Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) leaders and philanthropic partners have kicked off the City of LA’s various summer opportunities for young Angelenos, including Summer Night Lights, summer camps, paid internships and an extensive Play LA sports calendar.
“Summer is a time for learning, growing and playing — and in Los Angeles, we’re committed to providing those opportunities to our children and young people,” Garcetti said.
“The City has something to offer for everyone, from sports and arts programming to the chance to earn a paycheck while building the skills to kick-start a career.”
The City of LA’s numerous programs that will take place across the San Fernando Valley include Sylmar, Pacoima, Panorama City, Sun Valley, Van Nuys and North Hollywood.
Earn Learn Play, an online platform, connects young people with hundreds of City recreational, educational and paid internship programs throughout multiple city departments, along with the mayor’s office.
The Youth Development, Recreation and Parks, Community Investment for Families, Cultural Affairs and Economic and Workforce Development departments are offering summer programming, along with the LA Zoo, LAUSD and LA Public Library’s 73 branches.
The mayor’s office of Gang Reduction and Youth Development (GRYD) is launching the 15th season of Summer Night Lights (SNL) on July 13. SNL will offer free meals, activities, sports and resources for the entire family at 43 sites around the City of LA.
Additionally, GRYD is partnering with LA County’s Department of Public Health to deploy COVID-19 vaccination clinics at select SNL sites.
LAUSD has opened registration for summer school in nearly 600 sites throughout the City of LA, including in-person instruction. To keep students engaged with their school community throughout the summer, the district has made summer school available for all current students from TK through 12th grade and, for the second year, is offering pre-K summer opportunities for LA’s youngest learners in select communities throughout the district.
For more information, visit SummerSchool.LAUSD.net.
“Los Angeles Unified families, it’s time for a summer of learning,” Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho said. “We are excited to offer a robust summer school program for all students, which includes literacy, math, science and more for TK-8 students and credit-earning opportunities for high school students.
“We are offering popular classes in animation, arts and crafts, creative writing, music, STEM and STEAM, filmmaking, world languages and more. There’s something for everyone.”
Summer programming will include classes, workshops, sports, clubs, and internships throughout different City departments and partners, including:
— Play LA, sports programming for children aged 5-17.
— Swim LA, sports programming for children 4-17.
— LA’s BEST, after school programming for elementary school students.
— Hire LA’s Youth, hundreds of job opportunities for Angelenos aged 14-24.
— Summer Night Lights, evening programming for families and young Angelenos at select sites.
— Summer With the Library, activities through different arts and educational outlets.
— Summer Arts Programming with DCA, art and music classes at select locations.
— YouthSource Center and FamilySource Centers, job training and academic support.
Philanthropic and community partners are critical to the success of these programs. Through their support and funding, LA has been able to expand summer programming to include arts and music training, STEM classes and activities and after school courses.
This year, the Ballmer Group is providing more than $9 million in funding, further expanding reach and accessibility. Other partners that have invested to increase the access and quality of summer programming include The Eli & Edythe Broad Foundation and Great Public Schools Now.
“Ballmer Group is proud to support, for a second year, this effort to ensure that every student in Los Angeles will have access to quality summer programming,” said Nina Revoyr, executive director-Los Angeles, Ballmer Group.
“We know that too often, access to summer and after school enrichment programs is dependent on family income,” she said. “We also know that students who have access to high quality summer learning and activities see less learning loss, are more likely to stay engaged in school, get more access to mental health care and have safe places to be — all hallmarks for long term success and economic mobility.
“We are excited about this effort because of the unprecedented partnership and leadership of the City, LAUSD, the County Office of Education and the nonprofit community, all working together on behalf of our kids.”
For more information, visit EarnLearnPlay.LACity.org.