UCLA Watts Leadership Institute received a grant to directly support the 8 cohort organizations/10 individuals who are engaged in the second WLI cohort. The funds will underwrite a portion of their expenses as they plan and implement community programming and community engagement activities during the 2021-2022 fiscal year. The number of community members served by WLI will be determined by the individual cohort members as their programs develop. Founded in 2016, WLI is a 10-year initiative of the Social Justice Research Partnership within the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs. Drawing upon an innovative and engaging peer learning model, WLI directly addresses gaps in nonprofit knowledge, capacity and sustainability by supporting a cadre of community-based leader-mentors who will guide other leaders and small nonprofits in the future. WLI works under the 501-C-3 status of the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs but receives no funding from them.



The purpose of UCLA WLI is to help natural leaders further develop and advance their leadership skills and overall knowledge. One example is at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, cohort members immediately began providing meals to students and families, ultimately providing more the 150,000 meals. 

Village for Vets received a grant for their Food First program to support food box distribution. This will include paying a truck driver to deliver food boxes to homeless and at-risk veterans experiencing food insecurity who live in permanent support housing in Los Angeles County. About 300 veterans and their families will receive food box distribution two times per month over the next year. Village for Vets fulfills this mission through four core programs that safeguard the health of vulnerable veterans; promote food, housing, and employment security; and provide links to life-changing benefits and services. 



Village for Vets partners with other Veteran organizations to connect more than 1,000 homeless and at-risk veterans to local resources and supportive services.