Building a healthier Watts

Kaiser Permanente has a long history of supporting the Watts community. Since 1967, the Kaiser Permanente Watts Counseling and Learning Center has provided counseling, educational therapy, preschool education, and other services to the residents of Watts and surrounding areas.

Enhancing health and equity

In February 2024, Kaiser Permanente celebrated the opening of the newly expanded Watts Counseling and Learning Center and construction of the new Watts Medical Offices on the same campus to serve members closer to home. These new facilities demonstrate Kaiser Permanente’s ongoing commitment to serving the Watts community in Southern California.

In collaboration with Community Partners, Kaiser Permanente has launched an equity-focused grant initiative to support 15 nonprofits in Watts. These organizations will receive over $1 million in grants and technical assistance to enhance community health and well-being.

The Watts grant initiative builds upon Kaiser Permanente’s legacy of deep community engagement and investment in the Watts community. The simplified grant-awarding process enabled organizations that have not been able to secure grants in the past to gain access to much-needed funding.

“At Kaiser Permanente, we believe health starts in the community,” said John Yamamoto, vice president of Community Health and Government Relations for Kaiser Permanente. “In addition to our investment in health care services and education, these grants are intended to strengthen community organizations that provide vital services and help build a healthier community.”

This new grant initiative addresses long-standing health inequities impacting residents living in Watts and surrounding communities. The funds will allow these organizations to do what they do best: deliver on their missions to meet ongoing and emergent social health needs.

Empowering and strengthening underserved communities

James Breedlove, executive director of Bridge Builders Foundation, said, “Support from Kaiser Permanente enables us to expand our programs for Black and Latin youth, increasing their sense of belonging and resilience. We thank Kaiser Permanente for their commitment to under-resourced communities.”

The following is a list of organizations funded under this initiative that provide essential social services to residents.

$50,000 grant: Bridge Builders Foundation, Chosen Angels Inc., Friends At Mafundi, Sisters of Watts, The AC Care Alliance, The AMAAD Institute, The Reverence Project, Think Watts Foundation, Watts Community Core, Watts Gang Task Force, Watts/Century Latino Organization, Watts360 Foundation, and Women of Watts and Beyond

$10,000 grant: Boys 2 Gentlemen and East Side Riders Bike Club.

“With a generous $50,000 grant from Kaiser Permanente, Watts/Century Latino Organization will launch new programs and build capacity to support them,” said Autumn Ybarra, executive director at Watts/Century Latino Organization. “Despite our name, we serve all residents of Watts, aiming to bridge divides and meet community needs.”

Trevino Cochran, regional director of AC Care Alliance Advanced Illness Care Program, said, “With the help of the Watts impact grant from Kaiser Permanente, we can continue supporting participants living in Watts and the surrounding communities. We can empower individuals who are historically underserved, uninformed, and unaware of the power of their voice.”

“Our grant will help sustain and enrich the cultural fabric of Watts, foster a sense of pride and unity among its residents, and return the Watts Happening Cultural Center to one of the most prominent cultural arts centers in Los Angeles,” said Rita Cofield, interim executive director of Friends At Mafundi. “It will be a space for local artists, writers, musicians, filmmakers, poets, and community groups to express themselves, led by artists for artists.”

Learn more about Kaiser Permanente’s commitment to community health in Southern California.