L.A. Works makes it easy to volunteer in Los Angeles. This month we have over 50 projects working with kids, seniors, animals, the environment and more. To see our monthly calendar of projects, click here.

Each month we recognize an outstanding leader in our community. Click here to visit the L.A. Works Project Leader Recognition Page and meet these outstanding volunteers who lead our projects each month. This month's Project Leader of the Month: Suzanne Wiener

Did you know you can update your email address, phone number and other personal info yourself? No need to send us an email requesting we change your record. It's quick and easy to do for yourself. Here's how!

Click on Member Center on the left menu and login using your email address and password.

At the top of the page you'll be taken to there are four tabs. Click on the Personal Information tab.

Here you can update your Address & Phone, Email Address, change your password, interests, skills, and view your volunteer and gift histories.

Keep your information current and correct. That way we'll always be able to reach you to let you know about new volunteer opportunities that might match your interests and skills.

Got a question about using any of the features at the Member Center? Email us at techsupport@laworks.com

Unsure of how to change your password? Update your email address? Want guidance in creating and managing a team of volunteers?

Our on-line FAQ on the website that will answer many of your questions.

Visit the Help Center on the L.A. Works Website by clicking here.

L.A. Works Citizen Academy
Downtown LA: Discoveries and Rediscoveries

A Full-Day Bus Tour
Hosted by Famed Art Historian Mumsey Nemiroff and Architecture Expert and Downtown Real Estate Owner
Sam Freshman.

Saturday Sept. 18 from 9:00am – 4:30pm

As part of our continuing series of opportunities to experience our city in a deeper way, L.A. Works is pleased to present this unique Downtown L.A. adventure.

Led by Mumsey Nemiroff, noted international fine arts consultant and lecturer, this busy day, departing from Westwood, will include discussion and tours of Downtown's historical sites, art and architecture.  Participants will meet downtown artists Lauran Bacon, Christoff, and Leslie Safarik. We will also be treated to behind-the-scenes tours of some L.A. Works' community service partners. 

After lunch at one of Downtown's hottest new eateries, Pete's Cafe, the group will enjoy a guided shopping tour of Downtown's fashion district led by Christine Silvestri of Urban Shopping Adventures, where Christine will show us how to find high-end designer men's and women's clothes and accessories for below-retail prices.

The tour will culminate at Casa de Sosa on historic Olvera Street where the group will be treated to an exclusive presentation about efforts by the Getty Museum and the City of L.A. to protect and preserve one of L.A.'s little-known cultural jewels, the 1932 monumental outdoor mural "America Tropical" by Diego Rivera's contemporary, Mexican master muralist David Alfaro Siqueiros.

Cost:  $55.00. Includes all-day parking for your car, lunch and snacks, and round-trip bus transportation. Space for this event is limited. To reserve your space click here. 

CityCares Changes its Name to
Hands on Network

As most of you know, L.A. Works is an affiliate of CityCares which has 35 affiliates in the U.S., international affiliates in the Philippines and China, as well as 20 partner organizations in the United Kingdom.

Effective yesterday, CityCares has changed its name and is now officially known as Hands On Network. According to Michelle Nunn, HON President and CEO: “Our network is on a fast track for expansion and capacity building, and this new name embodies that spirit and more completely captures the essence of the work our outstanding affiliates and members are doing around the world. In addition to the name change, our newly adopted tagline for Hands On Network is ‘Volunteer. Be The Change.’ We believe this uniquely positions the network and enhances the collective power of our brands through a more recognizable name and a standard naming convention for our future affiliates.”

Hands on Network will be working with L.A. Works on regional and local initiatives that will allow us to continue to grow and strengthen our reputation within the community.

(For more information visit their website at www.citycares.org.) 

L.A. Works to Participate in Home Depot's 25th Anniversary Week of Service

For 25 years, The Home Depot has served as the do-it-yourself headquarters. The Home Depot is also a premier leader in corporate philanthropy through direct service, financial investment and in-kind support. They will celebrate this milestone 25th Anniversary by planning a Week of Service during the week of September 27th - a week of community service projects (delivering 250,000 service hours) across the nation.  Hands On Network has been selected to partner with The Home Depot to coordinate these projects in 40 major markets in the US, Canada and Mexico. L.A. Works will be the local coordinator in Los Angeles.

Our two project sites are Save Our Future (a charter school in South Central for at-risk youth) and the Boys and Girls Club of Whittier. We expect 150 Home Depot associates from 24 stores across the southland to participate in refurbishing these two community centers.

One Day's Pay Commemorates 9/11

As we all know, the 3rd Anniversary of the tragic events that occurred on September 11th, 2001 is just around the corner.  What you might not be aware of is that there is a national grassroots movement to establish 9/11 as a voluntary day of service, charity and compassion. One Day's Pay is a national non-profit organization that is challenging every American to take the One Day's Pay pledge to observe 9/11 this year by helping others in need -- volunteer, give blood, make a donation to a charity, give something away, or just help friend, neighbor or relative. L.A. Works has a number of volunteer opportunities on it's calendar for 9/11. Click here to sign up. If you can't volunteer, consider making an online donation to L.A. Works to support our many projects year-round.

Meet the L.A. Works Staff
Natalie Furlett

Hello Everyone!  Some of you know me, most of you don’t.  I'm Natalie, the Volunteer Coordinator/Program Guru Extraordinaire.  My role in this organization ranges from coordinating the monthly calendar projects, planning the trainings and orientations, answering volunteer questions and addressing the needs of our project leaders, to handling the day to day office issues.  I also work with our nonprofit partners to make our programs the best they can possibly be!  None of our work would be possible, however, without all of you wonderful volunteers, and especially my fabulous project leaders!  You are all my inspirations!

I have been working with L.A. Works since October of 2002.  Prior to joining this office, I spent a year in AmeriCorps, working with teenagers in juvenile hall and writing computer curricula for an adult literacy program in San Jose.  Currently I am also working on my MBA in Nonprofit Management at the University of Judaism. 

This coming year is going to be very exciting for us!  Starting in a few weeks, we have an AmeriCorps volunteer starting in our office to help strengthen our programming.  This volunteer and I will be working on creating more leadership training opportunities, for youth and adults.  We will also be asking all of you to help us in making the L.A. Works community everything you want it to be.  We will be creating committees for volunteer feedback and trying to plan more activities for us all to get to know one another.  It is my great pleasure to work with all of you and if there is ever anything that we can do for you, please don’t hesitate to let me know!  

We ate, drank, talked and played. And recognized the many leaders in our volunteer community. This will become a yearly event to honor our volunteers. We'll see you next summer!

Featured Projects of the Month

Let's Read Autumn Sessions starting soon. Let's Read is one of L.A. Works' most valuable volunteer programs. Volunteers make a weekly commitment to provide kids with the tools that will enable them to reach their dreams. We work individually and as a group with neighborhood kids to help them with school-related materials as well as to expose them to topics that they may not otherwise be familiar with. This mentoring relationship can change the lives of these kids.

Volunteers for Let's Read commit to come each Saturday morning during the Fall Term from Sept 18 - Nov 20.

Pueblo Del Rio in Southeast Los Angeles. (First time Let's Read volunteers should also sign-up for the Let's Read Orientation for Pueblo Del Rio on September 11).

Mar Vista Gardens in Western Los Angeles.

Let's Read offers volunteers a deeply satisfying, personal experience that will make a profound difference to a child in need. Sign-up today.

Petsave is back with a new location and the same adorable bunnies! The new South Bay home of Petsave is now looking for L.A. Works volunteers every Saturday (starting Sept 4). Find more information and sign up for this great project suitable for the entire family.