2020-2021 Good Neighbors Grantees
Arts Programs
After ‘Cool: $17,460
University Partner: USC School of Dramatic Arts, Brent Blair
Community Partner: 24th Street Theatre, Jay McAdams
Website: http://www.24thstreet.org/after-cool/
After ‘Cool engages 60 neighborhood 2nd – 8th grade youth in after school activities and curriculum that develop acting and creative skills such as improvisation and story, and character development. After ‘Cool students work closely with theatre professionals, plus receive peer support from 20 teen mentors from After ‘Cool’s companion Leadership Academy Program. With COVID-19, After ‘Cool has transitioned to a socially distanced virtual model and has increased its efforts to support students’ changing needs with activities like delivering weekly groceries to them and their families.
Digital Promotoras: $17,460
University Partner: USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, Amara Aguilar
Community Partner: Las Fotos Project, Lucia Torres
Website: https://lasfotosproject.org/digitalpromotoras/
The Digital Promotoras program uses photojournalism, digital media storytelling, and social media to raise awareness about social issues and health disparities. Young women, ages 13 to 18, collaborate to identify a community issue, share stories of those impacted, inform residents of available resources and the actions they can take to create a safer community. Since the advent of COVID-19, Digital Promotoras has surveyed program participants to understand changing needs. In response the program has provided equipment to enable virtual programming and added healing-informed arts activities to each class session.
USC Kaufman Connections (“KC”): $9,540
University Partner: USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance, Tiffany Bong
Community Partner: 32nd Street/USC Visual & Performing Arts Magnet, Nelly Cristales
Website: https://kaufman.usc.edu/collaborations/kaufman-connections/
Kaufman Connections is a hip-hop oriented dance program for 3rd-7th grade students, in which students work with Kaufman School of Dance majors to learn about the choreographic process, dance as a creative field and the elements of dance making. The program works to instill important dance related social, cognitive and emotional skills in students and the semester culminates in a hip-hop performance for family, friends and the broader school community. With social distancing measures in place, Kaufman Connections has successfully transitioned hip-hop instruction to online platforms and is reworking its curriculum to develop a more accessible online format.
USC Thornton JazzReach Program: $22,260
University Partner: USC Thornton School of Music, Susan Helfter
Community Partner: Foshay Learning Center, Lisa Beebe
Website: https://music.usc.edu/departments/research-and-scholarly-studies/community-engagement/
JazzReach provides weekly arts enrichment opportunities in the jazz music genre to K-12th grade students in the neighborhoods surrounding USC. Concurrently, it offers USC Thornton students a chance to develop teaching/program administration skills and to apply those skills in an urban school setting. JazzReach is currently working to transition to online musical instruction and is exploring online performance options.
USC Thornton Outreach Program (“TOP”): $26,540
University Partner: USC Thornton School of Music, Susan Helfter
Community Partner: Vermont Avenue Elementary School, Patricia Ferguson
Website: https://music.usc.edu/departments/research-and-scholarly-studies/community-engagement/
USC’s Thornton Outreach Program (TOP) is a diverse and comprehensive music education program that seeks to provide low or no-cost, high-quality music-learning opportunities to underserved students in the USC community. At the same time, it affords USC Thornton students the opportunity to develop teaching, mentoring, and community engagement skills. This program will utilize virtual programming to create musical resources and opportunities for the community and adapt lessons to meet learning objectives for music and core subjects.
Youth Artists as Civic Leaders: $12,030
University Partner: USC Community and Local Government Partnerships, David Galaviz
Community Partner: LA Commons, Karen Mack
Website: https://www.lacommons.org/exposition-park
Youth Artists as Civic Leaders is improving the quality of education for youth ages 15 -25 by engaging them in the development of an artistic and policy response to environmental issues around the University Park Campus. Young people at the head of the project increase their artistic capacity, their ability to engage others in civic processes, and their leadership skills. Other community members have the opportunity to amplify their voice through artwork that enhances an important public place. Recently, artistic initiatives have shifted to online platforms such as social media and digital story circles via Zoom.
