Third annual Art of Giving gala raises $30,000 in support of VCH's Transitional Living Center

 

Dana and Eric Newman speak to guests at the Art of Giving gala at ShogShoppe on May 3rd.

 

On May 3rd Board Member Dana Newman and her husband, Eric Newman, hosted the third annual Art of Giving gala benefiting Venice Community Housing.   

 

The event raised over $30,000 to support our Transitional Living Center (TLC), which provides homeless women and their children with housing and supportive services while they work towards economic stability and permanent housing.

 

Dana and Eric hosted this year's event at The SmogShoppe in Culver City. The event featured catering by Celestino Drago and a standout performance by singer-songwriter, composer and pianist Randy Newman.



We thank The Newman Family for the love and energy they invested in this event, and we are deeply grateful for their continued support!    

Board Member wins officer position on Venice Neighborhood Council

 

The Venice Neighborhood Council held its annual elections on Sunday May 18th.  

 

Board Member Sylvia Aroth will serve as Venice Neighborhood Council's Outreach Officer

Among the winners was Board Member Sylvia Aroth, who will serve as the Council's Outreach Officer.  

  

We congratulate all the winners and applaud them for their service to their community, and we thank everyone who lives and works in Venice that came out and voted! 

After School Programs Updates 

Study Lounge to celebrate end of 2013-2014 school year

Elementary- and middle-school students in our Study Lounge program will be able to celebrate the fruits of their labor this year at an upcoming cake and punch reception hosted by our After School Programs staff.

The reception will be a chance for students and their families to celebrate all the hard work they have put into their studies and positive behaviors over the course of the school year.

Summer Camp begins July 1st!

After School Programs' Summer Camp is a free program for children ages 6-12, offering academic enrichment and recreation activities in the Venice area.

The program will be held at VCH's Washington Courts property on weekdays from 1-5 p.m., from July 1 - August 1.  

A completed application, CST scores and most recent report card are required. To apply, contact After School Programs Site Coordinator, Chela Vallejo: (310) 584-7647 or  chela@vchcorp.org.

VCH partner Brooks + Scarpa receives National Design Award for Architecture 

On May 1st the Smithsonian's Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum announced the winners of its 15th annual National Design Awards.

Angela Brooks and Lawrence Scarpa of the Los Angeles-based firm Brooks + Scarpa were honored with the award for Architecture Design for the high level of excellence, innovation and public impact of their body of work, which has included a number of affordable housing projects.

VCH is currently partnering with Brooks + Scarpa to design our recently-acquired 15th property into affordable housing.

National Design Award winner Brooks + Scarpa designed Broadway Housing - 41 units of affordable family housing -  for Community Corporation of Santa Monica in 2007.

Thanks to two Venice volunteers, YouthBuild students received personal head shots last month for their own use. Professional photographer Melba Levick, assisted by Sherrie Scheer, set up an outdoor studio at VCH in April and took photos of YouthBuild students and staff. Received with great delight, the portraits reveal the exuberance, pride, confidence and optimism of young people about to start their life's journey. See below. 

Portrait of a YouthBuild student (Photo by Melba Levick)

Click here to see more. 

YouthBuild mural featured at Venice Art Block 

Venice artist and writer, Francisco Letelier, proudly exhibited the mural VCH's YouthBuild students planned and painted under his guidance in April. He volunteered to teach a 2-session work shop at his studio guiding students to brainstorm, grid and execute the work on canvas. The "portable mural" of Wanda Coleman, Los Angeles blues woman and Venice poet, was featured at Letelier's studio at the Art Block Opening Party on May 2 and all day at the Venice Art Block on May 4, 2014. 

Francisco Letelier shows Venice Art Block visitors the YouthBuild mural of Wanda Coleman. (Photo by Jack Prichett)