LA's BEST

Adventures In Peacemaking is a curriculum that uses The Peaceable Program approach toward teaching tolerance and conflict resolution skills to young people. The program, which teaches through reading activities and group discussions, emphasizes cooperation, emotional expression, communication, appreciation for diversity and conflict resolution.

After School Arts Program (ASAP) includes visual art, music, dance, drama and poetry classes, and features artists/educators-in-residence working with the LA’s BEST children. Each 10-week residency concludes with a special culmination event which brings the community together to celebrate the talent and accomplishments of the children.

BEST Fit is a health-centered, culturally-relevant, and intentional approach to nutrition and physical fitness. The goal is to provide fun and innovative opportunities for LA’s BEST children and their families to develop healthy eating habits, make physical activity a daily part of their lives, and encourage them to be advocates for a healthy future.

Connecting for Success is a staff development program that introduces new and innovative ways of working with youth to challenge them to think about their attitudes towards their peers, families and communities and to learn about how they can empower themselves to make an impact locally and globally.

Junior Achievement teaches the LA’s BEST children the basic concepts of business, economics and work readiness. The program includes six sequential themes for kindergarten through fifth-grade students that lay the ground work for financial literacy and productive citizenship in a global economy.

KidTech is an eight-week program in computer basics and software applications. Students learn to type, create documents, graphs, presentations, edit photos, and conduct research on the Internet. Upon completion of the program, students are awarded a free, refurbished desktop computer to take home. Students and their parents also participate in a culminating workshop to learn how to properly set up, manage, and utilize a computer.

KidType is a five-week program that teaches students touch typing, improving speed and accuracy, through fun and interactive software lessons and games. LA’s BEST hosts semi-annual type-off competitions for the fastest students from each school to showcase their skills and compete for prizes.

KidzLit and KidzMath, research-based literacy and math programs developed specifically for use in after school programs by the Developmental Studies Center, help LA’s BEST foster a love of reading and math in its students.

LA’s BEST Celebrate Science Program provides opportunities for LA’s BEST children to have fun, engaging, interactive science experiences under a “team inquiry” model—developed under the guidance of NASA/Jet Propulsion Laboratory. This program culminates with the citywide Celebrate Science Fair, where winning teams are awarded all expenses-paid trips to a parent-child weekend at U.S. Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama.

LA84 Foundation Sports Program provides students with a positive team concept and a method for developing their physical and social skills through sports engagement. Students in grades 3-6 participate in year-round sports, which include flag football, basketball, softball and track and field competitions. Coaches train and practice with more than 240 teams for each sport for five weeks, which culminates in weekend tournament competitions.

Autumn Kidfest celebrates the fall season with fun activities, carnival games and treats for students at sites across the city.

Community Jam Against Violence is a talent showcase aimed at taking a stand against violence. The 2008 Community Jam Against Violence was held at the Kodak Theatre and generated support and participation from entertainers and actors alike including Stevie Wonder, George Lopez, Elizabeth Banks, Keisha Whitaker and a number of stars from American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance. The inspiring event raised much needed funds for the LA’s BEST program.

Dance & Drill Team Showcase brings nearly 2,000 students together at Cal State L.A. for incredible performances in drill team and dance. This annual showcase provides children with an opportunity to proudly demonstrate leadership, teamwork, self-confidence and performing arts skills mastered through many hours of dedication and hard work.

Family Days at Raging Waters is one of the most popular field trips of the year. LA’s BEST students and their families always look forward to enjoying a day of fun at Southern California’s most popular water park. Raging Waters provides two full days of admissions to LA’s BEST in order to accommodate our growing population of students.

Family Health Festival is an annual event of the BEST Fit program that brings together students and families for a day of fun and fitness. Thousands of participants from across Los Angeles sample healthy snacks, play games and engage in hands-on activities designed to promote an awareness of healthy lifestyles.

LA’s BEST Annual Family Brunch saw its 14th year of successful fundraising for the program with 2009’s “Imagine the Future” Family Brunch. Honorees included Usher Raymond IV, LA’s BEST Alumnus Mirla Urzua, and Variety. The event also honored 20 LA’s BEST students for their award–winning entries in the “I Dream That One Day” writing and art contest. Award presenters included the Honorable Richard Riordan, television producer Nigel Lythgoe and Virgil Roberts, managing partner at the entertainment law firm Bobbitt & Roberts. The event was hosted by Michaela Pereira, morning and afternoon KTLA news anchor.