Education Programs
Adventures Ahead After School Program: $18,680
University Partner: Sol Price School of Public Policy, Anna Parks
Community Partner: Redeemer Community Partnership, Lauren Tigrett
Website: https://www.redeemercp.org/education
Adventures Ahead is working to improve educational outcomes for students grades K-5th by achieving grade-appropriate literacy and nurturing each child’s development as a lifelong reader. Eighty five percent of the students who arrive at Adventures Ahead test below grade level in reading. In response, this program offers an individualized reading curriculum to 30 students for 9-hours per week during the academic year, as well as, robust all-day programming in the summer. With COVID-19 and social distancing in place, the program is planning to deliver weekly kits to student’s homes as its meetings are now virtual.
Aftermath of COVID 19: “Leaning Towards Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and Health & Wellness of Roosevelt HS Students and their families”: $19,880
University Partner: Keck School of Medicine of USC, Qing Liu-Michael
Community Partner: AltaMed, Monica Guardian
Website: https://www.altamed.org/
Aftermath of COVID-19 is working to evaluate COVID-19’s impact on distance learning among students in the Boyle Heights community. In addition, the program analyzes physical and emotional health concerns with the goal of rebuilding the fractured educational system that COVID-19 has exacerbated. Surveys, panel discussions with parents, research education by USC scientists, and other disciplines are used to evaluate and measure recent educational challenges.
Bridging the Digital Divide: $31,730
University Partner: USC Marshall School of Business, Hank Wasiak
Community Partner: School on Wheels, Catherine Meek
Website: https://schoolonwheels.org/digital-drive/
Schools on Wheels aids students facing housing insecurity and works to remove the barriers that stand between homelessness and education. Given COVID-19 and the transition to remote learning, these barriers have been primarily technological. In response, Bridging the Digital Divide has been working to contact students, provide emotional support, and offer school supplies, computers, and access to Wi-Fi. The program has distributed over 3,000 activity kits, hygiene kits, books, journals, and devices to students in homeless shelters.
College and Career: $22,000
University Partner: Keck School of Medicine of USC, Gregory Harlan
Community Partner: PUENTE Learning Center, Michele Wolfe
Website: https://www.puente.org/programs/college-and-career-readiness/
College and Career seeks to break the cycle of intergenerational poverty of mainly low-income Latinx youth, through educational programs primarily focused on STEM – science, technology, engineering and mathematics studies. Students attend weekly classes on self-advocacy, leadership development, and college culture and have access to free SAT test preparation courses and monthly workshops that help them navigate the college admissions process and more. PUENTE College and Career also plans to work with their industry and community partners, as needed, to develop online content and to increase one-on-one support.
Mission Science: $28,510
University Partner: USC Viterbi School of Engineering, Darin Gray
Community Partner: Gates Street Elementary School, Maria Barraza
Website: https://viterbik12.usc.edu/missionscience/
Mission Science is an afterschool program that exposes 3rd -5th graders to hands-on, inquiry-based science and engineering activities. Taught by USC STEM majors, the curriculum is designed to build confidence in STEM studies and students’ ability to succeed. Mission Science is currently assessing how to adapt the program to social distancing and online learning platforms.
Music Inspiring Community: $2,670
University Partner: USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, Jasmine Bryant
Community Partner: Theodore T. Alexander Science Center, Michelle Correa
Website: https://musicinspiringcomm.wixsite.com/home
Music Inspiring Community is a student-founded organization that provides music education to LAUSD elementary school students. The program offers free, weekly lessons that are taught in the form of fun and interactive games and which help develop creative life skills integral to later life success. Since COVID-19, Music Inspiring Community has been working to transition their lessons to online platforms in order to provide students with continuity and structure during these uncertain times.
Project Scientist STEM Academy at USC: $43,200
University Partner: Keck School of Medicine of USC, Ite Offringa
Community Partner: Project Scientist, Sandy Marshall
Website: https://projectscientist.org/
The Project Scientist STEM Academy cultivates the next generation of female STEM professionals by helping young girls ages 4-12 acquire the leadership skills, confidence, and tools needed to thrive in today’s STEM environment. Currently, need-based scholarships are provided to more than 80% of participants. The program has transitioned to a virtual model and is exploring ways to conduct virtual expeditions to USC labs.
Ramona Gardens Boys & Girls Club Community Support Program: $28,200
University Partner: USC School of Pharmacy, David Dadiomov
Community Partner: Boys & Girls Club of West San Gabriel Valley and Eastside, JR Dzubak
Website: https://www.wsgvbgc.org/ramona-gardens-clubhouse
For many years, the Ramona Gardens Boys & Girls Club Community Support Program has provided nationally developed, evidence-based youth development programs to the communities surrounding USC. With COVID-19 the program has adapted to the changing needs by partnering with HACLA (Housing Authority of Los Angeles) to serve hot meals and provide emergency supplies to members and their families, and especially seniors who are unable to leave their home. Continuing programs include the Family Preservation Program, which ensures that youth and families in potentially unstable or unsafe homes receive needed support, and new virtual programs like group fitness, homework help, and counseling have been launched.
