Climate Letter Writing

The HODG Climate Team is hosting a letter writing session. We will be writing to our electeds about saving our public lands from being used as bargaining chips! We will also be asking our state reps about certain state legislation. Last day for voting on California bills is September 12.
 

Climate Letter Writing

Sunday, September 7
10am - noon

Polly's
134 S. Van Ness Ave

HODG Backyard Lunch Making

Mark your calendars! Every month we gather together and make beautiful lunches for food-insecure people.  It's always a good vibe, and will remind you that us humans are meant to actually be WITH each other, in real life.  Not just texting with each other. 

I was recently at a thing where someone reminded me that 'back in the day,' when  Americans were fighting for our freedom, for civil rights, for women's rights, the people who put together those movements actually knew each other BEFORE they organized. They sat around tables together. They argued in person.  They trusted each other.  And then they fought the empire. 

These Backyard Lunch Making sessions are that!  When we sit around a table and make sandwiches together, when we decorate bags together, we are building relationships.  We are swapping stories and disagreeing and getting to know each other.  THAT is exactly what Trump and his elves don't want.  They want us to silo ourselves, and get sad and give up.  Lunch making does the opposite. 

So like I said, mark your calendars, sign up to bring something and come build some relationships.  That's the real way we are going to beat this bullshit.

HODG BACKYARD LUNCH-MAKING
Sunday, Aug 31

10am - noon
153 S. Norton Ave

Bring your friends.
Bring your kids
Please don't bring your dogs.

Andd bring a lunch item (sign up below) -- if you can't swing that, come anyway!

WELCOME TO THE SUNDAY LUNCH DRIVE

Thank you so much for joining us in helping feed our neighbors.

Here’s what you need to know:

1. The lunch drive happens every Sunday morning. Rain or shine.

2. You make lunches at home.

3. Most folks make about 10 lunches, but you can make as many or as few as you like.

4. Label the bag with the type of sandwich (this is important and gives the recipients a choice.)

5. Be generous. This is the only meal these folks get all day.

6. Lunches should contain at least 7 items:

   • A drink (water, Capri sun, soda)

   • Sandwich (PB+J, Turkey, Ham + Cheese are most common)

   • Potato Chips (individually packaged)

   • Fruit (oranges, apple sauce, bananas. No apples: too hard on teeth)

   • Cookies (individually packaged)

   • A  snack (beef jerky, granola bar, nuts, etc.)

7. No Glass

8. Some people decorate their bags. Not required but much appreciated.

9. Drop your lunches off at one of the locations:

Visit the HODG Lunch Drive page for more info!

DRAG QUEEN BINGO

People! Mark your calendars for Drag Queen Bingo on August 20th at Hamburger Mary's!!!

We'll be raising funds for Inclusive Action, an incredible org supporting underinvested communities in LA...(think street vendors!). Their work is vital right now!!

And what better way to say no! to the far right than playing bingo with some fabulous drag queens? 

Details:

Wednesday, August 20

7:00pm

Hamburger Mary's:

8288 Santa Monica Boulevard (WeHo)

Please RSVP... space is limited!

Bingo cards available for purchase at the door for $20. CASH or VENMO appreciated.

We'll have lots of prizes + live auction items.

Will be fun! And we need that right now!

Feel free to invite friends!

Please Don't Give Up On Us:
Stories from Incarcerated Children and Youth in CA

I wasn't even gonna list this action.  Why bother?  No one's gonna go.  Except Helen and Stacey.  It's true. Only a few of us give a shit about "justice involved" youth.  Even though all of the kids in Los Padrinos are "pre-disposition" which means they are just waiting to see a judge.  So they haven't been found guilty of anything!  And guess what? There's not bail in juvenile hall.  Because of semantics --  kids aren't being "punished, or tried," they're being detained. If you go to Los Padrinos -- which a handful of us have, in fact Helen goes every week! -- it looks a helluva lot like jail.  

