LA’s BEST was created in 1988 by Mayor Tom Bradley to address an alarming rise in the lack of adequate adult supervision of children during the critical hours between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. They serve 28,000 kids at 180 elementary school sites in Los Angeles in neighborhoods most vulnerable to gangs, drugs, crime and at schools with the lowest student test scores.
The Mission
The mission of LA's BEST is to provide a safe and supervised after school education, enrichment and recreation program for elementary school children ages 5 to 12 in the City of Los Angeles.
The Vision
All children need a safe place to be after school with caring, responsible adults and engaging activities that connect each child to his/her school, family and community.
The Values
1. Nothing we do is as important as the effect it has on a child.
2. Engaging activities develop values, skills and relationships. Activities are not seen as ends in themselves, but as vehicles for creating values, building skills and solidifying peer and adult relationships. An engaging activity is one that holds children's attention, awakens their imagination, and inspires them to want to learn more.
3. All children have equal rights to be accepted, respected and valued by others. Children are viewed as individuals to be developed, not problems to be solved.
4. Children should be involved in decision-making and program design. If children get to choose how, when, in what and with whom to be engaged, they are far more likely to enjoy themselves and behave cooperatively.
5. When we listen for understanding everyone learns—children and adults alike. We are constantly able to learn from our children as well as each other. Everyone is a learner.
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L.A.'s Best funds the ASAP program (After School Arts Program). They sponsor artist residencies in visual and performing arts that last for 10 weeks averaging 40 hours of instruction per child, grades K thru 6. All lessons are aligned with the visual and performing arts California Standards. All sessions have a culminating event where the children perform or have the opportunity to share what they've learned with family and friends.
ASAP works with individual artists and organizations. Examples of organizations include:
Theater Phoenix - theater programs for children which includes a literacy component.
Quick Start Music - Keyboard, vocal and percussion instruction. Students learn the fundamentals of music including reading music
LA Opera - Brings a choral program called "Voices of Tolerance" taught by cast members of current and past productions; children learn international songs in the language written
San Pedro City Ballet - Introductory dance program teaching the fundamentals of ballet.
Proceeds from fresh stART 2012 will provide direct funding to LAs BEST ASAP program.
50% of art sales go to the beneficiary and 50% to the artists.
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