Serve LA
MEDIA ADVISORY JULY 16, 2008
MAYOR VILLARAIGOSA, LA LAKER JORDAN FARMAR, ROCK ICON SLASH TO BRIGHTEN UP HEART OF THE CITY
CommUNITY Day of Service will focus on Central Los Angeles - most densely populated and culturally diverse area of the City
LOS ANGELES - Mayor Villaraigosa, joined by Los Angeles Laker Jordan Farmar, rock icon Slash, and more than 4,000 volunteers and community leaders, will lead the Central Los Angeles CommUNITY Day of Service beginning at 8:30 AM, Saturday, July 19, 2008 at Casa Libre Youth Shelter at 845 South Lake St., Los Angeles, CA 90057.
The Central Day of Service will feature more than 60 projects in the “Heart of the City,” a culturally rich and heavily populated area home to Koreatown, Thai Town, Historic Filipinotown, MacArthur Park, Hollywood, Pico-Union, Westlake, Mid-Wilshire and surrounding neighborhoods.
Projects for the CommUNITY Day of Service are designed for anyone, accommodating all age groups and schedules, lasting from a few hours to the entire day. Activities for the Day of Service include tree planting, mural painting, and community clean-ups in various neighborhoods. Featured projects include:
• stress management and positive self-image workshops for kids at Gratts Elementary School;
• a soccer tournament in the brand-new Vista Hermosa Natural Park;
• a makeover day for single mothers in Central City;
• community clean-ups in Historic Filipinotown, Koreatown, MacArthur Park and Hollywood;
• breast cancer screening at Clinica Romero in Westlake;
• the beautification of Casa Libre, a historic mansion turned shelter for unaccompanied minors.
In addition, there will also be workshops for women, makeovers for foster youth, work readiness workshops through HireLA and many other projects. The day will culminate at Los Angeles City College, where volunteers will join the Mayor for lunch at the international food court, as well as a booth expo and multicultural entertainment, hosted by Alysha del Valle of Latino 96.3’s Morning Invasion and featuring the Louie Cruz Beltran Quintet, DJ Anthony Valdez, local dance groups and spoken word.
WHO:
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
City Councilmember Ed Reyes
City Councilmember Wendy Greuel
Jordan Farmar, Los Angeles Lakers
Slash, former Guns ‘n Roses guitarist, current member of Velvet Revolver
Gina Ravera, NBC’s ER
Raz B, formerly of R&B group B2K and featured in the film You Got Served
WHAT:
CommUNITY Day of Service in Central Los Angeles
Live performances, tamalada, mural painting, graffiti removal, cleaning and greening neighborhoods, dance workshops, health fairs, job preparation, makeovers and soccer tournaments.
WHEN:
Saturday, July 19, 2008
8:30 AM
WHERE:
Several locations, first stop:
Casa Libre Youth Shelter
845 South Lake St.
Los Angeles, CA 90057
The Mayor’s schedule for the day follows.
MAYOR’S SCHEDULE FOR SATURDAY, JULY 19, 2008
8:30 AM - Casa Libre Youth Shelter
845 South Lake St.
Los Angeles, CA 90057
Volunteers will beautify the shelter’s garden and greenhouse, plant trees, and help restore the building’s historic interiors.
9:15 AM - MacArthur Park Recreation Center
2230 West 6th St.
Los Angeles, CA 90057
Volunteers will beautify the iconic park by restoring plants and cleaning the recreation center and surrounding streets, culminating in a community tamalada hosted by Sandi “Mama” Romero of Mama’s Hot Tamales. No Easy Props will offer Hip hop classes for the youth, teaching the basics of dance, art and oral performance.
9:45 AM - Pico Union Housing Corporation
1038 Venice Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90015
After volunteers have put up murals, renovated and beautified the Graffiti lab area, rehabilitated the basketball court and garage, and constructed a skate park construction, the youth will showcase their talent by utilizing the new facilities.
10:30 AM - Derby Doll Factory
1910 West Temple St.
Los Angeles, CA 90026
Community cleanup of Historic Filipinotown, including an e-waste, used oil and universal waste collection. The Derby Dolls will host a young women’s wellness conference with workshops focused on women’s health and empowerment.
11:30 AM - Vista Hermosa Natural Park
100 North Toluca St.
Los Angeles, CA 90026
At the park’s grand opening, volunteers will participate in the Art Share LA mosaic project and hundreds of young soccer players will participate in a multicultural soccer tournament, featuring teams from across L.A.
12:30 PM - Los Angeles City College
855 North Vermont Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90029
Volunteers will hold a sock drive for the homeless, a health fair for seniors, financial literary workshops, and job preparation & makeovers for homeless youth. The events will end in a culmination ceremony, featuring an international food court, multicultural performances, a multicultural booth expo, a children’s area and tree adoption opportunities.
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