Executive Director’s Thoughts

In my first month at LISC I see throughout the organization ambitious and conscious people working to make a difference, seeking to achieve our goals by establishing partnerships with like-minded agencies, lenders, CDCs, public officials, bureaucrats, corporations, venture philanthropists and foundations.

I feel invigorated. I care too much to leave folks behind whether giving or receiving. LISC infuses relationships with energy and common sense direction. I see boundless potential.  I will continue to ask of those who don’t yet know how great it feels to give: “What kind of society do we want to be?”  I will press the just causes of our neighbors. Their causes are our causes and comprehensive community development will facilitate strategic change for generations. 

Income disparity numbers just released reflect a 25 year peak. Though being tested by our times, I have no doubt that LISC and our partners will seize every opportunity to do just as our education community has in respect to closing the achievement gap; namely, rise to the occasion and inspire others to join in.

Jeffrey Graham, Executive Director

Loan & Grant Activity (Selected)

East Los Angeles Community Corporation (ELACC)

LISC  approved a $250,000 predevelopment Line of Credit to be used by ELACC for predevelopment expenses including acquisition costs for residential projects in Santa Fe Springs and Boyle Heights. ELACC’s 16-year track record in successfully completing 179 rental-units and 87 for-sale developments helped ELAAC gain this approval. Boyle Heights is one of LA LISC’s targeted Sustainable Community areas, where through the Sustainable Communities framework, LISC with ELACC as lead agency are seeking  to achieve robust and balanced economic development while meeting residents' social service needs.  Visit ELACC's website

Hollywood Community Studio

Hollywood Community Studio (HCS) is a community-based research project designed to measure physical and social shifts in the community that stem from catalytic events related to revitalization of the area. This $100,000 grant will drive HCS and its partners to build bridges between social service providers that work with the people of the neighborhood and the place-makers that invest and transform neighborhoods. This work will ensure that jobs generated from new development and housing will be linked with people in the community.

HCS is a partnership that includes the Hollywood Community Housing Corporation, Thai Community Development Center, LA Voice and the Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Los Angeles. For additional information please visit Hollywood Community Studio's website.

CASA 0101

CASA 0101 is a leading arts venue that serves Boyle Heights and the greater East Los Angeles area,  where arts education and programming have been scarce. This $32,000 grant helps CASA 0101 transition to a larger location nearby their existing location to accommodate a growing audience with much-needed rehearsal space, a larger stage, and more classrooms. The 5400 sq/ft space allows CASA 0101 to extend its hours of operation, serve 300 students per year, and double classes offerred while introducing a host of new classes to serve future writers, actors, dancers, playwrights and filmmakers as they further their career opportunities in the arts.   For additional information please visit Casa 0101's website.

Workshops & Initiatives

Commercial Corridor Revitalization Initiative
 
LISC is proud to launch a Southern California Initiative that includes Los Angeles and San Diego.  With the generous support of Citi Community Development, this initiative will allow LA LISC to provide CDC's in our three sustainble communities with opportunities to identify and evaluate different approaches to organizing their work in community economic development. More specifically, LISC will assess the assets of commercial corridors with an overall goal to provide participants with both the tools and the insights to design, manage and implement  strategies to make physical/aesthetic improvements and stimulate economic development within their commercial corridors.   For additional information, please visit our website.

 "Surviving & Thriving In Today's Economy" - Workshop

The nation's bad economy combined with declining public support is adversely impacting LISC's nonprofit partners.  Many organizations need to reassess and possibly adjust their current business models to survive this tumultuous environment and to determine most efficiently how to continue implementing community change and build capacity amidst a "new normal."   The workshop will take place on September 8 - 9 at the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco- Los Angeles Branch.  For additional information please visit our website.

Green Development

The Green Development Center and LA LISC is thrilled to announce the launching of a brand new section of our website:  The LISC Green Development Profiles.  Along with a new page outlining the range of LISC's green development work areas the Green Development Profiles of LA LISC features snapshots and listings of current green projects. 

Please visit the LA LISC Green Development Profile