Reading Makes a Difference: $19,730
University Partner: USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, Tina Koneazny
Community Partner: The Jester & Pharley Phund, Barbara Saltzman
Website: https://thejester.org/programs/literacy-and-outreach/reading-makes-a-difference/
The program’s Read-A-Thon inspires young readers to try harder and read more. It also encourages them to think about others and to show compassion by creating uplifting “jester” books and dolls for kids in local hospitals. During this time of unprecedented change, the program is developing handouts to help relieve tension and to motivate children and families to find joy with “The Jester” book series.
Rise College Student Relief Program: $30,000
University Partner: USC Student Basic Needs, Alejandra Hong
Community Partner: Rise, Inc., Liz Conn
Website: https://risefree.org/covid-19-help/
This year, Rise’s student fellows have launched on-campus basic needs advocacy campaigns to end student hunger and homelessness at four Los Angeles college campuses. The program is also working to aid students who have been affected by COVID-19. When college campuses closed, they surveyed over 500 students to better understand their challenges and changing needs. In response, Rise is working to increase paid job opportunities to low-income and first-generation college students, increase financial aid, and increase public benefits.
School to Career Success: $18,000
University Partner: USC Black Alumnni Association, Tensie Taylor
Community Partner: Los Angeles Urban League, Jamecca Marshall
Website: https://laul.org/
School to Career Success is working to engage, educate and empower low and moderate income African American families. The program organizes parents via leadership groups, and offers training workshops, tours, webinars, individual educational counseling, leadership training, and more. At a time when resources are scarce due to COVID-19, School to Career Success is providing technical equipment, technical support, software, and other resources to their served population in order to fulfill their mission of improving educational attainment outcomes.
Technology, Online Resources and Academic Programming for 2020-21 School Year: $21,150
University Partner: USC Annenberg School for Communications and Journalism, Ron Antonette
Community Partner: Sacred Heart Elementary School, Adriana Bronzina
Website: http://www.sacredheartla.org/
This program serves Sacred Heart Elementary school’s families by providing affordable education for their primarily Hispanic population from the Lincoln Heights Area. Given COVID-19, the program is working to ensure quality education and access to initiatives via socially distanced channels. Some of these initiatives include the Accelerated Reader, and the Wordly Wise language arts program that provide a high-level and quality English curriculum, and the Instrumental Music Program which offers music education to increase social and emotional development and academic achievement.
Thrive in Joy C11 Strength of Character Curriculum: $3,800
University Partner: USC Sol Price School of Public Policy, John Sonego
Community Partner: Thrive in Joy Nick Fagnano Foundation, Mary Fagnano
Website: https://www.thriveinjoy.org/
C11 offers high school freshmen a unique approach to self- discovery and empowerment in order to help them impart an ongoing positive influence on the social/emotional dynamics of their school and community. The goal of the program is to ensure students have a greater understanding of self and their strengths. It also helps foster confidence in their ability to change their environment and assume leadership roles.
Youth Affected by the COVID-19 Crisis: $14,100
University Partner: USC Community and Local Government Partnerships, Dulce Acosta
Community Partner: Variety Boys and Girls Club, Patricia Siqueiros
Website: http://vbgc.org/
The Variety Boys and Girls Club (VBGC) provides resources to the youth living in Boyle Heights who often struggle with poverty-related and socioeconomic issues such as gang violence, low education attainment and food insecurity. The organization has served the community for over 71 years and has recently launched new initiatives to mitigate the effects of COVID-19 and the digital divide, by providing academic counseling to more than 100 youths. In addition, the VBGC has assisted 50 high school seniors with the college application process and applying for scholarships. Currently VBGC is keeping local youth and their families engaged by providing grab and go activity kits and hosting weekly community contests.
