A Family of Gifted Young Artists Calls for Community Support After Years of Systemic Failures and Recent Holiday Hardship
LOS ANGELES, CA — A family of exceptionally talented young artists — known across Los Angeles for their contributions in African drumming, animation, visual arts, and cultural performance — is urgently calling attention to a three-year pattern of severe misconduct, retaliation, and harm carried out by multiple agencies funded to protect vulnerable families. As the holiday season approaches, the family is seeking support, visibility, and community solidarity after suffering devastating losses caused by LA Family Housing’s Comunidad César Chávez program, PATH, LAHSA, and the Jenesse Center.
A Three-Year Timeline of Trauma — Beginning with the Jenesse Center
The family’s struggle began when the Jenesse Center — a domestic violence shelter funded through LAHSA — forcibly exited them only five days after the mother gave birth. This abrupt removal placed a newborn and siblings into unsafe instability.
Adding to the injury, the Jenesse Center later used unauthorized images of the children on public promotional materials, despite being a facility that should protect survivor privacy. The family was never informed, never asked, and never consented — a serious breach of safety and dignity.
The César Chávez Retaliation That Changed Everything
The most severe wave of retaliation began at Comunidad César Chávez, operated by LA Family Housing and connected to PATH and LAHSA.
After a maintenance worker entered the family’s room without knocking, the mother asserted her right to privacy and safety — and from that moment forward, retaliation escalated dramatically:
The children were denied participation in the facility’s Christmas shopping event — the first major act of punishment.
Staff then filed false reports, leading to a traumatic CPS response.
On Easter Sunday, while other kids hunted for 500 Easter eggs, this family’s children were:
Surrounded by up to 20 police officers
Separated from their mother behind a human wall
Pressured by two adult women to remove clothing with no male staff present, causing extreme fear and discomfort for the teenage son.
This incident left the children traumatized and violated.
It also directly contributed to the loss of their permanent housing, making the current two-week hotel cycle necessary.
The Car Impound Deception
For months, the family was promised help repairing their vehicle — then the car was suddenly towed from directly in front of the building. A staff member stood behind the cameras laughing hysterically as the family’s car, livelihood, and independence were taken. Despite promises, no one helped retrieve the vehicle from impound before it was lost.
The Motel 6 Hollywood Incident & Pattern of Unsafe Placements
Later, the family was placed in Motel 6 Hollywood, where traumatic incidents — including unsafe conditions and alarming staff behavior — were captured on video.
These repeated placements show a pattern: LAHSA and its contracted agencies continue renting hotels that are unsafe, unregulated, and wholly unsuitable for families, despite receiving millions in government funding allocated specifically for family stabilization and housing safety.
The Severe Storm Eviction — The Most Recent Blow
During a record-breaking Los Angeles storm, when city officials warned residents to shelter indoors, the family was forced out of their hotel room during the height of the emergency.
As a result, they lost:
African drums
Animation equipment
DJ tools
Electronic devices
Children’s art portfolios
Clothing, shoes, and essential supplies
A high-value performance karaoke speaker used for cultural shows and income
Other tools essential for sustaining their arts-based livelihood
This was not an isolated event — it was the latest wound in a long line of preventable harm caused by agencies obligated and funded to protect them.
Hope for the Holidays: A Call to Action
Despite everything, this family continues to shine.
The children are beloved performers in Watoto Village School of Performing Arts, where they drum, dance, animate, and create art that uplifts communities across Los Angeles.
This holiday season, the family is asking the community for support — not pity:
Support to replace vital instruments, tools, art supplies, and damaged equipment
Support to continue their children’s artistic growth
Support for Watoto Village’s cultural programming, which keeps youth inspired and connected
Support to remain safely housed while pursuing justice and filing the appropriate federal complaints
This is not a family in despair — this is a family of gifted young artists, leaders, culture-bearers, and entrepreneurs whose lives were destabilized by systemic negligence and retaliation.
A System in Need of Accountability
LAHSA, PATH, LA Family Housing, and the Jenesse Center all receive substantial city, state, and federal funding to protect families in crisis.
