Updates from FoC Board LAUSD Liaison

Hello Clifford Families,

As we started the new year, I don’t think anyone expected the unprecedented disasters and uncertainty that January 2025 brought to Los Angeles! Altadena and Pacific Palisades, have suffered upwards of $250 Billion dollars in insured losses, but most importantly, those communities have lost their local infrastructure, neighborhood and family networks.

In an effort to help families affected by the devasting fires, LAUSD organized a series of workshops helping residents navigate fire insurance claims as well as developing a Family and Community Recovery Guide and setting up a family resources page to assist in the recovery efforts and help others prepare proactively.

Resources for families such as school-based clinics and wellness centers, wildfire preparedness, preparing and emergency supply kit, resource guide for food, transportation, housing and legal support among other things were made available to all. The Family and Community Recovery Guide can be downloaded at https://www.lausd.org/Page/19056.

Apart from the fires, The Los Angeles Unified School District, one of the largest in the nation, with families who speak over 150 languages, has pushed to ensure that our schools remain safe and inclusive spaces for all. In January 2025, LAUSD was busy hosting family academy workshops under their LAUSD 2025: We Are One initiative where they hosted “Know Your Rights” workshop for parents, caregivers and allies, providing them with strategies and resources to support their well-being in the post-election climate and helping them in developing a plan for possible immigration enforcement and family separation scenarios. Participants were provided access to immigration resources such as the “Red Card” and educational videos that will help individuals assert their rights if they encounter an immigration enforcement official as well as guides on what to do if detained, how to locate family members, and the opportunity to connect with organizations collaborating with LAUSD.

While the Los Angeles Unified We Are One Resource Guide provides immigration support information, the resource guide has a wealth of information on other topics such as school safety, educational rights, strategies and resources to foster health and resiliency, LAUSD support staff directory and additional educational and community resources. The “We Are One” guide can be downloaded at https://www.lausd.org/weareone.

As your Friends of Clifford LAUSD Liaison for 2024-2025, I am committed to finding and sharing all resources I come across that can help inform parents and students and empower us to be better parents, better neighbors and allies in our children’s development and academic success!

Carlos Aguilar, FoC Board LAUSD Liaison

Below are additional opportunities LAUSD is providing for February 2025 for family and community engagement and education:

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS: IMMIGRANT ACCESS TO PUBLIC SERVICES AND BENEFITS Tuesday, February 18, 2025 5:30 – 7:00pm Zoom: https://bit.ly/lausdweareone ID: 846 002 69705

MAKING READING AND WRITING CONNECTIONS TO BOOST LITERACY Wednesday, February 19, 2025 5:30 – 7:00pm Zoom: https://bit.ly/familyacademywebinar ID: 895 5755 5227

BEYOND THE TABLE: NUTRITION MATTERS FOR HEALTH AND ACADEMIC SUCCESS Thursday, February 20, 2025 1:00 - 2:00 pm Zoom: https://bit.ly/VAEOS_Family_Academy_Webinar ID: 862 9624 5949

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS: IMMIGRANT ACCESS TO PUBLIC SERVICES AND BENEFITS Thursday, February 20, 2025 9:00 – 10:30am Zoom: https://bit.ly/lausdweareone ID: 846 002 69705

Families be on the lookout for the following workshops coming next week! More info to follow via FoC and Clifford WhatsApp! You can also reach me at carlos@friendsofclifford.org

· BUILDING STRONGER BONDS: SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING AND RESTORATIVE PRACTICES FOR FAMILIES

· TAILORED TUTORING TO TAILORED NEEDS: LAUSD TUTORING PROGRAMS