Oh, also, you've probably heard -- or maybe not -- since as I said no one really cares... CA Attorney General Bonta is considering putting our juvenile halls in receivership, so instead of Probation, a third party would oversee them.  That's because kids are dying and ODing in there. But no one really knows because... well, I said it already.  

Okay, so I was feeling pretty hopeless about this action, but for some reason I asked Helen and Stacy and Peggy if they thought it might be a good on-ramp for anyone who's interested in learning aobut our Youth Justice system, and they both said Hell, yes!  (Ok, I added the "hell" but they said yes!)  

So here goes:

OYCR stands for Office of Youth and Community Restoration.   It's a state agency that was established to help in the transition from a punitive state-run juvenile system (yes, the state used to run juvie) to a county-based system focused on rehabilitation and healing. OYCR promotes restorative justice (of which I am a big believer).  It also supports the reintegration of youth back into their community. 

The OYCR is hosting a seminar entitled: Please Don’t Give Up on Us: Stories From Incarcerated Children and Youth in California.  This will be a conversation with justice-involved youth and the community advocates show serve them. The purpose of this  session is to illustrate how systems can support healing and rehabilitation.  Not that I thikn any of us really care about that, but if you do, this is a great place to start.
 

Please Don't Give Up On Us:
Stories from Incarcerated Children and Youth in CA

Tues, Aug 19
Noon - 1pm (PT)
ZOOM

Letter Writing & Backpack Drive with School Supplies

LAUSD starts THIS TUESDAY. We are in the midst of many convos with schools and various organizations about protecting families. Right now, here’s what we know about how HODG can help right now:

a.) LOVE LETTER WRITING + BACK TO SCHOOL SUPPLIES. Yep, you read that right.  When I reached out to Alliance Middle School Academy, the outreach coordinator said that what the families really need right now is to feel our love.  They are asking for 100 (neatly) handwritten letters so each of their “scholars” can take them home and read them to their family.  How beautiful is that? So… 

HODG is hosting a LOVE LETTER WRITING gathering. We will write letters to these families who are living in fear.  We will also be collecting school supplies for 100 scholars, so we are asking that you bring those with you.  If you can’t come to the event, please send them to me and I will get them to the school. 

Here is the list they sent me:

• Backpack with binder (1”)

• Lined paper (college rule)

• Sketch book

• Ball point pens

• Markers

• Dry erase markers (thin ones)

• Calculators (simple ones are okay)
  
  Also, they are asking for art kits.
   

LOVE LETTER WRITING GATHERING
And BACK TO SCHOOL Drive

Sunday, Aug 17
10am - noon

153 S. Norton Ave

**bring school supplies**

**if you can’t make it please 
send/drop school supplies off at my house: 

153 S. Norton Ave, LA 90004**

DEADLINE: Sunday, Aug 17

Planned Parenthood Zoom

Planned Parenthood’s been defunded. That you already know. But do you know what a defunded PP means? Or what we should each be doing about it? And what the heck does the new preliminary injuction mean?

The answers are complicated, and changing by the day.  Which is why we are hosting a VIRTUAL CONVERSATION with SUE DUNLAP, the PREZ of PLANNED PARENTHOOD LA.

She will be joining us for a casual discussion about what defunding means for the organization, for patients, for health care workers, how – or if – the state is stepping into help, and what the organization needs from us.

It’s interesting, and I think meaningful that every time we do an assessment of topics HODGers are interested in, Repro Rights is NEVER on the list.  I think a lot of us are all still living in fantasy land and believe that whatever happens to Planned Parenthood, to contraception, to abortion etc. isn’t going to affect us.  That is very mistaken.  Sue Dunlap will tell you why. 

All are welcome. Especially your friends who claim they believe in the right for women to control their bodies, but don't do a damn thing about it.

What The Heck is Happening with Planned Parenthood?

 A convo with Sue Dunlap,
president of Planned Parenthood LA

Wednesday, Aug 13

6pm - 7pm

On Zoom

WELCOME TO THE SUNDAY LUNCH DRIVE

Thank you so much for joining us in helping feed our neighbors.

