Chair Pro Tem Solis Awards $1M to Launch Youth Leadership Program in East Los Angeles and San Gabriel Valley
The Dolores Huerta Foundation will work with First District youth, including those impacted by recent wildfires, to provide young people with arts-based learning, mentorship, and training in leading civic engagement efforts in their communities.
Los Angeles, CA (January 24, 2025)– Los Angeles County Supervisor and Chair Pro Tem Hilda L. Solis awarded $1M in First District Community Grants Program funding to the Dolores Huerta Foundation to launch a Youth Leadership and Educational Equity program for young people in the First District, from East Los Angeles to the San Gabriel Valley. The Community Grants Program helps develop and support organizations that meet the diverse needs of First District residents in such key areas as arts, environmental justice, health, housing, immigration, and education.
The Dolores Huerta Foundation organizes at the grassroots level, developing leaders with hands on training to establish Vecinos Unidos (Neighbors United) chapters in some of the most impacted regions in California’s history. The Foundation’s youth program builds on the pivotal role youth play in transforming their communities through peer and parent engagement, including in informing and supporting the passage of crucial legislation in California.
“I am proud to reaffirm my support for the Dolores Huerta Foundation, which advocates for social justice and empowers marginalized communities. The Youth Leadership and Educational Equity program will provide young people with arts-based learning, mentorship and support, and hands-on training in organizing local campaigns,” said Chair Pro Tem Solis. “The funding provided will assist with our vulnerable youth in East Los Angeles and throughout the San Gabriel Valley, especially those recently impacted by the fire, to mobilize and uplift community engagement and partnership, while promoting cultural awareness, and fostering a sense of belonging for our youth. Together, we will empower young people in the First District to become leaders in their communities and create lasting positive change.”
“This program for the San Gabriel Valley and East Los Angeles youth is an investment in the future of these communities,” said Dolores Huerta. “By equipping young people with leadership skills, arts-based learning, and civic engagement training, we empower them to take ownership of their communities, advocate for justice, and create meaningful change that will last for generations.”
The Youth Leadership and Educational Equity program empowers young people by equipping them with the skills and resources needed to lead civic engagement efforts and embody environmental stewardship. The program will support 100 youth, 200 parents, and partner with 5 local community-based organizations serving in the First District, and explore connections to social justice movements across the State of California.
