Back to School    

Venice YouthBuild launched its 12th program cycle in September 2013, enrolling 36 young men and women between the ages of 18 and 24. Our Cycle 12 students are have worked incredibly hard to transform their academic, professional and civic futures.

Students were assigned to Team "Youth" or Team "Build," with the teams alternating weekly between academic work and construction training. The entire Venice YouthBuild class came together for leadership development and community service projects on a weekly basis.

Building a Future 

Students practice foundational construction skills either on campus at our construction training lab or at an off-campus construction site under the supervision of Construction Trainers.

Not only do students have the opportunity to earn Pre-Apprenticeship Construction Training (PACT) certificates, but they also learn valuable lessons in work standards and ethics, team building, and leadership - lessons that are transferable to any career field.

Experiential learning is a key element of the Venice YouthBuild program. Through weekly community service and leadership development projects that focus on the Venice YouthBuild's core values of positive transformation, social justice and empowerment, students learn to become advocates for both themselves and their communities.  

Venice YouthBuild hosts third annual art show  

 

The Focus Studio in Venice generously donated its space for Venice YouthBuild's art show

Guests enjoy Venice YouthBuild's artwork on display at The Focus Studio.

On June 13th Venice YouthBuild students hosted their third annual art show at The Focus Studio.

What began as an elective project three years ago has evolved into a multimedia masterpiece. This year's show, titled "Something Out of Nothing," featured short films, spoken word poetry and two-dimensional art pieces.

YouthBuild student Diana Dominguez curated the show

The art show was the product of months of work by one of YouthBuild's elective groups, with the guidance of YouthBuild Teacher Sarah Wakasa and Case Manager Kevin Michini. 

Among the students who participated in this group was Diana Dominguez, who not only contributed numerous pieces to the show but also secured a DJ to donate his time to the event and curated the entire studio space.

The students raised almost $1,500 from artwork and t-shirt sales as well as event donations. The proceeds will help fund Venice YouthBuild's final retreat before graduation on June 27th.  

YouthBuild students complete solar installs with GRID Alternatives 

Venice YouthBuild students work on a solar panel installation, a green construction opportunity made possible through a partnership with GRID Alternatives.

 

For the past four years Venice YouthBuild has partnered with GRID Alternatives - a nonprofit that offers volunteers hands-on experience installing solar electric systems that help low-incomes families save money. This partnership has allowed Venice YouthBuild students to learn about the field of solar energy and perform multiple solar panel installs.

"GRID is a great opportunity for YouthBuild Trainees because it is essential exposure and preparation for entry-level careers in the green construction industry," says YouthBuild Program Manager Rick Solis. "This work fits well with our core construction training as well as supports our mission of working for the benefit of the community."

"Solar installation is one of the green construction fields making the biggest impact in the industry," says Construction Trainer Jesus Rosales. "The GRID program offers our students free training that would cost us thousands of dollars to provide."  

 

 

"Now I have the opportunity to get a summer job in solar paneling, know how to get training, have connections and the opportunity to have an interesting, stable career," says YouthBuild student Terrell Alexandria.  

Doing the dirty work: YouthBuild students help make the Walgrove Wildlands a reality 

On May 30th Walgrove Elementary School celebrated the grand opening of the The Walgrove Wildlands, an innovative, eco-friendly and beautiful outdoor classroom that will be integral to the education of Walgrove students for many years to come.  

Venice YouthBuild students volunteered regularly at Walgrove for over a year, hauling dirt and rocks, and literally shaping the Wildlands for their future use.
   

Walgrove Principal Olivia Adams thanked Venice YouthBuild for the brute, physical activity they contributed to the project. "We could not have done this without you," Adams said. 

 

"It means a great deal to me to be part of this project, planting the future for generations to come," said Venice YouthBuild student Malik Lane at the Grand Opening of the Walgrove Wildlands.

