Restoring Hope and Rebuilding
Communities" is our motto and is why we are here. We achieve this by focusing our work on two areas of human development and community development. In human development we focus on the areas that have received the
most budget cuts in schools; the arts and athletics. Our work in community development primarily deals with career development and neighborhood rejuvenation.We are an organization created by college
students. Building a strong reputation and network at CSU Northridge has been our first order of business. Having access to 27,000 students annually can be very beneficial if that resource is properly tapped and
harnessed. We identify students who want to help their communities and provide them with opportunities to tutor, mentor, teach and train younger students.
Our programs have included murals, drawing, theater,
martial arts, tutoring and mentoring. Currently we are involved in three major projects. The first project deals with neighborhood rejuvenation. We received a Neighborhood Grant from the City of Los Angeles to
create a 3,500 sq. ft. mural in the community where I live, which has seen an increase in gang activity, graffiti and an increased number of homeless people. The purpose of the mural is to bring the talents of youth in the
community to focus on something positive and to begin to act as a community. Operation Clean Sweep will help to provide tools and other necessities to clean the neighborhood. This project unites the community, bringing
together residents, local businesses and the local government.
We are also creating another 2100 sq. ft. mural at CSU Northridge, to generate a sense of community on campus. Once we begin to think of ourselves as
a community, then we can begin to address concerns of groups and individuals on the campus community and learn to relate with and impact the surrounding community. It is our belief that once people begin to act like a
community and develop community awareness, it is just a matter of time before the negatives become positives and the positives gain even greater strength and lead to better human relations.
Another community
development project is underway in the Northeast San Fernando Valley, where the lowest income level families live and high juvenile crime rates and dropout rates are common. We selected this area for these particular
reasons. We are partnering with the Northeast Valley Urban Village Initiative (NEVUVI) on this collaborative project, which has brought together CSU Northridge, Mission College, and a host of government and community based
organizations and schools.
The purpose of the project is to work with thirteen Los Angeles Unified School Districts school parent centers to help families organize around the issues of education, economic
development, and health care. We hope to gear young people towards post-secondary education (college, or trade school) and raise parent education levels. We are also helping parents to access health care organizations
and make them aware of the services these organizations provide to their communities. There will also be an economic development component to teach new job skills and help revitalizes these neighborhoods. It is our job
to help these families identify their needs and assist them in tapping the resources.
Toolshed has many other programs that we wish to implement, however we need a building to house our offices. We are a two-year
old organization, and know that it will be some time before we can truly make the societal impact that we know we will. Our future looks bright, for a potential site has been found. We just need lots of spiritual
support and money to make it a reality.
