Our Projects
Our collaborative has a wide breadth of projects and we continue to add more as we listen to the neighborhood’s needs. Our projects vary in their complexity and impact ranging from installing residential gardens, providing microloans to small businesses, to constructing new affordable housing units in Watts. Find out more about our growing list of projects below!
Transformative Climate Communities (TCC) Grant
Expand Urban Agriculture and Access to Healthy, Organic Produce
Mudtown Farms Food Waste Diversion
Project Overview: Establish a food waste prevention and food rescue program that will result in the redistribution of 200,000 lbs. of food to local Watts Residents, and will divert 250,000 lbs. of food waste from landfills each year.
Partners:
Watts Labor and Community Action Committee (WLCAC)(Lead)
Total Funding:
$392,110.05
Community Garden at Markham Middle School
Project Overview:
Expansion and program support for Edwin Markham Middle School's one-acre garden to build the first in the nation school garden and living lab working with a cleantech incubator. Together, we are deploying several energy and water saving technologies, creating local green jobs, educating students and empowering the community on gardening and climate resiliency. Project plans also include distributing produce grown in the garden and distribution/planting of 100 shade trees.
Partners:
Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (Lead), LAUSD
Total Funding:
$364,000
Watts Yardners Program
Project Overview:
50 residential yards will be transformed into urban mini-farms complete with edible landscaping and fruit trees.
Partners:
Watts Labor and Community Action Committee (WLCAC)(Lead)
Total Funding:
$523,548.56
Provide More Afforable And Sustainable Housing
Jordan Downs Phase S2
Project Overview: New construction of an 81-unit affordable housing development consisting of 18 one-bedroom units, 33 two-bedroom units, 29 three-bedroom units, and 1 four-bedroom unit. All the units will be deed-restricted to households earning up to 50% of Area Median Income (AMI). In addition, the project will provide bicycle education and safety training for families and youth in the Jordan Downs housing development. East Side Riders, will be organizing classes, recruiting participants, and facilitating certifications. (See the B.E.A.S.T. project overview below for more info on Bicycle Education and Safety Training classes).
Partners:
Michaels Development Co. (Lead), East Side Riders
Total Funding:
$13,250,000
Solar Watts
Project Overview:
Install rooftop solar panels on 54 qualifying single-family residences in Watts.
Partners:
GRID Alternatives
Total Funding:
$1,315,151.60
Energy Retrofit
Project Overview:
Installation of energy retrofits for 180 homes in Watts. Retrofits include replacements for lighting, HVAC, water heater and more.
Partners:
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles
Total Funding:
$1,802,955.15
Increase Low And No-Carbon Transportation
Dash Bus Electrification
Project Overview:
The DASH is going electric! The DASH Watts bus route will be improved with 10 battery-electric buses that will replace existing CNG/propane buses and add 5 charging stations to create the first fully electric local bus fleet in Los Angeles.
Partners:
Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT)
Total Funding:
$1,700,000
Megawatts Electric Vehicle Car Share
Project Overview:
Provide a car-sharing program using 15 all-electric vehicles available 24-hours/day with charging stations installed at three locations in Watts.
Partners:
Watts Labor and Community Action Committee, Green Commuter
Total Funding:
$1,833,862
Increase Community Green Space And Expand Our Tree Canopy
Weigand Elementary Urban Tree/Rain Gardens
Project Overview:
A new 2400 sq. ft rain garden and 43 native trees will be planted around Weigand Elementary, and an additional 1500 fruit trees will be distributed to local community members.
Partners:
TreePeople
Total Funding:
$124,438.50
Watts Cool Schools
Project Overview:
Create four shadier, cooler school campuses by removing asphalt paving and installing cool paving, planting 112 trees, to create green educational outdoor learning areas at Weigand Elementary, Compton Ave. Elementary, 96th St. Elementary and 112th St. Elementary schools.
Partners:
TreePeople (Lead) Los Angeles. Unified School District (LAUSD)
Total Funding:
$621,861.34
Greening the Blue Line
Project Overview:
Create a tree canopy in the mile radius surrounding the 103rd St. Station of the Metro Blue Line through the planting of 200 trees.
Partners:
TreePeople (Lead), LA Metro
Total Funding:
$305,178.80
Century Gateway Park
Project Overview:
Construct 0.62-acre urban park with local and drought tolerant plants, 35 new trees, and passive recreation.
Partners: The Michaels Organization (Lead)
Total Funding: $428,575
Freedom Tree Park
Project Overview: Construct 1-acre urban park with passive recreation, drought tolerant landscaping and irrigation, 35 new trees, and 95% of the park will be composed of permeable surfaces.
Partners: The Michaels Organization (Lead), Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles
Total Funding: $1,157,900
Greening Public Housing
Project Overview: Plant 200 large shade trees at three public housing sites: Gonzaque Village, Imperial Courts, and Nickerson Gardens.
