Greetings!

Focusing on Community Needs

 "100 Seeds Of Change"

This effort began when young men from our Black Male Youth Academy (BMYA) decided they wanted to improve conditions within their community.  After presenting their research to a group of scholars and peers at UCLA two years ago, they realized the need to turn their research in action.  Since then, these young men have inspired a community wide movement where they've joined forces with local community members to advocate for food justice and work to eliminate Inglewood's designation as a food desert.  

Because they are scholars, our first priority is to help them graduate and then into college.  We are proud to say that our 2009 cohort met that objective with resounding success and that next year's graduating class will prove even more successful.  

While we recognize their accomplishments, we remain steadfast in our commitment to empower individuals, just like these young men, to take hold of their future.    

The video below tells the story of the young men in our Black Male Youth Academy who committed themselves to scholarship and action. Their enthusiasm and hard work gave birth to Empowerment Community Garden, a project that has changed this community forever. Please watch:

BMYA Food Justice Changemakers

To support the work we do, please visit our website at www.sjli-cp.org and make a small $5, $10 or $25 contribution.  You will enable us to continue our efforts to serve more youth, who will in turn, serve their community. Please visit www.sjli-cp.org and click on the link to Give.

When Frank Scroggins helped his family grow cotton, corn and watermelon on a few acres of farmland during the tail end of the Great Depression in Shreveport, Louisiana, he never thought he would find himself a small-space grower in concrete-laden Inglewood. 

For nearly four decades, Scroggins, 77, has maximized his small, half-acre yard to grow heaps of tomatoes, peas, mustard, chard, cucumbers, turnips and his favorite three varieties of collard greens. Several months ago, he took part in launching the Queen Park Learning Garden across the street from his home.

"I prayed to God for something like this to happen," said Scroggins. "It's hard to get kids interested, but we want to get more young people involved." more...

In partnership with UCLA Ph.D. Student Samarah Blackmon, SJLI is proud to offer a summer program for young women of color.  The JANRAH SUMMER STUDIO is a 6-week summer program, taking place on the UCLA campus.  The program's focus is college preparation, entrepreneurship, and empowerment through writing!  Students who participate in this program will be empowered and connected with other young women, while gaining knowledge about the ins-and-outs of college, exploring what it would be like to own their own business, and perfecting their writing skills through an introductory journalism program; all while forming a sisterhood with other young women of color.

The goal of the JANRAH SUMMER STUDIO is to empower young women to know themselves as future leaders.This program provides a safe space for young women to explore their dreams, pursue their goals, define themselves, and claim their futures!  

The 2011 JANRAH SUMMER STUDIO will take place on the UCLA campus on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from July 5 through August 12, 2011.  Students will participate in three innovative and rigorous classes focused college preparation, entrepreneurship, and journalism (sample topics below).  In addition, the Friday sessions will include field trips to college campuses, workshops, guest speakers, and much more! 

Class 1:  "College Prep Bootcamp"

§Understanding the College Application

§Writing your Personal Statement

§Exam Preparation Tips

§A-G Requirements

Class 2:  "Boss Lady:  Introduction to Entrepreneurship"

§Introduction to Entrepreneurship

§Writing the Business Plan

§Learning How to Budget

§Advertising/Marketing

Class 3:  "Power of the Pen:  Journalism 101"

§Why Does Writing Matter?

§Introduction to Journalistic Writing

§Learning APA Style

Participants will become experts in writing, in the college preparation, and most importantly experts of themselves and their goals for the future.

Important Details

o   The program is open to ALL GIRLS in the 9^th, 10^th, and 11^th grade

o   The program includes transportation to and from your high school, as well as lunch, and all program materials!

o   The program is FREE, however to keep the program free, space is limited!!

o   This is not a UCLA program, they have only provided space for the summer

For more information about the JANRAH SUMMER STUDIO, please contact Samarah Blackmon, at samarahs@gmail.com or at 310.491.6108.

Food and Water Watch Alert!

Senators Boxer and Feinstein: Support Good, Fair Food!

Federal programs to support healthy food projects in our local communities are being threatened with budget cuts, while around the country, big food companies are reaping profits on the backs of struggling family farmers. We're asking our senators to stand up and protect California's farmers, ranchers and communities. We should be using federal money to rebuild fair, healthy alternatives and drive job growth in the farm and food sectors locally, not prop up giant food processors, meat packers and mega-retailers.  

As an organization committed to food justice, we are working with Food & Water Watch and organizations across the state to support healthy, local food and family farms, but it can't be done without you! There are programs that help communities start community gardens, get food stamps into farmers markets, and help farmers transition to organic, programs that make a huge difference in our communities, but these programs are on the chopping block.  Please sign the petition to tell our senators to preserve this essential funding and these programs. We are trying to reach 10,000 signatures by mid-June.

PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION TODAY!

UPCOMING EVENT...

COMMUNITY GREENING WORKSHOP w/ TreePeople

SIMINSKI PARK (Inglewood)  

July 9th, 2011 9am-3pm 

On Saturday July 9th, 2011 TreePeople will conduct their Community Greening Workshop in Inglewood, CA. Community members who received free fruit trees in January and those interested in learning more about Community Greening will get the chance to learn how to care for their trees. If you would like more information about the event, visit our events page or email Linda Eremita at training@treepeople.org. Hope to see you there!

UPCOMING EVENT...

Eat good and do good! On Thursday, July 14, 2011 Eat Real Festival LA will kick off with a fundraiser party for two awesome non-profits, Rootdown L.A. and the Social Justice Learning Institute. Since this is an Eat Real party, you'll get down and dirty and actually make some of the food you eat. You'll learn how to make your own tapenade with The New School of Cooking and burrata with Di Stefano Cheese, and then eat it on freshly baked bread. You'll also get your hands dirty with a "build-your-own" salad with super local veggies grown from SJLI's community gardens in Inglewood. This is a fundraiser for both non-profits and tickets are $45! Please support us and Click here to buy tickets.

UPCOMING EVENT...

We are proud to announce our participation in and support of the Eat Real Festival this summer!

Part state fair, part block party, the Eat Real Festival celebrates good fresh delicious food. With a focus on food craft, street food, handcrafted beers and local wines - all featuring sustainable local ingredients - Eat Real showcases food in all its different forms. But eating is only part of the fun - at Eat Real, you learn how to make it and grow it! From cheese to kombucha, there are dozens of demonstrations that highlight a DIY food lifestyle. No cost for entry, all edible treats $5 or less. Come join us, and visit our booth! We will be using the fresh produce from our gardens in the food demonstrations throughout the day. Hope to see you there!

D'Artagnan Scorza
Social Justice Learning Institute, Director