Several staff members who were vaccinated shared their experiences with the rest of us at our February Virtual Town Hall. This special meeting focused on the vaccine – we wanted to answer staff questions and clear up confusion and misconceptions. First, we showed this video produced by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health explaining how the vaccine works. Then two doctors from Cedars-Sinai answered staff questions: Dr. Karen Youmbi, Associate Director of the Outpatient Pharmacies, and Dr. Rachel Zabner, who is board-certified in infectious diseases.

       

This Q&A was yet another example of our multi-faceted partnership with Cedars. Cedars has given CII nearly half a million dollars over the last four years, funding everything from mental health services, groceries and Family Flex Funds for parents of children enrolled in our programs to training for CII’s Early Childhood Education staff, Salesforce implementation, our web-based care coordination system, and our Office of Equity. We all learned a lot, and we hope to host something similar for CII families soon.

Minnie Barton was the first woman probation officer in Los Angeles and a fierce advocate of women and children in need. In 1906, she founded Children’s Institute – then called The Big Sister League.

Having moved to LA with her husband in 1905, she was struck by the obstacles facing indigent women who were getting left behind as the city grew. She started volunteering with LAPD, eventually becoming Chief Woman Probation and Parole Officer. She helped women who were discharged from jail to find work, sometimes keeping them in her own home until they had made other arrangements. She appealed to City Council to help; when denied, she founded The Big Sister League, expanding to help women who had come to the city looking for opportunity and had run out of money.

Ultimately, she also operated two homes, the Minnie Barton Home, a halfway in West Adams and the Bide-A-Sweet Home in Boyle Heights for unmarried pregnant women. Later in her life, she established a Valley camp for older women on her private property in what is now Sunland.

Minnie was highly sought-after as a speaker to women’s clubs and community groups. She had three sons of her own and died in 1946. The Big Sister League was renamed Children’s Institute when it moved to New Hampshire Ave in 1980.

A plaque in the Fern Dell picnic area in Griffith Park commemorates Minnie’s life of service. Read more about CII’s remarkable founder here and here.

On February 22, chef, author and CII Trustee Lisa Baker Morgan launched our three-part 2021 Dinner in Paris cooking series, back for an encore after her successful October class. Chef Lisa guided nearly 100 participants through making a delicious cheese soufflé and winter greens citrus salad, teaching culinary tips and tricks along the way with her trademark humor and fun. She put the virtual attendees at ease in creating this potentially intimidating dish and even busted the myth that stomping by your oven deflates your soufflé.

Amelia Ceja and Ceja Vineyards provided Chardonnay and Pinot Noir to complement the meal, and one lucky participant received a MacKenzie-Childs 3-qt. sauté pan generously donated by our event sponsor, Neiman Marcus.

The February class raised $23,000 for CII’s programs. Our next two classes are Monday, April 19 (fish and spring vegetables) and Monday, May 17 (refreshing summer favorites). Both are held 5:00-6:30pm PST via Zoom. Sign up here.

Many thanks to Chef Lisa for generously hosting these classes and to our event sponsors: Sommelier level – Dr. Jennifer Linehan Kutrieh and Tarek Kutrieh, Neiman Marcus; and Friend of CII level – The Kallick Family, Katie and Rick Lewis, Carey and Tim Romer, Martine Singer.

Guadalupe Diaz, Employment Specialist, started at Children’s Institute in June to work with individuals and parents in Watts seeking employment support. While the economic crisis from COVID-19 has hit communities across Los Angeles, it has especially impacted Black and Latino families in South LA. Diaz supports residents who are currently unemployed or want help moving into a more sustainable career. While new to CII, Diaz is a Watts native with experience supporting populations with employment needs.

What are your focus areas when working with clients?

It really depends on the individual as everyone is at a different place in his/her career. Broadly, I help with resume writing, practicing mock interviews and educating job seekers on certifications that may make them stronger candidates. For those with criminally involved backgrounds, I let them know their rights when it comes to hiring.

My main focus is to build self-confidence so candidates believe in themselves. This is a big part of the hiring process and it’s important that they see themselves as hirable and qualified.

Why do you think this work is important?

I think sometimes people get overwhelmed with the employment process. People need somebody to give them encouragement and help finding job openings. It’s not about doing it all for them, but having someone guide the process increases the chances of landing a job.

I also grew up in Watts and believe this is a very special community. In the past, there have been agencies or companies that make promises, but don’t deliver. I want my role to be about following through since CII has the ability to hire. Watts has so much to offer and there are so many amazing people.

