Wave Wire Services
LOS ANGELES — Nine community centers that aim to serve as spaces for environmental, social and economic healing have opened as part of a $2 million pilot program by the city’s Civil + Human Rights and Equity Department.
The department launched what it calls Peace & Healing Centers in communities where pollution and overcrowding ranks among the highest in Los Angeles. The centers will offer at least 20 hours of healing programming a week, aiming to provide safe spaces during times of crisis. Activities could include art, youth mentoring and community gardening.
“Too often, communities suffering from historic neglect are continually ignored,” Mayor Karen Bass said in a statement. “Today is a step towards breaking away from that status quo. During my administration, I look forward to working closely with the L.A. Civil Rights department as we take action on behalf of all Angelenos.”
The centers will be run by eight community-based organizations. They are: Para Los Niños in the South LA Repair Zone, Volunteers of America Los Angeles in the Southeast L.A. Repair Zone, Bryant Temple AME Community Development Corporation in the West Adams, Leimert Park and Baldwin Village Repair Zone,
the Central City Neighborhood Partners in the Westlake Repair Zone, YMCA LA in the Wilmington and Harbor Gateway Repair Zone, Proyecto Pastoral in the Boyle Heights Repair Zone, Creating Justice L.A. in the Skid Row Repair Zone and the El Nido Family Centers in Arleta-Pacoima Repair Zone and Mission Hills, Panorama City and North Hills Repair Zone.
L.A. Civil Rights Executive Director Capri Maddox said that many communities have been shut out from progress and opportunity, and now have the highest rates of poverty, pollution and violence.
“They also happen to be primarily communities of color,” Maddox said. “Peace & Healing Centers are one way we can begin to repair this harm, by working with trusted community partners and creating public spaces for social, economic and environmental healing.”
The Civil + Human Rights and Equity Department will work closely with the Community Investment for Families and the Youth Development department under the new program.
“The new centers will provide an opportunity for our communities to heal from the generational trauma caused by economic hardship and disinvestment,” said Abigail Marquez, general manager of the Community Investment for Families Department. “While we cannot undo the systemic racism that has deeply hurt our communities, especially communities of color, we can address them through intentional work. We believe the impact of this program will create environmental, economic, and social growth.”
“The Youth Development Department is proud to join in the celebration of the City’s first Peace and Healing Centers, a step in the right direction to implement culturally informed programming for our communities and generations that have been harmed through institutional and structural racism,” said Lisa Salazar, executive director of the Youth Development Department. “Through its nine centers, youth in Los Angeles residing in the highest levels of poverty, overcrowded housing and pollution will be supported through an array of services that focus on environmental, social, and economic healing. We are proud to be a partner in sharing these resources and investments for our youth.”