JUNE 2016

 

Venice Community Housing


The full scoop on our people, programs & progress

Dear Friends,
 
 
VCH is proud to announce the date for the 24th annual Jazz! This year's event will be held at a new and larger venue, generously donated by Lincoln Place Apartment Homes. We hope you (and your friends and family!) will join us on September 18th to celebrate the work of Venice Community Housing and to join together to support the low-income and homeless individuals and families of the community. It has been the core of VCH values for 28 years to advocate for a diverse and accepting community and we will continue to do so for all community members.
In light of the recent Orlando tragedy, VCH is compelled now more than ever to work for an equal and just neighborhood which everyone can comfortably call home. We stand in solidarity with the LGBT community and send our love to all who have been affected during these times. 
Support More Permanent Housing in Venice!
In May, the City Council approved Councilmember Bonin's motion to prepare a request for proposals that will make a City-owned parking lot on Venice Blvd, between Dell and Pacific, available to develop permanent supportive housing - the proven solution to homelessness.  The proposed project will also include preserving all existing parking and ensuring broad community input and engagement.  This is a great step forward. 
 
The permanent supportive housing proposal on City-owned land is urgently important - it has the capacity to almost double the number of permanent supportive housing units available in Venice now and will directly end homelessness for those that move in.  Permanent supportive housing improves the community for everyone - there are well managed and beautiful buildings in Venice and throughout the City that also provide housing to those most in need and, in some cases, literally save lives.  Without substantially more affordable and permanent supportive housing in Venice and throughout the City we simply cannot respond to the homeless crisis. 
 
Though we have heard widespread support for this potential project, not enough of us have shared that support publicly.  Please consider sending an email in support to Councilmember Bonin (mike.bonin@lacity.org) or attending a community meeting on this topic!  If you have questions, or would like to see some of VCH's existing permanent supportive housing, please contact our new Director of Policy and Programs, Angelica Orozco via email. 
Save the Date for Jazz @ Lincoln Place!
 
 


 



















Save the date for the 24th annual Jazz!
We are proud to announce that this year's event has moved to a larger location but will still remain in Venice, true to our roots. We look forward to seeing you all on September 18th, 2016! Invitation and details to come...

To purchase tickets or a sponsorship package, please CLICK HERE.

Please contact Myrna Bohan via email or at (310)573-8407 with questions, to join the event committee, volunteer opportunities, or for additional sponsorship opportunities.  
2016 Venice Design Series Recap- A Great Time Was Had by All!
 
VDS guests enjoying a meal by Michelle Jackson of Farm and Flame at the Saddle Peak House of Venice architect Michael Sant. Photo by Melba Levick

The second annual Venice Design Series, a major fundraising event benefiting VCH, took place between April 30 and May 21, 2016. 
 
Participants in the 6 sold-out special events experienced some of LA's finest historic and contemporary art and architecture, visited unique neighborhoods, homes, and venues in downtown LA, Leimert Park, Sullivan Canyon, Venice, Pacific Palisades and Malibu, while enjoying food prepared by leading chefs.  
 
Entertainment ranged from classical music to jazz, stand-up comedy to synchronized swimming.  Our guests enjoyed unique cultural events for a good cause and in the process over raised over $220,000 for VCH. 
 
Thank you to everyone who participated, co-chairs, sponsors, hosts, guests, the amazing organizing committee, event volunteers, in-kind donors of food, drinks and services and VCH staff. 
 
See you next year! 
 
We invite you to see more event photos at http://venicedesignseries.org.

 
Artist Mark Bradford and Alan DiCastro, founders of Art + Practice, Becky Dennison, Executive Director, VCH, Carroll Hill, Historian and Co-Leader of the SWLA Tour. Photo by Melba Levick 
Cake & Punch After-School Celebration


Congratulations to all of the students who completed our 2015-2016 Study Lounge After School program! The students in both the Broadway Elementary and Washington Courts sites celebrated the end of the school year with our annual Cake and Punch celebration. Students earned certificates for achievements such as perfect attendance or best GPA. The UCLA TEACH interns also honored two students with their inaurgural TEACH Award for students' hard work and commitment to their studies. Even parents who showed high program involvement received recognition!  Congrats to all graduating 5th graders and to all who completed the program. Study Lounge will resume in September. Happy summer! 
Study Lounge Summer Camp


We are looking forward to another fun summer with our annual summer day-camp program. Partnering with the UCLA TEACH students, we have re-designed our program this year to serve more kids through offering two separate sessions running from June to August. We are excited to have the ability to grow the program and enroll 45 campers from our Study Lounge program and greater community in this year's camp. Session A will be from June 27-July 14 and Session B will be from July 18-August 4. Students may enroll in only one session per summer. All available slots have been filled.
 
Day of Service with Brentwood Presbyterian Church
Thank you to the Brentwood Presbyterian Church for spending a day beautifying our Transitional Living Center! Volunteers from the church spent the day repainting the TLC and helping with chores such as building new cribs! The Brentwood Presbyterian Church was involved with the founding of the TLC and continues to remain a vital supporter. Thank you to everyone who volunteered their day!
YouthBuild News
Venice YouthBuild Updates
   

June means crunch time for the YouthBuild team as they prepare for Cycle 14's graduation. Students are working diligently on completing their graduation requirements and community service hours, including final TABE tests and Exit Portfolios.

 This month, the youth went to Walgrove Elementary and assisted with cleaning up their garden area. The youth also worked with Selva on construction and solar installations.