USC Family of Schools Facilitators 2020: $62,660
University Partner: USC Educational Partnership, Kim Thomas-Barrios
Community Partner: Foshay Learning Center, Lisa Beebe
Website: https://communities.usc.edu/family-of-schools/
The USC Family of Schools (FOS) offers schools in the USC University Park and Health Sciences campus neighborhoods access to free extracurricular programming. The FOS system continually works to provide additional resources and inform teachers, staff, administrators and more about the programming available in their area. It also serves to recruit students to participate in a variety of programs. Due to the ongoing pandemic, facilitators have shifted to virtual contact for support, updates, and access to critical resources.
USC Kinder2College Program 2020: $28,860
University Partner: USC Educational Partnerships, Kim Thomas-Barrios
Community Partner: Foshay Learning Center, Lisa Beebe
Website: https://communities.usc.edu/kinder-2-college/
The Kinder2College program seeks to enhance the education of K-5th grade scholars in the USC Family of Schools who may be at risk for reading failure as designated by their classroom teacher. The program implements Readers Plus, a USC student run program that is taught in collaboration with USC Educational Partnerships and focuses on applying best practices to improve reading levels. Kinder2College has transitioned to virtual/remote learning and recently hosted its inaugural “virtual read-a-thon”.
USC McMorrow NAI Saturday Academy: $58,880
University Partner: USC Educational Partnerships, Kim Thomas-Barrios
Community Partner: Foshay Learning Center, Lisa Beebe
Website: https://communities.usc.edu/educational-partnerships/nai/
The Neighborhood Academic Initiative Saturday Academy serves over 1,000 students and is USC’s premiere college prep program. The program draws students from the neighborhoods that surround both USC campuses (South Los Angeles, Boyle Heights, Lincoln Heights, El Sereno) and the seven year program has a 99% graduation rate. The Saturday Academy provides supplemental instruction in the core subjects of math, English and science and an elective hour is devoted to financial literacy and exploring career opportunities. With COVID-19, the academy has pivoted to virtual/remote learning and is partnering with other organizations to meet the community’s changing needs.
USC ReadersPLUS: $74,640
University Partner: USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, Tina Koneazny
Community Partner: Theodore T. Alexander Science Center, Norma Spencer
Website: https://dornsife.usc.edu/joint-educational-project/readersplus/
ReadersPLUS trains USC work-study students to provide one-on-one tutoring in reading and math to local K- 5th grade students. The program aims to promote reading and math skills, provide high quality assistance to teachers, and foster positive learning relationships between students and tutors. Recently, ReadersPLUS has been providing online tutoring and support to children and families from their Family of Schools in the form of one-on-one Zoom tutoring.
USC Science Outreach: $5,130
University Partner: USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, Susumu Takahashi
Community Partner: 32nd Street/USC Visual & Performing Arts Magnet, Nelly Cristales
Website: http://www.uscscienceoutreach.org/
USC Science Outreach (SCout) is a student-run community service organization with the primary goal of sparking interest about science and the STEM field in second- and third-grade students. Every session revolves around a hands-on experiment and lesson plan supplementing other teachers’ curriculum and fortifying student’s basic science foundations. Since COVID-19, SCout has started supplying digital lesson plans to teachers and is shifting to virtual platforms.
Writing150 and the Writer’s Room at Manual Arts High School: $16,590
University Partner: USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, Emily Artiano
Community Partner: 826LA, Lauren Humphrey
Website: www.826LA.org
With an innovative curriculum, intensive writing project, and the support of encouraging community volunteers and USC undergraduate mentors, 826 LA is working to help students build their communications and literacy skills. USC students provide critical mentoring and tutoring services to Manual Arts High School students, which culminates in a final project. In the wake of COVID-19, the Writer’s Room is transitioning to online programming, and is looking into the ability to provide technological hardware for students.
Young Researchers Program: $8,370
University Partner: USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Siences, Jason Zevin
Community Partner: Manual Arts High School, Bari Applebaum
Website: http://youngresearchers.usc.edu
USC Young Researchers is a six-week summer mentorship program that pairs PhD candidates and USC faculty with motivated and high achieving high school seniors interested in conducting scientific research. The high school students are exposed to experimental design, data collection, and first-hand university level research. The students are also given the opportunity to discuss their projects and/or research at weekly student-led lunch conversations.
