Serving Larchmont Village, Hancock Park, and the Greater Wilshire neighborhoods of Los Angeles since 2011.

Ebell Conversations: Foster Care in LA Discussed on Thursday

Expert Panel Shares What Children in Foster Care Need to Succeed, How to Help at the Ebell on Thursday

Throughout its 124-year history, the women of the Ebell of Los Angeles have always been concerned about the community. And over the years since it was constructed in 1927, the historic club house at Wilshire and Lucerne has served as a focal point for conversations about community issues, and opportunities for the community to come together to work on challenges facing the city.

So in that spirit, Ebell members Jill Bauman, CEO of Imagine LA, a non-profit that helps families out of homelessness, and Rebecca Hutchinson, a public relations executive who now works with Imagine LA, got together with the Ebell’s Program Director, Laurie Schechter, and Director of Membership and Programs Meredyth Deighton, and came up with a concept called “Ebell Conversations,” a series of events designed to help club members and other interested community members to explore an important local issue in depth and focus on solutions and opportunities for Ebell members and their friends to get involved and make a difference.

“Jill and I brainstormed a way to continue the Ebell’s long history of educating women and serving the community,” Hutchinson explained to the Buzz, “of course expanding it to include all genders and reaching further into the community. We wanted to bring experts together to discuss a variety of relevant topics, answer attendees’ questions, and provide resources to learn further and get involved. The Ebell has such a prominent place in our community, a long history, and gorgeous gathering spaces!”

The first Conversation was held last year, a forum on homelessness that attracted 375 people. It was followed up by a program in which formerly homeless people told their personal stories. LA’s First Lady, Amy Elaine Wakeland, introduced that event to a packed house.

On Thursday, November 1, the Ebell will host its next Conversation in the series, “The Los Angeles Foster Care System: Pathways to Success,” with a panel of experts discussing “What Children in Foster Care Need to Succeed, How to Help.” Several foster care non-profits will be also be on hand to discuss their services and how to get involved, immediately following the discussion.

The panel includes:

  • Janis Spire, former 15-year president and CEO of Alliance for Children’s Rights will moderate the panel, which includes:
  • Judge Michael Nash – executive director of the LA County Office of Child Protection and former presiding judge of the Juvenile Court
  • Jessica Chandler – former foster youth, social worker with LA Department of Children and Family Services and a featured subject in Participant Media and Emerson Collective’s forthcoming documentary, Foster, which will debut on HBO in 2019 (a trailer will be shown)
  • Jeannine Balfour – senior program officer, domestic programs, Conrad N. Hilton Foundation
  • Winnie Wechsler – executive director of the Anthony & Jeanne Pritzker Family Foundation and the Pritzker Foster Care Initiative

The suggested entry donation is $20, and includes a continental breakfast. Doors open at 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, November 1, and the panel discussion starts at 8:30. Late walk-ins are welcome.

The Ebell of Los Angeles is located at 741 South Lucerne Blvd., Los Angeles 90005. There is ample free parking. For tickets, call 323-931-1277 x131 or email [email protected]. Click here to reserve a spot online…or visit the Ebell website for more information.

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Patricia Lombard
Patricia Lombard
Patricia Lombard is the publisher of the Larchmont Buzz. Patty lives with her family in Fremont Place. She has been active in neighborhood issues since moving here in 1989. Her pictorial history, "Larchmont" for Arcadia Press is available at Chevalier's Books.

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