Public housing residents celebrate Day of Service with housing authority CEO and Mayor Villaraigosa

Saturday, May 2 was a big day for Rancho San Pedro residents who volunteered their time for the National Day of Service in the Harbor Area. The public housing development also hosted its first game of the newly created Soccer League. In addition to a series of community projects that were aimed to beautify and strengthen the community, the soccer game for youth at the public housing development was a welcome addition to the day's events.

Rancho San Pedro youth, ages 8-16, where recruited for the league with help from volunteers and the Resident Advisory Council (RAC). The group sent out flyers and went door-to-door in order to form the league. The goal of the league is to steer youth towards healthy productive activities. Within a month, 53 kids signed up. Three teams were put together, first comprises youth ages 8, 9 and 10; second, ages 11, 12, and 13; and third, ages 14, 15, 16. All the participants were presented with medals. The event was sponsored by HACLA and Commissioners Maria Del Angel and Lucelia Hooper, Housing Services Director Sanford Riggs and other HACLA staff were present to offer their support. Commissioner Maria Del Angel donated the teams' jerseys.

Residents put up banners thanking the Housing Authority for the support. Comms. Del Angel and Lucelia Hooper, Housing Services Director Sanford Riggs and Housing Authority staff received a thank you card from the RAC and residents. Youth ended the day by joining Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa at Banning Park in Wilmington for the closing ceremony. A series of dance performances and lunch was provided. The Mayor even stopped to take a group picture with the children.

The soccer league games added another excitement and activity for the kids on Saturday, but this won’t be their only game. Games will be organized regularly to provide kids with positive experiences and activities as part of the Housing Authority's Resident Services.

A few miles away at Harbor Village Apartments, residents were also celebrating the Day of Service with their own special event; marking the10th Anniversary of Harbor Village, residents volunteered to organize a party with special guests, Mayor Villaraigosa and HACLA CEO Rudolf C. Montiel. Harbor Village, formerly Normont Terrace public housing was redeveloped in 1998. In 1999, an L.A. Times article called the redevelopment project, "an innovative example of what is referred to in the home building industry as infill development. Builders created mixed-income housing on a 35-acre parcel in an established South Bay community close to jobs, schools, shopping and public transportation."

Mayor Villaraigosa thanked all the volunteers saying,”you all are partners in managing this community, you've done a great job and I just want to thank you all for what you do." The Mayor also helped pass out food from the Food Bank to the residents.

The Sharefest and Big Sunday for the Harbor Village area was organized in partnership with Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Councilmember Janice Hahn, David Levinson, Big Sunday Founder & Executive Director; Chad Mayer, Director of Sharefest. The day started early with more than 5000 volunteers serving breakfast at a senior citizen home, cleaning up garbage and debris, distributing groceries to residents and planting trees. Balqon, a local electric truck manufacturer, hosted a job fair for its electric truck factory.

Photos above: Rancho San Pedro Soccer League game, HACLA President & CEO Rudolf Montiel with residents, Commissioner Maria Del Angel receiving a "Thank you" card from the RAC, Mayor Villaraigosa with the children.

Source: HACLA Media Relations Dept

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