STEM Programs
BOTS Building Opportunities with Teachers in Schools: $18,900
University Partner: USC Viterbi School of Engineering, Mary Bonaparte-Saller
Community Partner: Los Angeles Unified School District, Local District East, Craig Sipes
Website: https://viterbipk12.usc.edu/bots
Building Opportunities with Teachers in Schools (BOTS) fosters digital equity in inner-city elementary schools via a collaboration of teachers, districts, USC Robotics and non-profits. The program co-creates a scalable and sustainable Computer Science pipeline of coding, robots and computational thinking for elementary school students. BOTS intervention is aimed at teachers, as helping teachers gain content skills and self-efficacy for introducing Computer Science is more sustainable than providing student instruction. For every elementary teacher trained during BOTS Professional Development (PD), 30+ students are served, with an additional 30/year after the PD ends.
Community Applying Systemic STEM Education to Schools (C-ASSETS): $38,800
University Partner: USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, Dieuwertje Kast
Community Partner: Norwood Street Elementary School, Irene Worrel
Website: https://sites.google.com/usc.edu/usc-community-assets
C-ASSETS is currently working to provide opportunities for underserved students in the elementary schools surrounding USC to engage in authentic, hands-on, standards-aligned science and engineering experiences during and after the school day. Since the advent of socially-distanced learning, C-ASSETS has been working to adapt to a virtual curriculum and has begun creating STEM supply kits so students can continue hands-on learning at home.
Expanding STARs/EHA Program: $41,900
University Partner: USC School of Pharmacy, Daryl Davies
Community Partner: Francisco Bravo Medical Magnet High School, Luis Lopez
Website: http://www.uscstar.org/
The STARs/EHA program prepares local high school students for careers in life sciences, biomedical engineering, and biotherapeutics. Students in the program are required to pursue a hypothesis driven research project as part of the curriculum, which they present at the annual Spring Science Fair at Francisco Bravo Magnet High School. STARs/EHA is now offering virtual lab and research options and facilitates online meetings between students and USC faculty for research and learning opportunities.
Med-COR (Medical Counseling, Organizing and Recruiting): $44,620
University Partner: Keck School of Medicine of USC, Joyce Richey
Community Partner: Francisco Bravo Medical Magnet High School, Millicent Dypiangco
Website: https://medcor.usc.edu/
Med-COR is an academic enrichment program that seeks to increase the pool of high school students from underserved communities committed to the pursuit of health professional careers. From how to take vital signs, charting, bedside protocol and medical terminology, students gain first-hand experience and develop the skills necessary to create a pathway to future career opportunities. Due to COVID-19 the program is tutoring participants virtually via Zoom and this year’s six-week summer internship will be held online.
Health Programs
Beyond Pregnancy: Diabetes Prevention in Women with History of Gestational Diabetes: $19,610
University Partner: Keck School of Medicine of USC, Thomas Buchanan
Community Partner: New Familia Health Support Services, LLC, Cristina Carlos
Website: https://www.newfamilia.org/diabetes-prevention/
New Familia is serving women with a history of gestational diabetes for participation in the yearlong National Diabetes Prevention Program. Women with GDM have a 50% to 70% chance of developing Type 2 Diabetes within 10 years after delivery. Lifestyle programs have proven to reduce this outcome by nearly 58%. Intervention consists of core sessions delivered over six months and includes training in long-term dietary changes, increased physical activity, and behavior change strategies for weight management.
Diabetes Awareness and Prevention Program (“Amate y Cuidate”): $26,540
University Partner: USC School of Pharmacy, Melvin Baron
Community Partner: Clinica Msr. Oscar A. Romero, Stephanie Lemus
Website: https://clinicaromero.com/
The Diabetes Awareness and Prevention Program, ‘Amate Y Cuidate,’ is a health education project aiming to improve the health outcomes of 350 low-income overweight, pre-diabetic, and diabetic community members ages 18 to 60 living in Ramona Gardens and Boyle Heights. The curriculum is reviewed and edited by a medical director to ensure that all information provided is reflective of best practices and research in the area of healthy eating and diabetes management. Essential medical visits are still being scheduled for program participants, and the program is distributing remote health education services via social media, calls, and texts.
FEAST Wellness Programs and Community Services: $17,460
University Partner: USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, Lisa Wobbe-Veit
Community Partner: FEAST, Amy Vu
Website: www.feastforall.org
The mission of FEAST is to provide education on nutrition and healthy shopping habits, food access, peer-support and community engagement in the hopes of reducing risk factors for dietary disease. Food insecurity has increased due to the COVID-19 pandemic and FEAST is working to provide virtual programming and support to participants. The program has recently started delivering “Food+ Education” boxes that are used with virtual classes and livestreamed recipes to help illustrate and mitigate the risk factors associated with poor nutrition.
