The Festival of Childhood

Community safety

San Gabriel Valley

Pilot or new project, program, or initiative (testing or implementing a new idea)

HJC’s work is rooted in the belief that communities are strengthened by breaking the effects of generational trauma. Research consistently shows that emotional wellness is deeply connected to social stability and community well-being. Poor emotional regulation has been associated with increased family conflict, interpersonal harm, and criminal behavior. Mental health issues like depression and anxiety often correlate with larger societal challenges such as poverty, homelessness, and unemployment. Institutions like the World Health Organization and the American Psychological Association stress that untreated emotional issues not only affects individuals but also places a heavy economic burden and hinder social cohesion. Additionally, its been shown that emotionally healthy individuals contribute positively to their communities. These findings underscore the need to prioritize emotional wellness to build more resilient and safer communities.

HJC proposes the Festival of Childhood to promote Community Safety, a free, one-day, healing-centered event in the San Gabriel Valley. Designed for families—particularly low-income, predominantly Hispanic parents and caregivers—the festival fosters emotional wellness, nonviolence, and resilience. Grounded in HJC’s trauma-informed and nonviolent parenting model, it emphasizes emotional intelligence, connected communication, and “power with” relationships.
Participants will engage in hands-on art, play-based learning, gardening, and mindfulness practices. Activities like music, movement, and storytelling will explore what healing looks like, while strengthening imagination and intergenerational connection. Wellness stations will offer yoga, meditation, and movement-based healing.
The festival is intentionally non-commercial, inclusive, and accessible. Local mental health professionals and community partners will provide tools and resources for emotional wellness. Families will experience joyful, practical ways to build connection and reduce harm.
Building resilience means families can respond to stress through care, creativity, and shared tools. Nonviolence is more than avoiding harm—it is a proactive practice of emotional intelligence, co-regulation, and connected communication. By centering emotional healing and nonviolence, we build a foundation for long-term community safety.

The Festival of Childhood will help shift LA County toward a culture that centers healing, creativity, and intergenerational connection. In the short term, families will benefit from a joyful, inclusive space that promotes mental well-being, play-based learning, and access to supportive resources. Long term, the festival will serve as a gateway to HJC’s year-round programs like iHeart Parenting and Self Attunement, deepening engagement and reducing isolation. We aim to replicate the festival across LA County through partnerships with schools, libraries, and community groups. By documenting best practices and building long-term collaborations, we will expand access to transformative, community-led experiences that foster resilience and collective care. A nonviolent LA is a safer LA. By investing in imagination, connection, and nonviolence, we strengthen community safety and build the foundation for a more joyful, just, and resilient Los Angeles.