Executive Summary

Ramona Gardens in Boyle Heights, Los Angeles is impacted by poverty, limited educational/economic opportunity, violence/trauma from gang activity and over-policing, and historic disinvestment and disenfranchisement– conditions hindering young people from reaching their fullest potential. Founded in 2007 by Ramona Gardens resident Maria Lou Calanche, LegacyLA empowers neighborhood youth and residents to transform their lives and community. We are community-led and community-driven, with a 16-year track record of positive impact addressing residents’ founding vision–high school completion and college opportunities for all youth–while evolving to meet emerging community needs. Today, LegacyLA offers a full suite of programs for youth, families, and community members aimed at increasing educational/economic opportunity and building youth power to improve Boyle Heights. LegacyLA engages youth ages 10-25 who are at-risk of gang-joining, struggling academically, out-of-school, out-of-work, justice-involved, or first-generation college students. We offer long-term, holistic supports–from middle school through college–to help youth overcome academic, social, financial, and systemic barriers to success, and we empower youth with leadership skills to change the systems/policies impacting their lives. Services include: intergenerational leadership-building and organizing, case management, mentoring, tutoring/academic support, college/career readiness, financial assistance, multicultural enrichment, mental health services, referrals, family/community supports. Annually, programs reach 350+ youth, families, and community members. Over 95% of youth participants graduate high school on-time, 98% go on to college, and 93% persist toward a degree. Our leadership programs and youth-led campaigns have also achieved significant policy wins that are transforming Boyle Heights into a community where youth can thrive.

Organizations may provide budget and employee data based on this proposal or the organization as a whole. For more information on this proposal or organization, please email us.