iHeart Lake LA Good Vibes Chalk Festival draws 190 people

Lake Los Angeles – Sorensen Regional Park – Saturday, July 2, 2022 - Pictured is Iris Jacqueline Urias creating her very large iHeart LLA chalk art on the floor of the outdoor basketball courts. Other people joined Iris by adding a flower, a star or some other little piece to her lettering.

Hostess Erika Schwerdt greeted the crowd saying, “Welcome everyone! No matter what is going on in the world, we can always count on each other, to be supportive of each other and our community. It is very clear here tonight. We see so much diversity and kindness.”

Community members provided input on what they felt is their priorities in Lake Los Angeles. A survey was taken and each person who contributed to the survey was given a drawing ticket. There were 9 topics. The focus was on the positives and what is most important to LLA families. The survey called for each to express how they felt they and their families could contribute to kindness in our community. The topics included Safe Communities, Afford ale Housing, Free and Affordable Activities, Goods jobs and Stability, Affordable Child Care, Community Resources, Mental and Physical Health, Family Time and United Communities.

Entitled Thriving Families, Safer Children survey was provided by Strength Based Community Change (SBCC). SBCC has been doing this throughout the county. SBCC does not go into a community saying what the community needs. It asks community member what they fell their community needs and wants. With that feedback, SBCC uses that information as their guide for working throughout each community.

The second information board was the Garbage Disposal District (GDD) and/or Residential Franchise from Los Angeles County Public works. Schwerdt remarked, “I hope our feedback from this story board will benefit the choices the County will be making as voting will be coming up pretty soon.” The story board depicted the informational presentation prepared by the GDD team precisely as provided to the public without any commentary to prevent any influence on choices.

Some very happy young ladies received prizes like two novelty ring pools and 3 different chalk boxes.

Pictured: Evelyn Lopez ring pool, Kaitlyn Covey chalk box, Kamila Franco king size chalks, little Lily Payne chalk box (hanging onto it tightly) and Stephanie Ocegueda novelty ring pool, PAD goodie bag and folding chair. Pictured with Lily is Raelyn Payne her cousin and Sarah Payne her aunt. Iris Urias had a winning ticket but returned it for someone else to win a prize.

These young people filled out the SBCC Thriving Families, Safer Children making their choices about what is most important to them and what would best benefit their hometown of Lake Los Angeles. It was a civics engagement for them. These young people are going to be voters soon, their opinions matter.

In the gymnasium were Macie Perry Young Miss Greater Los Angeles County, Kallie Perry, Junior Miss Lake Los Angeles, Kammie Perry Young Miss North Los Angeles County and Sadie Perry, Teeny Tiny Miss North Los Angeles County. The queens helped serve the nachos and popsicles to the crowd in the gymnasium. Sadie Perry oversaw the water cooler.

After they performed their community duties in the gymnasium, they joined the festivities at the Good Vibes iHeart Lake Los Angeles Chalk Festival.

The survey forms will be forwarded to the County. The closing for public commentary is July 9, 2022.

By : Shirley Harriman