What it is about your background that makes you well-suited for this role?

I started as an advocate in sexual assault and moved over to working with domestic violence victims. I then worked with formerly incarcerated individuals who mostly lived in Watts to help them transition back into the community, which included employment support.

The process of finding employment for individuals or parents who are trying to get back into the workforce is similar to working with formerly incarcerated individuals. There are certain tricks and tools that can make a major difference, which is very valuable to people in our communities.

What are the central responsibilities of your role?

I have two projects at CII – the first is working with parents in our Community Schools, which is an initiative where CII supports an entire school or preschool community with services for students, their families, teachers and administrators. I am connected with three schools in Watts where I will be helping parents find employment.

The second project is working to identify local hires for our new Frank Gehry-designed Watts Campus. The site is currently under construction, which means our contractors are hiring for a number of positions like electricians or plumbers. The campus will be part of the community when it is completed so it is important that people from the community be part of its construction. To date, we have hired six individuals from the community to work on the project, and we’re hoping to see that number grow.

What does the process look like?

I meet with candidates to understand what they want when it comes to employment. When I have a good feel for where they want to be and what skills they’ll need to get there, I reach out to potential employers on their behalf. I have existing partnerships with a number of employers so I have access to a network that wouldn’t normally be available to them. If a parent comes to me and says they want to work in a tire shop, I know a number of tire shops owners in the area and understand what they are usually looking for in candidates.

As I mentioned, I then prepare them for applying and a potential interview. This includes making sure they have professional clothes for an interview or work boots if they get hired for the Watts Campus construction.

And once they find employment and get hired, I follow up with them to see how things are going. This relationship doesn’t stop once someone gets a job. We want them to succeed in that career.

How do you support someone who contacts you for employment support, but may benefit from other CII services?

I will connect them to the appropriate CII program depending on where they need assistance. If it is a father wanting support with parenting, then I will connect him with the Project Fatherhood. If a client is seeking counseling then I refer them to our counseling department. When an individual shares with me that they are in need of an essential item like diapers, we make arrangements for the client to obtain those items from one of our sites.

Are there any success stories you would like to share?

A long-time Watts resident named Raymond had been on our list of local hires. He was a strong candidate who showed great determination, persistence and consistency so he was hired as a supervisor’s assistant for our Frank Gehry-designed Watts Campus. Since working onsite for more than a month, Raymond said he is happy and grateful to have this opportunity. He has a very positive outlook and reports to work every day with an attitude of giving his best.

Melisa Morgan, Early Childhood Services Manager, has spent seven years at Children’s Institute helping to improve the quality of early education services for families living in high-poverty communities of Los Angeles. In March, the COVID-19 pandemic swept through South LA and devastated families who were already struggling financially. Morgan saw the impact firsthand and decided to mobilize friends and family to raise life-saving funds.

To date, Morgan and her network have brought in $20,500 for CII’s COVID-19 Relief Fund. The money raised has gone directly to purchasing food and other essential supplies like diapers and formula, along with rent relief for families whose household income disappeared in the spring.

“Partnership and relationships are important to me so when the pandemic started, I wanted to use those relationships to advocate for our CII families,” Morgan said.

The money came in through a combination of members at Morgan’s church, Oasis LA, and her immediate family. Oasis LA, located in Koreatown, previously supported CII by helping Morgan enroll families in CII services and send volunteer groups to clean up and beautify CII sites.

Jennifer Perkins, Community Relations Director at Oasis LA and a close friend of Morgan, said the church’s pastors, Julian and Christina Lowe, believe in CII’s mission and wanted to take an active role to support families. The church selected CII to be one of 10 organizations they supported through a fundraising campaign called Healing Los Angeles. Members at Oasis LA brought in $10,000 in the first two weeks and an additional $3,500 over the following two weeks for CII.

Melisa Morgan and Jennifer Perkins doing outreach in 2016 to enroll families in CII’s Early Childhood Education programs.

“We decided the best thing we could do is support everyone financially,” Perkins said. “There are essential organizations on the front lines trying to fill a gap exacerbated by COVID-19, and we wanted to make sure they are supported because people in the community are so dependent on these resources.”

Morgan also found success enlisting her mom, Joline Morgan. Though she lives a thousand miles away in Washington state, she was compelled to donate as she heard stories from her daughter about the unique challenges families in South LA were facing. Joline Morgan pledged to donate $1,000 to CII each month until the pandemic ended.

