When it comes to the Golden Arches, young activists from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) are "hatin' it," says the group's youth division manager. To make their presence known in their new neighborhood, peta2--which has just relocated to Echo Park from Norfolk, Virginia--has a big protest slated for Saturday. more ›

Got motivation, kids? The Chivas USA pro soccer team and the Orange County Gang Reduction and Intervention Partnership (GRIP) are hoping the promise of free tickets to see a game is enough to keep a few school-aged kids out of ganglife. more ›

A new "community safety scorecard" compiled by a public policy group takes a look at each Los Angeles zip code. The scorecard, created by the Advancement Project and published by Miller-McCune, "assesses the factors that foster or fight violence in every community" in L.A. more ›

Our appreciation for the sporting life the Eagle Rock Yacht Club's Dodgeball League accords participants is nothing new. This short video profile of how the league became what organizers call a social experiment turned non-profit takes a look at what they do for the community when it comes to our parks and our youth. more ›

Love veggies? Love vegetarians? Express your admiration for those who keep meat out of their diets tomorrow by participating in Hug a Vegetarian Day. Yep, there's an entire day designated (by PETA) for you to open up your arms and embrace those who embrace animal-free eating. Sort of like a hugs-not-BBQ baby back ribs campaign. more ›

A group of young people in Highland Park are digging in deep and working towards some healthy results thanks to a new urban garden project they've recently launched. The Wave profiles this admirable "green-thumb project" run via a "a joint effort of students serving on Hathaway-Sycamores’ Youth Leadership Council along with adolescents participating in Hathaway-Sycamores’ Gang Reduction and Youth Development Program." more ›

It’s clear that Benoit Denizet-Lewis loves the gays and the kids. We talked for about 40 minutes on Sunday about his book American Voyeur: Dispatches from the Far Reaches of Modern Life, and he notes a recurring theme of fitting in particularly in the gay culture. more ›

It's a fascinating story -- ex-gang members from Los Angeles traveling to rural southwest Alabama to talk to kids about violence, gangs, poverty and love. Homeboy Industries, the largest gang intervention program in the country, is based in Los Angeles and is doing just that. The LA Times covered a recent trip to Prichard, Alabama by two members of Homeboy Industries, Luis Colocio and Agustin Lizama. more ›

The Crenshaw High Cougars made it all the way to the California state bowl, and they may owe some of their success to rapper Snoop Dogg, according to an AP report published on cbs2. In a part of town where there isn't often a lot of extra money for extracurricular activities, this undefeated team includes nine players who went through Snoop's (nee Calvin Broadus) Youth Football League, and are "the first crop of varsity players to cut their teeth in the program." more ›

The weekend left five dead in separate shootings, but one in particular caught the attention of civil rights leaders in the Hyde Park neighborhood of South LA. 17 year-old Brandon Jamal Perry was shot in the face after an occupant stepped out of a vehicle with a rifle and began shooting at him and others standing in front of a house late Saturday night. Three others were injured, but Perry died at the hospital. more ›

Last night, NPR's Hidden Kitchens mavens, the Kitchen Sisters, brought in a full house at the California Endowment for a talk exploring the way a desire to better our lives can bring people together and inspire tremendous change, as part of an evening called "Who Glues Your Community Together through Food?" more ›

$20.3 million of stimulus money from the federal government will go towards Hire LA, the city's program to place 16- to 24-year-olds in summer and permanent full time jobs around the city. “Hire LA will create over 16,000 jobs for Los Angeles youth and set them on-course toward a steady paycheck and a better life,” Mayor Villaraigosa said in a statement. “Today, Los Angeles becomes the first city in the nation to create jobs for young people using federal stimulus dollars dedicated towards youth employment.” In all, 7,388 positions will come from stimulus money. The remaining 8,500 positions will be funded through the annual programs from the city, school and community college district and private sector. more ›

Earlier in the day, an independent confirmation of multiple Grammy Award- winning English singer-songwriter Sir Paul McCartney playing Coachella surfaced on music website Consequence of Sound. The aforementioned website recently provided a substantial glimpse (now totaling some 36 "rumored" artists) into what is shaping up to be the hottest festival this year. And although McCartney is expected to cycle through his usual bevy of hits, it's safe to say that his performance will focus primarily upon 2008's Electric Arguments, the third collaborative electronic effort with producer Youth under the moniker the Fireman. Expect an official line-up announcement straight from the horse's mouth in the coming days. more ›

It's an American institution on the verge of its 100th anniversary, and the Boy Scouts are struggling to survive. Although it's still the top youth organization in the nation, enrollment has been steadily declining over the past two decades, and in order to stay afloat, they've come up with a new strategy: Attract Hispanic kids. more ›

Father Greg Boyle is the director and founder of Homeboy Industries, a well respected Los Angeles organization that works to educate and provide job training for at-risk youth and former gang members. Connie Rice is the director of the Advancement Project Los Angeles and is a prominent civil rights activist and lawyer. They are featured speaking out against Proposition 6, a measure that could bring lengthier sentences for youth, try 14 year olds as adults for "gang-related" crimes, and increase our prison overcrowding problem in California (link to LAist profile of Prop 6) more ›

A new youth arts center in Watts run by the city's Department of Cultural Affairs will have its grand opening later this month during a weekend when two festivals will be happening. Named after the famous jazz musician and past local resident, the Charles Mingus Youth Arts Center will expand space for youth arts programs. The new building, which is next to the Watts Towers Arts Center, will bring more classroom space expanding the department's educational classes that give children a safe and creative atmosphere for individual expression with guidance and direction from professional artists. more ›