LA vs Hate and The American Rescue Plan Act - Data Report on Impact of Initiatives

Since receiving $1 million in funding through the American Rescue Plan Act, in July 2022, we launched several LA vs Hate initiatives focused on addressing pandemic-related hate. We are excited to now share some early results of our work from the last eight months.

Dream Centers

There are eight Dream Centers operated by Helpline Youth Counseling (HYC) and Asian Youth Center (AYC). Dream Centers are safe, inclusive, welcoming spaces designed to help students in high need communities succeed in school, and develop youth leadership skills. The eight Dream Centers are:

1. HYC Fedde Middle School in Hawaiian Gardens

2. HYC Artesia High School in Lakewood

3. HYC Norwalk High School

4. HYC Inglewood High School

5. HYC La Puente High School

6. AYC John F. Kennedy High School in Granada Hills

7. AYC Piute Middle School in Lancaster

8. Morningside High School in Inglewood (fully open soon)

Each Dream Center offers a variety of resources and supports to best fit the needs of their students. While students may visit a Dream Center as a safe space to hang out, resources are also centered around social emotional wellness, tutoring, student leadership empowerment, college readiness, etc.

To date, 6,406 students have visited a Dream Center. Students are required to sign in with their student ID on each occasion they visit the Dream Center.

18,436 residents, students, school staff, parents and caregivers have received information on resources and services via Dream Centers. Dream Centers have hosted:

• 41 workshops/events for students with a total of 6, 379 of attendees

• 15 workshops/events for parents with a total of 534 attendees

• 23 workshops/events for teachers and school staff with a total of 194 attendees

To date, one individual reported a hate incident through the Dream Center to 211LA. With 211LA support, this individual was referred to services and developed a care plan with a care coordinator.

TaskForce - Law Enforcement Training

First responders are the first link in providing an empathic, caring response to victims of hate. This initiative is providing training to first responders on the important role they play in encouraging victims of hate to report and to seek help in healing from the trauma of hate. Here are early results of this project, coordinated by Task Force PR:

• 55 law enforcement personnel have been trained to accept hate reports.

• In 69 hate or bias acts reported to 211LA, individuals designated having learned about LA vs Hate through law enforcement.

• A total of 16,500 brochures and marketing materials have been printed for distribution to promote LA vs Hate and the ability to report hate acts to 211LA.

• In February, production and scheduling for law enforcement training video was finalized. The training video is set to be completed in April and will be distributed to law enforcement agencies countywide.

211LA

Through the 211LA hotline, a total of 241 anti-hate calls were addressed and 382 anti-hate reports were initiated. Of the 382 anti-hate reports submitted, care coordination was provided in 335 of these cases. The six most common experiences reported across these 382 cases were:

1. Discriminatory treatment

2. Other crimes/harassment

3. Derogatory names

4. Threat of violence

5. Physical assault/battery

6. Burglary/robbery

The six most common motivation(s) for the crime or harassment across the 382 cases were:

1. Race/ethnicity/national origin

2. Unknown motivation

3. Gender

4. Sexual orientation

5. Disability

6. Religion

Within these cases, 313 service needs were identified and necessary referrals were issued.

Asian Americans Advancing Justice - SoCal (AAAJ - SoCal)

AAAJ-SoCal provides case management for Asian American/Pacific Islander victims of hate.

To date, 243 service needs have been identified and pertinent referrals have been provided to AAPI clients who have specific language needs, participating in care coordination. The top three areas include victim/witness services, support groups, government/administrative offices and community groups. Of all referrals provided, 60 have been confirmed as services received by clients. AAAJ-SoCal also provides translation services; between AJ SoCal and 211LA, at least 405 individuals have received linguistically component follow up.

In January, the partnership with AAAJ-So Cal and LA vs Hate saw both agencies help victim response to the mass shootings in Monterey Park.