Community Spotlight: Watts

TogetherLA is encouraged to see communities, businesses and churches come together for the good of their city. The community of Watts is an example of a community of people that have faced a lot of struggle, yet has so many people who have come together to make an impact.

Watts got its name from the first railroad station built in the area in the early 20th century, Watts Station. The surrounding neighborhoods were largely filled with Caucasian and Hispanic railroad workers, but by the 1940’s the area became predominantly black, after many migrated from segregated states. Watts has experienced racial unrest, the notable Watts riots, gang violence, and other ripple effects of discrimination, yet continues to grow as an example of resilience.

Watt’s Towers Arts Center

This beloved Arts Center began in 1961, when a woman named Lucile Krasne first taught art classes nearby, on the foundations of what used to be the house of Sabato Rodia, the Italian immigrant who was the mastermind behind the Watts Towers structure. As years went by, this developed into a full-on arts center and hub for cultural enrichment in the area.

The center has offered an impressive range of classes, including painting, sculpture, photography, music, dance, gardening, tiling, and more. They also provide tours, lectures, and exhibitions featuring incredible local and international artists across all creative disciplines. The center is a beacon for the community, affecting social change through their exceptional arts education.

Watts/Century Latino Organization

In the late 1990’s, five community members came together to form this organization  as a response to the rapidly increasing Latinx population, yet lack of Latinx participation in civic life. The goal was to lift up the voice of Latinx people and contribute to economic development.

Over the years, this grassroots effort was met with a lot of opposition and difficulty, but it has persevered and kept its focus on their mission. Today, it has blossomed into solid non-profit organization, cultivated effective partnerships, and offers great programs for community members around leadership, immigration, school safety, homeownership, ESL, and earning high school diplomas. The impact of all of their work is continuing to ripple into the lives of Latinx families and the community as a whole.  

Women of Watts

In the early 2000s, Lydia Friend, long-term resident and community activist in Watts, dreamed of organizing the community into serving meals, mentoring, hosting gatherings, and working toward positive change in Watts. The Women of Watts organization was born,  and was built around supporting the family structure, and ultimately ending violence.

WOW does an annual “Stop the Violence March” to raise awareness in the streets of the community, and other events throughout the year like holiday gatherings and children’s performances. They also have ongoing services they provide, including housing assistance, as well as providing meals and school supplies to students. Families of the community owe a lot to the volunteers and supporters that make WOW what it is today.