Providence Little Company of Mary

10 Community Services and Benefits Caring for our South Bay community At Providence Community Health Investment we believe that health care happens both inside and outside of the hospital walls. We strive to serve and teach the children, adults and families throughout South Bay – especially in low-income neighborhoods – how to be healthy so that they are inspired to live the healthiest lives possible. Where can you view images of the historic Banning House, the Banning High pilot wheel, the Vincent Thomas Bridge, and the USS Iowa all in one place? If you are in Wilmington, head over to the intersection of Figueroa St. and "L" St. where a recently unveiled crosswalk mural highlights these famous harbor images thanks to a partnership between Providence and multiple community stakeholders. This project stems from Wilmington community members who are part of First 5 LA's Best Start Wilmington project, a grant funded project coordinated by Providence's Community Health Investment (CHI) team. In 2018, CHI received a grant from First 5 LA to launch this parent leadership and community engagement/advocacy initiative to support families and organizations that provide a healthy foundation for children in Wilmington. Best Start Wilmington is a network of 100+ families that come together to practice leadership skills, identify community priorities, and engage with stakeholders to design, advocate for, and implement systemic changes. Providence, as First 5 LA's Local Network Contractor for Best Start Wilmington, supports the network 's day-to-day operations, hosts monthly community partnership meetings where residents' concerns and issues are discussed and prioritized, and supports residents as they implement projects to address those issues. The most recently completed resident-led initiative is the Wilmington decorative crosswalk project. The idea for this project came from parents who were concerned with hazardous street conditions for pedestrians and bicyclists in Wilmington. This intersection of "L" St. and Figueroa St., is one of few walkable pathways across the I-110 and is often used by Wilmington residents to access Harbor College and the local swap meet. Best Start Wilmington formed a safety committee of local families to identify ways to improve street safety at this intersection, and Providence CHI provided parents with training and technical assistance to advocate city officials for this project. This resulted in the creation and design of a colorful, decorative, and permanent crosswalk that improves visibility of this intersection, increases safety of pedestrians and bicyclists, and beautifies the community. Best Start Wilmington committee members led by community leaders Gaby Dora Segovia and Nancy Cid Gomez worked tirelessly over a three-year period with Providence CHI Caregivers who oversee the Local Support Network, Los Angeles Walks, Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) and Los Angeles City Councilman Joe Buscaino to complete the project. The committee also submitted and was approved for a grant from the LA DOT People Street Program, which provided partial funding for the project. The crosswalk was unveiled in January, 2022. It was designed by local artist Luis Soto whose design was selected from multiple submitted via a contest created by the committee. It is a beautiful reflection of the Wilmington community and the Port of Los Angeles. The completed crosswalk is a magnificent example of how Providence supports our community members to make their neighborhoods a healthier place to live.

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