Fuente Initiative: $6,950
University Partner: USC School of Pharmacy, Carla Blieden
Community Partner: Griffin Avenue Elementary School, Reuben Rios
Website: https://pharmacyschool.usc.edu/
Fuente Initiative connects pharmacists and pharmacy students with neighborhood elementary schools to educate children on accidental poisoning prevention and the appropriate use of prescription drugs and other public health topics. In addition, children are exposed to and gain insight on pharmacy careers and how to become a pharmacist. Due to COVID-19, the initiative has shifted to digital versions of the program and is working to find new ways to distribute information, such as customized children’s coloring books.
Garden Gateway Nutrition Education Project: $24,880
University Partner: USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, Francois Bar
Community Partner: Community Services Unlimited, Heather Fenney
Website: http://www.csuinc.org
The Garden Gateway Nutrition Education Project teaches gardening and cooking skills to children and adults, empowering participants to access and adopt healthier eating habits. The project’s healthy cooking classes offer simple, nutritious recipes using seasonal produce that participants can grow in their own gardens. The program also offers training in natural gardening methods that can be used to maximize production of fruits and vegetables. During the pandemic, the program surveyed participants and now offers two virtual workshops a month in response to their feedback.
La Cuarantena Program: Revitalizing a Valuable Postpartum Tradition: $21,240
University Partner: Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Christine Mirzaian
Community Partner: New Familia Health Support Services, LLC, Cristina Carlos
Website: https://www.newfamilia.org/postpartum/
The La Cuarentena Program addresses the physical, emotional and social needs of new mothers during the postpartum period. This program provides self-care and health support including breastfeeding support, perinatal mental health services, and recruitment for the Diabetes Prevention Program for moms with a history of GDM. New mothers are introduced to support groups and therapy is provided to new mothers suffering from depression and/or anxiety symptoms. The program is currently offering free virtual tele-health counseling, therapy sessions, child-birth preparation, and more.
Nutrition for Health and Longevity Program: $24,990
University Partner: USC Transplant Institute, Susan Kim
Community Partner: SF General Hospital Foundation, Cissie Bonini
Website: https://sfghf.org/
Nutrition for Health and Longevity is a 10-week course that equips participants with the knowledge, attitudes, skills, and necessary resources to make healthy choices. The program teaches the correlation between a healthy lifestyle and the prevention of obesity and chronic diseases. Class topics include: obesity and chronic diseases, diabetes and insulin resistance, macro/micronutrients found in foods, USDA Dietary Guidelines, how to manage a healthy weight, and how to read food labels. At the end of each class, participants receive a $10 voucher to be used for purchasing fresh fruits and vegetables for six months. The voucher is made possible through the Vouchers4Veggies partnership.
Opioid Audiovisual Novela Project: $26,190
University Partner: USC School of Pharmacy, Melvin Baron
Community Partner: Clinica Msr. Oscar A. Romero, Carlos Vaquerano
Website: www.pharmacyschool.usc.edu
The USC School of Pharmacy’s Opioid Audiovisual Novela Project was developed to educate low-literacy residents on opioid abuse prevention and treatment. Through fotonovelas that come to life with music, dialogue and special effects, audiences are entertained and educated on critical health information.
Troy Camp: $40,000
University Partner: USC Viterbi School of Engineering, Christina Mireles Martin
Community Partner: Lenicia B. Weemes Elementary School, Mercedes Pineda
Website: http://www.troycamp.org/
Troy Camp is a USC student-run philanthropic organization seeking to provide long term mentorship for underserved youth in South Los Angeles. The program mentors youth from grades 3- 12 and offers specialized programming that is not generally included in schools such as dance, creativity, sports, physical education, STEM and more. Troy Camp also offers a weeklong summer camp at the beginning of May that allows the students to personally connect with a mentor/counselor. The camp promotes self-confidence, teaches interpersonal skills, and encourages campers to explore new interests. Troy Camp offers a variety of programs that target middle and high school youth in order to help them achieve their academic and personal goals.