“I envy Melisa because I would give anything to spend my life doing what she is doing,” Joline Morgan said. “She truly cares about and wants to make a difference in the lives of children and families.”

For Melisa Morgan, she sees her efforts aligning with national conversations around social justice and equity. Reports have shown that the heaviest economic impact of the outbreak has been within Black and Latino households. A recent survey showed 52% of Black and 71% of Latino households in LA reported “serious financial problems,” compared with 37% of white households. In a recent survey of 1,000 families in CII’s early education programs, more than 40% reported a loss or employment or a reduction in hours.

“A lot of my faith is guided by justice-minded solutions so whatever I can do to help people and bring more equity, I am going to try and do” she said. “My personal values are also reflected in CII’s values so this work really makes everything come together.”

Make a donation to families impacted by COVID-19 here.

 

“The right to vote is precious, almost sacred. It is the most powerful nonviolent tool or instrument in a democratic society. We must use it.” -Congressman John Lewis

To access your sample ballot based on the address you are registered to vote, please visit Ballotpedia here. 

Seat Elections

In addition to the presidential elections, there are multiple seats to consider based on your congressional, state, and local districts.

National: President, U.S. House of Representatives, U.S. House (select congressional districts)

State: State Senate, State Assembly

Local: District Attorney, Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education, Superior Court of LA County, County Board of Supervisors

Statewide Ballot Measures

There are 12 statewide ballot measures and one Los Angeles County measure on the 2020 ballot. Items to consider range from criminal justice, employment classification for app-based transportation, and rent control. For more information on all statewide ballot measures, please visit the California Secretary of State website here. Below is a brief overview of select statewide propositions:

Proposition 15 – Schools and Communities First Initiative

Increases funding for K-12 public schools, community colleges, and local governments by requiring that commercial and industrial real property be taxed based on current market value (with exemptions). Estimates net increase in annual property tax revenues of $7.5 billion to $12 billion in most years, depending on the strength of real estate markets; $6.5 billion to $11.5 billion would be allocated to schools (40 percent) and other local governments (60 percent).

Proposition 16/ACA 5  – Affirmative Action in Government & Public Positions

Overturns existing legislation (Proposition 209) and allow for government and public institutions to consider “persons on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin” in public employment, public education, and public contracting.

Proposition 17/ACA 6 – Free the Vote Act

Restores voting rights to over 50,000 Californians after release from prison, who are currently unable to vote in any local, state or federal elections despite working, paying taxes and raising families in California. Currently 19 other states and Washington, D.C, automatically restore voting rights upon release from prison or have no felony disenfranchisement whatsoever.

Proposition 18/ACA4 – Voting Age

Authorizes a United States citizen who is 17 years of age, is a resident of the state, and will be at least 18 years of age at the time of the next general election to vote in any primary or special election. Currently at least 19 other states and Washington D.C. allow 17-year-olds who would be eligible for the next general election to vote early.

Disclaimer: As a 501c3 organization, Children’s Institute is prohibited by federal tax law from supporting or opposing candidates for public office or telling people how to vote, directly or indirectly. This document is solely educational and to encourage your civic engagement.

Para español, por favor recorra hacia abajo.

Due to COVID-19, many voters will vote by mail – some for the first time. For those who plan to vote in person, the experience will likely be quite different from the past. And for first time voters, or those who haven’t voted since the 2016 election, there’s lots of new information to consider before casting your vote. Below are answers to common questions.

Registration

In Los Angeles County, you can register to vote online before Oct. 19 by visiting here. To register online, you will need (1) your California driver license or California identification card number, (2) the last four digits of your social security number, and (3) your date of birth.

Voter Registration and Voting is Offered in Multiple Languages

Los Angeles County offers election materials in 10 different languages, including Spanish, Korean and Chinese.

Voting Safely By Mail

Due to COVID-19, all registered voters in Los Angeles County will have a ballot mailed to them starting on Oct. 5. If you are a first time mail-in voter or you recently moved, it is important that you confirm your registered address before ballots are mailed. You can check your Los Angeles County voting information here. Click here if you are registered to vote in a different county.

Additionally, if you’re worried about voting by mail, multiple studies have shown that it is safe, reliable and trustworthy. For more information on voting security, click here.

Voting Early

Because there may be delays with the US mail, voters should cast their ballot as early as possible; all registered voters will receive a ballot and prepaid return envelope 29 days before the Nov. 3 election. Please fill out your ballot as soon as possible and either mail it or drop it off at one of 300 official drop boxes in Los Angeles County. Click here for more information on ballot drop boxes.

