Smithsonian Latino Center Young Ambassadors Program

The Smithsonian Latino Center is now accepting applications for the 2011 Young Ambassadors Program. The Young Ambassadors Program is a national, interdisciplinary leadership development program for high school seniors. The mission of the program is to foster the next generation of Latino leaders in the arts, sciences, and humanities via the Smithsonian Institution and its resources.

Selected students will travel to Washington, D.C. for a week-long, leadership development seminar at the Smithsonian Institution. Following the training seminar, students participate in a four-week interdisciplinary education internship in museums and other cultural institutions in their local communities, including Smithsonian-affiliated organizations.

The program includes meals and accommodations for the duration of the one-week training seminar, round-trip travel costs to Washington, and a program stipend. Participants are responsible for all expenses during the four-week internship, including transportation, accommodations, and meals. Upon completion of the five-week program, participants will receive a $2,000 program stipend toward their higher education.

The deadline to apply is Friday, April 8, 2011. Contact Emily Key, Education Programs Manager, at 202-633-1268 or slceducation@si.edu with any questions.

Be a part of SurveyLA!

Survey LA is coming to Council District 13 neighborhoods and you can be a part of this historic effort. The City of Los Angeles’ Office of Historic Resources will host a SurveyLA Community Meeting on Thursday, February 17, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Neutra VDL House (2300 Silver Lake Boulevard).

This is the second year of the field survey effort, which includes the communities of Echo Park, Elysian Valley, Silver Lake, and the Westlake District.

To RSVP or for more information, please contact Bryan Fahrbach, Outreach Consultant at Historic Resources Group, at bryan@historicla.com or 626-793-2400.

Help Support 826LA

826LA will be holding a fundraiser featuring Conspiracy of Beard, a 20 member a capella group, on Saturday, March 5, at 3:00 p.m.

With a location in Echo Park on Sunset Boulevard, 826LA provides many Council District 13 students with homework help and a place to explore their creativity through the written word. The organization's volunteers and staff provide after-school tutoring, evening and weekend workshops, in-school tutoring, field trips, help for English language learners, and assistance with student publications.

The event will be held at the Echoplex (1154 Glendale Boulevard), and a donation of $10 for adults and $5 for children is suggested.

Upcoming Homeboy Industries Art Show

On Saturday, March 19, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. Homeboy Industries will host the opening reception for their new art project, Exit Wounds.

Exit Wounds is a collaborative project between former gang-involved youth and Los Angeles artist Nancy Baker Cahill. The exhibits tell the stories of each participant through photographs, original art, text and unconventional objects.

The opening reception will be held at the Hi-Lite Project Space (533 South Los Angeles Street). Works will be on sale with 100 percent of the proceeds benefiting Homebody Industries. The exhibit will also be available for public viewing on March 22, 29, and April 5 from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. or by appointment by calling 213-784-2003.

To see examples of the art click here.

César Chávez Day of Service on March 26

Celebrate the life of César Chávez with LAWorks as it hosts the César Chávez Day of Service in Echo Park on March 26.

Volunteers will work with and mentor Los Angeles Unified School District students as they create murals with community justice and human rights themes. Once completed, these murals, painted on canvas, will be donated to schools and libraries in Los Angeles and displayed for the enrichment of the greater L.A. community.

Painting will take place from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at a location to be determined. Click here to help become a sponsor or click here create a volunteer login.

Community Garden coming to Glassell Park

After years of work to abate the nuisance property at 3304 Drew Street, the City of Los Angeles has acquired it and will be transforming this neighborhood problem into a community garden specifically for neighborhood residents.

The new community garden will be a place where local residents can work along side their friends and neighbors and grow fruits and vegetables for themselves and their families. The City is partnering with the Los Angeles Community Garden Council to manage the garden.

There will be an informational meeting on Thursday, February 17, 6:00 p.m. at the Glassell Park Community/Senior Center (3750 Verdugo Road).

Please call the Glassell Park satellite office at 323-478-9002 with any questions.

Great Backyard Bird Count

The Echo Park Lake bird team will host the Great Backyard Bird Count at Echo Park Lake on Sunday, February 20.

The inventory of local birds will begin at 8 a.m. at the Echo Park Lake Boathouse and will help conservationists protect the area's native wildlife.

For more information, contact Judy Raskin at judycalifornia@yahoo.com or call (323) 663-6767.

Spay Day in LA is February 19

The spcaLA will present Spay Day USA on Saturday, February 19, at
the Specialty Spay Neuter Center (5026 W. Jefferson Blvd.).

Neutering for cats will be available for $10 by appointment. Low cost vaccines and microchips for dogs and cats will also be available.

For more information or to make an appointment, call 323-730-5303.

Meeting on new high school to be held in Glassell Park

The Los Angeles Unified School District is hosting a series of meetings to update the community on the progress of the new Central Region High School #13.

On Thursday, February 10, there will be a meeting held in the Irving Middle School Auditorium (3010 Estara Ave.) from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Participants will hear an update on the school's construction and have the opportunity to meet the Central Region HS #13 Interim-Principal and Local District #4 staff.

Construction of Central Region High School #13 is scheduled for completion this summer.

For more information, please call Maria Cano at (213) 241-6493.

Jack Popejoy

I was saddened to learn of the passing of Jack Popejoy over the weekend. Jack was not only a journalist, but an engaged civic leader who took seriously his job of informing Angelenos.

Although he was widely known for his work at KNX and KFWB, Jack was also the host of Council Week in Review on the City of Los Angeles's cable TV station and worked closely with our city’s Fire Department. He will be missed by those of us who worked with him at the city and by people across the Southland.