Event Aims to Raise Awareness of Poverty in L.A.

With all the attention focused on the booming economy of the 1990s, a darker side of Los Angeles--poverty--was left out of the picture. So says Jay Levin, one of the driving forces behind “Sharing With the Other L.A.,” an event designed to raise awareness about poverty and hook up potential givers and volunteers with worthy charities.

The event, described as a “teach-in and opportunity fair,” will be held from 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday at the University Synagogue, 11960 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles. The event is sponsored by Levin’s nonprofit Community Media Project and Americans for Democratic Action.

“The needs are so heavy now that we see ourselves in alliance with many of these organizations and reaching out collectively to say we need help,” Levin said. “At this service fair, we’re going to make it easy for people to do something.”

Levin tried to begin Community Media Project four years ago, but support--financial and otherwise--never materialized, and the group never got off the ground. But a few months ago, with the backing of private donors, it got a new start.

Cuts in federal funding for welfare and public services have exacerbated the problems affecting the poor, he said.

“I got involved because I was infuriated at how the mass media and electronic media were ignoring the huge changes in government policies,” said Levin, founder and former editor of L.A. Weekly. “There was a universal cry among organizations about how awesomely hard it was to get attention.”

In response, Levin’s group planned “Sharing with the Other L.A.”

The speakers will include Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca, columnist Arianna Huffington, state Sen. Richard Polanco (D-Los Angeles), some mayoral candidates and representatives from social service organizations.

Representatives of more than a dozen social service organizations have been invited. The public is welcome.

“This will help people understand the different issues that create poverty,” said Jan Breidenbach, executive director of Southern California Assn. of Nonprofit Housing. “Otherwise, people work on their own issues and don’t understand the connection.”

Madeline Janis-Aparicio, executive director of the Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy, added that Sunday’s event could focus attention on aspects of poverty that are not well known.

Although attention has been paid to more visible issues, such as homelessness, other problems, such as the struggle of the working poor, have not garnered as much attention, she said.

Sam Mistrano, executive director of Human Service Alliance, which coordinates about 1,600 social service agencies, said: “Times have been tight for the last 10 years, and I’ve come into contact with clients who are not doing well, who can’t get health care, child care or a decent job and there’s nothing to bolster the social safety net.”

By bringing people together, he hopes for more strength and clout to create better policies.

“I want to bring the message back that our government can’t get out of the people-helping business,” he said. “It has a responsibility to all people, not just the wealthy ones.”