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Dear Friends,
The final countdown to our 23rd annual Jazz at Palms Court has begun! We invite you to join us for this fabulous champagne brunch fundraiser on September 20th.
We are honored to have Iliana Rose and her band for this year's performance. Iliana and her band will grace Jazz at Palms Court with her upbeat Cuban-influenced jazz.
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We're working tirelessly to host the best Jazz at Palms Court to date... but we can't do it without your help!
We have several volunteer positions on September 19th and 20th. Job descriptions can be found on our Volunteer Match page or on our website. If you're available and willing to donate a few hours, please contact Erika Lee by email or at (310)573-8406.
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What is better than grilling during the summer? The Resident Services department has been hosting summer BBQs for our tenants throughout the month. Tenants have enjoyed burgers and hot dogs while mingling with each other and VCH staff.
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 VCH always supports shopping local, however it isn't always possible. Amazon Smile and the Ralphs Community Contribution programs help to support VCH.
In order to participate in the Ralphs program, you must register online, beginning September 1st. Instructions to create an account and register, can be found here.
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| Willie Jane Community Night Recap |
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Venice Community Housing was the featured organization on Tuesday, July 28 at Willie Jane Restaurant's Heart of Venice Community Night, hosted by Michele Blackmon. We had an opportunity to talk about the work of VCH, invite guests to Jazz at Palms Court, share the art work of Venice YouthBuild, make new friends and interact with longtime VCH supporters. Guests enjoyed a wine tasting of the delicious sparkly wines of Vina Sympatica, a local vintner created by Sherrijon Gaspard, MBA.Tasty chicken wings were graciously provided by Linda and Brad Johnson, owners of Willie Jane and several people won the silent auction prizes donated by Whole Foods Market, VinArte Wines and an architectural consultation by Mehrnoosh Mojallali.
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The end of July marked the end of Study Lounge Summer Camp. Our students this year were fortunate to visit many museums, parks, and beaches! We can't wait for next year, but we're gearing up to go back to school.
Study Lounge After School will be back in session at Washington Court beginning September 8th. We are also proud to announce a new partnership with Broadway Elementary, where we will hold our second Study Lounge site. The program at Broadway Elementary will begin on September 28th.
Summer Camp would also like to extend a special thank you for our hosts at The Getty Center! Students were taken on a private tour by Getty tour guides, who helped them learn more about the history of the Getty Center and the art within!
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| Young Professionals Board Hosts a Happy Hour |
 VCH's Young Professional's Board is still looking for members!
To recruit, they hosted an informational happy hour at Upper West on August 6th. Several interested individuals attended and since have become members of the board! We graciously thank Upper West for hosting us, and warmly welcome our newest members, Josh, Ashley, and Alicia!
If you are under 40 and would like to learn more about joining, please contact Development Manager, Erika Lee at elee@vchcorp.org or by phone at (310)573-8406.
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YouthBuild In the News
Venice YouthBuild was featured in July 24th's issue of Playa Vista Today. The students had been working on the construction of 83 units of affordable senior housing in Playa Vista. The magazine toured the construction site and interviewed students in the program. Find the issue of the magazine here!
Looking for the Class of 2016!
Venice YouthBuild is recruiting students for the 2015-2016 program cycle. Eligible students must have not completed high school and are between the ages of 18-24. Venice YouthBuild provides paid training to earn their high school diploma and learn valuable construction skills. If interested, please contact YouthBuild Coordinator, Marisol Perez.
Venice YouthBuild is a comprehensive program providing education, job training, and leadership development to 35 youth ages 18-24 each year to help them transition into successful adults.
For volunteer opportunities with Venice YouthBuild, please contact Sarah Norman at snorman@vchcorp.org
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LATLC Volunteers Tackle Jobs at Brooks Residence in a Big Way!
The Los Angeles Trial Lawyers' Charities is a long-time supporter and donor to VCH. Recently, LATLC contributed a huge volunteer contingent to carry out on-site improvements at VCH's Brooks resident facility. As shown in the photo below, over 20 volunteers showed up for a day of hard work and physical effort. They painted, cleaned, performed carpentry and generally carried out a plan laid out by Max Harris and supervised by his assistants. The result was an overall upgrade of the property, which is greatly appreciated by the residents. Thanks LATLC for a great job!!
