Skid Row in Los Angeles (Source: NY Times)

On February 14, the City of Los Angeles launched a month long “Make the Homeless Count” sock drive in an effort to get an accurate count of the homeless population. Donation drop-off centers are accepting socks of all sizes for men, women and children. On March 30, Census Bureau employees will pass out socks and other necessities at 6 locations around Los Angeles and conduct the homeless count.

Sunday, March 14 is the last day of the month long drive. The following sites are accepting donations:

• LAPD Stations
• Los Angeles City Hall, 3rd Floor, 200 N. Spring St.;
• Los Angeles Convention Center, 1201 S. Figueroa St., with boxes located in South and West Halls
• Coalition of Mental Health Professionals, 9219 S. Broadway
• Watts Labor Community Action Committee-Human Services Department, 10950 South Central Ave.
• Save Our Future, 4103 West Adams Blvd.

For more information, please click here.

Source: Manifest Equality

Yesterday, Manifest Equality launched a 5-day pop-up gallery in the former Big Lots building on Vine Street between Fountain Avenue and De Longepre Ave.

“The MANIFEST EQUALITY Gallery gathers together a diverse array of hundreds of the nation’s most talented visual artists under one roof to celebrate that role and join with our gay (LGBT) friends, family members and co-workers to demand full and equal rights for all Americans.”

The Hollywood Community Studio staff stopped by this afternoon to see the various art exhibits on display.

Some of the features from the outdoor exhibit:

A couple pieces of art from the gallery inside:

Admission is free for everyone.  Some of the art pieces are on sale, and a portion of the proceeds will go to the Courage Campaign.  Donations are gladly accepted.

Last year, Occidental College’s Urban and Environmental Policy Institute collaborated with various community groups to launch the L.A. Bike Summit at the Los Angeles Trade Technical College.  The event attracted an array of people, from bike activists to researchers. Keynote speakers, panel discussions and workshops focused on building a strong bike culture to create healthy, livable communities.

This year, the L.A. Bike Summit has evolved into the L.A. Street Summit to expand the discussion from bikes to streets.  The summit will focus on ideas and ways to create a better public realm for everyone.

On Thursday, March 18 at 7:30 PM,  Janette Sadik-Khan, New York City’s Commissioner of Transportation, will be the guest speaker for the Antoinette & Vincent M. Dungan Lecture on Energy & The Environment at Occidental College.  The lecture will be an excellent intro to the full day of speakers and workshops on Saturday, March 20 from 10:30 AM to 5 PM at the Los Angeles Trade Technical College.  Admission is FREE for everyone!

To register for the event, please click here.

Visit www.lastreetsummit.org for more information.

Download the flyer and spread the word!

Click here to VOTE! Click here for more information!

It’s a volunteer position, and a real gift to work with kids aged 10-14.  You can make a big difference in their lives!  If anyone is interested, please feel free to contact Sandy Leerhuber (Program Director, LACER Afterschool Programs) at (323) 944-9793 or SL@LACERstars.org.  Visit www.LACERstarts.org for more information.

Kodak Theatre - Academy Awards 2009 (source: www.filmofilia.com)

Hollywood is buzzing for the much anticipated Oscar Night® held annually at the Kodak Theatre on Hollywood and Highland.  In preparation for the big event on Sunday, March 7, there will be numerous street closures starting Sunday, February 28.  Bus lines will be rerouted, the Highland off-ramp on the 101 Freeway will be closed, and certain sidewalks will be off limits to the public.  Please plan accordingly and expect traffic delays.

For specific details about the upcoming street closures, visit http://www.navigatehollywood.com/streetclosures.

Hollywood Boulevard and Hudson Avenue

The Hollywood Community Studio will host an AIA|LA Emerging Urban Designers Forum, Public Open Space Charrette, next Wednesday, February 24th from 6 pm to 10 pm.

The discussion will focus on opportunities for public open space in Hollywood. Participants are encouraged to bring their expertise and ideas to the informal, mini charrette.

Charrette Schedule

• 6:30 pm: Site Visit at Hudson and Hollywood
  
  The forum will start off with a site visit at Hudson and Hollywood at 6.30pm. Meeting point will be at the northwestern corner of Hollywood and Hudson in front of the Hillview Apartments. If you cannot make the site visit join us at the Community Studio at 7pm.

• 7 pm: Charrette at the Hollywood Community Studio
  
  The mini-charrette will focus on the opportunity of Hudson Avenue, just off the Walk of Fame, as a small public open space and more broadly on public spaces in Hollywood. Jessica Cowley, from the Community Studio, will talk about the site and the possibility of creative open space development in the area.

  Hollywood Community Studio in the Crossroads of the World Complex
  6671 Sunset Boulevard, #1517
  Los Angeles, CA 90028

• 8:15 pm: The Social @ Stout Burgers and Beer
  Stout Burgers and Beer
  1544 North Cahuenga Blvd
  Los Angeles, CA 90028
  http://stoutburgersandbeers.com/

Please RSVP to Will Wright at will@aialosangeles.org. Space is limited.

For details about the site the group will be focusing on, please click here.

-2/18 at 6pm

-2/20 at 11am

-2/25 at 6pm

-2/27 at 11am

Come give your input at the final community workshop for La Mirada park!

Thursday, February 18th between 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. at the Metro Apartments Community Room located at 1672 Western Avenue.

“The Case Manager will work with individual families to conduct in depth case management “needs assessments” that identifies the needs for each family member and to also remove barriers for the family’s employment, health and overall well-being. The Case Manager will identify resources and services to address those needs. The Case Manager supports the family’s access to services by developing a personalized case plan by working with the family to meet the goals of the case plan. The case manager will also track progress of clients while working with the Family Source Center.”

For more details about the position, please click here.