On Sunday March 3rd, the Banyan Foundation’s Youth Leadership Council met to discuss different organizations that focus on teen mental health in the Los Angeles area. The Youth Leadership Council reached out to the Heart of Los Angeles (HOLA) to gain insight on their story and purpose. In preparation for a call interview with HOLA, members of the Youth Leadership Council met around 10 o’clock in the Oppenheimer Conference Room, created questions, and waited for the incoming call.
The call was with Tony Brown, the Executive Director for HOLA of nearly 20 years. Brown expressed that the organization’s prime focus is the arts and mental health. He explained how HOLA has presented youth and teen students with an after-school enrichment program that includes up to thirty classes in visual arts and music. In relation to HOLA’s prime focus, Brown conveyed, “We want to use the aspect of education to allow students to continue to go forward with in order to succeed”. Brown discussed how HOLA is limited to impacting only a handful of students, leaving about 1,400 teens left without support. HOLA members are allowed to participate full time or part time if necessary. In the future, Brown plans to expand in the area of mental health as there is a high demand for support. This expansion includes adding music programs to schools in Los Angeles. Lastly, Brown stated that the vision of HOLA can continue to support visual arts and musical programs and to allow youth to grow individually and within society.
The Sunday meeting ended with the Youth Leadership Council discussing their approach to address teen mental health within the next couple weeks as they make their last visits to organizations and plan for the May 11th Culmination Event.
