logoVenice Community Housing
Monthly Newsletter


The full scoop on our people, programs & progress!
Volume 3 Issue 8                
August 2013
In This Issue
Faces of VCH
2012 Annual Report
After School Programs
New YouthBuild Staff
Ralphs Rewards
Facebook Campaign
Sleep Out & Jazz Brunch
Mission Statement

The mission of Venice Community Housing is to preserve the economic, racial and social diversity of Venice and the surrounding area by maximizing affordable housing and economic development opportunities and providing needed social services to the area's low-income population.  
Fast Fact

Venice YouthBuild Director Omar Muhammad was profiled in the August/September 2013 edition of online magazine, 3.1 Venice!
 

"Venice YouthBuild can be an army of young people ready to serve the people and businesses in Venice... not because they have to, but because they want to," he said.

Read the full article here!  
Faces of Venice  
Community Housing  
 
Sussie Hernandez
 
Property Supervisor
 


I have worked as Property Supervisor at Venice Community Housing for three years. I am responsible for screening applications of new tenants, overseeing lease agreements, and assisting our current tenants when they come to us with problems. I work very closely with our five property managers and Maintenance staff to ensure that our tenants are safe and comfortable. 

The best part of my job is witnessing the happiness of our new tenants when they have successfully gone through what can be a long and difficult process of securing housing and they get the keys to their new home!

Outside of work I enjoy spending time with my friends and church community and visiting my family and friends in Costa Rica.
Wish List     


From linens to laptops, Venice Community Housing is always seeking donations for our residents and programs. Please visit our online wish list to see if you can meet any of our current needs!
 
Quick Links

 
Dear Friends, 

Like us, you may not be ready to say goodbye to summer just yet! 

Pour yourself a glass of ice-cold lemonade and peruse our August e-newsletter for our summer updates and an extra-special treat: our 2012 Annual Report!
 

Sit back, relax, and enjoy! 
Venice Community Housing presents its 2012 Annual Report
 
Hot off the presses!

Our 2012 Annual Report comes to you complete with program highlights, financial overview, and acknowledgement of our generous supporters.

Hear from our Board, staff and the people we serve about what VCH made possible 2012 and what we continue to make possible today!  
 
After School Programs wraps up summer camp, launches 2013-2014 Study Lounge program 

After School Programs Summer Camp concluded earlier this month with a finale picnic! To reward the 25 campers for their excellent participation, Summer Camp staff hosted a grill at The Seaside Lagoon in Redondo Beach.

This week the Study Lounge program started up the 2013-2014 school year, providing academic support and recreation to elementary school students at VCH's Washington Courts and middle school students at Oakwood Recreation Center.

"We're really excited to start the school year!" said Kathy Sanchez, who coordinates the Study Lounge program at the Oakwood site.  
 
After School Programs received a generous donation of school supplies from Rev. Dr. David McAllister and members of Gateway Christian Church - we greatly appreciate their continued support! 
Venice YouthBuild welcomes three staff members
 

As Venice YouthBuild prepares to launch its 12th program cycle in September, we are pleased to introduce three additions to the YouthBuild staff!  

 

Carlos Julio Gonzalez brings years of experience in youth development, and spent the last year as our AmeriCorps Community Partnership Coordinator.  In his new role as Leadership Coordinator, Carlos Julio will ensure that practical leadership opportunities are embedded in each component of our YouthBuild program and will help us implement and track leadership competencies for each YouthBuild student.

Sarah Norman recently graduated from the University of Oregon with a degree in Nonprofit Administration.  She joins us as our AmeriCorps Life Skills & Transitions VISTA, working on various capacity-building projects to support Venice YouthBuild.  Among other things, she will develop resources for case management and life skills, and help us strengthen relationships with organizations that are able to train and employ YouthBuild students after they graduate the program.

 

Dov Rudnick, born and raised in Venice, partnered with VCH's After School Programs in the past as a capoeira instructor. With several years' teaching experience under his belt, Dov will be taking charge of the education component of our YouthBuild program while our regular teacher is on maternity leave.

Do you shop at Ralphs? Make sure to re-enroll in the Community Rewards Contribution Program on September 1st!
 
RalphsVenice Community Housing is a beneficiary of the Ralphs Community Rewards Contribution Program.

Ralphs customers who register their rewards cards online can designate VCH to receive a donation from Ralphs based on their monthly eligible purchases! For more details about the Ralphs Community Contributions Program, click here.

For detailed instructions on how to register your Ralphs card for the first time, or to re-enroll in the Ralphs Community Contribution Program on or after September 1st, click here.    
  
"Like" Venice Community Housing on Facebook and win a gift basket!
 
We are launching a campaign to increase our Facebook reach!

"Like" us on Facebook before September 30th and you'll be entered to win a snazzy, jazzy gift basket - complete with VCH t-shirt, jazz albums, wine, and other goodies!


  
  
Mark Your Calendar!

3rd Annual Community Sleep Out

Saturday August 24th - Sunday August 25th
Lawn of Beyond Baroque, 681 N. Venice Blvd.

An educational event and demonstration of solidarity with our unhoused neighbors. All are welcome!

2:30 - 8 p.m. - Music, food, speakers and teach-ins
8 - 10 p.m. - Screenings of Oscar-winning documentary "Inocente" and trailer for "American Street Kid"

A flyer with detailed event information is available here


Jazz at Palms Court - Tickets Now Available!  

Sunday September 15th 
11 a.m. - 3 p.m.  
743 Palms Blvd., Venice

Join us for our 21st annual jazz fundraiser, featuring a gourmet brunch in a lovely  garden setting, a live performance by jazz quartet House of Games, and silent auction featuring gift baskets, a selection of artwork by Venice artists and galleries, and airline tickets compliments of Alaska Airlines and Southwest Airlines!

Leave our 21st annual Jazz fundraiser with a lovely gift basket crammed full of certificates to local restaurants, theaters, health & wellness centers, and more! 
 
Tickets available for purchase online here!  
  
For more information, visit www.vchcorp.org/jazz or contact Development Director Myrna Pappas:
(310) 573-8407 or [email protected].
 

 

Until next month, 

 

 

VCH 
Venice Community Housing
720 Rose Ave, Venice, CA 90291
P: (310) 399-4100
F: (310) 399-1130