Instead, this family experienced:
Retaliation
Unsafe housing conditions
Humiliation
Privacy violations
Loss of property
Loss of permanent housing
Emotional trauma
And repeated endangerment of their children
As the family prepares to file official federal complaints, they are determined to expose corruption, demand accountability, and ensure no other children endure what theirs survived.
A Family Standing Strong
Through every ordeal, the children have continued creating art, drumming, dancing, designing, animating, and performing across the city — proving their resilience and brilliance.
Help a Family of Young Artists Rebuild and Replace Everything During the Holidays
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The holidays are meant for joy, family, and celebration. But for my children and me, this season has been filled with fear, chaos, and heartbreak.
I am a mother fighting to protect my incredible young artists — my children — after a year of unimaginable trauma caused by the agencies Path and Communidad Cesar Chavez family shelter that were supposed to help us.
Instead of safety, my family has endured:
Forced expulsion
Dangerous, last-minute moves during storms, with no safety precautions
Total loss of personal belongings and work equipment — art supplies, instruments, cameras, $1,000 speaker, baby strollers, and merchandise we use to make a living and our family van
Constant relocation 1–2 hours away from school and activities, leaving my children to navigate public transit alone
Humiliation and harassment, including being publicly forced out of hotel rooms and having private belongings exposed
My children are performers and artists. One of them is in a huge holiday production rehearsing long, grueling hours — but I cannot support them properly because we are constantly uprooted.
The instability has already harmed their schooling, grades, and emotional well-being. We urgently need stability and help replacing everything we lost.
We are asking for your support to:
Replace all destroyed belongings, including clothing, art supplies, instruments, cameras, and other personal items
Provide daily necessities and transportation while we rebuild
Raise funds for a family van so my children can safely get to school, rehearsals, and activities
Secure a new, stable home where my family can finally have safety, routine, and peace
This holiday season, we are asking for a gift of hope. Your support can give my children the stability they deserve and the chance to continue pursuing their incredible artistic talents.
Every donation, big or small, brings us closer to safety, stability, and a future where my children can thrive.
Please stand with us. Help a family of young artists rebuild, replace everything they’ve lost, and celebrate the holidays with hope.
All donations will go directly toward helping our family rebuild after losing nearly everything while moving through multiple housing programs, including LAHSA’S LA Family Housing’s Comunidad Cesar Chavez, Jennesse Center, PATH, and other LAHSA-connected agencies. These funds will support:
A reliable family van so I can safely transport my talented young artists to school, performances, community service events, drum and dance rehearsals, and artistic opportunities across Los Angeles.
Securing stable housing after months of displacement, inconsistent case management, and unsafe temporary placements.
Replacing our belongings that were lost or damaged throughout these moves, including clothing, school supplies, art equipment, drums, and personal items for the kids.
Holiday support for my children, who are incredibly gifted young artists and cultural ambassadors. This helps keep them inspired and supported during a very difficult time.
Basic needs such as food, transportation, and daily essentials so we can maintain stability while continuing to search for permanent housing.
Every contribution makes a real difference for a family of young artists who continue to serve the community through art, culture, dance, and positive outreach
All donations will go directly toward helping our family rebuild after losing nearly everything while moving through multiple housing programs, including LAHSA’S LA Family Housing’s Comunidad Cesar Chavez, Jennesse Center, PATH, and other LAHSA-connected agencies. These funds will support:
A reliable family van so I can safely transport my talented young artists to school, performances, community service events, drum and dance rehearsals, and artistic opportunities across Los Angeles.
Securing stable housing after months of displacement, inconsistent case management, and unsafe temporary placements.
Replacing our belongings that were lost or damaged throughout these moves, including clothing, school supplies, art equipment, drums, and personal items for the kids.
Holiday support for my children, who are incredibly gifted young artists and cultural ambassadors. This helps keep them inspired and supported during a very difficult time.
Basic needs such as food, transportation, and daily essentials so we can maintain stability while continuing to search for permanent housing.
Every contribution makes a real difference for a family of young artists who continue to serve the community through art, culture, dance, and positive outreach