October 04, 2018
LAWT News Service
The Coalition for Responsible Community Development Enterprises (CRCD Enterprises) today celebrated the grand opening of a new facility that will expand its offerings in the South Los Angeles community. CRCD Enterprises is a social enterprise with a California State General ‘’B’’ Contractors license that offers excellent services in the fields of general construction, facilities maintenance and urban infrastructure.
CRCD Enterprises acquired the 4,000-square-foot site at 2415 S. Central Avenue in response to the growing need to address the disproportionately high unemployment rate in South Los Angeles. Renovation was funded in part by a generous $500,000 grant from the NeighborWorks “Project Reinvest: Neighborhoods” initiative. The facility is the first of its kind in the area and will provide job- creation and expansion of their programs to at-risk youth and the formerly incarcerated at the new center.
“Today is a day the South LA community will remember with gratitude, hope, and a great sense of pride,” said Los Angeles Deputy Mayor Brenda Shockley. “I applaud the Coalition for Responsible Community Development for continuing to build a legacy of support, and results, for our hard-working families.”
While CRCD Enterprises continues to provide construction, professional painting, facilities management and property maintenance services, the new facility will enable the company to create new jobs in the community allowing team members to exercise their growing skill set to open career pathways and provide family sustaining wages.
“The New 9th District is proud to collaborate closely with CRCD Enterprises to keep our streets clean, fix our sidewalks, remove bulky items, and generally beautify our community,” said Los Angeles City Councilmember Curren Price, who was on hand at the grand opening celebration. “I am very pleased to see that CRCD Enterprises is addressing the growing need for jobs in our area head on, by providing our community members with the opportunity to obtain meaningful employment.”
The inaugural training class, composed of 20 students, will immediately begin an intensive training program that will require trainees to complete several hundred hours of worksite experience. After completing the initial program, trainees will transition to permanent job placement or continue training programs where they can earn nationally recognized certifications, such as OSHA and HBI-PACT.
“As Los Angeles’ skyline continues to grow, we cannot miss out on the opportunity to prepare our youth for skilled jobs,” said Mark Wilson, president of CRCD Enterprises. “We are excited to be expanding and filling the need to hire locally and sustain our communities.”
For more information about CRCD Enterprises services, please visit www.crcdent.com or call (213) 743- 6193.
September 27, 2018
LAWT News Service
Clean clothes, a refreshing shower and a hot meal are a few things that many of us take for granted. On Thursday, September 20, Assemblymember Mike A. Gipson organized ‘Laundry of Love’ a Day of Homeless Service in Watts.
Mr. and Mrs. Martel Loving, proprietors of Just For You Laundry at 10723 Compton Ave. in Watts opened their doors to homeless individuals and families to allow them the complimentary use of washers and dryers.
As attendees waited for their clothes to dry, they were invited to walk a very short distance to Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, 10905 Compton Ave. for delicious meals; showers; vaccination; dental kits; HIV testing; Hepatitis vaccines; feminine supplies; music and a wide array of resources.
“While the city, state and federal governments are working towards housing solutions, we can all do something to help those in need,” said Assemblymember Gipson. “Many people are just one pay check away from being homeless. I look at the homeless families and know that the child that we help today may be the child that saves us tomorrow.”
A young woman by the name of Mystra said that she has been unsuccessfully seeking employment for over eight years. She was working at a warehouse when she was laid off and has worked temporary jobs as a personal chef; tour guide for mountain excursions and as an inspirational coach for various sports teams. She still has hope that things will get better.
Mystra said that “simple kindness such as what was shown means that someone really does care.”
Partners and sponsors included Children’s Institute; Watts Coffee House; Watts Healthcare; L.A. County Public Health; L.A. County Mental Health; Sisters of Watts; Watts Century Latino Organization; Watts Leadership Institute/ Karrah Lompa; Watts Gang Task Force; LAPD Southeast Station Community Safety Partnership; Deserving of Dignity; New Mt. Calvery; Tree of Life; St. Mark AME Church; L.A. Christian Health Centers; Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority; PATH; and the Housing Authority of Los Angeles.
