L.A. Works Thanks it's Project Leaders

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L.A. Works Makes it Easy to Volunteer in Los Angeles

We Salute our Project Leaders
November, 2005

Project Leader of the Month

Clarence Smith

This month we'd like to recognize Clarence Smith, who began volunteering with L.A. Works right after the new year in 2004, and since the middle of this year has stepped up to become a regular Project Leader.

We asked Clarence to tell us a bit about himself and why he was willing to give a little extra time to become a regular leader, and eventually to "adopt" our Senior Social project at Hallmark Cheviot Hills Assisted Living:

"I'm Clarence Smith, a local Southern California person. I've lived in LA for the past ten years working for KLSX-FM 97.1/Infinity Broadcasting selling commercial airtime. The call to serve has really been in my heart for a long time. I didn't know how to harness this call until I found L.A. Works. I feel like I've been on a true journey being put in places I've been needed the most. My journey began many years ago. I felt in my heart a need to help the homeless on the Westside. As sure as I put that longing out there, I was able to do so through L.A. Works with Food on Foot. This great opportunity that L.A. Works provided allowed me to see that as an individual, I could make a difference.

I volunteer regularly with a number of projects including the Union Rescue Mission, Project Angel Food, the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, Gramercy Place, and Aviva Family Services. I lead the Senior Social at the Hallmark Cheviot Hills Retirement Center and occasionally lead Aviva. I get no greater joy than knowing that I've made a difference. I know from the wonderful residents of the Hallmark Cheviot Hills Retirement Center how important the visits are from us as volunteers. I know as a leader the impact I can make with both the people we help and among volunteers. I try to organize activities that are lasting, as in the case of planting flowers with the girls of Aviva or the message boards we created for their rooms. I understand how tough life can be so I want the people we serve to think about goodness whenever they think about L.A. Works and all of us as volunteers. I know how important it is for the volunteers to feel like they've made a difference so I try to get them involved in the planning and also encourage them to give me suggestions on how to make the project better.

I know how lucky I am to be in a position to serve others. My volunteer work with L.A. Works has also inspired me to lead ministries at my church which focus on helping the poor and underserved. I hope in my mission to help the underserved of our community that others are inspired to do the same."

We thank Clarence for his tireless service and invite you to join him at one of the projects he leads:

Senior Social at Hallmark Cheviot Hills Assisted Living - 3rd Saturday of each month.

Activities with Kids at Aviva - 2nd Saturday of each month.

Clarence, thanks for following your heart and stepping in to keep these projects organized and running. It's this kind of energy and dedication that makes it easy for volunteers to be a part of our community. Thanks!

This Month's Project Leaders

Thanks to all of our Project Leaders who are leading projects during the month of November.

You are the real leaders in our community! The Staff & Board of Directors of L.A. Works thanks you for being the real superstars of our community!

Adrienne Briggs
Andrew Abeyesinghe
April Fields
Bobbi Marin
Brandy Griffin
Bryan Kadatani
Christina Preiss
Clarence Smith
Colleen Gately
Connie Leonard
Cynde Knerr
David Trilling
Ed Simon
Emily Barclay
Gil Gerstein
Hal Christensen
Heidi Pickman
Helga Hung
Henry Meyer
Howard Weiner
Jacquie Moreno
Jay Ross
Jesse Perez-Fraga
Joan Bang
Julie Anne O'Neill
Karen Helms
Karsten Loose
Kathryn Perez-Fraga
Kristen Yolas
Luis De Avila
Margaret Conway
Mark Kimura
Mia Farrell
Mike Kremer
Russell Ali
Sandy Boscarino
Shelia Taylor
Sherly Lam
Sherry Luckey
Stephanie Cirone
Tammy Simmons
Teresa Castelli
Timothy Dickey
Veronica Cruz

Want to join the ranks of L.A.'s most involved citizens? Become an L.A. Works Project Leader.

It's easy, it's fun, and it doesn't require a huge amount of your time.

Go to the Project Calendar section of the website and sign up for Project Leader Training or email Larry Deckel to find out the date of the next session.

Past Project Leaders Of the Month

October, 2005 - Joan Bang

September, 2005 - Kat and Jesse Perez-Fraga

August, 2005 - Bryan Kadatoni

July, 2005 - Ken Hagopian

June, 2005 - Laura Bonilla

May, 2005 - Alexa Benson

April, 2005 - April Fields

March, 2005 - Mia Farrell

February, 2005 - Sandy Boscarino

January, 2005 - Andrew Anura Abeyesinghe

December, 2004 - Jacquie Moreno

November, 2004 - Timothy Dickey and Howard Weiner