citi has selected LIFT-LA to receive $25,000. LIFT-LA empowers families to break the cycle of poverty through one-on-one financial, educational and career coaching and applied to this year's grants challenge for its Family Goal Fund program. We're so excited for our friends at LIFT and so grateful to Citi for partnering with us to support some of the incredible work happening in our region.
Below, find a statement from James Alva, Citi's Senior Vice President & Market Director of Community Investing and Development for Southern California and Texas:
“Citi is proud to have joined the LA2050 community this year. At a time when our communities need the most support, it has been inspiring to learn about all of the great visions for Los Angeles in the future, but we know that so many need cash today. Citi has been a long supporter of financial security and empowerment. We have admired LIFT-LA's work for years, and we are proud to be able to support them with $25,000 this year via My LA2050.
LIFT's actionable and goal-centered approach to providing financial empowerment services for their members is admirable. LIFT quickly adapted to the COVID-19 pandemic on behalf of the most vulnerable communities by getting much needed cash into the hands of its members in a manner that allows them to maintain their dignity and provides access to other needed services. Citi extends its thanks to all the applicants of the My LA2050 Grants Challenge. We know that LA will be a much better place in 2050 as a result of the work you all do.”