COVID-19 Response: Addressing Food Insecurity & Financial Crisis
The GRYD Foundation and Mayor’s GRYD Office successfully pivoted and modified Summer Night Lights and Fall Friday Nights programming to comply with COVID-19 public health guidelines while responding to the related economic crisis. 2020 activities included grab-and-go meals, food staples with healthy options and fresh produce boxes to address food insecurity; hygiene kits; fitness and arts activity kits for use at home to promote wellness and stress reduction; and online wellness, fitness, cooking, arts and educational skills classes – available on GRYD Foundation YouTube Channel and Summer Night Lights YouTube Channel and our social media channels.
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These videos highlight our COVID-19 relief efforts and the power of our programming to engage diverse groups in positive activities
centered on community building and youth development.
centered on community building and youth development.
Summer Night Lights
Summer Night Lights (“SNL”) operates at 32 locations across the City of Los Angeles, keeping recreation centers and parks open between the hours of 7 pm – 11 pm during the summer and adding extended programming. The GRYD Foundation assists the City of Los Angeles Mayor’s Office of Gang Reduction & Youth Development (“GRYD Office”) in providing free activities at each site beyond what is traditionally offered. As a result, community members can participate in free sports leagues, dance and fitness classes, arts and recreational activities, resource fairs, health screenings, workshops, and connections to resources that they can utilize year round.
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Fall Friday Nights
Fall Friday Nights was launched by Mayor Garcetti in 2015 to extend aspects of Summer Night Lights into the Fall to address spikes in violence and continue to provide workshops, resource connections and community building. The GRYD Foundation assists the City with Fall Friday Nights in order to bring together community members to share a meal and to participate in free arts activities, health screenings, workshops, and resource fairs.
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Youth Squad 360
Youth Squad 360 takes place throughout the year with an emphasis on annually working with 50 to 80 youth and young adults who have been exposed to gun-related violence in their communities and have been hired by the City or GRYD Foundation to staff the Summer Night Lights program. Youth Squad 360 is an extra layer of service designed to strengthen Summer Night Lights youth workers as they pursue their educational, career and wellness goals.
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One-on-one case management, individual coaching, group workshops, and peer-to-peer mentoring are provided in-person when safe per public health guidelines and thru video/online technology due to COVID-19. Scholarships are provided, along with assistance meeting basic needs (food security, transportation, housing, health issues.)
Youth Squad 360 helps youth overcome obstacles while increasing their 21st century soft skills, employment readiness, and exposure to career pathways; engages youth with caring, skilled case manager who provide academic, career and life mentoring; and fosters self-care and a focus on health and wellness.
One-on-one case management, individual coaching, group workshops, and peer-to-peer mentoring are provided in-person when safe per public health guidelines and thru video/online technology due to COVID-19. Scholarships are provided, along with assistance meeting basic needs (food security, transportation, housing, health issues.)
Youth Squad 360 helps youth overcome obstacles while increasing their 21st century soft skills, employment readiness, and exposure to career pathways; engages youth with caring, skilled case manager who provide academic, career and life mentoring; and fosters self-care and a focus on health and wellness.
