Happenings

Looking for ways to stay engaged while self-isolating? Check out some of the resources we've come across that can help you live, learn, play, connect, and create from the great indoors.

LIVE

• AltaSea's Project Blue features content and education resources around the emerging blue economy, healing our oceans, and saving our planet.
• TreePeople has educational activities about important environmental topics.
• Camp Kindness Counts provides teachers and parents with free guide books that foster strong, compassionate character and awareness in children.
• HERE is a free app that combines meditation practice with interactive exercises.
• Respectful Ways is offering teachers and parents free access for up to 3 modules in their social-emotional learning curriculum.
• NHMLA's Connects page invite you to explore natural and cultural wonders from their exhibits to your own backyard.

LEARN

• Los Angeles Public Library has tons of free online learning tools that you can access instantly with either a library card or e-card, including language learning with Mango Languages, courses ranging from grant writing to team management fundamentals with Lynda, and more.
• California Science Center's Stuck at Home Science is featuring science activities for families using common household supplies.
• LAUSD has partnered with PBS SoCal and KCET to offer free daytime educational programming for students in Pre-K through 12th grade.
• Scholastic offers free online day-by-day projects for students in Pre-K through 9th grade.
• Academy 4SC hosts free videos and content on psychology, philosophy, and economics.
• American Panorama is an historical atlas of the United States that combines research with innovative mapping techniques.
• American Archive of Public Broadcasting provides access to significant historical content created by public media, with suggested topics to start ranging from biography and consumer affairs to travel and parenting.
• Audible has a large variety of free audiobooks.
• Abdo Digital Bookshelf has free ebooks for children of all ages.
• Petersen Automotive Museum offers free live stream and video activities in addition to coloring and building activities that include building your own race car and more.
• Khan Academy provides students aged 2-18 with free remote learning resources in subjects such as math, science and engineering, arts and humanities, computing, and more.
• KQED Learn is a free platform for middle and high schoolers to build media literacy and critical thinking skills.
• These free Carmen Sandiego educational resources for kids include exercises that build self- and social-awareness, activities such as creating animal trading cards and writing an opera, and more.
• Storyline Online hosts free videos of actors reading children's books.
• The Huntington Garden released The Collections, a podcast hosted by Huntington President Karen R. Lawrence.

PLAY

• Little Kids Rock is offering free online music lessons for kids.
• Canadian Olympic School Program offers free online resources on adopting and maintaining healthy active lifestyles.
• GoNoodle hosts free movement and mindfulness videos for children.
• Smithsonian's National Zoo is hosting live webcams of their animals, such as the lion cam, elephant cam, and giant panda cam.
• Monterey Bay Aquarium is hosting live webcams, including a sea otter cam, penguin cam, open sea cam, and more.
• CorePower Yoga is providing free access to some of their On Demand videos.

CONNECT

• Civics 101 is a podcast refresher course on the basics of American democracy.
• The Metropolitan Opera is offering free nightly opera streams.
• World101 provides modules to understand the issues, forces, and actors that shape the world.
• Google Arts & Culture offers free virtual tours of museums and cultural institutions.
• Louvre Museum is offering free online tours of the museum's exhibition rooms and galleries.
• Berliner Philharmoniker is offering their Digital Concert Hall for free to everyone who signs up before March 31.

CREATE

• Bay Area Video Coalition is offering free virtual courses in video production, audio production, and game design for youths aged 14-17.
• Little Kids Rock is hosting online music lessons with and without instruments, including ukelele, pop acoustic guitar, body drum set, and more.
• Chrome Music Lab is a free tool with hands-on music experiments.
• Doodles Academy provides free art projects for children of all grades.
• Tallo is a free platform that connects individuals with scholarships, college admissions, internships, apprenticeships, jobs, and more.
• Check out these local cultural institutions that have gone digital: A+D Museum, The Broad From Home, The Getty, The Grammy Museums Museum, The Hammer Museum, LACMA, MOCA, and LA Plaza.
• Jarrett Lerner is offering free drawing and writing prompts and activities for download.
• Annenberg Photo Space is offering audio tours.
• Fender is offering three months of free guitar lessons online.

