Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexandra (Alex) Ramirez.
Alexandra (Alex), please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
LA Más started as an urban design nonprofit in the neighborhood of Frogtown (Elysian Valley). We leveraged skills in design, public policy and planning as collaborative tools to support small businesses, public realm improvement and create alternative affordable housing models. In the last year, we have been evaluating the impact of our work and engaged in conversations with over a dozen community stakeholders to learn more about how the organization could focus on supporting low-income residents in Frogtown and Northeast LA.
I joined LA Más as Program Manager in the summer of 2019. I was excited to be part of our small team and I was new to LA so this was a great environment for me to get to know the city, our neighborhood and our partners. I had first heard of the organization when I was in the urban planning master’s program at the University of Michigan and was inspired by these two young women (our Co-Executive Directors, Helen Leung and Elizabeth Timme) who were coming up with innovative ideas around small business support, urban design and affordable housing. I was lucky to join an organization which allows me to bring my personal and professional experiences together. I grew up in a small town in central Mexico, my parents owned a corner store in the local market, and a lot of how I engage people in our work comes from those experiences.
When the Safer At Home order was put in place, we paused our existing programs and focused on providing support to our neighbors. The Northeast LA (NELA) Community Response initiative came from our relationship with David Delatorre and Ceci Dominguez, from the Neighborhood Watch and Senior Group, respectively. With the help of our partners and volunteers, we were getting in touch with residents and figuring out what would be helpful to them during this health crisis. The support ranged from providing bi-weekly grocery, face masks and family activity kit deliveries; supporting families who had been financially impacted by covid-19 with cash assistance; designing and distributing informational flyers about rent and mortgage support; and connecting residents to long-term support programs like CalFresh and Meals on Wheels.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The organization has always been mindful of the strengths and limitations of design, planning and public policy. In our past projects, we had to figure out how to balance time, budget and impact. We don’t like compromising any of these but we now focus a lot more on the impact of our work. The health crisis has highlighted the underlying issues affecting our communities so our focus moving forward will be to address these and support equity and justice in our neighborhoods.
The health crisis also challenged how our team works together. As a small team, we are used to collaborating with each other which was a lot easier when we were working in the same space and could just turn around to ask each other a question or go out for a walk and brainstorm ideas. Now we had to figure out how to work remotely and maintain the quality of our working relationships while managing working from home and taking care of children or family members. We also got creative with how we do check-ins and how we manage the program to ensure the process remains transparent and collaborative.
Having lived through a lot of personal tragedies has made me more resilient to managing crises. I think that is true at a personal level for a lot of people, and I see it on a community level too. I am mindful that none of my achievements are accomplished alone, and that my community has always pulled me through challenging times. What we did with the NELA Community Response Initiative was highlight the things that work best in our community: the strength of our relationships and our sense of solidarity.
LA Más – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
LA Más is known for developing authentic community engagement strategies and for connecting people to resources they have difficulty accessing. Through the Backyard Homes Project, we guide low-moderate income homeowners through the financing, permitting and construction process, which will allow them to create affordable housing options for others; the Storefronts, LA program connects small business owners to design and operational support services that help highlight their business values and identity; and the NELA Community Response Initiative has helped connect residents to immediate needs like groceries, face masks and long-term support.
We are proud of the work we are doing now, especially the NELA Community Response Initiative, and thankful for our relationships with community leaders who have helped shape our work. Through this initiative, we’ve gotten to know our neighbors, listen to their stories and share our own. We’re focusing our work on place-based community projects within Frogtown and NELA. This means that the work is informed and led by residents. We’re looking forward to continuing to work with our community to shape our neighborhood together.
What has been the proudest moment of your career so far?
“Proudest moment of my career” feels like a comparison between the projects and initiatives I have been fortunate to be a part of. My career path has taken many twists and turns, and I have learned that I am proudest with my work when I am connected to community efforts that are aligned with values and principles that empower the communities they intend to serve. With that, I would say I am living my proudest moment because, as part of LA Más, I have been able to witness our community come together and support each other. Frogtown is a close-knit community predominately made up of immigrant, working-class, multi-generational households that reminds me of home and I see a lot of myself and my own family here. Feeling connected with the people of Frogtown and their stories of resilience motivates us at LA Más to gear up for the long-term work that will be needed to support our community.
Contact Info:
- Address: 2806 Clearwater St, Los Angeles, 90039
- Website: https://www.mas.la/
- Phone: (213) 465-0410
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mas4la/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mas4LA/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/Mas4LA
Image Credit:
Javi de Leon
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