For more than 30 years, Champions in Service, Leadership Foundation of Los Angeles County and the San Fernando Valley, have been working to make their city a safer, more vibrant place.
That means they’ve been willing to hang out in places and with people that others would count as a lost cause – the neighborhoods with the most violence, gang and drug activity.
But their work and long-time commitment to the communities and cities that they love has paid off! And it’s been recognized, even in Washington, DC.
In July of 2022, Blinky Rodriguez (Executive Director) and Bobby Arias (President) were invited as special guests to celebrate passage of the The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, legislation that will work to make children and schools safer through commonsense gun reform and violence prevention.
Blinky and Bobby know more than a little about what it takes to make our cities safer. In their more than three decades of committed service, they have become known as the preeminent community-based collaborator and resource in the San Fernando Valley – covering a population of 2.2 million in northern Los Angeles County.
This has included intensive gang intervention, tattoo removal, wrap-around services, case management, mentoring, and youth mental health, to name just a few of their programs.
They’ve also gathered over 50 community members for more than 25 years to collaboratively address gangs in their community. Building strong relationships with other community organizations, the LA Police Department, District Attorney, and local colleges and universities has made a tremendous impact locally to reduce violence.
We are incredibly proud of Champions in Service for driving the Wheel of Change in Los Angeles, making their community a safer, more vibrant place for all!
