GRYD FOUNDATION
1933 S BROADWAY NO 1111, LOS ANGELES, CA 90007 www.grydfoundation.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: THE GRYD FOUNDATION BELIEVES THAT EVERY YOUTH, REGARDLESS OF RACE, GENDER, OR GEOGRAPHY, SHOULD HAVE THE RESOURCES, OPPORTUNITIES, AND SYSTEMS TO GROW UP AND TO LEAD HEALTHY, FULFILLING LIVES. OUR MISSION IS TO CREATE A SAFER, HEALTHIER LOS ANGELES WITH A FOCUS ON HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN HEAVILY IMPACTED BY GANG VIOLENCE AND THAT OFTEN LACK RESOURCES DUE TO RACIAL AND SOCIOECONOMIC INEQUITIES.

THE GRYD FOUNDATION AND MAYOR'S GRYD OFFICE HAVE SUCCESSFULLY MODIFIED SUMMER NIGHT LIGHTS AND FALL FRIDAY NIGHTS PROGRAMMING TO COMPLY WITH COVID-19 PUBLIC HEALTH GUIDELINES WHILE RESPONDING TO THE RELATED ECONOMIC CRISIS. SINCE THE PANDEMIC, GRYD PROGRAMMING HAS TAKEN ON A NEW URGENCY: CONNECTING YOUTH AND FAMILIES TO HEALTHY NUTRITION; STRESS-REDUCING FITNESS AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES; AND MUCH-NEEDED JOBS AND RESOURCES THROUGH SUMMER NIGHT LIGHTS, FALL FRIDAY NIGHTS AND YOUTH SQUAD 360 CASE MANAGEMENT AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES. TOGETHER, THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES AND THE GRYD FOUNDATION OPERATED SUMMER NIGHT LIGHTS, FALL FRIDAY NIGHTS AND YOUTH SQUAD 360 DURING THE PANDEMIC IN ORDER TO PROMOTE PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY, WELLNESS AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IN THE CITY'S HIGH-POVERTY, HIGH-CRIME NEIGHBORHOODS AREAS DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED BY THE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS AND THE ECONOMIC FALLOUT OF THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC. 2020 ACTIVITIES INCLUDED GRAB-AND-GO MEALS, FOOD STAPLES WITH HEALTHY OPTIONS AND FRESH PRODUCE BOXES TO ADDRESS FOOD INSECURITY; HYGIENE KITS; FITNESS AND ARTS ACTIVITY KITS FOR USE AT HOME TO PROMOTE WELLNESS AND STRESS REDUCTION; AND ONLINE WELLNESS, FITNESS, COOKING, ARTS AND EDUCATIONAL SKILLS CLASSES AVAILABLE ON GRYD FOUNDATION YOUTUBE CHANNEL AND SUMMER NIGHT LIGHTS YOUTUBE CHANNEL AND OUR SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS. EACH ACTIVITY KIT CONTAINED SUPPLIES FOR THE WEEK'S ACTIVITY (I.E. ARTS AND CRAFT, FITNESS EQUIPMENT, ONLINE ACCESS INSTRUCTIONS AND SCHEDULE, RESOURCE PAMPHLETS AND EDUCATIONAL MATERIAL.) ADDITIONALLY, BOXED MEALS PROVIDED BY LOCAL RESTAURANTS WERE DISTRIBUTED ALONG WITH NON-PERISHABLE FOOD ITEMS AND FRESH PRODUCE TO CONTINUE SUPPORTING SNL COMMUNITIES WITH ESSENTIAL, TANGIBLE RESOURCES AND TO ADDRESS THE FOOD INSECURITY FACED BY TOO MANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS. SUMMER NIGHT LIGHTS 2020 HIGHLIGHTS: - 66 GRAB & GO EVENTS AT 20 DIFFERENT LOCATIONS (13 RECREATION & PARKS SITES; 5 GRYD CONTRACTED AGENCIES AND 2 CITY FACILITIES)- 6,000 FAMILY FOUR-PACK MEALS SERVED WHICH IS EQUIVALENT TO 24,000 INDIVIDUAL MEALS- 6,000 BAGS OF DRY GOODS/FOOD STAPLES DISTRIBUTED- 6,200 ACTIVITY KITS DISTRIBUTED- 3,700 BOXES OF FRESH PRODUCE DISTRIBUTED- 60+ YOUTUBE VIDEOS- 18 LIVE WORKSHOPS (COOKING DEMONSTRATIONS, ART LESSONS AND SKATEBOARDING CLASSES)- 20 ZOOM & 10 FACEBOOK LIVE WORKSHOPSFALL FRIDAY NIGHTS 2020 HIGHLIGHTS: - 18 GRAB & GO EVENTS- 1,093 FAMILIES REGISTERED- 1,700 BAGS OF DRY GOODS DISTRIBUTED (EQUIVALENT OF 6,800 MEALS AS 1 BAG IS 4 MEALS)- 1,600 BAGS OF FRESH FOOD DISTRIBUTED- 4 FITNESS VIDEOS- 8 ARTS VIDEOS- 8 CULINARY VIDEOSYOUTH SQUAD 360 020 HIGHLIGHTS: YOUTH SQUAD 360 OFFERS YEAR ROUND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TO YOUTH FROM 32 SOCIO-ECONOMICALLY MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES WHO ARE HIRED TO WORK THE SUMMER NIGHT LIGHTS PROGRAM (YOUTH SQUAD.) YOUTH SQUAD 360 PAIRS CURRENT AND FORMER YOUTH SQUAD WITH CARING, SKILLED CASE MANAGERS WHO ACT AS MENTORS AND ROLE MODELS TO SUPPORT YOUTH IN IDENTIFYING AND PURSUING PERSONAL EDUCATIONAL, PROFESSIONAL AND WELLNESS SMART GOALS THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN INDIVIDUALIZED SERVICE STRATEGY (ISS) PLAN. DURING INDEPENDENT FOCUS GROUP EVALUATIONS CONDUCTED BY DR. MARTHA RIVAS, YOUTH SQUAD 360 PARTICIPANTS EXPRESSED THEIR GRATITUDE KNOWING THAT YOUTH SQUAD 360 AND THE GRYD FOUNDATION STAFF WOULD REMAIN AVAILABLE TO SUPPORT THEM THROUGH THE PANDEMIC. DR. RIVAS FOUND THAT YOUTH SQUAD 360 HAS PLAYED A MAJOR ROLE IN SUPPORTING YOUTH TO DEVELOP THEIR PERSONAL GOALS AND ASPIRATIONS. THE LEVEL OF CARE AND CONNECTION TO MEET THE YOUTH AT THEIR INDIVIDUAL LEVEL IS WHAT MAKES YOUTH SQUAD 360 STAND OUT FROM OTHER PROGRAMS. AT THE START OF 2020, ONE OF OUR YOUTH SQUAD 360 PARTICIPANTS JOINED IN MOCK INTERVIEWS WITH OUR STAFF AND WENT ON TO ACE AN INTERVIEW AND SECURE HIS "DREAM" JOB WITH THE CITY. EARLY 2020 ALSO SAW US COME TOGETHER FOR A WORKSHOP TO HELP YOUTH ADDRESS GRIEF IN THE WAKE OF THE SHOCKING DEATHS OF KOBE BRYANT AND GIANNA BRYANT. IN 2020, WE CELEBRATED YOUTH SQUAD 360 GRADUATES: SIX PARTICIPANTS GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL AND CONTINUED ON TO A 4-YEAR UNIVERSITY, THREE PARTICIPANTS GRADUATED FROM COLLEGE AND ARE CURRENTLY PURSUING CAREERS IN THEIR FIELDS, AND ONE PARTICIPANT GRADUATED WITH HER MASTERS IN SOCIAL WORK AND IS ON TRACK TO PROVIDE SERVICES FOR HER COMMUNITY. IN ADDITION, WITH THE SUPPORT OF YOUTH SQUAD 360, THREE PARTICIPANTS RECEIVED THEIR PERMITS, FOUR PARTICIPANTS OBTAINED THEIR DRIVER'S LICENSE, AND SEVEN PARTICIPANTS FOUND EMPLOYMENT, WHILE 4 PARTICIPANTS LANDED INTERNSHIPS.

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