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L.A. Care Health Plan has been selected to receive the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) 2012 National Environmental Leadership Award in Asthma Management for its exemplary efforts to deliver high-quality asthma care that includes environmental controls.

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The sunny afternoon of service was made possible with the generous donations from Home Depot and Total Maintenance Group.  This day marked Alpha Phi Omega’s fourth Esperanza volunteer project for the school year.  Tenants of Casa Esperanza offered their support and opened up their homes for a drink of water and snacks appreciating the volunteerism in their back yard.

Thank you Alpha Phi Omega, Home Depot, Total Maintenance Group for your support and contributions to the community, Casa Esperanza’s tenants and Esperanza Community Housing Corporation appreciates tremendously the work you do to build hope with the community. ~ By Fabiola Sandoval

For location information and how to RSVP, please see the attached flyer. If you have questions, please contact Janet Scully at jscully@ph.lacounty.gov or (213) 639-6414.

On my first day, I was assigned to a group of seven 3rd graders. It took a couple of days for them to get  comfortable around me, but after a short period of time, I began to receive hand-drawn pictures, valentine cards, and hugs. My duties at Villa mainly consist of helping my group of kids get their homework done and then helping out with other activities schedule for the day, such as music class or art projects.

I also took on another project that has been challenging but very rewarding. I interviewed families whose children attend the education program and talked about their experiences there and about their family background. These interviews were completely in Spanish, so my language skills have improved a lot! It has been so amazing watching these kids make progress week-to-week, and I’ve grown to look forward to my Thursdays at Villa. I know that I will miss everyone there when my internship is over at the end of April, but I also know that these kids have made a difference in my life that will last for a long time.~ Katie Fugate

“Estoy orgullosa de ser una indígena maya de la comunidad quiché, y de poder informar a mis paisanos que no hablan español ni inglés sobre los recursos que necesitan para estar saludables”

“I am proud to be an indigenous Maya of the Quiche community, and to inform my people who do not speak Spanish or English about the resources they need in order to be healthy”

La Opinion: Mujeres Destacadas

“Es bonito, porque la gente me pide que regrese con ellos”, dijo Padilla, una mujer que habla con mucha energía y entusiasmo. “Mi mayor satisfacción es cuando la gente me agradece por lo que estoy haciendo por la comunidad, cuando me dice “dios la bendiga”.

La Opinion full article: Su Interes es Ayudar

Today, February 1st, 2012, the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) officially closed its doors, abandoning uncompleted projects such as the one planned for the vacant lot that was formerly the Bethune Library. The pending project, Bethune Crossroads, would maintain the integrity of the lot’s community-serving purpose in the form of a multi-use development project, providing 55 much needed quality affordable family homes, a fresh grocery, 25 permanent jobs and over 100 jobs in construction. As far as The State of California is concerned, the land is now up for sale to the highest bidder.

Thats why, on this beautifully sunny Los Angeles morning, a group of around 50 people, composed of local community members, non-profit organizations including Esperanza, TRUST South LA, Abode Communities, SAJE, and St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, convened in front of the Vermont and 36th St. lot to express their concerns at a press conference held by T.R.U.S.T. South LA.  Together they chanted “Housing is a Human Right!” holding signs such as “Esta tierra pertenece a la comunidad”(This land belongs to the community) and “Stop the displacement!” Community stakeholders and residents spoke to their history in the neighborhood, the developments they have seen, and the importance of holding onto land once promised not only for affordable housing, but at least for the benefit of its current population. Longtime resident and community leader Rosa Giron spoke about the changes her family has experienced over the last 30 years in the neigborhood. She, along with many other residents present at the press conference, have watched the area transition from what was once a grand majority of family-occupied housing 10 years ago, to a grand majority of student-occupied housing today. Current tenants are already being pressured out of the neighborhood by USC’s expansion and inadequate student housing stock; the loss of this project and its anticipated quality affordable housing would have dramatic and lasting effects on the face of this neighborhood, which many families have called home for decades. Robin Hughes, President and CEO for Abode Communities, added that the loss of the project will result not only in the loss of affordable housing, but of jobs, diversity, and voice.

As Tafaria Bayne, T.R.U.S.T. South LA’s community affairs manager, relates, “For us, the real concern is what the future plans are for how redevelopment work happens in a community like South L.A,” which he explains is at a critical “crossroads” as a result of California Governor Jerry Brown’s decision to close 425 of California’s CRAs. “CRAs are one of the primary drivers of affordable housing;” without them, “affordable housing developers are looking at a real crisis to get their projects moving, funded and completed.” T.R.U.S.T. South LA, along with its neighborhood partners, is driven to make sure that a space for dialogue amongst affordable housing advocates and California legislators is created, and that the land that is currently held by LA’s CRA doesn’t abandon its potential affordable housing and community-serving use. In the words echoing from this morning’s call to action: “Whos land? OUR land! Si Se Puede!”

To find out how to get involved or for more information contact info@trustsouthla.org.

By: Sophia Kandell, Esperanza Public Allied.