Venice Community Housing News & Updates 

LA ordinance prohibiting homeless to live in their vehicles declare unconstitutional 

The U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeal announced today in Desertrain v. City of Los Angeles that LAMC 85.02, which prohibits the use of a vehicle "as living quarters either overnight, day-by-day, or otherwise," provides "inadequate notice of the unlawful conduct" and "proscribes and opens the door to discriminatory enforcement against the homeless and the poor." Accordingly, the court held that the ordinance violates the Due Process Clause of the 14th Amendment and is unconstitutionally vague. 

The court concluded:

"For many homeless persons, their automobile may be their last major possession - the means by which they can look for work and seek social services. The City of Los Angeles has many options at its disposal to alleviate the plight and suffering of its homeless citizens. Selectively preventing the homeless and the poor from using their vehicles for activities many other citizens also conduct in their cars should not be one of those options."

We want to thank and honor Carol Sobel, the attorney that represented the plaintiffs in this case. The City has filed an appeal to the U.S Supreme Court, so it is too soon to celebrate this victory, but we anticipate that the Court's decision will ultimately be affirmed.We will keep you posted.

For more information about the history of this case, click HERE. For the entire text of the Court of Appeals Decision, click HERE.

Study Lounge celebrates student achievement for 2013-2014 school year at Oakwood reception 

On June 4th elementary- and middle-school students in our Study Lounge program celebrated the fruits of their labor over the 2013-2014 school year with their tutors, mentors and families at a reception hosted at Venice's Oakwood Community Center. 

Study Lounge Site Coordinator Chela Vallejo and the proud recipient of the Highest GPA award

Study Lounge staff presented certificates to students for their accomplishments, including perfect school attendance, outstanding behavior, highest GPA, and most improved GPA.

Over 100 students participated in Study Lounge this year, receiving tutoring and recreation Monday through Thursday from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at Oakwood Community Center or our Washington Place apartments.

Study Lounge partners with UCLA's TEACH program to offer individualized, year-long academic tutoring to Study Lounge participants. Bright, successful UCLA students provide participants with one-on-one, focused attention and inspire them to new levels of achievement. 

 

Supplementary to the Study Lounge program is the Westside Science Club, which provides students with opportunities to explore science and technology through fun, hands-on experiential learning. The biweekly program is led by volunteer mad scientist Ben Dickow.

Tenants at VCH's Centinela and Slauson locations will enjoy sparkling new residences thanks to the donated muscle power of ten Google employees in early June.   

Max Harris, VCH's Housing & Asset Director, submitted a request to Google's Venice volunteer coordinator for 10 people to sand, prime and paint tenant residences as part of a restoration program. Google's response was ideal for the job!

Google encourages employees to contribute to their community by paying them for time working with local organizations like VCH. As part of its GoogleServe program, Google posts requests like Max's, and its employees sign up to participate. The happy result for VCH was two days of intense effort by energetic workers who placed drop cloths, climbed ladders, mixed, rolled and brushed paint on walls and fences.The photos below tell the story! For more photos on VCH's website, click here.   

Google volunteers on the job at the Centinela location. [Photo: Jack Prichett]

Max Harris with Google volunteers, ready to "roll" at Slauson location. [Photo: Jack Prichett]

YouthBuild appreciates volunteer Melodie Meyer  

Melodie Meyer, YouthBuild volunteer at VCH [Photo: Jack Prichett]

 Melodie Meyer, a 12-year Venice resident, thinks schools should function like YouthBuild because its lively, engaging format inspires and captures students' interest propelling them to gainful employment. Volunteering weekly, she promotes YouthBuild's Financial Literacy program.

Melodie believes in environmental conservation, recycling and re-purposing to eliminate waste, creating useful items. She lives these principles and demonstrates finding and refashioning things for little or no expense. She relates actual accounts of young people who become successful doing just that. Her mantra is: "Don't think poor. You can have what you need, but it doesn't have to come from Macy's." She believes young people can bring factions together peacefully with creative skills, saving resources. "Melodie embodies and imparts YouthBuild's goals," says Director Omar Muhammad. 

Melodie thanks VCH, a "great place" connecting her to those whose growth and learning she fosters. She hopes others volunteer, discovering this transformation and growing themselves.