For more context about what is open and what is closed at this time, browse this list.

For more resources in response to COVID-19, check out our article compiling all the local resources we're aware of.

If you know of other resources, please submit them through this form.

• Steps to Take if you Lose your Job Due to the Coronavirus Pandemic
• Use the IRS "Get My Payment" Portal to check on the status of your Economic Impact Payment
• California's Employment Development Department (EDD) provides a variety of support services to individuals affected by COVID-19 in California.
• BENEFITS FOR WORKERS IMPACTED BY COVID-19 and also check out the EDD's Frequently Asked Questions
• Paid Family Leave: Paid family leave is available for those who stay home because they need to take care of someone who has contracted the virus (Covid19) or who has been quarantined (must be certified by a medical professional). Learn how to file a Paid Family Leave Claim HERE.
• Disability Benefits/Paid Sick Leave: If you're unable to work due to having or being exposed to COVID-19 (certified by a medical professional), you can file a Disability Insurance (DI) claim. DI provides short-term benefit payments to eligible workers who have a full or partial loss of wages due to a non-work-related illness, injury, or pregnancy. Benefit amounts are approximately 60-70 percent of wages (depending on income) and range from $50-$1,300 a week. How to file a disability claim.
• Unemployment Benefits: If your employer has reduced your hours or shut down operations due to COVID-19, or you have to miss work to care for your family, you can file an Unemployment Insurance (UI) claim. UI provides partial wage replacement benefit payments to workers who lose their job or have their hours reduced, through no fault of their own. Workers who are temporarily unemployed due to COVID-19 and expected to return to work with their employer within a few weeks are not required to actively seek work each week. However, they must remain able and available and ready to work during their unemployment for each week of benefits claimed and meet all other eligibility criteria. Eligible individuals can receive benefits that range from $40-$450 per week. How to file an unemployment claim.
• Directly from the Employment Development Department: “Employers experiencing hardship as a result of COVID-19 may request up to a 60-day extension of time from the EDD to file their state payroll reports and/or deposit state payroll taxes without penalty or interest. A written request for extension must be received within 60 days from the original delinquent date of the payment or return."
• CalEITC4Me has resources for low-income Californians filing tax returns
• For questions, employers may call the EDD Taxpayer Assistance Center.
  • Toll-free from the U.S. or Canada: 1-888-745-3886
  • Hearing impaired (TTY): 1-800-547-9565
  • Outside the U.S. or Canada: 1-916-464-3502
  • (For more information, click here!)
• Resources Based on Type of Employment
  • LA Young Creatives Fund: a financial assistance program from the Snap Foundation and Mission Asset Fund for LA-based creative young professionals who have been financially impacted by the present pandemic.
  • For resources for freelance artists, click here!
  • For resources for bartenders, click here!
  • For resources for musicians, click here!
  • For resources for gig workers, click here!
  • For resources for actors, click here!

Click here to return to the full directory of Los Angeles area COVID-19 resources, services, and opportunities to make a difference.

The following is a directory of local resources to assist Angelenos during the COVID-19 crisis. If you know of others, please submit them through this form.

Note: LA2050 is not coordinating the efforts on these lists. We are compiling and amplifying the resources sent to us. Please confirm with organizations that the resources or services are active.

OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP:

COVID-19 Funds for Donation

Local Volunteer Needs

Opportunities for Philanthropic Funders

• See what the Goldhirsh Foundation is doing here

RESOURCES AND SERVICES:

Resources for Local Businesses

Food and Nutrition Resources

Education Resources

Technology Resources

Employment and Financial Resources

Housing and Utility Resources

Mental and Physical Health Resources

"SAFER AT HOME":

Ways to Stay Engaged While Staying Safer at Home

LOS ANGELES CITY AND COUNTY RESOURCES AND GUIDELINES:

