PROGRAMS
As one of the only aquaponics gardens in East Los Angeles, we are committed to changing and educating the community through healthy eating and outdoor activity. We are aware of the lack of open space in our neighborhood along with the health issues that challenge our community and are committed to be a resource and an advocate of healthy eating and healthy habits to meet the needs of East Los Angeles.
Our goal is to better prepare college students to be successful in their chosen field by providing internships. As Roybal Interns, students are provided with the tools they need to succeed. For the past 30 years, we have collaborated with various colleges and universities in Los Angeles County to select students to participate in the program. The Internship Program enhances the students’ academic achievements by placing students from local colleges and universities in to businesses and corporations that build and strengthen skills, provide hands-on work experience, give insight into current economic challenges and opportunities and offer exposure to networking opportunities. The Roybal Foundation has provided support to approximately 265 students totaling over $750,000.
The Roybal Foundation is currently offering an internship with Cal State LA in Chicano Studies.
NELA - United for Students
The Lucille and Ed Roybal Foundation United For Students is committed to connecting community resources to students and their families who are struggling in Los Angeles County. Our goal is to create programs that effectively get resources directly to the students and their families while keeping their dignities intact by creating messaging and infrastructure that doesn’t label or “out” identities. As we grow, United For Students will commit to building up the Los Angeles community by partnering with other organizations with different social missions so that no student is left behind.
Nela United for Students was born out of the turmoil brought on by the Covid- 19 Pandemic, which devastated our community in North East Los Angeles (NELA). We saw an alarming increase in students and their families being forced out of their homes without any resources for food, shelter, clothing, personal hygiene items, etc. because so many in our community lost their jobs when CA went on lockdown.
Members of the community including LAUSD teachers and counselors, local businesses, advocates and residents rallied together out of concern for our hard hit students and their families. Over the course of this past year, we have launched grassroots campaigns and fundraisers to buy Target gift cards, grocery store gift cards and Starbucks gift cards for our students so that they can purchase necessities, food and have access to Wifi.
We’ve worked with several businesses to install food pantries throughout our community to provide for people in need immediate access to food. We work directly with the teachers and counselors at LAUSD and Local Charter Schools to identity and connect with the hard to reach families. Before the pandemic, our schools found it challenging to identify and reach out to those families who had the greatest need because a lot of families were undocumented and/or many families didn’t want to be identified because of their perception of loss of dignity. Working directly with the LAUSD counselors, who have diligently tracked down a small portion of the students is the main reason why we are able to connect with the families and provide support.
ELAN
The East Los Angeles Network (ELAN) is a cornerstone program started in 2015 to bring together a network of local non-profit organizations in the East Los Angeles area to meet, have an open dialogue and collaborate to enhance the services offered to the community. ELAN currently has over 10 non-profit organizations working together to strengthen and empower community members through accessible resources and information.
Align Gallery works in collaboration with the Roybal Foundation to provide internships that teach people how to curate art shows. It also provides space for exhibitions with partnering galleries.
Align Gallery has partnered with the Roybal Foundation to present the "Man of the People" exhibit at Align Gallery and the "Man of the People" exhibit at Olvera St. Have a look at photos on the exhibits page.