The Story of Children in Los Angeles: A look at A Place Called Home and Mothers Against Gang Violence

I am not a political person, but when it comes to children, I get very emotional. A couple of years ago, I started working as a volunteer at A Place Called Home, a fabulous after-school program located in the heart of South Central Los Angeles.

Truth is, once you walk through the door of APCH and meet the children and the staff, you never leave. It's like a magnet--you have to come back!

So here I am, six years later, going every week to teach cooking to the kids. You might ask what this has to do with shoes? I actually created The Shoe Goddess to finance the cooking program and provide the kids with small gifts.

On Wednesday July 9, 2008, APCH inaugurated a new computer lab donated by Time Warner.

Students at APCH with Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa

Florence, The Shoe Goddess with Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa

The children with their brand new computers

Today, the situation in Los Angeles has gone from bad to worse when it comes to education, poverty and safety. And gang violence has increased by 14 percent. Los Angeles has over 700 gangs with more than 40,000 active members. Kids, as young as 8 years old, get jumped every day. We have to stop the cycle of violence. We have to stop the genocide of our own children. Nothing is stronger than mothers coming together to protect children. 

In January 2007, councilwomen Janice Hahn, Wendy Greuel and Jan Perry received unanimous support from their City Council colleagues to place a measure on the ballot to raise money to fund gang prevention, job training programs, apprenticeship programs, and after-school activities throughout the city. With the support of mothers, this newly formed organization will work to end the cycle of gang violence once and for all. For more information about this initiative, visit MAGV and join the group Mothers Against Gang Violence on Facebook.

As a mother and an active member of my community, I felt compelled to jump on board. On July 10, 2008, I was back to City Hall to inaugurate a very special mural.

Last week, part of the construction wall around the new LAPD Metro Detention Center in the Downtown Los Angeles Civic Center was white-washed, creating a 260-feet canvas for a mural along Los Angeles Street between Temple Street and Parker Center. Artist Marcus Suarez has been painting a mural which reads, "Do Time at LA's BEST."

Carla Sanger, CEO of LA's best, Councilwoman Wendy Greuel and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa

Florence, The Shoe Goddess and mural artist Marcus Suarez

 I had to add my pink star!