In midst of terrible sadness of an insane war it was even more special to celebrate the Earth Day in the City of Carson on Saturday. It was the first live city event in two years. It was a true celebration of the community that overcame together the two awful years of the COVID pandemic.
Throughout all those two difficult years with our non-profit Artward Initiative we never stopped our art and social action programs in one of the most difficult remaining neighborhoods of the LA County, the infamous and chronically underserved "Scottsdale" in the City of Carson. We didn't stop or slow down even for a day, serving the rapidly transformed by the pandemic need. Just as store shelves got emptied exactly 2 years ago we pivoted our art outreach program to deliver emergency food and emotional support in form of kids art to the elders and at risk residents.
Throughout 2020 we delivered over 55000 lbs of food while kids were making supportive art safe at home, including kids from the Carson Sheriff's departments' Gang Diversion program that we were able to help keep going through the pandemic. We then attached the printed kids art to food packages. As we turned to a recovery and with the help of generous @bankofamerica grant we helped lift community spirit with a kids art contest that we launched and continue. On Saturday we had the Mayor and the entire Carson City Council greet two of our latest winners, the fabulously talented Alisella B. Tan and Isaiah Roberts.
Thank you, Mayor Lula Davis-Holmes, Mayor Pro Tem Jawane Hilton, Council Members Cedric L. Hicks, Sr., Jim Dear and Arleen Bocatija Rojas for your strong support and awesome long time city collaboration that made it all possible. Art is the inseparable part of the community.
