Celebration of A New School Year For County Public Housing Youth

Annual Back To School Jam Provides Students with School Supplies and Community Support

Los Angeles County, August 14, 2024 –The Los Angeles County Development Authority (LACDA) is ringing the school bell to celebrate another successful back to school session at the Carmelitos, Harbor Hills, Nueva Maravilla, and South County (Scattered Sites) Public Housing Developments.  

The annual Back to School Jam events provide public housing youth and their families with backpacks, school supplies, refreshments, entertainment, and community resources to confidently kick-start the new school year.

The Nueva Maravilla event was held in collaboration with ELA Rising and attended by State Senator Maria Elena Durazo, who provided a generous donation of backpacks filled with school supplies that she helped distribute while meeting with youth and their families; the event also included a festive performance by Conga Kids and refreshments.

Students grades K-12 from the Carmelitos event are ready to step back into the classroom after enjoying a day of fun selecting school supplies, clothing, and receiving a new bike helmet. A big attraction for students after receiving their supplies was the Teen Tech Center which includes a computer lab, podcast room, and music recording studio. Students that preferred being outside joined in on a friendly game of basketball while taking a break to enjoy snacks and refreshments. Community resources from partners such as Future LB, Goodwill, April Parker Foundation, and I-Nspire Community Coalition were also in attendance to educate and inform families regarding beneficial programs.
At Harbor Hills, students lined up for school supplies and shared excitement of getting promoted to the next grade level. Students continued their day by staying hydrated and enjoying refreshments as they joined in on various activities such as coloring and playing games with friends and family.

South County families were greeted at registration and ushered through a community resource fair prior to receiving school supplies. Partners such as Learn4Life, Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, and Office of Samoan Affairs were available to answer questions and share valuable community resources. Students at this event received a backpack, school supplies, and a bike helmet in their size and color preference. Many smiling faces were seen enjoying refreshing snacks such as popcorn and snow cones while enthusiastically trying on their new bike helmets. Bike helmets were made possible through donations from Shelter Partnership. 

Besides backback donations received from State Senator Durazo, other donors for this year’s events included Shelter Partnership, ELA Rising, New World Academy, and Women in Action Reaching Out who provided various resources, snacks, and school supplies. With everyone’s support, more than 650 backpacks with school supplies were distributed this year.

“The LACDA’s long-standing tradition of preparing our public housing communities for the new school year continues,” said Emilio Salas, LACDA Executive Director. “We greatly appreciate the generosity and support of our sponsors, and together we are proud to play a small role in ensuring that our youth are ready to face new adventures that await.”