Building A Future of Collective Care

Social support networks

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

Los Angeles, like many urban areas, suffers from a significant lack of accessible "third places"—social spaces that are distinct from home and work. These vital zones are essential for fostering community cohesion, but for Black and Brown women and gender-expansive people of color, such spaces are often unwelcoming or entirely inaccessible. This absence creates a critical gap in environments that support social interaction, mutual support, and community building. Without these inclusive third places, BIPOC communities are deprived of the social infrastructure necessary for building networks, accessing resources, and nurturing well-being. This lack perpetuates societal divisions and maintains unequal access to the benefits that come from a supportive community environment.

Our Collective Care initiative addresses the lack of "third places" by creating a dedicated hub for Black, Brown, and Indigenous women and gender-expansive people of color. This inclusive space provides a platform for connection, resource access, and well-being, challenging systemic marginalization and fostering visibility, connection, and growth.
The initiative builds a future where healing and interdependence redefine community engagement. Unlike traditional community initiatives in Los Angeles, Sovern offers a dynamic and welcoming space that encourages community members to participate and bring their creative visions to life. With this grant, we will enhance our supportive container, nurturing personal growth and community empowerment through events like “There Goes the Neighborhood,” focused on monthly social connection, and exhibits like “Romance in the New World,” exploring cultural exchange, collective joy, and reimagined narratives of love within a BIPOC context.
Our initiative fosters lasting connections, with regular participants, drawn to a supportive environment unlike any other in LA. Our centrally located and accessible space counters the isolation of the city as community members from across LA County find solace among participants and active involvement from a team that shares their lived experiences.
The consistency of our programming strengthens our community’s fabric, transforming community building that centers reimagining a future of care and healing.

If our initiative is successful, LA County will be profoundly transformed through a lens of collective care and healing. Our community hub in West Adams will serve as a model for intentional spaces that center deep connection, support, and empowerment for Black, Brown, and Indigenous women and gender-expansive people of color. As we reimagine collective care, our programs will not only address isolation but also build a future where interdependence and community support are central values. The ripple effects will extend beyond West Adams, affecting participants from across LA through improved mental and emotional well-being and a sense of belonging and community, empowering individuals to advocate for themselves and contribute positively to our broader society. Through an expansion of existing programming, this initiative can demonstrate how nurturing environments can dismantle systemic barriers and create a more inclusive, connected, and thriving LA County for everyone.

By expanding our existing “third place” initiative, we are committed to advancing the role Sovern plays in the West Adams neighborhood as an inclusive community hub for Black and Indigenous women and gender expansive people of color. By providing a sanctuary for healing, transformation, and justice, we will measure our success through quantitative metrics like participant counts and attendance rates at our diverse programs, including "There Goes the Neighborhood" events, wellness workshops, and a co-working space. We’ll also gather qualitative feedback through surveys, focus groups, and interviews to understand participants' experiences and sense of connection. By tracking the introduction and uptake of new, culturally relevant offerings, we’ll evaluate our effectiveness in combating loneliness and fostering community among the individuals that make up the community we aim to serve.