Artward Initiative 501 (c) (3) non-profit: Love My Neighbor - United Against Hate: A Great New Collaboration!

We have some very exciting developments. Because of the level of impact and recognition our Love My Neighbor program received within Carson community, we were referred by the Carson City Council to the new and important LA County program LA vs Hate established under LA County Commission on Human Relations.

We had number of meetings and now extremely excited to report that we have a uniquely fitting and special collaboration. The LA vs Hate have decided that our Love My Neighbor art intervention campaign and its core message are perfectly fitting the goals and purposes of LA vs Hate. Their decision was in part rooted in their internal metrics. We were shocked to learn that according to their data over 90% of hate related incidents reported within LA County are happen between neighbors. This hard to digest reality and the unique fit of our messages delivered via art interventions and community engagement give the foundation to a unique strategic collaboration.

As part of this collaboration we are now working together on the LA vs Hate flagship project United Against Hate Week which will be held November 13 to November 19 throughout the county. We are essentially cross branding Love My Neighbor - United Against Hate. We have developed, planned and now executing Love My Neighbor - United Against Hate events in three cities - Culver City, Carson and Long Beach.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CkY7OWYPOEX/?igshid=MDJmNzVkMjY=

We will be commemorating United Against Hate week in a great collaborations with Cultural Affairs of Culver City, Wende Museum of Cold War, CCUSD, Culver Arts Foundation, Carson's "Scottsdale" Townhouse Association, Carson Sheriff's Department Gang Diversion Team, Carson's International Institute of Tolerance, "Carmelitos" Housing in Long Beach and Office of Long Beach Councilmember 8th District Al Austin III

In our diverse world by loving our neighbor we are standing against hate.

Summary of Core Organizational Programs and Services

Artward Initiative, a 501 c(3) non profit organization, organizes and conducts cultural and educational projects, public art and social action programs in underserved communities of color that promote cultural diversity and encourage greater understanding among different cultures. Programs are centered around enhancement of community’s quality of life through art, cultural and educational projects. We are focused on public arts education initiatives that contribute to the positive development of underserved young people and young people at risk.

We received grants from Library of Congress Open World Project. Received a grant from the Levitt Foundation to promote classical music through public spaces for everyone to experience the performing arts. Organized and promoted free classical music concerts that reached out to people of all ages and backgrounds, to ensure classical music is accessible to all through high quality, free concerts to strengthen the community and social interaction, the culturally engaged projects that changed the perception of the community through art such as Carson based "Classical Underground". In the last five years we conduct "Love My Neighbor" public art projects in the disadvantaged community of color - "Scottsdale" neighborhood of Carson where we established a non-profit Artward! Gallery "Scottsdale." Provided free art consultations to youth at risk as part of Gang Diversion program. Provided local community with free art education programs. Our focus is art as tool of community turn-around.

In 2017 and 2018 we have received grants from the Wells Fargo Foundation. In 2018 we have received prestigious Cultural Pathways Grant from the California Arts Council to increase the reach of our community outreach projects in the City of Carson. In 2019 we have received grant from the Bank of America Foundation and organized a number of events together with their Better Money Habits team.

For its community building impact, our program, Love My Neighbor Public Art Project in the Scottsdale Neighborhood of Carson, has been authoritatively recognized as a prestigious 2019 California Park & Recreation Society (CPRS) Award of Excellence recipient in the important Creating Community Award of Excellence category.

Over the last years we worked with well recognized community leaders / organizations: City of Carson City Hall, Bank of America Better Money Habits, Mission EbenEzer Community Art Center, the Bridges International Learning Center & International Institute of Tolerance. We presented our programs at the large public events including the LA's iconic Taste of Soul, the City of Carson public events Earth Day, Black History Month, Backpack Giveaway, Hispanic Heritage Day, Community Friendship Day.