Five Westside Nonprofits to Support in 2022

After organizing a large-scale mutual aid response in 2020-2021, below are five incredible organizations I worked with directly through that effort.

These organizations continue to go above and beyond in supporting neighbors on the westside of LA, also known as my corner of the universe.

1. Westside Pacific Villages connects neighbors with neighbors to share skills, expertise, and support for each other, creating new possibilities as we age so we can all continue to live active, healthy, engaged lives in our communities, homes, and neighborhoods that we have grown to love. WPV coordinates the efforts of its volunteers to provide many benefits including: transportation, help around the house, companionship, social activities and wellness programs. This work inspires a spirit of collaboration and helps people, especially older adults, maintain their connections to the larger community.

2. Allies for Every Child exists to give at-risk children and children living in poverty the foundation they need to increase their life choices and lead fulfilling lives. For over 25 years, Allies has been providing thousands of at-risk children and their families with critical, high-quality early education programs (including comprehensive Early Head Start services), family strengthening interventions, mental health treatment, foster care and adoption services, and a range of vital, integrated services, including educational assessments, disabilities screenings, nutrition, dental and vision screenings, and pediatric health consultations.

3. People Organizing for Westside Renewal (POWER) is a membership-based community organizing group. They employ a community organizing strategy based on relationship building and direct action to create meaningful change in the neighborhoods where they work. POWER develops lifelong leaders, fights for economic justice on a local and national level, and brings together residents of low-income communities, people of color, women, senior citizens, and immigrants to work together for their collective benefit.

4. Westside Food Bank works to end hunger in our communities by providing access to free nutritious food through food acquisition and distribution, and by engaging the community and advocating for a strong food assistance network.

5. Westside Coalition is an alliance of 70 organizations, public agencies and faith communities committed to working collaboratively on issues of housing, hunger and health through service coordination, public education and advocacy.

Do you recommend any others to add to the list? Please reach out and let me know which organizations you are supporting in the area.