Partners: North East Trees (Lead), Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles
Total Funding: $275,475.32
Greening Watts
Project Overview: Plant 2,000 trees throughout Watts along streets, on school campuses, in parks and on residential properties.
Partners: TreePeople, North East Trees
Total Funding: $1,055,917.68
Make Our Streets Safer For Walking And Biking
B.E.A.S.T. - Bicycle Education and Safety Classes
Project Overview: Implement a Bike Safety & Education Program.
Partners:
East Side Riders
Total Funding:
$50,000
Wilmington Ave. Great Streets
Project Overview:
Construct ½ mile of urban greening and pedestrian/cyclist mobility improvements including 40 street trees.
Partners:
Streets LA (Lead), Grant Housing EDC
Total Funding:
$18,736,958 (TCC, RAISE, SS4A, RCP)
Walkbike Watts Mobility Improvements
Project Overview:
Construction of 5.2 miles of bike lanes and installation of 25 pedestrian improvements.
Partners:
City of LA- Department of Transportation (LADOT)
Total Funding:
$3,044,260 + $38,500 (Grant Administration) = $3,082,760
Walkbike Watts Safe Routes to School
Project Overview: We Care Outreach and Urban Peace Institute are working to make routes to school safer by providing services like student safety advocacy groups, walking school buses, and more.
Partners: We Care Outreach, Urban Peace Institute (UPI)
Total Funding: $322,388.89
Walkbike Watts Cultural Trail
Project Overview: Installation of an arts & cultural walking path through Watts. Accessible by foot, bicycle, or wheelchair, the Cultural Trail will connect the Watts Towers Arts Center Campus to public transportation and other local sites.
Partners: Bureau of Engineering (BoE)
Total Funding (TCC, CDBG, RAISE): $4,350,383
Choice Neighborhood Initiatives (CNI) Grant
Resilient Homes
Project Overview: Exterior beautification and energy improvements for individual homeowners in Watts. Homeowners fill out an application to receive improvements and are individually assessed for eligibility.
Partners: GRID Alternatives, Habitat for Humanity, TreePeople
Total Funding: $1,906,604
Mudtown Farms Kitchen Incubator
Project Overview: 2,400 square-foot commercial kitchen facility complete state of the art kitchen equipment and prep stations, ample storage space (refrigerated, frozen, dry), office/ meeting space, and other programmable space. The Commercial kitchen will serve as a training facility and home to the food-based business incubator program.
Partners: Watts Labor Community Action Committee
Total Funding: $1,906,604; PY 48 CDBG: $413,479
Our Town Business Facade Improvements
Project Overview: This project will fund business façade improvements for up to 20 small Watts businesses. The project will be administered by the Coalition for Responsible Community Development (CRCD). The maximum grant award for each business owner will be $50,000. Selected businesses will also receive workshops and/or one-on-one coaching, and connection to other supports to help them remain competitive in today’s market.
Partners: Coalition for Responsible Community Development, BusinessSource Center
Total Funding: $805,000
Watts Microloan Program
Project Overview: The establishment of a sovereign Watts MicroBusiness Loan Fund, administered by Macedonia Community Development Corporation, to provide loans between $500 to $50,000 (average $5,000) to up to 300 start-up and/or current small business owners in Watts that are unable to obtain financing from traditional lending sources because they lack traditional sources of credit. Businesses can use loan funds for working capital, furniture and fixtures, inventory and equipment.
Partners: Macedonia Community Development Corporation, BusinessSource Center
Total Funding: $805,000
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
ThinkWatts HQ
Project Overview: Funding for programming in a 1,400 sf storefront which will be used to teach financial literacy; host a Maker Space, recording studio, and STEAM lab; and incubate clothing brands & marketing businesses.
Partners: ThinkWatts Foundation
Total Funding: $100,000 (PY 47 CDBG)
Grape Street School Signage
Project Overview: The project's goal is to create a welcoming travel corridor via signage and placemaking strategies for students who walk, bike, or skate to school that decreases or eliminates stressors such as dangerous traffic conditions and crime, enabling students to arrive at school ready to learn. To carry out this work, HACLA and MOEO have partnered with the Los Angeles Neighborhood Initiative (LANI) to lead this effort from community engagement and design to implementation. LANI will engage the school community and stakeholders from the immediately surrounding neighborhood and will collaborate with a to-be-selected design partner(s) to create safe travel corridor/s for Grape Street Elementary School. LANI will also engage an expert in trauma-informed services or child safety expert to guide the design and ensure that the objectives of creating safer, less traumatic and less stressful school passage is achieved.
