A Better LA

A Better LA has mobilized the Los Angeles community to make a significant, positive impact on communities in neighborhoods where change and improvement is most needed. A very few organizations have such an impressive record of healing communities and building a bright future for their children and families.

A Better LA brings together people, organizations and resources from neighborhoods in Los Angeles County that have been hardest hit by gang violence. By working from the inside out, they build trust in these communities and effect change with startling success rates. The organization understands that change cannot be made by a quick or easy fix. Instead, A Better LA uses a multifaceted approach, blanketing communities with various effective programs. Here are the ways that A Better LA is at work inside inner city communities:

• Encouraging communication between rival gang members - A partnership with Unity One supports outreach workers, former gang members themselves, to decrease violence by promoting peace and communication between active gang members.
• Building sports teams and reshaping community parks - In partnership with grassroots organizations, government entities and other nonprofits, A Better LA provides various sports activities that engage youth and reclaims public parks from gangs. These programs give communities safe places gather and events to enjoy without fear of violence.
• Providing self-empowerment classes and facilitating community-wide dialogue - Pacific Institute Classes are offered to the community free of charge. These self-empowerment classes are based on cognitive psychology and designed to help participants achieve their visions, goals and objectives.
• Providing professional training for outreach workers and giving support to vital grassroots organizations - A Better LA launched the Professional Community Intervention Specialist Institute that provides comprehensive hands-on exercises and operational procedures to increase the effectiveness of its outreach workers.

"The Summa Children's Foundation was crucial in helping us launch and fund all of these critical programs. The dollars, the credibility and the exposure that Summa gave us took our organization to the next level," said Brian Center, Executive Director of A Better LA.

Through these efforts, A Better LA is improving their communities. "A Better LA is filling an important void in Los Angeles. It is saving lives and having a big impact on LA's approach to violence and the challenges of life in the inner city," stated Brian.

A Better LA's impact can be seen by focusing on these inner-city communities. Shootings at Helen Keller Park have decreased from 4 or 5 per year to zero. In Watts, homicides are down from 20 a year to 8. Assaults in that community went from 287 to 196. And in Baldwin Village, Jefferson Park and throughout South LA, violent crime has decreased and the communities are becoming safer for all residents.

Thanks to money donated by the Summa Children's Foundation, A Better LA will continue this incredible work. Due to the funds contributed by The Summa Children's Foundation and its donors, A Better LA is assured a vital role in healing the inner city communities of Los Angeles.