Los Angeles County Resources

Find a Testing Center in LA near you

Los Angeles City Information and Resources

Updated Los Angeles COVID-19 Orders

USC Price Center for Social Innovation COVID-19 Data Map for Los Angeles County

• Schedule a COVID-19 test
• No-Panic Guide To The Coronavirus In LA
• Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health
  • Access Center 24/7 Helpline
  • (800) 854-7771
  • (562) 651-2549 TDD/TTY
  • https://dmh.lacounty.gov
• Children's Medical Services Family Resource Guide
• Guide for how to navigate COVID-19 for cancer patients and survivors
• Mental health resources from BLD PWR
• National Child Trauma Stress Network's COVID-19 Resources
• Teen Line: https://teenlineonline.org/
• Vista Del Mar Child and Family Services is offering free tele-counseling to low income families. Call (310) 836-1223 extension 500 for Intake.
• Domestic Violence
• If you are concerned about being quarantined in an unsafe home situation or need help, all DV shelter resources are generally available on: domesticshelters.org
• The National Domestic Violence Hotline is also available 24/7 at 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE) or 1-800-787-3223 (TTY)

Click here to return to the full directory of Los Angeles area COVID-19 resources, services, and opportunities to make a difference.

• Child360's Home Grown program tapped into the great minds of child development experts to help parents take everyday moments and turn them into creative ways to support children's development. Join them for Motivation Monday, Talk Tuesday, Wiggle Wednesday, Thinking Thursday, and Feeling Friday!
• LAUSD resources for families during school closures
• Families can call 213-443-1300, the Division of Student Health and Human Services hotline, with a need for SHHS-related services (e.g., housing/emergency shelter, mental or physical health support)
• Free Los Angeles Public Library resources for students of all ages, including home tutoring, encyclopedia access, STEM content, college admissions test prep, and more!
• Up2US Sports At Home portal of free resources, videos and virtual training opportunities to help coaches keep their teams physically, socially, and emotionally healthy during this time of social distancing and isolation.
• The Online Physical Education Network, the nation's largest public-service organization serving physical educators, coaches and activity leaders, is available to help coaches and students deal with extended school closings.
• Spectrum Broadband: Free access to Spectrum Broadband and Wi-Fi For 60 Days For New K-12 and College Student Households who do not already have a Spectrum broadband subscription and at any service level up to 100 Mbps. To enroll call 1-844-488-8395. Installation fees will be waived for new student households. (For more information, click here!)
• Charter Comcast: Free Internet Service for Households with Children - To enroll: 844.488.8395
• Free Zoom (platform for virtual meetings) for all K-12 students and staff to facilitate remote/virtual learning
• Google Meet (Free)
• The team from the musical Hamilton has released EduHam at Home, where students study primary source documents from the Founding Era, learn how Lin-Manuel Miranda used such documents to create the musical Hamilton, and finally create their own original performance pieces based on the same material.
• PBS: Starting Monday, March 16, students in Pre-K through 12th grade will have the opportunity to access free, educational PBS daytime programming designated for each grade level weekdays (For more information, click here!)
• Bob Baker Marionette Theater's "At Home Happiness" Activity Portal
• Learning Resources: Free online resources for learning – this includes a whole host of free online/web based learning resources for all ages and subjects: http://www.amazingeducationalresources.com/
• MIND Research Institute is offering no cost access to a free math instructional program for students in grades K-8 (For more information, click here!)
• Scholastic offers free, online learning experiences for kids of all ages (For more information, click here!)
• "For anyone in these areas who have kids at home from school, watching other kids or knows of someone who can use free brand new books for their kids during this time, we will be giving away books to anyone who asks (while our supply lasts) We are happy to either do a "no contact" delivery or pick up. We have books from board books to high school levels. If you are interested please email [email protected] Supplies are limited but we will do everything we can to fulfill your request.
• CTE Online offers thousands of free lesson plans aligned to CTE, Common Core, and NGSS.
• EdSpace is a social learning network for the world of education.
• The Petersen Automotive Museum is offering free educational activities and livestreams.
• Edge Factor is a platform to learn new skills and uncover opportunities.
• UC/Scout A-G approved HS courses
• Khan Academy
• Kahoot: Free distance learning
• Adobe Creative Cloud

Click here to return to the full directory of Los Angeles area COVID-19 resources, services, and opportunities to make a difference.

