We hosted a meaningful Reentry Event for our justice-involved youth that focused on second chances, support, and empowerment. Youth explored job resources, got their hair done, chose new professional outfits, expressed themselves by creating custom keychains, and shared their stories in a safe, welcoming space. We’re grateful to everyone who helped make the event a success!
Read MoreEveryone at the Jordan Downs Center had a blast celebrating St. Paddy’s Day with the community! From festive crafts to games and treats, the day was filled with laughter, connection, and joy. Events like these help strengthen our bonds with families and create lasting memories rooted in kindness and inclusion. Thank you to our supporters for making moments like this possible!
Read MoreOur youth have been diving into creativity and entrepreneurship; designing custom keychains, making sweaters of their own designs, and learning how to turn their ideas into real businesses thanks to the new tools in our STEAM lab. With every item they create, they're building skills in marketing, budgeting, and storytelling.
Read MoreChildren Mending Hearts is proud to celebrate a major milestone—Project SOAR at the Jordan Downs Center has now reached 100 youth participants! This initiative through the Southern California College Attainment Network provides free, personalized college and career advising to public housing residents, supporting them in academic planning, college applications, financial aid completion, and scholarship assistance.
Read MoreThanks to the generosity of GUESS and the Guess Care initiative, we successfully hosted a Clothing Giveaway at the Jordan Downs Center on February 26. Dozens of community members received brand-new clothing, helping them feel confident and supported.
Read MoreThanks to the support of our donors, the Jordan Downs Youth Nature Club is fostering a love for the environment in children ages 4-14. Through hands-on gardening and outdoor activities led by our friends at GreenSpaces LA, our kids are learning about sustainability, teamwork, and the beauty of nature—all while having fun!
Read MoreWe had the pleasure of welcoming HACLA’s new President and CEO, Lourdes Castro Ramirez, for a tour of our facility to see the different impacts we’re making. We’re grateful for our growing partnership and thrilled to share that, during the visit, she even offered a youth member a job!
Read MoreWe had the heartfelt pleasure of hosting a Valentine’s Day event for our students and their families that truly brought everyone together. The joy on the children’s faces as they eagerly anticipated seeing their parents was incredibly touching.
Read MoreOur hands-on cooking classes at Jordan Downs highlight the importance of cooking at home—showing how it’s not only healthier and more affordable than eating out but also a more sustainable choice. By learning to prepare their own meals, participants gain confidence in the kitchen, develop lifelong skills, and make smarter food choices that benefit both their wallets and the environment.
Read MoreWith the Los Angeles fires came the halfway point in our educational programs that are running in classrooms across the country. And we know our program is working because of the response we’ve seen from kids outside of California.
Read MoreChildren Mending Hearts is honored to receive the 2024 Excellence in Community Impact Award from the City of Los Angeles. This achievement is shared with all who believe in our mission—our founders, Board of Directors, Board of Advisors, and especially our incredible teachers.
Read MoreMany of our youth have been able to get job placements by the City of Los Angeles right in our Center, so they can continue to learn while getting work experience! We are especially proud of our youth Dre, whose work ethic and quality impressed everyone at GEM so much that he was offered placement with them!
Read MoreThanks to the guidance of fearless founder Lysa Heslov and Grant Heslov, CMH came together to assist GEM (Global Empowerment Mission) as they began a large, coordinated response to the Los Angeles wildfires.
Read MoreTo help us distribute the clothing from GUESS to those in need, we worked with The Pasadena Job Center, It’s Bigger Than Us, the LA Dream Center, and Sisters of Watts.
Read MoreWhen the wildfires broke out across Los Angeles, Children Mending Hearts was one of the first to react. We had our staff and students immediately mobilize and create “bags of love” for the Watts community. These bags contained masks, snacks, water, and tips for staying safe.
Read MoreAs we dive into this fresh, exciting year, we’re thrilled to continue our journey of spreading Empathy, Inspiring change, and making a Tangible difference in the lives of children and families across Los Angeles and beyond.
Read MoreThank you to Pooneh Mohajer and the tokidoki family, who provided Christmas-themed unicornos for the children of Watts. This added an extra gift for the kids that they all loved!
Read MoreThis year, to elevate our annual Winter Toy Giveaway in Watts, CMH introduced an exciting new feature: a synthetic ice rink. This unique addition created a magical winter experience for the kids, many of whom had never had the opportunity to skate before.
Read MoreFor the fourth year in a row, we had the absolute pleasure of handing out gifts to the children of Jordan Downs. Unlike many of the other similar events happening in the area during December, our event was a fun outing for the whole family that let the children pick multiple high-quality, name-brand presents for the holiday.
Read MoreThe Children Mending Hearts Poker Event was an incredible evening filled with excitement, generosity, and purpose. Supporters, celebrities, and community leaders came together for a night of friendly competition, all in the name of empathy.
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