Brand New City - Los Angeles

07/13/2024

friends,

This year, which much hesitance, I was going to pass on organizing a freedom school and focus on finishing my teaching credentials and master's degree (which I'm so close to, despite my commencement ceremony), but I could not in good conscious reap the benefits of how much my community poured into me to get where I am at. Specially after parents and their children found ways to get me out of my FB hiatus and overall focus on my studies.

This week we read Ella Baker's story, on how we must "lift as we climb", and I was reminded of WHY we do it.

I reached out to my community, and YOU ALL LIFTED. Some of you I haven't talked to you since high school, and some of you are literal bloodline. My village permeates time and kinship! God is good.

I would love to recognize the kind souls who made our field trip to the LA Central Library possible. With your generous donations, we were able to feed all scholars breakfast and a nutritious Chik Fil' A!

Avelina Kim Graciela Ortiz Raymond John Carranza Abalos Liliana Gama God is with you!

We faced a few challenges in that not all of our scholars (40) could make it due to limited transportation.

Despite that, a success was that scholars learned how to work as a team. As a collective, we decided to go to field trips in rotations, so next week a few more scholars will go to the Central LA Library or LA Law Library, since the other scholars are older middle and high school ages. Another success is that NO one had to facilitate or even ask the scholars to read. They literally got right to it. Going to places like the LA Central LA Library does help you fall in love with learning.

We are accepting donations all summer to continue providing our community with access to literacy, math, and field trips!

You can DM me to donate directly or via GoFundMe

https://gofund.me/7ade9ab6

There are also many ways to get involved. Lets pull together! Harambee, Harambee, Harambee!!!

07/12/2024

Freedom School DAY 3 & 4 CALL TO ACTION: WE NEED VANS!

07/10/2024

friends, please share & if you have capacity, donate!

Despite the challenges, a group of high school and college-aged youth have been organizing to bring literacy, food, science, mathematics, art and healing to their fellow youth. Armed with education and non-violent direct actions, freedom school empowers scholars to make a difference in ourselves, our community, our country, and our world through hope, love and action.

Kind hearts like yours allow low-income communities to have access some may not be able to afford. Your support is truly appreciated.

https://gofund.me/1f96e509

07/09/2024

CALL TO ACTION for Freedom School Week 1 Day 2: We need rides!

Tomorrow (7/9), we have about 5-8 youth who need a ride from South Central LA to Boyle Heights Youth Tech Center for a job orientation so they can get paid for their VERY important role as Youth Educators! Even if you can fit three Youth, that's very helpful. Meet us at the 5416 Long Beach 90058 Ave at 3pm. Their orientation starts at 4pm.

THANK YOU to those who hit me up bout food. We are accepting snacks such as fruit (oranges, bananas, apples, grapes, etc) and other healthy stuff we can keep in fridges or out.

Keep emailing our good friend Kenneth Mejia to ensure YOUTH JOBS are on top of his to do list as the elected City Controller in charge of ensuring the funds are effectively spent and tracked.

God is SO Good.

07/05/2024

FRIENDS, PLEASE HELP ME SEND THESE EMAILS TO THESE FOLKS. WE HELPED ELECT Kenneth Mejia (AND WE HOPE HE WILL BE RE-ELECTED), BUT WE NEED HIM TO RESPONDTO TEXTS AND EMAILS FIRST- & EXPEDITE FUNDING FOR THE YOUTH.

[email protected] - General Manager for Workforce Development - She runs the department in charge of managing the funds for the Hire LA youth program.

[email protected] - LA City Controller - He oversees LA's Money- He's the City Accountant and ran on Accountability last time he asked for our support.

Dear Ms. Hull & Mr. Mejia

I hope you are well. My name is ___ and I am supporting youth in the South Central Community to access jobs via the Hire LA program. Youth Job Centers are communicating to youth they'd hear back from them three 2-3 weeks later to process their hiring documents as they have yet to receive their funding for this fiscal year. While some of the centers have been very welcoming and helpful, it is evident the funding is out of their control. The youth have been knocking on our community centers for weeks since school's been out June 12th. We're onto the new fiscal year, the youth are almost a month out of school, and there are no signs of youth getting employed.

Is there a way we can expedite these resources so that youth in at-risk communities get needed jobs as soon as possible? For many in our community- these resources are literal life or death-- as keeping them busy avoids them getting into trouble. I am afraid these resources are not getting the attention they deserve as it is for poor Black and Brown Children.

Respectfully and with much hope and gratitude,

07/06/2021

NOTICIAS PUBLICA

SUR CENTRO LOS ANGELES- En Julio, 4, 2021 el Ayuntamiento Vecinal Central Alameda voto Unánimemente para DEMANDAR: $ 900,110,000 en alivio financiero inmediato, remedios y servicios para sobrevivientes del Departamento de Policía de Los Ángeles Comportamiento imprudente, peligroso e ilegal explosión de fuegos artificiales orquestado el 30 de junio de 2021 en el Sur Centro de Los Ángeles

SUR CENTRO LOS ANGELES- En Julio, 4, 2021 el Ayuntamiento Vecinal Central Alameda voto Unánimemente para DEMANDAR: $ 900,110,000 en alivio financiero inmediato, remedios y servicios para sobrevivientes del Departamento de Policía de Los Ángeles Comportamiento imprudente, peligroso e ilegal explosión de fuegos artificiales orquestado el 30 de junio de 2021 en el Sur Centro de Los Ángeles

10/14/2020

10/13/2020

Meet Cory Butler candidate running for LA community college board of trustees.

“ I had crossed the line. I was Free; but there was no one to welcome me to the land of freedom. I was a stranger in a strange land. “
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- Harriet Tubman

Growing up in the Pueblo Del Rio projects I was restricted to the 4 walls that surrounded our homes from enemy gangs that were literally across the street in every direction. I did not feel the freedom my ancestors like Harriet Tubman felt.

With the support of my mother and family I overcame those barriers when I graduated from LACCD after attending three of their campuses across the city. I transferred to the University of Utah where I earned my Bachelor’s Degree in family and child studies. Only then did I understand I could have more than the biggest drug dealers and not have to risk my life for it. Like Harriet Tubman I achieved freedom by going through the Junior College process and graduating from University of Utah.

Education liberated me
Education liberated my mind. I also felt her pain being the only one in my community to be free. Every second of my day I’m taking every step possible to make sure our kids feel that same freedom. I have created and operated youth athletic, literacy, and mentoring programs. I have not done so by myself. It took a village to reach where we have come. It will take a village to reach all of our kids who have yet to enroll in our community colleges.
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It will also take a village to become your next Los Angeles Community College District Trustee for Seat #7. I am humbly asking for your support to help craft our kids college experience.

https://laforbutler.com/meet-cory