You can sign up here for email and SMS text notifications if you’d like to know when your ballot was mailed.

Watch Out for These Common Mail-in Ballot Mistakes

Please read all of the instructions carefully before filling out your ballot, because incorrectly filled out ballots can cause delays. Just as important, you must sign the return envelope. The signature should match what is on your voter registration, so take your time when signing.

Voting While Experiencing Homelessness

If you are experiencing homelessness, you are still eligible to register and vote by mail. When registering to vote, select “I do not have a street address.” Voters can list cross streets and county instead of a residential address; these are used to assign you a precinct.

Voting In-Person

If you vote in person, Los Angeles County has taken a number of steps to ensure voting locations are safe and prevent the spread of COVID-19. You can find the location of your neighborhood voting center 30 to 40 days before the election here. Expect to wear a mask and practice social distancing.

Same Day (Conditional) Voter Registration

People who miss the 15-day voter registration deadline may conditionally register to vote and cast a provisional ballot by visiting a county elections office, a vote center or a designated satellite location up to and including Election Day. Visit here for more information on same day voter registration.

If You Legally Changed Your Name

If you have legally changed your name, you must re-register to vote so that your voter record reflects your current name. The Secretary of State recommends that before you update your voter record with your current name, you first update your California driver license or identification card with DMV.

Starting Your Own Voter Registration Drive

If you would like to increase the number of eligible voters in your neighborhood, click here for rules on conducting voter registration drives in Los Angeles County.

Spread the Word!

It is important to make sure your friends and family are also prepared to vote. Connect with people in your network to double-check that they are registered to vote, and make sure they know all the helpful tips for voting by mail or in-person.

Una Guía para Votar en las Elecciones de 2020

Debido a COVID-19, muchos votantes votarán por correo, algunos por primera vez. Para aquellos que planean votar en persona, la experiencia probablemente será bastante diferente a la del pasado. Y para quienes votan por primera vez, o aquellos que no han votado desde las elecciones de 2016, hay mucha información nueva que considerar antes de emitir su voto. A continuación, encontrará respuestas a preguntas comunes.

Registración

En el condado de Los Ángeles, puede registrarse para votar en línea antes del 19 de octubre visitando aquí. Para registrarse en línea, necesitará (1) su licencia de conducir de California o el número de tarjeta de identificación de California, (2) los últimos cuatro dígitos de su número de seguro social y (3) su fecha de nacimiento.

Registración de Votantes y la Votación se Ofrecen en Varios Idiomas

El condado de Los Ángeles ofrece materiales electorales en 10 idiomas diferentes, incluidos español, coreano y chino.

Votando Seguramente por Correo

Debido a COVID-19, todos los votantes registrados en el condado de Los Ángeles recibirán una boleta por correo a partir del 5 de octubre. Si es la primera vez que vota por correo o se mudó recientemente, es importante que confirme su dirección registrada antes de que se envíen las boletas. Puede consultar la información de votación del condado de Los Ángeles aquí. Oprima aquí sí está registrado para votar en un condado diferente.

Además, si le preocupa votar por correo, varios estudios han demostrado que es seguro, confiable y confiable. Para obtener más información sobre la seguridad del voto, oprima aquí.

Votando Temprano

Debido a las demoras con el correo, votantes deben emitir su voto lo antes posible; todos los votantes registrados recibirán una boleta y un sobre de retorno prepago 29 días antes de las elecciones del 3 de noviembre. Llene su boleta lo antes posible y envíela por correo o déjela en uno de los 300 buzones oficiales del condado de Los Ángeles. Oprima aquí para obtener más información sobre las casillas de votación.

Puede registrarse aquí para recibir notificaciones de texto y por correo electrónico si desea saber cuándo se le envió su boleta por correo.

Tenga Cuidado con Estos Errores Comunes en las Boletas Electorales por Correo

Lea atentamente todas las instrucciones antes de completar su boleta, ya que las boletas llenas incorrectamente pueden causar demoras. Igual de importante, debe firmar el sobre de retorno. La firma debe coincidir con el nombre en su registro de votante, así que tómese su tiempo al firmar.

Votando Mientras Vive Sin Hogar

Si se encuentra sin hogar, aún es elegible para registrarse y votar por correo. Al registrarse para votar, seleccione “No tengo una dirección.” Los votantes pueden incluir calles cruzadas y condado en lugar de una dirección residencial; estos se utilizan para asignarle un recinto.

