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Premier Juan Gabriel impersonator, Marco Ortiz, excites the crowd at Somos NELA Block Party. Photo Credit: Gina Clyne |
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This season has reminded us that neighborhood stability is something we build together — through housing, cultural spaces, local economies, and showing up for one another.
Across Northeast LA, we’re seeing what becomes possible when working class communities lead: neighbors staying in their homes, vendors growing their businesses, and third spaces becoming places of connection and belonging.
From a major milestone in our community housing work to another vibrant Somos NELA season ahead, thank you for being part of this growing movement to keep NELA rooted.
IN THIS ISSUE > 🏘️ Community Housing Project #4 reaches a major milestone > 🗝️ Housing opportunities at Chapman > 🎶 Somos NELA returns with a string quartet and a workshop > 🥳 ROOTED tickets are now available > 📅 Upcoming community events + conversations
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A sketch of Drew, our newest community housing project that would preserve housing for 77+ residents |
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COMMUNITY HOUSING PROJECT #4👉🏼 We’re currently looking for community investors at $25K each. We already have six committed investors — and we need a few more to help bring this project home.
We’re proud to share that LA Más and Self-Help Ventures Fund were recommended for more than $7M in public funding through LACAHSA’s inaugural Production + Preservation Fund for our Drew Street project.
With Self-Help Ventures Fund contributing $500K, LA Más now needs to raise an additional $500K to close the gap and create our first joint venture project where we are 50/50 co-owners. This $8M project includes two buildings with 31 units and is currently in escrow. Located just one block from our Chapman project, residents at Drew Street are excited about the possibility of staying in their homes long-term — with some hoping to remain there for the rest of their lives.
This work builds on the momentum of Arvia, Hancock, and Chapman, where we’ve already preserved homes for longtime working class residents while testing a different model for housing stewardship in Northeast LA.
Interested in learning more about becoming a community investor? Read our Term Sheet and contact us by the end of the month. |
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WE HAVE A VACANCY!
LA Más now stewards 23 housing units across Northeast LA — including two market-rate units that help stabilize affordability across the rest of the portfolio. |
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| The partners behind the construction of Arvia’s ADU celebrate its completion. Photo Credit: Gina Clyne |
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| Arvia ADU The ADU at Arvia officially has new residents! This is the first ADU connected to our community housing work and we’re excited to welcome residents with housing co-op living roots (and cats 🐈) into the space. |
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Chapman One-Bedroom Available To support two long-time residents of Chapman - seniors looking for financial security to retire and better wheelchair access, we designated one of the 12 units at Chapman as a market rate unit. We’re excited to share that the one-bedroom market-rate apartment is now available at Chapman.
If you or someone you know is looking for housing grounded in community care and collective stewardship, we’d love to connect. |
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| Chapman residents and community members pose for a photo on the day we closed escrow. Photo Credit: Adam Weissler |
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Photo collage of the Somos NELA Block Party. Photo Credit: Gina Clyne |
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SOMOS BLOCK PARTY WAS A SUCCESS AND THERE’S MORE
Huge thank you to everyone who joined us for our spring Somos NELA Block Party. Together, we welcomed: 42 working class vendors from across Northeast LA 400+ attendees throughout the evening Nearly $10K in vendor earnings supporting local families staying rooted in their communities
Most of our food vendors sold out completely! |
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| Somos NELA Block Party Planning Committee members pose for a photo with their certificates. |
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Somos NELA continues every 1st and 3rd Friday of the month.
This Friday, May 15, Clockshop is bringing two special offerings to the market: 🎶 Live string quartet with The Izote Ensemble at 7PM
LA based string quartet celebrating Salvadorean music and culture 🧷 “Subterranean Convergence” with LaRissa Rogers
A 3D scanning + photo keychain workshop. Bring an object that reminds you of home.
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Photo collage of the Somos NELA Block Party. Photo Credit: Gina Clyne |
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Join us on June 25 as we celebrate the people and partnerships helping keep Northeast LA rooted. |
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| Justice Award Recipient
Rudy Espinoza Inclusive Action for the City |
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| Award Presented By
Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez City of Los Angeles |
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This year, we’re honored to recognize Rudy Espinoza and Inclusive Action for the City for their leadership in building pathways for working class entrepreneurs, advancing community ownership across Los Angeles, and creating sanctuary for our communities.
We’re also excited to share that Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez will present the award. Her leadership continues to model what’s possible through trust, relationships, and community-rooted investment. |
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Solidarity Award Recipient
Chris Ko Impact Strategist |
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| Award Presented By
Christine Margiotta Social Justice Partners LA |
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We're also excited to honor Chris Ko for his leadership in creating resources and fueling the movement of community ownership and collective economies - which helped NELA Comparte Mercado evolve into our Somos NELA movement.
Christine Margiotta, Executive Director of Social Justice Partners LA will present Chris his award. As a systems change leader, Christine weaves care and liberation into our justice work by centering love and community to many of our social movements. |
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LA MÁS AROUND TOWN
We’ll be out in the community over the next few weeks and would love to see you.
Friday, May 22 | LACAHSA Summit Executive Director Helen will speak alongside TRUST South LA on scaling community ownership models and preserving housing rooted in neighborhood leadership. |
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Saturday, June 6 | Clockshop Hydrology Bike Tour + Lunch Conversation The bike ride may be sold out, but you can still join the lunchtime conversation at Clockshop exploring the past and future of the LA River and its watershed. Helen will share reflections on community-rooted development and housing in Northeast LA. |
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Click below to add to your google calendar.
🛍️ Friday, May 15, 6-9pm | Somos NELA
Live cumbia with The Izote Ensemble + photo keychain workshop with LaRissa Rogers.
🫰🏼 Tuesday, May 19, 6-9pm | Community Economies Meeting
This month, we’ll focus on promotion and marketing strategies. We especially welcome allies with resources, skills, and experiences to share with vendors and community entrepreneurs.
🛍️ Friday, June 5, 6-9pm | Somos NELA
Come support local vendors, build community, and celebrate shared abundance. Combine a stop here with a crawl to some of the other amazing local businesses participating in Frogtown First Fridays hosted by Frogtown Arts.
🥳 Thursday, June 25 from 5-8pm | ROOTED Fundraiser
ROOTED is our annual celebration of housing justice, cultural belonging, and community power in Northeast LA. Get your ticket here! |
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| Your support helps keep families rooted in Northeast LA. 🏘️
Make a tax-deductible donation to LA Más and be part of building a future where our neighbors can stay and thrive in the communities they call home. |
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LA Más is a community organization building collective power in Northeast Los Angeles to promote neighborhood stability and economic resilience for working class communities of color. |
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