Youth Development
We have a workforce development program for young adults age 17-25, including case management, part-time work experience, employment readiness and life skills workshops, career-specific educational support, and linkages to construction apprenticeships. We also have a summer jobs program.

Housing and Economic Development
We are developing affordable rental housing to serve homeless and at-risk transition-age youth and other low-income residents of South Los Angeles. We are also working with local merchants to develop a Central Avenue Business Association and promote economic growth.

2007 Program Accomplishments                    

• CRCD received the 2007 CRA Panther Award from the California Reinvestment Coalition for outstanding efforts in youth community development in Los Angeles.
  
  
• In 2007, CRCD’s South Los Angeles Beautification Team removed 4,298,731 square feet of graffiti and disposed of 271 tons of bulky items and trash from commercial and residential streets and alleys in South Los Angeles.
  
  
• In 2007, CRCD collaborated with the Los Angeles Police Department and 8 community partners to reduce graffiti in a South Los Angeles neighborhood with a high concentration of gang activity.  We implemented a Graffiti Free Zone in a 1-square mile area which is home to five gangs.  Within three months, graffiti dropped by 43%.
  
  
• CRCD launched a workforce development program in 2007 to help at-risk and transition-age youth secure living wage jobs with a career path in the construction trades.
  
  
• In partnership with Little Tokyo Service Center, CRCD moved forward with the development of three housing complexes for homeless and at-risk transition-age youth and other low-income residents in South Los Angeles. 
  
  
• CRCD’s 36th Street Apartments became the first project to be funded in the State of California from the Prop 1C Homeless Youth set-aside funds. The 36th Street Apartments will provide 11 units of permanent supportive housing for homeless transition-age youth and former foster youth, and is expected to open in 2009.
  
  
• Starting in September 2007, CRCD conducted outreach with merchants along Central Avenue from Washington to Vernon to assess interest in establishing a Central Avenue Business Association.  More than 40 businesses have been participating.  A business association is now forming, and CRCD helps to facilitate monthly meetings.   These efforts were initiated by the Central Avenue Collaborative, including:  Vivian Bowers of Bowers & Sons Cleaners; Los Angeles City Councilwoman Jan Perry; the Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Los Angeles; Los Angeles Police Department, Newton Area; the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office; Community Development Technologies Center; and CRCD.