Partners



 
In partnership with the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks, HOLA is building a model program. HOLA co-operates the Lafayette Park Building with the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks. This new facility houses additional classroom space and an indoor athletic facility, providing HOLA with the ability to significantly increase the number of youth participating in free exceptional programming.
 

 
For 10 years HOLA has been affiliated with Los Angeles Housing Partnership (LAHP), a non-profit organization that provides quality low-income housing and other essential resources for disadvantaged families living in the same community as HOLA. In 2003, HOLA was given the opportunity to move into the basement of one of LAHP’s buildings. Through this partnership, HOLA pays only $1 a year for the space (now referred to as HOLA Central) for 25 years, with an option to renew. LAHP provides the community with a monthly food bank held in HOLA Central’s parking lot. HOLA students learn the importance in giving back to their community by participating in the food bank.
 

 
Last year, HOLA established a formal partnership with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association to be the second site of the Youth Orchestra LA (YOLA) outreach program. YOLA is the first orchestra in the nation that is directly modeled after the Venezuelan El Sistema program, one of the world’s most prestigious classical music and instrumental youth education programs. Gustavo Dudamel, the Music Director of the LA Philharmonic, is a product of El Sistema. When Gustavo joined the LA Phil two years ago, he brought with him a strong belief that every student should be given the chance to learn a musical instrument and have the opportunity to succeed. In YOLA at HOLA’s first year, HOLA engaged 100 first- and fourth-graders, offering over 15 hours each week of intensive ensemble-based music instruction and full orchestra rehearsals. In addition to receiving classical music and instrumental instruction, these students benefit from HOLA’s proven academic services, providing each student with a unique comprehensive educational experience and personal attention from caring adults. In an effort to engage the entire community in this process of societal change, HOLA hosts “Community Saturdays” in order to foster strong and joyful music making that welcomes not only YOLA families, but anyone of any age wanting to make music and engage in a culture of community. Now in its second year, YOLA at HOLA now serves 180 elementary school aged participants.
 
Through a formal partnership with the Los Angeles Lakers, HOLA is able to provide a wide-variety of basketball activities to the at-risk kids in this community. Currently, through this partnership, HOLA provides the community with monthly basketball clinics held on the first Saturday of each month. In addition, as a strategic partner of HOLA’s efforts to renovate the Lafayette Park Community Center, the LA Lakers have been instrumental in supporting HOLA’s substantial growth. With the completion of the Lafayette Park Community Center, HOLA is now providing an additional 1,000 youth of all ages with quality basketball leagues and clinics on a state of the art basketball court that showcases the Laker logo at center court.
Over the past several years, HOLA has established invaluable partnerships with a number of universities around the country, including:

Bard College/Longy School of Music: Last fall, the LA Phil, the Longy School of Music and Bard College announced the formation of a partnership, Take a Stand, that supports social change through music. The joint initiative will offer field-wide conferences and a Master of Arts in Teaching in Music degree program focused on training a new generation of teachers in the El Sistema philosophy. The MAT program will be situated on the HOLA campus where there will be opportunities for student practicums within the HOLA Music Program.
 
Loyola Marymount University (LMU): This past year, HOLA was a designated site for LMU’s President’s Day of Service. LMU volunteers donated their time sprucing up the HOLA campus. In addition, each summer HOLA students participate in LMU’s School of Film and Television’s Summer Creative Workshop, a program that brings high school students to Loyola Marymount University’s campus to experience the filmmaking process. The Dance Dept. also provides dance workshops at HOLA and the kids visit LMU too! Heart of Los Angeles also receives one MFT art therapy student each year to work in HOLA’s counseling department.
 
New York University (NYU): For the past several summers, lucky HOLA students have spent the summer in New York City participating in NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts Summer Program for High School Students. The scholarship recipients choose an area of focus from offerings that include photography, dramatic writing and music recording.
 
Pepperdine University: At least once each year, men and women athletes from Pepperdine University come to HOLA to provide clinics and mentorship opportunities for our middle school students.
 
University of Southern California (USC): Together with Stanford University, football greats from both schools team up to offer a day of fun and football. In addition to a clinic and practice game, the USC and Stanford alums spend time speaking with the kids about what it takes to be a college athlete and the importance of getting a college education.
 
Each year, at least one student working towards his/her Master's in Social Work from the USC School of Social Work interns at HOLA under the supervision of Nancy Dodge, HOLA's Counselor and Licensed Social Worker. This program allows HOLA to provide social services to a larger number of students and their families.
 
University of Tennessee (UTK): HOLA has established a Field Placement Partnership with UTK’s College of Education, Health and Human Services – Department of Public Health, whereby UTK interns come to HOLA to do field work as part of their graduate education. Last summer's intern, Veronica Mays, is featured on UTK's website.
 
 
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HOLA provides underserved youth with exceptional programs in academics, arts and athletics within a nurturing environment, empowering them to develop their potential, pursue their education and strengthen their communities.

 

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