Neighborhood Youth Association

Coming up: NYA’s 43rd Scholarship Celebration, “Family & Community,” Saturday, June 6, 5-7pm, St Bede's Episcopal Church, 3590 Grand View Blvd., Los Angeles. Join NYA students, families, donors, volunteers, staff, and friends in saluting Class of 2026 graduates and college-enrolled alumni recipients of more than $55,000 in scholarships. Fiesta buffet of Mexican fare will be served. Register by email to [email protected].

Thank you, St. Matthew's Music Guild, for providing today’s Latin jazz concert enjoyed and applauded by NYA students gathered at St Bede's Episcopal Church, Mar Vista. Vocalist-trumpeter Adelaide Pilar assembled a trio for the program generously arranged by Dory Tooke of the Music Guild. NYA’s fully non-sectarian program — focused on 100% college placement of students overcoming socioeconomic challenges — includes music appreciation among enrichment activities. !

This week’s NYA workshop featured cooking class with Chef Synovia! Apple crisp was the focus for in-class baking (the aroma was heavenly) — with enough ingredients for each student to take along and bake another dish at home. Thank you, Mar Vista Farmers' Market, for donated ingredients and most all, for introducing us to wonderful Chef Synovia. Thanks, too, to NYA staffer Diane Pound for class support, and to St Bede's Episcopal Church, Mar Vista, for making your gleaming parish kitchen available to NYA each week.

Visits to the University of San Diego, San Diego State University, and UC San Diego rounded out NYA’s four-day spring college tour, completed today with 20 students gaining first-hand insights into six schools and various prospective programs. Led by NYA Program Director Sonia R. Hernandez, the tour was made possible by a generous grant from the Janos Family Trust. !

California State University - San Marcos was today’s stop on NYA’s college tour, preceded by yesterday’s visit to SeaWorld for relaxation and recreation. On now to UCSD, USD, and San Diego State, adding to Monday stops at Chapman University and UCI, all part of an itinerary made possible by a generous grant from the Janos Family Trust. We are especially grateful for this opportunity because campus visits often play a key role in helping students finalize their college decisions.

NYA’s 2026 college tour is off to a great start with today’s first stops at Chapman University and UCI in Orange County. At Chapman (third photo), students are pictured near a piece of the Berlin Wall, and senior Joseph is seated in a replica of Lincoln’s chair in the iconic memorial in Washington D.C. Up next: San Diego schools — UCSD, University of San Diego, San Diego State, and California State University, San Marcos — with a fun stop at SeaWorld. NYA Program Director Sonia R. Hernandez is overseeing travels assisted by NYA alum Anthony Mateo. Student small groups have planned each campus visit on the tour, which is made possible by a generous grant from the Janos Family Trust.

was alive this morning as 45 Christmas food boxes — each complete with a turkey, trimmings, vegetables, and fixings for cookie-making — were presented to NYA families thanks to which facilitates the distribution each year with loading at Santa Monica Airport’s Barker Hangar in collaboration with the L.A. Sheriff’s Department. NYA Program Director Sonia R. Hernandez, Administrative Assistant Diane Pound, and Board President Bob Williams were joined in pick-up arrangements by retired NYA staffer Abby Vibiano. Special thanks to St Bede's Episcopal Church, Mar Vista — home to NYA’s flagship learning center — for the welcoming space for families to pick up their boxes. Thank you, Viking Charities and L.A.S.D., and warmest holiday greetings to everyone, from all of us at NYA! !

Thank you, St Augustine by-the-Sea Episcopal Church, Santa Monica, for the holiday gifts of new books for all NYA students, who gathered with their families yesterday for a winter celebration dinner at St Bede's Episcopal Church, Mar Vista, home to NYA’s flagship learning center. Continuing a longstanding annual tradition, donors filled holiday wish lists from each student reflecting their career goals, areas of study, and leisure-reading interests. The festive celebration was coordinated again this year by Sonia R. Hernandez, NYA program director, who guides the non-sectarian agency’s mission of on-time high school graduation and 100-percent college placement for under-resourced students. !

Thank you, Parish of St. Matthew - The Episcopal Church in Pacific Palisades, for the wonderfully festive Christmas Faire that again this year raised much-needed support for Westside service agencies, including NYA! We are so grateful to everyone, and especially St. Matthew’s Outreach Committee and Jocelyn Cortese, chair, who hosted the gala event Nov. 20 and does so much year-round to facilitate the grant-making process, inspiringly undeterred by the recent devastating wildfire. Special thanks, too, to NYA Board Vice-Chair Sarah Newman, pictured here with NYA Program Director Sonia Hernandez and Board President Bob Williams, and with the “Sultans of Swing” who provided joyous music for the evening. Smiling in first photo with the Rev. KC Robertson are representatives of the benefiting organizations, which include Westside Foodbank, NYA, and more. The St. Matthew’s outreach grant greatly assists NYA in its mission of 100% college placement for under-resourced applicants. Thank you, friends, and happy holidays! !

Thank you, Investors in Education, for your very generous support of NYA students again this year! Youth leaders Daniel, Adrian, and Carlos, together with program director Sonia Hernandez and trustees Sarah Newman, Joe Silver, and Bob Williams were delighted to greet all attending the beautiful Nov. 6 reception at the California Club in Los Angeles, and especially to congratulate this year’s distinguished honorees. The event and year-round fundraising, led by committee co-chairs Amy Cummings, Joe Silver, and Satya Kumar, are expertly coordinated by Sulema Peterson. As Thanksgiving approaches, we are deeply grateful for you, and for all the ways in which your generous giving funds more than one-third of NYA’s annual operating budget to assure that 100% of NYA seniors are placed in college. !