Partners: TBD
Total Funding: $200,000 ($50,000 PY 49 & $150,000 PY 50)
Watts Empowerment Center Film & Music Studio
Project Overview: Develop a 4,000 sf full-scale TV, film, and music studio at Imperial Courts. Open to the neighborhood to learn about technical recording, editing, and filming skills. Ultimately will be used to showcase finished products through outdoor movie nights and mini concerts. Mentorships and summer internships with larger studios, talent agencies, and music labels for students.
Partners: Elevate Hope
Total Funding: $502,530 (PY 47 CDBG); $200,000 (PY48 CDBG)
Morning Star Sports Complex
Project Overview: Upgrades to a community-accessible playground and basketball court for clean, safe, and well-lt recreational space. After school program with homework help and daily meals for youth.
Partners: Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church
Total Funding: $100,000 (PY 47 CDBG); $150,000 (PY 48 CDBG)
Liberty Hill Foundation and Sharefest
Green Alley Phases 1 and 2
Project Overview: Transform an alley that local residents described as an eyesore for many years and transform it into a safer, greener, and more pleasant space for the neighborhood.
Partners: CD15, Sharefest
Phase 1
Total Funding: $10,982.44
Clean California
Jordan Down Beautification and Litter Abatement
Project Overview: The Master Plan for the new Jordan Downs Urban Village calls for the replacement of 700 outdated apartments with a total of 1,400 housing units accommodating a mix of incomes, as well as a retail center and a community center. This community severely lacks public open space, and historically trash has been a symbolic problem in the community. This project addresses this problem with the construction of four parks, installation of "smart" compacting public trash cans throughout the campus at strategic locations near the new parks and housing, an educational outreach program that addresses historical litter inequities in the community, and a decorative public art component with significance to the local residents and stakeholders.
South LA Rising
Project Overview: South Los Angeles Rising targets two underserved neighborhoods across seven project sites in South Los Angeles – Willowbrook and Watts – impacting the health and well-being of both communities. The project funds a two-year program that combines new trash capturing enclosures and bins, and activates community members through litter abatement education campaigns and beautification events through a Green Ambassador Program.
Congresswoman Nanette Barragan's Community Project Funds (CPF)
Urban Canopy Expansion
Project Overview:Adding to the existing urban tree canopy expansion currently underway within Watts, funding will be used to plant an additional 800 trees including 500 street trees and 300 residential trees. Planting trees in the community will improve public health by reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, providing shade and cooling the temperature, improving the air quality, and more. Additionally, funding will be used to provide green workforce opportunities for residents who are interested in gaining experience and skills in urban forestry.
Partners: North East Trees
Total Funding: $100,000
Markham Middle School
Project Overview: Markham Garden sits on a 1-acre plot of land on an LAUSD owned school site, Markham Middle School. This is one of the oldest gardens in the district, dating back at least 40 years. Funding will be used to support the existing staff of the gardens, the Watts Labor Community Action Committee, to use the garden as a teaching post on urban agriculture, green technology, and culinary arts. They are partnered with the LA Cleantech Incubator, whose start-up businesses are testing technologies in the garden and creating curriculum for the middle school students.
Partners: TBD
Total Funding: $48,000
Nickerson Gardens Open Spaces
Project Overview: This green space will host a multi-purpose field, new walkways and paths, picnic areas, basketball courts, a large playground and adult exercise area and the planting of drought resistant plants and trees to provide shade. This newly renovated green space will provide the 3,000+ residents at Nickerson Gardens Public Housing a place for recreational activity and play. Additionally, HACLA ensures that the amenities we have for our residents are open to the whole Watts Community of 33,000 people. The Parks Network will provide approximately 75,000 square feet of green space for the community to access.
Partners: Los Angeles Community Land Trust
Total Funding: $460,000
Heart of Watts
Project Overview: The Heart of Watts Garden is on land owned by the City of Los Angeles. Local residents, organizations, and student volunteers have committed their own time, money, and resources to maintaining the garden. Funds will support the execution of a solar-powered irrigation system as well as stipends for community members who are stewarding the work in the garden and keeping it open to local high school students from Jordan Downs High School.
Partners: TBD
Total Funding: $10,000
Gonzaque Village Community Garden
Project Overview: Gonzaque Village is one of four Public Housing sites in the Watts community, under the ownership and management of the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA). The site does not have a community garden, but the residents have been requesting one for quite some time. A portion of the site next to the Resident Advisory Council office has been identified a good space for a new garden, offering. Funding will support the upgrades of the grounds to include more greenery, shaded spaces, seating, as well as garden programming.
Partners: TBD
Total Funding: $72,000
Children's Park
Project Overview: Spanning a little under .5 acres is being developed by The Michaels Organization, and will focus on providing play spaces for the younger residents of the community.
