fair fight

Like the poll taxes and literacy tests of the Jim Crow era, modern voter suppression efforts are relentless and effective. Efforts to discourage and disenfranchise voters–in voter registration, ballot access or counting of votes–have a catastrophic effect on our democracy and our communities. Fair Fight is on the front lines of trying to defend our democracy and protect voting and fight voter suppression. They promote fair elections in Georgia and around the country, encourage voter participation in elections and educate voters about elections and their voting rights.  

BLACK LIVES MATTER

John Lewis said, “When you see something that is not right, not fair, not just, you have to speak up. You have to say something; you have to do something.”

Black Lives Matter is fighting a long history of systemic racism and state sponsored violence against black people in our country and here’s how: organizing resistance; giving resources to families impacted by state sponsored violence; engaging, enabling and educating underrepresented voters and fighting voter suppression through their #WhatMatters2020 initiative; and supporting the Breath Act which seeks to reimagine policing, allocate new money to build healthy, sustainable and equitable communities for all people and hold officials accountable.

The Miracle Project

The Miracle Project is a fully inclusive theater, film and expressive arts program focused on building communication, self-esteem, job and social skills for individuals with autism and all abilities – speaking and non-speaking. The Miracle Project aims to create a neurodiverse community where the voices, passions and stories of individuals of all abilities are celebrated, elevated, supported and belong. 

Using groundbreaking and evidence-based methods developed by the founder, Elaine Hall, The Miracle Project focuses on the strengths and abilities inherent in each participant while developing a unique neurodiverse community. Through shared experiences with peers and volunteers, individuals with autism and other disabilities find their voice, develop their talents, and rehearse for life. 

Young Storytellers

Young Storytellers inspires young people to discover the power of their voice. 

Using one-on-one mentorship, under resourced students learn how to write original stories and see them brought to life. Youth who are identified as shy, struggling with writing or English language learners, write a short script with a one-on-one mentor over nine weeks. On the tenth week, they cast and have their script performed by adult actors at a school wide performance called, "The Big Show."

Thanks to thousands of volunteer mentors, actors, and classroom teachers, YS serves more than 60 public schools in Los Angeles, New York City, San Francisco, and Austin, reaching over 3,000 students in elementary, middle, and high school each year. 

As a result, young people learn that their voice matters. 

Film2FuturE

Film2Future empowers underprivileged, at-risk Los Angeles high school students to value and share their creativity through their intensive filmmaking workshops. They bring together industry talent to inspire, teach and mentor kids to help them dream beyond their present circumstances. By making short films, students learn teamwork, leadership skills, and to give a voice to their world.

The program includes healthy meals, the use of a computer, transportation, and upon completion, they pair each student with a mentor who is an industry professional and help them find internships in the student’s field of interest.

They also offer computer skills training, resume writing, college application essay preparation and provide the necessary skills, tools and allies to help steer students towards college or an entry level entertainment position.

Film2Future creates the possibility of a creative career in the film industry for our city's most vulnerable kids while fostering a much needed pathway of diversity in Hollywood.

826LA

826LA builds on the work of dedicated teachers and families to amplify youth voices through writing, helping Los Angeles students thrive creatively and academically. At 826LA's spaces in Mar Vista and Echo Park, and in under-resourced schools throughout Los Angeles, dedicated volunteers provide tools for learning in the form of one-on-one mentorship. Students get to write and publish their own books on field trips, visit our Time Travel Marts (motto "Whenever you are, we're already then"), work on college entrance essays, and attend workshops hosted by volunteers who are experts on film, journalism, comic books, and even Dungeons & Dragons. 

826LA’s programs are whimsical, challenging, enjoyable, and aim to strengthen each student’s power to express ideas in their individual voice.

Bard Prison Initiative

The Bard Prison Initiative (BPI) creates the opportunity for incarcerated men and women to earn a Bard College degree while serving their sentences. The academic standards and workload are rigorous, based on an unusual mix of attention to developmental skills and ambitious college study. The rate of post-release employment among the program’s participants is high and recidivism is stunningly low. By challenging incarcerated men and women with a liberal education, BPI works to redefine the relationship between educational opportunity and criminal justice.

Your donations at the Enough salon, combined with purchases from ArthouseLA 's collection, raised enough money to send three people through Bard Prison Initiative's college program for a year. Your generosity is helping men and women to create a new chapter and a more hopeful story of their lives. 

WriteGirl

WriteGirl makes it possible for girls to know the value and power of their voice. They match girls with professional women writers who mentor them in creative writing. Every year, WriteGirl produces dozens of workshops, panel discussions and special events to help girls get creative, get through high school and get to college!

The Coming Home salon raised money for WriteGirl to sponsor day long workshops, publish books of mentees’ writing and go into schools to mentor girls in the classroom.

Listen to WriteGirl alumni Jeanine Daniels tell how WriteGirl changed her life:

Cheerful Helpers Child and Family Study Center.

 The Firsts salon benefitted Cheerful Helpers Child and Family Study Center, a therapeutic preschool for kids with special needs who are struggling with social and emotional development and delayed language. Teachers’ narration helps kids find words to learn about and express their inner world. Donations helped underwrite the cost of six children attending Cheerful Helpers' language rich summer camp.