Hollywood energy gamers are taking discover of the nonprofit group Los Angeles Room & Board, which works to offer housing, meals and assist to varsity college students experiencing homelessness in L.A.
“Los Angeles Room & Board is the mannequin by which we ought to be serving to one another,” singer and The Voice vocal coach Stevie Mackey tells The Hollywood Reporter. “They supply far more than a house. They supply a life with actual, high quality experiences.”
Different supporters of the group embody writer-producer John Wells (ER, Shameless, Maid) and his spouse, Marilyn; actress Shanola Hampton; NBA all-star Jrue Vacation and his spouse, two-time Olympic Gold Medalist Lauren Vacation; Bradley Whitford; Euphoria’s Algee Smith; and singer-songwriter Eric Bellinger. In February, founder and CEO Sam Prater appeared on The Jennifer Hudson Present to advertise the charity.
For Prater, the nonprofit is one in all his passions. Born in Detroit, the twelfth of 14 kids, Prater dropped out of highschool earlier than restarting his academic journey on the age of 23 at a local people faculty. Whereas incomes his doctorate in academic management and coverage at California State College, he labored with the Dean of College students Workplace the place he managed the Primary Wants Initiative.
Whereas working there, Prater started to look at the scholars who attended occasions the place meals have been supplied. “I’d discover that people would line up, and after we’d deliver meals, they’d deliver Tupperware, and they might ravage the meals,” Prater says.
He additionally grew to become disturbed by the variety of college students dropping out of college on account of poverty.
“On the finish of the semester, they have been saying, ‘Hey, I’m going to take the semester off [because] cash bought a little bit tight. I’ll work and are available again,’” Prater remembers. “This occurred over and over. Folks have been dropping out of college, not as a result of they weren’t good, not as a result of they couldn’t deal with the rigor of college-level work — it was as a result of they didn’t have housing or meals.”
Rendering of Los Angeles Room & Board’s Excelsior Home.
Courtesy of Los Angeles Room & Board
This drawback is widespread all through the area. In Los Angeles County, one in 10 college students at four-year schools is experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity. At neighborhood schools, the quantity soars to at least one in 5.
Los Angeles Room & Board, based by Prater in 2020, goals to alter that — one mattress and one home-cooked meal at a time. The primary Room & Board dwelling opened at an outdated sorority home throughout the road from UCLA. In lower than two years, the group went from housing and feeding 15 college students to having 190 beds accessible in 4 homes throughout L.A., primarily for college kids attending neighborhood schools.
There at the moment are 4 Room & Board transitional homes throughout L.A. “We now have tried to create areas the place individuals can really feel dignity and really feel happy with the place they stay,” says Prater.
Los Angeles Room & Board works with the County of Los Angeles, which refers foster youths and younger adults popping out of the prison justice system. In addition they companion with each neighborhood schools and four-year schools to establish college students experiencing homelessness and meals insecurity.
“Along with offering housing freed from cost to college students, we additionally present three meals a day cooked by our culinary crew. We now have full-time cooks who’re offering contemporary meals. Most of the meals that people eat we develop the produce within the yard,” Prater says. “It’s a complete, wrap-around program [offering] supportive companies, tutoring, tutorial and profession growth, monetary literacy, and planning and life abilities. We attempt to do all the things we will to present them abilities to achieve success, whether or not on campus or of their neighborhood.”
As Prater notes, attempting to assist these college students is daunting — 45,000 beds could be wanted to accommodate all at-risk faculty college students in Los Angeles County — and likewise very costly. In December 2023, Room & Board hosted its first vacation fundraiser, alongside movie star companions Mackey, Smith and singer Josiah Bell. “I believe the entire neighborhood heard us singing that evening,” Mackey says. “And I hope they felt the influence Los Angeles Room & Board is making.”
However there’s extra work to be executed. “When no scholar has to determine between housing and faculty,” Prater says, “we will cling it up.”
Vacation occasion at Los Angeles Room and Board’s Dunamis Home, December 2023.
Forrest Cornwell