Partners: The Michael's Organization
Total Funding: $100,000
Nickerson Gardens Community Garden
Project Overview: Nickerson Gardens is one of four Public Housing sites in the Watts community, under the ownership and management of the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA). The existing community garden is roughly 6,000 square feet. The space has not had regular programming for many years and much of the garden boxes and water systems need to be significantly upgraded. Funding will support capital improvements and garden programming with the Resident Advisory Council and residents.
Partners: Watts Clean Air and Energy Committee (WCAEC)
Total Funding: $70,000
Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Urban and Community Forestry (UCF) Grant
North East Trees Building Careers and Canopies
Project Overview: Partner with Northeast Trees to expand the Building Careers and Canopies Program, a holistic workforce development and job placement program that provides meaningful education, training and employment to Watts residents and formerly incarcerated individuals.
Partners: North East Trees
Total Funding: $750,659
Cool Schools
Project Overview: TreePeople will spearhead the Watts Cool Schools Program, committing to planting trees, accompanied by pollinator and companion vegetation at one to two elementary schools in Watts. The team will facilitate youth vision planning sessions, with students and parents involved in the Watts Cool Schools Program. A school tree nursery will be established at Markham Middle School and the students will grow trees for community distribution.
Partners: TreePeople
Total Funding: $524,769
Watts Rising Tree Dedication Program
Project Overview: Watts Rising will implement a Tree Dedication Program, where 600 newly planted trees will be dedicated in honor of Watts residents throughout the grant period and tree care and maintenance classes and assistance will be provided along with personalized signage connecting residents to the trees they are adopting.
Partners: Watts Rising Street Team
Total Funding: $343,710
Century Gateway Park
Project Overview: The development of Century Gateway Park begins with earthwork, including grading to ensure proper land contouring for water drainage and erosion control to prevent soil loss and sedimentation, which could otherwise stress or damage the young trees. The landscaping aspect includes planting trees, alongside various shrubs, and plants, which will provide a rich, biodiverse environment beneficial for the trees and local wildlife.
Partners: The Michael's Organization
Total Funding: $371,127
Freedom Tree Park
Project Overview: The installation of 40 trees, root barriers, and a well-designed irrigation system. Root barriers prevent root encroachment into unwanted areas, ensuring stability and health for the trees. Simultaneously, an efficient irrigation system, particularly the use of tree bubblers, guarantees that trees receive the necessary water directly at their roots, encouraging deep growth and resilience, which is essential in the dry climate of the region.
Partners: The Michael's Organization
Total Funding: $229,769
Tree Canopy Enhancement at Nickerson Gardens
Project Overview: The Nickerson Gardens will plant 120 new trees in various sizes throughout their central outdoor space. As mentioned above, the strategic use of companion shrubs contributes
to an integrated ecosystem. Bioswales will surround the trees and function as engineered bioretention on systems.
Partners: Nickerson Gardens Management and park developers
Total Funding: $178,770
Jordan Downs Central Park
Project Overview: This project starts with thoughtful design and planning to make sure the park supports healthy tree growth from day one, including proper root space, sunlight, and water flow. Grading, erosion control, and strict environmental standards help create a strong, stable foundation for planting. The landscape includes a mix of large, eye-catching trees, root barriers, mulch, and efficient irrigation to help trees thrive and stay healthy. Planting beneficial shrubs helps manage pests naturally and boosts soil health, creating a stronger environment for trees. A pollinator meadow adds another layer of support by attracting bees, butterflies, and birds, which help trees reproduce and stay genetically diverse.
Partners: Omnia 2020, LLC
Total Funding: $1,646,213
Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG)
E-Bike Lending Library
Project Overview: Project goals are Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions in the Watts Neighborhood: Increase Access to Affordable and Sustainable Transportation Options, Improve Safety and Accessibility, Reduce Traffic Congestion and Noise Pollution, and Foster Community Engagement and Trust.
Partners: East Side Riders Bike Club
Total Funding: $661,500
California State Parks/ Fam Camp
Youth Advisory Group (YAG)
Project Overview: Our Youth Advisory Group (YAG) consists of a dozen youth ages 14-19 in the Watts and surrounding South LA area. Our grant is funded through the California Natural Resources Department with a focus on providing access to green spaces to youth in underserved densely populated urban areas. We meet monthly to plan our trips and decide our focus. The YAG receive a monthly stipend for their time and participation. We have planned and participated in clean-ups around the Watts area, have begun meeting monthly with our Community Advisory Group to foster a mentor/mentee relationship for the youth and community leaders/stakeholders, and will plan and go on camping trips to state and national parks within California in our future. We also open up all our trips to more youth than our YAG so that we can serve as many youth as possible, with a focus on those living within in the HACLA housing sites.
Partners: Fam Camp, California State Parks, Watts Rising Community Engagement Working Group (CEWG)
Total Funding: $250,000