Community Involvement
Since it's conception, Crop Swap LA™, has always been an active force within the community.
NHS
Location: Compton
Crop Swap LA assisted workshops and led many labor intensive activities in 2021 and 2022 for the Neighborhood Housing Services of LA County for the Compton Center for Sustainable Communities.
CRETE ACADEMY
Location: South Central
Crete Academy is a non-profit charter school in South Central Los Angeles serving 175 students from Kindergarten to 6th Grade. Of these 175 students, over 90% of them are at or below the poverty line and require access to free meal programs; 30% of those students are currently unhoused.
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Crete Academy, along with local media production company, HOORAE, approached Crop Swap LA to partner on a school garden and beautification for students to use as an activity and learning zone.
Audubon Middle School
Location: Leimert Park
CSLA is excited to be partnering with Change The Tune to bring STEM-aligned Gardening workshops and afterschool programming to youth at Audubon Middle School in Africa Town/Leimert Park.
Led by CSLA Farm Educator Mychal Creer, the weekly workshops teach the middle school youth how to grow their own food from seed to harvest.
Change The Tune is a local 501 (c)3 that offers 21st century entrepreneurial based afterschool STEAM programs in LA, Somerville, and Chicago. CSLA is thrilled to support this mission, which will bring more food to our local communities while helping inspire the next generation with the love of gardening and cultivation.
St. Mark UMC Church
Location: South Los Angeles
In 2021 St. Mark UMC Church asked Crop Swap LA to transform the barren space behind their church into a vegetable garden labyrinth.
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The space is used for walking meditations as well as to help the church feed 60 families every week.
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The incredible transformation can be seen here.
USC Peace Garden
Location: South Central
A community garden for & run by USC students and community volunteers. Crop Swap LA revitalized this space with the addition of 8 new raised garden beds, mulch, upgrading of native plant walkway and grounds.
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Crop Swap LA partnered with the USC Peace Garden on May 18th, 2024 hosting it's Cultivating Wellness event which was sponsored by CalMHSA, the LA County Department of Mental Health, and Take Action LA during Mental Health Awareness Month. Offering a series of mental wellness activities including yoga, meditation, gardening lessons, and a space for community members to relax, connect with nature, and community.
