Sometimes, you just need to say “Thank You” . . . dozens and dozens of times.

The 2nd Annual
Best Start Leadership Appreciation event welcomed – and expressed gratitude to – close to 200
participants at the Los Angeles County Arboretum on December 10.

The focus of the event was to celebrate the
accomplishments of the 14 Best Start
Community Partnerships
and thank these leaders for their work throughout the year. Speakers included First 5
LA Commissioner Marlene Zepeda, Executive Director Kim Belshé and Best Start Communities Director
Antoinette Andrews.

First 5 LA Director of Community Relations Rafael González also spoke, specifically
showing appreciation for members who had gone above and beyond in 2016 by participating in the Learning Communities
and Transition Team. All leaders received a nice gift and those who went above and beyond received a pin
saying “Outstanding Volunteer.”

Click through the photo slide show below to see pictures from this
special celebration.




Pride Month 2024: Empowering Change in Los Angeles

Pride Month 2024: Empowering Change in Los Angeles

June 2024 Summer kicks off with Pride Month! This month-long event is held in June to commemorate the 1969 Stonewall Riots in New York City and to celebrate the history and achievements of the LGBTQ+ community. At the same time, Pride Month is an opportunity to...

First 5 LA Board Approves FY 2024-2025 Budget and Discusses Equity Efforts

May 9, 2024, Board of Commission Meeting Summary

First 5 LA's Board of Commissioners convened in person on May 9, 2024. Vice Chair Summer McBride presided over the meeting, which included votes on the Revised Records Management Policy and Records Retention Schedule and an amendment to an existing strategic...

Honoring AANHPI Innovators and Leaders, Past and Future

Honoring AANHPI Innovators and Leaders, Past and Future

As We Celebrate Asian American, Native Hawaíian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month  This May, First 5 LA joins Los Angeles County in celebrating Asian American, Native Hawaíian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month. Originally designated as a week-long...

Media Campaign to Promote Bilingualism Adds Four New Languages

Media Campaign to Promote Bilingualism Adds Four New Languages

Christina Hoag | Freelance Writer April 25, 2024 Last year, Spanish and Chinese. This year, Vietnamese, Khmer, Korean and Armenian. The Dual Language Learner Initiative has launched a new media campaign in four additional languages to encourage increased bilingualism...

Home Visiting Garners Increasing Official Recognition

Home Visiting Garners Increasing Official Recognition

  Christina Hoag | Freelance Writer April 25, 2024 In April, four of Los Angeles County’s biggest cities officially recognized Home Visiting Day for the first time, a sign of home visiting’s expanding public awareness and the region’s leading role in the programs...

Translate