HOUSING

• The Los Angeles Emergency Rental Assistance Subsidy Program will provide a temporary rent subsidy for tenants who live in the City of LA and are unable to pay rent due to circumstances related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Eligible tenants are those whose household income is at or below 80% of the Area Median Income ($83,500 for a family of 4). Check https://hcidla.lacity.org for more info and to monitor the application window, expected to open in July.
• For help writing a letter that notifies your landlord (1) that you are struggling financially and (2) that the federal stimulus likely does not allow them to evict you use this website.
• The Los Angeles Tenants Union is providing support around evictions. Find your local union at: https://latenantsunion.org/en/locals/
• If you are or know of a foster youth that is staying at a college dorm room that is going to be closed due to the coronavirus, please email [email protected] and they will provide or help you find housing during this transition.
• LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS/INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND FAMILY: St. Francis Center provides meal services, clothing closets, showers/bathroom services, and rental and utility assistance programs (over the phone) for homeless and low-income individuals in Los Angeles. ( For more information, click here!)

UTILITIES

• Southern California Energy Responds to COVID-19 Emergency, Suspends Service Disconnections
• Southern California Gas will not disconnect services to customers who can't pay bills amid coronavirus outbreak
• SPECTRUM Internet - Offering 60 days of free wifi for low income families.
• Verizon will help customers and small businesses disrupted by impact of coronavirus
• Charter COMCAST - Free Internet Service for Households with Children - To enroll: 844.488.8395
• Los Angeles Department of Water & Power still offering payment plan and suspending utility shut off for March

Click here to return to the full directory of Los Angeles area COVID-19 resources, services, and opportunities to make a difference.

Find local businesses to support with these directories:

• https://helpmainstreet.com/
• https://saveourfaves.org/
• https://rallyforrestaurants.com/
• https://givelocal.co/

Own a small business?

• Fill out this Google Form for small businesses to register to be included on local support lists
• Head to the Los Angeles County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs website for a guide to emergency resources

Click here to return to the full directory of Los Angeles area COVID-19 resources, services, and opportunities to make a difference.

The deadline for applying to the My LA2050 Grants Challenge is fast approaching. Here are some top tips from our 2019 grantees on what you should do before you submit your proposal.

Have others check it over

Before Defy Ventures submitted its application, the team made sure they had at least three sets of eyes on their proposal. It can't hurt to have fresh perspectives double-check and triple-check your application for errors or ways to improve it!

Clarify your branding strategy

Establishing a social media presence can be a powerful way to engage both existing and new audiences. Miry's List advises that you have a social media strategy in place, especially if you are a community-based organization. If you aren't personally comfortable using Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter, getting help from someone experienced with social media to build your brand can help in the long run.

Consider multiple ways to engage prospective donors

Through the process of applying to My LA2050, Rise learned that it could be useful to leverage this experience to unlock funding from other grantors. Once your proposal is ready, do a brainstorm to generate ideas for further engaging your community and prospective donors, such as organizing a campaign to match up to a percentage of the My LA2050 grant.

From Southern California Grantmakers:

• SCG'S Philanthropic Response Page (Updated Daily)
• Philanthropy California Webinar: How Philanthropy Can Support and Enhance the Government Response to COVID-19
• Philanthropy California's Guidance for Philanthropic Communication in a Pandemic
• Philanthropy California Blog: Advancing Equity and Justice Through Building Organizational Resilience
• FSG: COVID-19⁠—Seven Things Philanthropy Can Do
• Council on Foundations: COVID-19 Resource Hub
• Coronavirus and Racial + Social Equity: Centering Justice During Times of Uncertainty and Four Things You Can Do Right Now

Click here to return to the full directory of Los Angeles area COVID-19 resources, services, and opportunities to make a difference.

• Mayor's Fund LA: LA Emergency COVID-19 Crisis Fund
• California Community Foundation: https://www.calfund.org/covid-19/
• Local nonprofits are on the front lines of this crisis. Use the LA2050 Ideas Archive to make a donation to the nonprofit organization of your choice.

Click here to return to the full directory of Los Angeles area COVID-19 resources, services, and opportunities to make a difference.