USC Dental Screening Initiative for Foster Children: $18,070
University Partner: The Pediatric Dental Clinic (PDC), Thanh Ton
Community Partner: The Violence Intervention Program, Astrid Heger
Website: https://violenceinterventionprogram.org/
This initiative provides dental health screening for foster children and adolescents. The goal of the program is to help establish a dental home for children with the ability to support comprehensive health and support services for child victims and their families. Dental assistants, pediatric dentist, students and social work interns provide dental health services like screenings, counseling, oral health education and more. The program has recently transitioned to primarily virtual communication as well as teledentistry and is planning on distributing at home dental care and food packages to families.
USC Neighborhood Mobile Dental Van Prevention Project: $29,030
University Partner: Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC, Carlos Sanchez, Linda Brookman
Community Partner: St. Agnes Parish School, Will Summer
Website: https://dentistry.usc.edu/community/mobile-dental-clinics/
The USC Neighborhood Mobile Dental Van Prevention Program is the only school-based mobile provider for preventive oral health care and education in the city. The program seeks to improve K-12th grade oral health education and quality of life for children and their families. The program provides cursory visual screenings, oral health education, records dental findings, and provides nutritional guidance to hundreds of children. The program is currently investing in PPE due to COVID-19 for in person medical services and is providing services through teledentistry.
USC PT Fit Families: $14,750
University Partner: USC Division of Biokinesiology & Physical Therapy, Cheryl Resnick
Community Partner: Francisco Bravo Medical Magnet High School, Luis Lopez
Website: https://pt.usc.edu/usc-fit-families/
The USC PT Fit Families program provides free preventative and wellness physical therapy services to underserved 6- 17-year-old children and parents that have been diagnosed with (or are at high risk) for diabetes and other conditions associated with physical inactivity. The nine-month program includes initial and post six-week evaluations of activity and cardiovascular health and fitness. During COVID, Fit Families has transitioned to an online model that includes weekly newsletters, social media resources as well as individualized and group coaching sessions.
VIP Mentoring & Tutoring Program: $29,390
University Partner: Keck School of Medicine of USC, Kenneth Geller
Community Partner: Violence Intervention Program, Astrid Heger
Website: https://www.laworks.com/organization/001A000000a9amOIAQ?layoutViewMode=tablet
VIP’s mentoring and tutoring program offers educational enrichment and positive role modeling for foster children and victims of child abuse and neglect, ages 4 to 18. The program offers individualized mentoring and tutoring services as a part of a child’s comprehensive service plan along with ongoing daily check-ins and support. This program is also working to provide over 300 families with three meals a day to fight food insecurity. In response to the new challenges presented by COVID-19, the program conducts wellness calls daily, connects families to prepared meals and food cards on a weekly basis.
Vivir Con Diabetes/ Live with Diabetes: $5,820
University Partner: Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC, Jesus Diaz
Community Partner: The Wellness Center at the Historic General Hospital, Heather Hays
Website: https://www.thewellnesscenterla.org/
Vivir con Diabetes is a 12-week program consisting of group sessions that aim to empower Latinos with diabetes to improve their overall diabetes management. The program focuses on healthy habits and fitness routines that can be incorporated into one’s daily life. Participants receive instruction on diabetes management, nutrition and healthy eating, self-care, stress management, advocacy, goal development, and how to create and maintain healthy habits and routines. Participants also engage in hands-on activities to facilitate learning and are introduced to occupational therapy students who help them tailor health strategies to fit their lifestyle.
Public Safety Programs
School Violence Prevention/Social-Emotional Learning: $25,770
University Partner: USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, Susan Harris
Community Partner: Sola Community Peace Center, Susan Stouffer
Website: https://www.solacommunitypeacecenter.org/
The School Violence Prevention/Social-Emotional Learning Program provides vital resources necessary for success in school and general well-being. This includes self-management, conflict resolution, and meditation resources for local elementary school children. Practices such as meditation and mindfulness used in these programs are shown to help children/youth with concentration and stress. Student participants learn through experiential and fun learning activities such as role playing, crafts, and small group activities. Students also journal to reflect on what they’ve learned. The program is working to provide free online programming during the time of COVID-19.
University Park Slow Jams: $30,000
University Partner: USC Sol Price School of Public Policy, David Sloane
Community Partner: Public Matters, Reanne Estrada
Website: http://publicmattersgroup.com/upsjla2050/
University Park Slow Jams brings together neighborhood residents, USC students, faculty and organizations that are leading the charge for safer streets. The program utilizes novel, attention-grabbing, and informative methods such as playing music, holding signs, and participating in “crosswalk choreography” in order to encourage drivers to slow down and decrease traffic violence in the area surrounding the University Park Campus. Due to Covid-19, University Park Slow Jams is exploring socially distanced, safe ways to keep the community streets safe.
