PLAYSafe & Seen: Advancing Community Belonging and Protection in LA
“Safe & Seen” is a community wellness initiative designed to support mental and emotional health for youth and families in Los Angeles. Through guided workshops, group discussions, and resource navigation, the program fosters emotional resilience, self-awareness, and healthy relationship-building. The goal is to create supportive, uplifting environments where individuals feel connected, confident, and safe to thrive.
What is the primary issue area that your application will impact?
Community safety
In which areas of Los Angeles will you be directly working?
Long Beach
In what stage of innovation is this project, program, or initiative?
Applying a proven solution to a new issue or sector (using an existing model, tool, resource, strategy, etc. for a new purpose)
What is your understanding of the issue that you are seeking to address?
The issue we are addressing is the growing mental and emotional strain experienced by individuals, especially youth and families, in Los Angeles due to social isolation, stress, trauma, and limited access to supportive spaces and resources. Many communities lack consistent, culturally competent mental health support and opportunities to build emotional resilience. This contributes to cycles of disconnection, anxiety, and decreased overall well-being. Our work seeks to fill this gap by offering safe, welcoming spaces that prioritize emotional support, healing, and community connection.
Describe the project, program, or initiative this grant will support to address the issue.
This grant will support our “Safe Minds, Strong Communities” initiative—a holistic mental and emotional wellness program designed to provide youth and families with consistent access to culturally responsive mental health workshops, peer support groups, and trained wellness mentors. The program will include structured sessions focused on stress management, emotional regulation, and confidence-building, as well as drop-in hours for one-on-one support and wellness check-ins. Through community-based partnerships, the initiative will create a safe, stigma-free environment where participants can process challenges, strengthen coping skills, and build trusting relationships that promote lasting emotional health.
Describe how Los Angeles County will be different if your work is successful.
If our work is successful, Los Angeles County will see increased emotional well-being, stronger family dynamics, and improved mental health outcomes for youth and adults in underserved communities. Individuals will have access to consistent, culturally relevant emotional support and skill-building, reducing isolation, stress, and burnout. Our long-term vision includes expanding access to preventative mental health services across additional neighborhoods, partnering with schools and community organizations to scale impact, and training more peer mentors and wellness facilitators to sustain growth. Ultimately, LA County will become a model for accessible, community-rooted emotional health support that fosters resilience and belonging.
Approximately how many people will be impacted by this project, program, or initiative?
Direct Impact: 200
Indirect Impact: 1,800