 Additionally, we have developed a partnership with Kiss the Ground who has created a community garden on Venice Blvd. Students are assisting with gardening and food preparation. Currently the food grown in the garden is donated to their volunteers and St. Joseph Center's homeless/low-income culinary training students who take regular classes at the garden.                
 Graduation is tentatively scheduled for Friday, July 15th. YouthBuild also is pleased to welcome back Guillermo Buenrostro into the fold to reprise his role as Construction Trainer!
 
That time of year is upon us for Cycle 15 recruitment to get started! Interested prospective students should contact Marisol Perez at (310)963-0828 or via email at marisol@vchcorp.org.  Referrals are welcome!

To get involved with Venice YouthBuild, please contact Program Director, Rick Solis Jr. at rsolis@vchcorp.org. 

Venice YouthBuild is a comprehensive program providing education, job training, and leadership development to 25 youth ages 18-24 each year to help them transition into successful adults. 
VOLUNTEER CORNER
By Barbara Milliken
Volunteers Pitch In for Successful Concluding Event of 2nd VDS 
            
Innumerable talents and abilities came together to make the 2016 Venice Design Series an outstanding community event and record-setting fundraiser for VCH.   Volunteers were present every step of the way from the very start, months ago, until the last guests left Jay Griffith's home at the conclusion of The Party on June 21, 2016.  
        See photos of just a few of many volunteers below.  Go to http://venicedesignseries.org/events/ to see more photos of our terrific volunteers and the festivities.  See you next year!
 
Volunteers Johan Feldbusch and Stuart Garber mixing Margaritas at The Party.
Volunteers Jodi Price and Kristen Laskaris [l to r] checking in guests at The Party.


Otis Partners with VCH for Real-World Design at the Transitional Living Center  
When VCH volunteer Nancy Griffin heard that LA's renowned Otis College of Art and Design seeks to involve its graduate graphic design students in solutions for community problems, she arranged a meeting, along with VCH/TLC volunteers, to explore a collaboration. As a result, Otis visiting professor Rob van den Nieuwenhuizen and a group of students gathered at TLC, with residents, volunteers and staff, to discuss how they could best apply their skills to help the Center. The students had four days to complete the project, which they will present on June 17, 2016 at 4 PM at Otis. The event is open to the public so mark your calendars.  Thanks Otis!

Julie Cho, Otis faculty member [center], volunteers Margot Dougherty and Nancy Griffin [l to r] planning TLC workshop.  Photo:  Linda Lucks


TLC Gains Enrichment and Community Care from Local Volunteer Support Group
VCH's Transitional Living Center reached out to longtime volunteer Susan Moore last year to corral hands-on support for the agency.  Susan first turned to Nancy Griffin, another VCH advocate, who, with husband Steven Ehrlich hosted one of the premier 2015 Venice Design Series dinners.  "We started from scratch," Susan says, "and soon people were calling us to help. The women in Venice are so committed." Circle of Friends, as the group's called, includes Jan Brilliot, Margot Dougherty and others.  They have arranged yoga and photography classes for TLC kids, health classes and makeover services for their moms, a makeover for the Center courtesy of Meridith Baer Home, and holiday parties.  See photos below of some of these events.  
            "As a community we should take care of all our residents," says Nancy, who added TLC to her Santa Monica Food Bank delivery schedule. "Circle of Friends helps make local services and donations available to them."

SMC Cosmetologists organized a Day of Beauty at TLC where volunteers, like Andrea Yocky above, offered makeup, styling and manicures. Photo:Jack Prichett
 
 
Photo classes by volunteer professional photographer Melba Levick with classroom (above) and field trip instruction.
Photo:  Margot Dougherty























If you're interested in volunteering, learn more about our volunteer opportunities by clicking
here and/or contacting Volunteer Coordinator Barbara Milliken at bmilliken@vchcorp.org or (424) 268-5121.
Until next month,

~ VCH
IN THIS ISSUE



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.


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.

*Requested Items from local unhoused community members*
- Art supplies (coloring books, blank notebooks, colored pencils, markers, etc.)
- Micro USB phone chargers
- Portable phone chargers

Upcoming Shop Days:
June 24
July 15
August 19

Please bring donations to our office located at 720 Rose Avenue in Venice, Mon - Fri 10am-2pm. 
FAST FACT
There are an estimated 480 transgender homeless individuals in LA County. 37% of transgender individuals reported experiencing a history of violence or abuse, compared to 12% reported by males.


 

Quick Links
Are you a registered voter?
Voting is one of the most important rights we have as citizens. Familiarize yourself with the ballot initiatives and the candidates.

For a voter registration card, please contact our office at (310)399-4100 x200.


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!

Shop to Support VCH!
 

VCH always supports shopping local, however it isn't always possible. 

To support VCH through your Amazon purchases, simply go to http://smile.amazon.com/ and add Venice Community Housing Corporation as your charity of choice!
 
Dental Assistance Needed
We are in need of dental assistance for our residents who do not have dental insurance. If you are able to provide help or can refer someone who may be of assistance, please contact our Family & Community Services Director, Bridgett Bell at bridgett@vchcorp.org. 


Faces of VCH


Angelica Orozco joined VCH this month as our Director of Policy and Programs. Originally from Guadalajara, Mexico, Angelica moved to the US as a freshman in high school.

Angelica comes to VCH from a private agency called Institute for Applied Behavioral Analysis. So far, her favorite part of working at VCH are the friendly, honest people and tenants.

Outside of VCH, she enjoys hiking, running, spending time with her 3 dogs and fiance. Angelica is an avid animal lover and rescuer and vegetarian!
VENICE COMMUNITY HOUSING 
720 ROSE AVENUE, VENICE CA 90291
P: (310)399-4100 F: (310)399-1130
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