September 27, 2018
By Lauren A. Jones
Contributing Writer
The Los Angeles Lakers Youth Foundation hosted a basketball health and fitness clinic and court dedication that featured a special appearance by Laker legend Norm Nixon at the Los Angeles Metro Challengers Boys and Girls Club on Sept. 21.
“We are implementing our mission: teaching the kids, basketball skills and drills, agility, endurance,” said Executive Director of the Lakers Youth Foundation, Kiesha Nix.
The non-profit organization celebrated its donation of refurbished indoor and outdoor basketball courts. Calvin Lyon, president of the Challengers Boys and Girls Club, expressed his appreciation to the Foundation for their continued support, which allows them to uphold the Challengers’ mission, ‘Great starts here.’
Following the court presentation, students participated in a health and fitness clinic, which featured instruction from Lakers’ trainers about basketball and nutrition. Kids joyously participated in a series of drills and various full body workouts.
“I think the message that it sends to the kids is someone knows us, they care about us, and they're willing to invest in our future,” stated Lyon.
The aim of the Foundation is that each student walks away with a transformative Lakers’ experience as well as gaining new health, wellness, nutrition and educational tools to implement and share with family.
In line with Lyon’s sentiments, Nixon reiterated, “I want [the children] to understand that even a large organization like the Lakers cares about kids in our very own backyard in our community.”
The Lakers Youth Foundation works with over 20 Boys and Girls Clubs throughout the greater Los Angeles area. Its aim is to positively impact underserved youth through education, health and wellness, and basketball. Since 1992, the foundation has restored over 40 gymnasiums.
The two-time NBA champion Nixon addressed the importance of having facilities like Challengers that focus on underserved communities. The symbiotic role that Challengers and the Lakers Youth Foundation have had in the past and present is a necessity to continue the collaborative efforts that provide safe and inspired environments for students.
“If you were to talk to anyone in any professional sports, there were some facilities that we spent a lot of time using,” Nixon remarked. “Usually those facilities kept a lot of us from getting into trouble. I think when you give kids an alternative to come play, have fun, learn, it's much better than having them out on the street.”
September 20, 2018
By William A. Burke, Ed.D.
The South Coast Air Quality Management District will host its fourth annual environmental justice conference at the Huffington Center at the Saint Sophia Cathedral, just west of downtown Los Angeles in the Pico-Union area, on Friday, Sept. 26.
As the SCAQMD’s chairman for more than two decades, I have witnessed the tremendous progress the agency has made to clean the air in the South Coast basin. One of the key elements to SCAQMD’s success in reducing air pollution is advancement of clean-air technologies. That’s why I’m pleased that this environmental justice conference will focus on the role of these technologies.
Estelle Reyes, director of community engagement at the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI), will emcee our event. At the LACI, Reyes focuses on creating a pipeline for talented individuals to enter the clean-tech and sustainability sectors. Also, she is developing programs for high school students, establishing college internships and creating workforce development opportunities for women to enter into the clean-tech job market.
This conference brings together a diverse group of representatives from academic and research institutions, non-profit organizations, and the green-tech industry. Panels and breakout sessions will include discussions on:
• Creating a more inclusive culture and providing training and education for residents in environmental justice communities;
• Factories, refineries, and other sources that contribute to air pollution, steps taken to reduce their emissions using green technologies and the health benefits of these changes;
• How to apply for grants, rebates and programs that help fund green technology and transitions to eco-friendly systems; and
• Building partnerships amongst green technology manufacturers and community-based programs or associations, and how private companies are including communities into their business practices and innovations.
With over 800 employees, and air monitoring and analysis tools ranging from small sample canisters to a state-of-art laboratory, we at SCAQMD are on the cutting edge of air quality management. This is one reason why SCAQMD has hosted air quality officials and researchers from all over the world seeking to learn about SCAQMD’s successes and challenges.
It has been a long road to get to this point. I hope that we are able to continue on this path to ensure that all communities can help achieve clean air in our region.
To register online please visit https://2018ejconference.eventbrite.com. For more information please call: (909) 396-2432 or email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .