Fil-Am Nonprofit Nurtures Teen Leaders in Historic Filipinotown
SIPA’s Annual Holiday Toy Giveaway Highlights Teens Wish ListS
© Eliseo Art Silva, 1995. All rights reserved. Scene from SIPA’s Holiday Toy Drive 2022 (photo courtesy of SIPA)
Los Angeles, CA - November 15, 2023 - Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA) — a longstanding Filipino American nonprofit dedicated to improving the quality of life for Filipino Americans in Historic Filipinotown (HiFi) and beyond through ongoing youth programs, mental health education, affordable housing, and more — is centering teens and their holiday wish lists in an annual toy giveaway on Sunday, December 10th from 10am-3pm at HiFi Collective. In addition to a toy distribution, this holiday event will include grocery distribution, brunch, resource booths, a vaccination clinic, and more.
“As we approach the holidays, SIPA prioritizes the continuous struggles Filipino teens and youth of color face in Los Angeles exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic,” says Jeffrey Burbulys, MPH, CPH, Senior Program Director of SIPA. “Addressing mental health struggles and stigma, building a sense of safety amidst a major rise of hate incidence and violence, and developing our leaders of tomorrow is critical as we think about the future generations of our community. SIPA is ready to support and empower our teens and young people to feel a sense of security and ownership of building a positive future for themselves and for the community.”
Nurturing the Next Generation of Leaders
SIPA provides a range of youth programming that nurtures the next generation of community engaged leaders. Youth leadership programs are essential, equipping young people with the skills, confidence, and values necessary to become responsible, engaged, and effective leaders in their communities and beyond. These programs contribute to the personal growth and development of youth while also strengthening society by creating a generation of empowered and socially conscious individuals. SIPA’s youth programs highlights include:
Scene from SIPA’s Holiday Toy Drive 2022 (photo credit Raelene Michelle Rizo)
Walang Hiya/Rising Above Shame: A mental health program and curriculum created for BIPOC high school students, facilitating a safe space that normalizes help seeking behaviors, self awareness on unhealthy coping practices and where they can main healthy and well lives
Stop the Hate Youth Leadership Internship: Developed in response to the rise in anti-Asian violence during the pandemic, Stop the Hate Youth Leadership Internship is a six-month program focused on bystander safety, community healing, and different kinds of community advocacy. Interns will present what they’ve learned through a presentation and with a special focus on the healing power of art, solidarity, and dismantling the roots of white supremacy in their communities.
After School Program: This free after school program provides community and culturally relevant curriculum to students from lower-income families between the ages of 6–17 years old.
““SIPA has been a household name for my family for years. Growing up with most of my extended family in Historic Filipinotown, I learned about how important it was to have access to SIPA’s resources. From my cousins, aunts and uncles using SIPA has a place for afterschool to working at SIPA today, I have seen SIPA’s positive impact on teens over the years. SIPA has been able to cultivate a warm, safe and comfortable environment.””
Scene from SIPA’s Holiday Toy Drive 2022 (photo credit Raelene Michelle Rizo)
Supporting Underserved Youth and Upcoming Holiday Toy Giveaway
Established in 1972, SIPA is a beloved pillar in the HiFi community, widely known as an ambassador of the multicultural district. As one of the largest and longest-running Fil-Am nonprofits in the United States, SIPA is dedicated to improving the quality of life in HiFi and beyond for the greater Fil-Am community.
Historic Filipinotown is a predominantly immigrant neighborhood with Latine groups constituting more than half of its population, followed by Filipinos. 60% of the Historic Filipinotown community who SIPA serves fall within the low to moderate income demographic. 55% of the people SIPA serves are between the ages of 6-24.
Considering these statistics, SIPA’s annual toy giveaway benefits a wide range of communities. This year, SIPA is highlighting the wish lists of teens in the community, who are often overlooked when it comes to these holiday resource drives. The wish list includes blankets, gender neutral pajama bottoms (various sizes) for teens, toys, sports equipment (soccer, football, basketball) for all ages.
In addition to toy distribution, the event will include:
Grocery distribution
Family holiday photo opportunities
Hot meal service
Community organization resource booths such as legal aid, housing assistance, and more
Vaccination clinic
Christmas singalongs, DJs, magician, and other entertainment
Upcoming Opportunities to Support the HiFi Community and SIPA and drop off donations:
Community Thanksgiving
Join SIPA for hot meals, free grocery bags, and a community resource fair
Friday, November 17th, 10am-2pm
SIPA @ HiFi Collective
3200 W. Temple Street
Los Angeles, CA 90026
Parol Parade
Friday, December 1, 2023, 3pm
Car Caravan and Walkers
Assemble for parade at 3pm
300 North Union Ave, LA 90026
in Historic Filipinotown
SIPA’s Annual Holiday Toy Giveaway
Sunday, December 10th, 10am-3pm
SIPA @ HiFi Collective
3200 W. Temple Street, Suite 100
Los Angeles, CA 90026
For more information, please contact hello@sipacares.org or visit https://www.sipacares.org/events-sipa.
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About Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA): SIPA enriches and empowers generations of Pilipino Americans and others by providing health and human services, community economic development, arts and culture, and a place where people of all backgrounds come together to strengthen the community.