Cynthia Lezama

LOS ANGELES, CA – This week, a federal judge temporarily allowed the Trump administration’s restrictions on mail-in ballots to take effect. This is not the final word, as the fight to protect the right to vote-by-mail continues, with attorneys general from 24 states – including California – challenging the ruling in court. Trump’s restrictions could still be blocked from moving forward.

Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell shared the following statement:

“Trying to add barriers to voting by mail is more of the same from the Trump administration’s attempts to suppress the voices and votes of the people. We have seen this playbook before, and we will not be discouraged or stop fighting to protect the right to vote—in all its forms.

An insidious part of the Trump playbook is to spread confusion and fear to prevent people from voting at all, regardless of whether his plan is ultimately blocked in court. LA County is committed to doing all we can to ensure that does not happen and that our residents have the facts. We will continue to uphold our responsibility to provide an accessible and fair election process.

Access to fair and open elections is inextricably tied to democracy and must be protected. I want to thank California, along with the 23 other states and countless advocacy organizations, that are not backing down and have said enough. This is a dynamic issue that is rapidly changing, so we will continue to follow it closely. I encourage all residents to do the same: stay informed, know the facts, and vote.”

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LOS ANGELES, CA – Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell, in partnership with Reimagine LA Coalition and Tres Lunas Consulting, today announced a $1.45 million investment to expand the 2nd District Community Budget, Supervisor Mitchell’s landmark participatory budgeting program that gives local residents a direct say in how public funds are invested in their communities. The expansion will allocate $600,000 to Willowbrook and $850,000 to Athens-Westmont.

“I am proud to be expanding our participatory budgeting program to reach more residents in our unincorporated communities. The success from our landmark pilot was a reflection of co-governance at its best and demonstrated what is possible when our residents have a direct say in how their public funds are spent. What became possible was more access to job readiness support and career opportunities, beautification projects, rental assistance to help residents stay housed, and so much more,” said Supervisor Mitchell. “I look forward to applying the lessons learned in this next phase of our Community Budget and continuing to work directly with local residents and our community-based organizations in making this possible.”

Following the successful launch of the 2nd District Community Budget in 2023 — the first-ever participatory budgeting program in Los Angeles County — where a total investment of $1.7 million was allocated to the unincorporated communities of Ladera Heights and Florence-Firestone to fund solutions and programs shaped by the residents who live there; this next phase of the Community Budget is expected to impact the 33,400 Willowbrook residents and 43,200 Athens-Westmont residents who will be encouraged to submit ideas and vote on ways to meet community needs and improve their neighborhoods.

Ways Local Residents & Community Organizations Can Get Involved:

A key component of the participatory budgeting process is the Advisory Committee, which is composed of local residents who help develop and weigh-in on recommendations for initiatives and improvements in their neighborhoods. Those recommendations will ultimately be put to a vote by their fellow residents.

Residents of Willowbrook and Athens-Westmont who are 16 years or older, including seniors, are strongly encouraged to apply to serve on the Advisory Committee. Residents of all identities, regardless of immigration status, gender or sexual identity, or race and ethnicity, are welcome to apply.

Apply at Mitchell.LACounty.gov/CommunityBudget. The application deadline is Friday, September 18, at 11:59 p.m.

Upcoming Information and Application Support Sessions

Residents and community partners interested in learning more about these opportunities are invited to attend upcoming information and application support sessions via Zoom.

Wednesday, September 2 at 6:00 p.m. Register: bit.ly/SD2-Sept-2

Wednesday, September 16 at 6:00 p.m. Register: bit.ly/SD2-Sept-16

These virtual sessions will provide an overview of the Community Budget, walk participants through the application process, and answer questions.

Become a Community Engagement Partner

Local community-based organizations are needed to be Community Engagement Partners. Organizations interested in receiving grant funding to support with community outreach efforts can sign up here to be notified when the Community Engagement Partner application is available.

For more information about the 2nd District Community Budget, visit Mitchell.LACounty.gov/CommunityBudget and follow Supervisor Mitchell on social media for updates at @HollyJMitchell on Instagram or @Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell on Facebook.

 

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LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell’s Freedom Summer Program is back for a second year, and this time at George Washington Carver Park in the unincorporated Willowbrook community. The program offers more than eight weeks of engaging workshops and activities designed to help residents build new skills, explore new experiences, and access healthy foods and other valuable community resources. All programs are free and open to Second District residents.

Supervisor Mitchell’s Freedom Summer Program extends the impact of her annual Juneteenth Celebration and Resource Fair by kicking-off at the event and continuing for over two months, to ensure residents have ongoing access to meaningful resources throughout the summer.

Supervisor Mitchell shared, “Each year, through our Juneteenth celebration, we ask ourselves: What does freedom mean today, and how can we help make it a reality? Freedom is realized when every person has the opportunity to reach their full potential. That’s why we’re investing in programs that nourish minds, strengthen families, open doors to new careers, and connect residents with resources that improve their quality of life.”

A new addition to this year’s Freedom Summer Program is the free Beach Bus, which provides transportation every Saturday at 9 a.m. from Carver Park to Dockweiler Beach through September 5. The Beach Bus departs Dockweiler Beach at 3 p.m. to return to Carver Park, making it easier for families and residents to enjoy Los Angeles County’s coastline and participate in healthy outdoor recreation at no cost.

Freedom Summer Programing includes:

A high energy program blending life skills, academic enrichment, and flag football to help youth learn, grow, and stay active.

Gain full production team experience through hands on training, multimedia classes, community outreach, access to a complete multimedia studio, and youth programming including summer camp opportunities.

A free, hands-on summer STEAM program where young people build confidence, leadership, and real-world skills through technology, creativity, mentorship, and collaborative projects that explore future career pathways.

A script to screen program for ages 12–24 that prepares young people for careers in the entertainment industry. Offered onsite as a cohort, with stipends provided for all participants.

A community popup farmers market providing fresh food access.

Residents can learn more and sign-up for Freedom Summer by visiting: https://mitchell.lacounty.gov/freedom-summer/

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