USC Kid Watch Program: $61,110
University Partner: USC Educational Partnerships, Kim Thomas-Barrios
Community Partner: Foshay Learning Center, Lisa Beebe
Website: https://communities.usc.edu/community-partnerships/kid-watch/
Since 1996, USC Kid Watch community members have committed to help ensure the safety of children as they travel to and from school. Volunteers are trained to report suspicious activity as they watch over children from six USC Family of Schools. In addition to improving child safety, the program enhances communication with law enforcement, reduces crime and violence, reinforces community policing, and builds neighbor solidarity. Despite LAUSD campus closures due to COVID-19, KidWatch holds bi-weekly meetings with families to provide COVID-19 related updates and continues to serve as a bridge between community members and their safety partners.
Economic Development Programs
Angeles Mesa Workforce: $28,200
University Partner: USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, Brenda Ingram
Community Partner: YWCA Greater Los Angeles, Sharon Shelton
Website: https://ywcagla.org/what-we-do/empowerment-sites/
The Angeles Mesa Workforce Response Program is working to provide COVID-19 impacted, low-income residents with professional development and skills training to increase competitiveness and facilitate entry into the workforce. Program participants connect to online customer service skills training provided by the American Hospitality Academy and USC MSW interns provide individual case management. The Workforce Response Program also provides information and access to programs related to childcare, senior services, sexual assault crisis and more.
Cooperative Education and Development ONLINE Workshops: $28,200
University Partner: USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, Abby Fifer Mandell
Community Partner: Collective REMAKE, Mary Sutton
Website: https://collectiveremake.com/
Collective REMAKE specializes in cooperative education and workshops serving formerly incarcerated persons, or people impacted by incarceration, by working with multiple partners to develop and expand workforce development curriculum. After in-person programming was stopped due to COVID-19, Collective REMAKE adjusted their budget to offer access to computers and other resources for online learning. This year there are online workshops on business modeling, finances for start-ups, and other topics, plus one-on-one counseling is offered to support pathways to employment.
Empowerment for Independent Living: $15,710
University Partner: USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, Maria Henke
Community Partner: Pacific Asian Consortium in Employment, Johnson Ng
Website: https://pacela.org/
PACE partners with the USC School of Gerontology to train 40 individuals from the University Park Campus area to become certified and registered home care providers to Los Angeles senior citizens. With Covid-19, PACE has transitioned to online training and is responding to an increased demand for services from seniors who have been brought home or displaced from assisted living centers.
Mercado La Paloma: Sustaining Equitable Development and Economic Opportunities: $22,530
University Partner: USC Marshall School of Business, Abby Fifer Mandell
Community Partner: Esperanza Community Housing Corporation, Elena Frias
Website: http://www.mercadolapaloma.com/
Mercado La Paloma is working to provide economic relief to thirteen local business impacted by COVID-19. With 87 restaurant workers now without income, Mercado La Paloma is providing individualized support in order to help these businesses facilitate necessary changes. This includes aiding them in finding resources, translating materials between Spanish and English, and helping them promote their businesses through social media, and more.
NFTE Youth Entrepreneurship Initiative: $10,650
University Partner: USC Marshall School of Business, Patrick Henry
Community Partner: National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship, Kim Small
Website: https://www.nfte.com/
NFTE is seeking to create an “opportunity movement” by enabling youth from underserved communities to be career and start-up ready. The program delivers school-based entrepreneurship education and technology training that is designed to increase one’s ability to pivot, problem solve and innovate. Since COVID-19, NFTE has transitioned to online programming, working to educate more than 60 youths in their E1 intermediate entrepreneurship course.
South Central Growers and Harvesters Network: $9,400
University Partner: USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, Francois Bar
Community Partner: Community Services Unlimited, Heather Fenney
Website: http://www.csuinc.org
The South Central Growers and Harvester’s Network trains hundreds of home gardeners to grow food for their families, build micro-enterprises to generate income and contribute to the local food system. In response to COVID-19, the organization is working to combat food insecurity by offering online ordering, home delivery, and free groceries in addition to their now virtual gardening workshops. The Harvester’s Network also helps residents navigate and access other resources such as applying for the CalFresh food stamp program.