Votando en Persona

Si vota en persona, el condado de Los Ángeles ha tomado una serie de medidas para garantizar que los lugares de votación sean seguros y evitar la propagación del COVID-19. Puede encontrar la ubicación del centro de votación de su vecindario entre 30 y 40 días antes de las elecciones aquí. Espere usar una máscara y practicar el distanciamiento social.

Registración de Votante del Mismo Día (Condicional)

Las personas que no cumplan con la fecha límite de 15 días de registración pueden registrarse condicionalmente para votar visitando una oficina electoral del condado, un centro de votación o un lugar satélite designado hasta el día de las elecciones inclusive. Visite aquí para obtener más información sobre la registración de votante del mismo día.

Si Legalmente Cambia Su Nombre

Si ha cambiado su nombre legalmente, debe volver a registrarse para votar de modo que su registro de votante refleje su nombre actual. El Secretario de Estado recomienda que antes de actualizar su registro de votante con su nombre actual, primero actualice su licencia de conducir o tarjeta de identificación de California con el DMV.

Inicie Su Propia Campaña de Registración de Votantes

Si desea aumentar la cantidad de votantes elegibles en su vecindario, oprima aquí para conocer las reglas sobre cómo realizar campañas de registro de votantes en el condado de Los Ángeles.

¡Difunda la Palabra!

Es importante asegurarse de que sus amigos y familiares también estén preparados para votar. Conéctese con personas de su red para verificar que estén registradas para votar y asegúrese de que conozcan todos los consejos útiles para votar por correo o en persona.

In June 2020, Children’s Institute launched its Office of Equity (OOE) to ensure the organization’s mission-driven work serving families in Los Angeles is delivered with an unwavering commitment to anti-racism and social justice. Equity is one of CII’s four core values and the newly formed OOE will support the entire agency by providing planning, ongoing training and accountability.

Amina Jones Fields, Vice President of Research, Evaluation and Reporting, oversees OOE and reports directly to CII’s President & CEO Martine Singer on these matters. Fields was selected in early 2020 to lead CII’s initiatives around Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI). As national unrest and protests grew in May and June in response to the murder of George Floyd, Singer requested a more urgent response and the OOE was created to elevate the scope and impact of this work.

The children and family members served through CII’s programs have experienced intergenerational poverty and trauma, perpetuated by long-standing racist systems and policies. To successfully support the needs of marginalized children and families, OOE will facilitate training for staff to confront their own experiences with racism, and will identify racial biases that have persisted in systems that provide care to communities of color.

Fields said OOE will work on parallel tracks to support both individual learning and development around equity and organizationally to establish an EDI culture. OOE will involve administrative and program staff at all levels to capture different perspectives and shape CII’s work.

“Systemic racism and inequity are the root of the health, safety and economic challenges that impact the families we serve at CII,” Fields said. “To achieve CII’s mission, we must have an organizational focus on equity.”

Singer said OOE will make recommendations directly to the executive leadership team, which ensures this work is a high priority.

“I can’t think of a better time in this country’s history to be launching this initiative,” Singer said. “Amina’s vision and the team she is pulling together will be transformative for our organization.”

Joining Fields to lead OOE is Simona Brown, Human Resources Manager, Terry Kim, Director of Government Relations & Advocacy, and Dr. Jacqueline Atkins, Vice President of Strengthening Families. Fields said that when OOE was announced internally, more than two dozen staff members reached out to get involved.

Brown will ensure CII’s talent strategy, which includes hiring and staff retention, aligns with the overall goals of OOE. In the last couple of weeks, OOE brought in renowned diversity trainer Tiana Sanchez to facilitate multiple small group sessions on race and equity. OOE is launching an anti-racism resource portal for staff education and will have more interactive events throughout the fall and winter.

“I want people to know that for us to achieve the goals of this initiative, this work needs to be owned by everybody,” Brown said. “It’s everybody’s job and everybody’s responsibility.”

For Kim, who came to CII with a passion to engage in racial equity through public policy and government advocacy, OOE is about linking individual staff and program goals with overall agency goals on equity and justice.

“Systemic change cannot happen without confronting structural racism and historical inequities that the families served by CII experience every day,” Kim said. “As an organization we have to centralize racial equity and justice in all that we do.

Please email equity@childrensinstitute.org to learn more about partnership opportunities with OOE.