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| The 20-plus LATLC volunteers at VCH's Brooks Avenue facility, with Steve Clare (far left) and Max Harris (far left, back row, in hat)
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Yo! Venice Interviews Volunteers & Clients at FSV Yo! Venice contacted Barbara Milliken to do an article about Free Storage Venice. The reporter requested a general overview of the program and interviews with volunteers, as well as with clients at the FSV site at Venice Beach. Reporter, Jess Linde, stayed for the entire hour FSV was open on a busy Saturday at the beach, talking with volunteers Mike Chamness and Mike Lindley, regulars at the container. They and Barbara Milliken gave Mr. Linde details about the history, purpose and procedures for the project, emphasizing the need for the service, benefits to the public, efforts by VCH to appeal to City for more space and the gratefulness of clients using the service.
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| | Mike Lindley (l.) and Yo! Venice reporter, Jess Linde, at the FSV container. |
Volunteers Seek Signatures on Petition to Convert Senior Center to VCH Storage Facility For over a month, volunteers have been out in the community seeking signatures of locals on a petition to allow VCH to use the closed, empty, City-owned, Senior Center, adjacent to the dog park on Pacific Avenue. Jataun Valentine and Sylvia Aroth started the petition; later Mindy Meyer, Barbara Milliken, Martha Cheresh and others jumped into help. Over 250 signatures have been obtained to date. VCH operates the Free Storage Venice program at Venice Beach on a wholly volunteer basis where 24 storage bins are available to store personal possessions for unhoused persons. This facility is much too small to accommodate the demand and it lacks basic utilities and amenities. Presently the waiting list is over 100. FSV proposes to use the Senior Center building as a full-time facility, with paid staff and security, to provide storage and various social services. Both unhoused persons and the community will benefit.
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| | Mindy Meyer at dog park getting 2 signatures on VCH petition. |
Volunteers Inform Public About VCH at VNC BBQ
Again, VCH was invited to set up a table at the annual VNC BBQ at Oakwood Park. Once again the blue tablecloth with various VCH brochures, invitations, annual report and sign up sheets were highly visible to the community at the event. Also, the VCH petition to convert the Senior Center to a storage facility for unhoused persons, was presented to visitors for review and signing; many conversations took place and many signatures were set down.
Thanks to our volunteers: Sylvia Aroth, Martha Cheresh, Steve Clare, Mindy Meyer, Barbara Milliken, Carmen Navarro, Jack Prichett, Jataun Valentine. All agreed that this was hardly a chore: hanging out with great friends, making new acquaintances, sharing good cheer, tasty food and good works on a beautiful afternoon in Venice!
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| | Volunteers Martha Chersh and Barbara Milliken (r.) welcome 2 BBQ participants (l.) and explain the storage petition and VCH services. |
If you're interested in volunteering, learn more about our volunteer opportunities by clicking |
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MISSION STATEMENT The mission of
Venice Community Housing is to reduce homelessness, maximize affordable housing, empower residents, provide social services, and advocate for public policy that protects and strengthens the economic, racial and cultural diversity of Venice and other neighborhoods on the Westside of Los Angeles.
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Support Our Donation Center Open the 3rd Friday of every month Our Donation Center is open to all low-income and homeless individuals for "Shop Day" every third Friday of the month. Please consider donating your gently used clothing, small household items, personal hygiene, and cleaning products to those in need.
Upcoming Shop Days: August 21
September 18
October 16
Please bring donations to our office located at 720 Rose Avenue in Venice, Mon - Fri 10am-2pm. |
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Brenda Hernandez joined VCH this month as the AmeriCorps VISTA Development Project Leader, supporting VCH's YouthBuild development and fundraising projects.
Prior to serving as a VISTA, Brenda was working for Central City Neighborhood Partners, a non-profit organization in Los Angeles' Pico-Union neighborhood, where she focused on managing the day-to-day operations of eight Youth and Adult programs, one tax clinic, facilitating job readiness workshops, including the training and supervision of volunteers. She has experience working in low-income communities and in urban school settings throughout CA and in developing and implementing social and educational services and change. Brenda graduated with a degree in African American Studies and Chicano Studies from the University of California, Berkeley, and enjoys live music and art, cooking, coffee, and going on adventures.
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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!
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