Community Events
Inclusion Retreat
Northridge Academy High School encompasses about 1,080 students across grades 9-12. They needed to administer a critical SAT practice exam to grades 10-12, requiring all faculty hands on deck. This left some 250 freshman in 5 separate classrooms. Administrators reached out to PESA and asked to develop a day of educational programming for the 9th-graders—and provide staff to administer it. Despite having only one week to pull it off, PESA stepped up, creating an interactive, discussion-based program, drawing from several existing educational presentations. Topics ranged from social issues (tolerance, understanding disabilities, the importance of community service) to health and well being (body image, coping skills, peer pressure) to contemporary matters (climate change, history of 9/11, world hunger).
Armenian Genocide Assembly
Each year, students of Grant High School coordinate an assembly for their peers, to educate each other on the history of the Armenian Genocide. Over a century ago now, the mass killings of the Armenian people was ordered by the Turkish government. PESA provides support for this programming.
Back to School Backpack Giveaway & Resource Fair
To help alleviate the financial pressures of struggling families, PESA partnered with Senator María Elena Durazo, Assembly member Wendy Carrillo and Councilmember Kevin De Leon, to provide backpacks and other essential school supplies to families in need. In preparation for the distribution events, a dozen PESA volunteers and members from Senator Durazo’s team as well as from other community organizations and offices of elected officials spent a recent Saturday loading the backpacks with school supplies such as pencil pouches and crayons.
Restorative and Juvenile Justice in Los Angeles: Past, Present, and Future
A lecture, led by Judge David Wesley, was held at Loyola Marymount University in the Fall of 2019. Judge Wesley, a judge for the Superior Court of Los Angeles County from 1997 to 2017, has been a key figure in the creation and development of a number of alternative youth courts both locally and statewide. At PESA LMU's event, Judge Wesley discussed the history of restorative and juvenile justice, what restorative and juvenile justice looks like today, and how the numerous programs he has helped to create have and will continue to benefit the youth.
Annual Holiday Food Drive
PESA hosts a holiday food drive each year by collecting and donating canned/boxed food to help feed those in need. A different organization is chosen each year to receive the donations.
Strides Against Breast Cancer
Several members of our Teen Court Alumni Association as well as current high school students joined the fight against breast cancer in 2017. Representing PESA, these community leaders joined the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk to help raise money for the American Cancer Society to fund research and provide patients with free rides to chemotherapy, free places to stay near treatment, and a live 24/7 cancer helpline. Each volunteer wore a pink ribbon lapel pin to honor survivors, remember those who lost the fight against breast cancer, and support the progress that has been made so far.
Annual Holiday Toy Drive
Every year, PESA assists the office of Senator Maria Elana Durazo with fundraising for a toy drive in her senatorial district. Toys purchased from the funds donated to PESA are distributed by staff to various community organizations and residents. The attendees also are entertained by community dance groups and greeted by Santa.