Youth Development
CRCD is the lead agency in the Vernon-Central Workforce Development Network, which is a neighborhood-based collaborative of four nonprofits working together to tackle youth unemployment. Network partners provide comprehensive workforce development to 60 young people annually (age 17-25) with occupational training in construction, computers/wireless technology, and environmental conservation. CRCD also offers a Summer Youth Employment Program for local youth and young adults, and serves as the lead agency for the new South LA YouthBuild Program in partnership with Los Angeles Trade Technical College.

Housing and Economic Development
CRCD develops affordable rental housing with on-site supportive services for transition-age youth (18-25), such as homeless youth and foster youth, as well as other low-income residents in South Los Angeles. CRCD also works with small businesses along historic Central Avenue to promote business attraction, retention, and growth.

2008 Program Accomplishments                    

• CRCD was honored to receive the 2008 MetLife Foundation Community-Police Partnership Award.  This award recognizes the collaborative efforts of CRCD, the Los Angeles Police Department, the City Attorney, local block clubs, and other community partners to reduce graffiti and improve public safety in the Vernon-Central neighborhood of South Los Angeles.  Nationwide, 500 organizations applied for this award; 11 were selected.

Neighborhood & Community Beautification

• CRCD’s South Los Angeles Beautification Team (SLABT) continued its contracts for a third year with the City of Los Angeles Board of Public Works and the Community Redevelopment Agency to provide graffiti removal, alley clean-ups, bulky item pick-up, business corridor maintenance, and street maintenance in a 15 square-mile target area in South Los Angeles.  The target area represents the southern portion of Los Angeles City Council District 9 (south of Washington Boulevard).  The target area includes a city-designated Redevelopment Project Area and a 208-acre industrial brownfield site identified for clean-up and revitalization.  In an area with more than 55 gangs, CRCD’s work is critical for promoting public safety, civic pride, and economic revitalization.
  
  
• CRCD’s SLABT removed 4.3 million square feet of graffiti (equal to the size of 76 football fields); picked up and disposed of 853 tons of bulky items from streets and alleys; and collected 13,995 bags of trash during alley clean-ups and street maintenance.  Street maintenance includes power-washing and steam-cleaning of public sidewalks and emptying public trash receptacles.
  
  
• CRCD’s SLABT provided set-up, clean-up, and security at more than 10 community events such as the Environmental Fair, Bolero Festival, L.A.U.R.A. Event, National Night Out, block club clean-ups, and the weekly Central Avenue Farmer’s Market.  SLABT worked with four partner organizations to coordinate the 13th annual Central Avenue Jazz Festival, which attracted more than 5,000 people to celebrate Central Avenue's vital role in jazz history.

Youth Development

• 28 young people enrolled in CRCD’s Workforce Development Program, which serves low-income young people ages 17-25 who reside in South Los Angeles and have multiple barriers to employment such as: lack of a high school diploma or GED; history of gang affiliation; involvement with the justice system; history of foster care; or lack of stable housing.  The program provides case management; employment readiness, life skills, and leadership training; work experience with CRCD’s South Los Angeles Beautification Team; placement in employment, training, and education programs; and job retention and follow-up services.  Among the 28 enrollees, the program results were:
  • 23 young people completed work readiness, life skills, and leadership training;
  • 23 completed on-the-job training and work experience with CRCD’s South Los Angeles Beautification Team, increasing their incomes by $300-500/month. 
  • 3 obtained a high school diploma.
  • 12 were placed at Los Angeles Trade Technical College to improve basic skills, GED preparation, and/or occupational skills training, such as the Utilities & Construction Preparation Program.
  • 8 were placed in a pre-apprenticeship program or employment with starting wages of $8.50-$12.50/hour, increasing their incomes by an average of 200%.  For example, one young person obtained a job with the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation & Parks; and one completed Los Angeles Unified School District’s 10-week WeBuild Construction Pre-apprenticeship Program.

• CRCD and its nonprofit partner Little Tokyo Service Center continued to move forward with the 36th Street Apartments and Broadway Apartments.  These projects will provide 11 and 16 units, respectively, of affordable rental housing for transition-age youth and other low-income households, with completion expected in March 2010. CRCD and Little Tokyo Service Center also moved forward with the Normandie Apartments, which will provide 20 units of affordable rental housing for transition-age youth and other low-income households.  Completion is expected in March 2011. 
  
  
• CRCD identified two new project sites:  1) Historic 28th Street YMCA – This partnership with Clifford Beers Housing will provide 50 units of affordable rental housing for low-income households including 15 units for transition-age youth; 2) 52nd/Figueroa Apartments – This partnership with Little Tokyo Service Center and the South Central Health and Rehabilitation Program will provide 20 units of affordable rental housing for low-income adults with mental illness.
• CRCD continued to coordinate monthly meetings of the Central Avenue Business Association (CABA), which was established in 2007.  In August, CABA hosted the 2nd annual Small Business Resource Expo at the L.A. Mart, with more than 50 merchants and vendors attending.  In October, CABA elected its first Leadership Council; leaders will serve as block captains for merchants on their blocks.  In November, CABA and Los Angeles City Councilwoman Jan Perry hosted a Holiday Lighting Ceremony on Central Avenue.  CABA successfully advocated to the City to have decorative holiday street lights extend further north on historic Central Avenue to Washington Boulevard for the first time.  CABA also had successful coupon programs in the summer and winter months.