Here’s what you need to know:

1. The lunch drive happens every Sunday morning. Rain or shine.

2. You make lunches at home.

3. Most folks make about 10 lunches, but you can make as many or as few as you like.

4. Label the bag with the type of sandwich (this is important and gives the recipients a choice.)

5. Be generous. This is the only meal these folks get all day.

6. Lunches should contain at least 7 items:

   • A drink (water, Capri sun, soda)

   • Sandwich (PB+J, Turkey, Ham + Cheese are most common)

   • Potato Chips (individually packaged)

   • Fruit (oranges, apple sauce, bananas. No apples: too hard on teeth)

   • Cookies (individually packaged)

   • A  snack (beef jerky, granola bar, nuts, etc.)

7. No Glass

8. Some people decorate their bags. Not required but much appreciated.

9. Drop your lunches off at one of the locations:

Visit the HODG Lunch Drive page for more info!

HODG Clothing Swap

SAVE THE DATE!

SAVE YOUR CLOTHES!

It’s our First-Ever HODG Clothing Swap

Date: Saturday, August 9th
Time: 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Location: Address provided upon RSVP 

Join us for HODG's first-ever fashion-filled, recycle-minded, do-goodery event of the summer!

What to Bring:

- Clothes, Accessories, Bags & Shoes to SWAP or DONATE

- Max: 10-12 items

- This is clothing you would give to a friend. No items sitting in your garage. 

- Potluck Treat - Something to sip or snack on — sweet or savory :) 

Let’s eat, drink, mingle, and score some fabulous fashion finds — while doing some good in the process! Leftover items will be donated to a local organization serving those in need.

Trying on items? Wear something you can easily change over — quick swaps encouraged!

Participation Guidelines:

✔ All clothing must be gently used
✔ Items must be clean, unstained, and tear-free
✔ Shoes and accessories should be in good, wearable condition
✔ All sizes and styles welcome

FEEL FREE TO INVITE A FRIEND — just make sure they know the guidelines above.

Questions? Email us at hangoutdogood@gmail.com. 

WELCOME TO THE SUNDAY LUNCH DRIVE

Thank you so much for joining us in helping feed our neighbors.

Here’s what you need to know:

1. The lunch drive happens every Sunday morning. Rain or shine.

2. You make lunches at home.

3. Most folks make about 10 lunches, but you can make as many or as few as you like.

4. Label the bag with the type of sandwich (this is important and gives the recipients a choice.)

5. Be generous. This is the only meal these folks get all day.

6. Lunches should contain at least 7 items:

   • A drink (water, Capri sun, soda)

   • Sandwich (PB+J, Turkey, Ham + Cheese are most common)

   • Potato Chips (individually packaged)

   • Fruit (oranges, apple sauce, bananas. No apples: too hard on teeth)

   • Cookies (individually packaged)

   • A  snack (beef jerky, granola bar, nuts, etc.)

7. No Glass

8. Some people decorate their bags. Not required but much appreciated.

9. Drop your lunches off at one of the locations:

Visit the HODG Lunch Drive page for more info!

Volunteer at Covenant House

Covenant House -- a shelter for homeless teens/youth -- is hosting a JOB RESOURCE FAIR on  Tuesday, July 30th from 12–3 PM and they are looking for help.

The goal of the fair is to provide a safe, empowering space for transitional-aged youth to access free haircuts, professional headshots, professional clothing, etc.  They need HODG to helping out with:

• Leading mock interviews with youth (I am doing this!) 
   

• Donate interview clothes to have at the fair (see below for more info)
   

• Lead any workshop/ideas you have 

We used to collaborate all the time with Covenant House.  We did movie nights, yoga in the park, etc.  I don't really know why we stopped -- I think it had to do with staffing but not totally sure -- at any rate I am so psyched they reached out. 

Covenant house is an incredible org, and this is an really meaningful way to connect directly with the young people living there.   I hope I am not the only one who shows!  Come with me!

 

Job Resource Fair with Covenant House

Tuesday, July 30

12:00pm - 3:00pm

1325 N. Western Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90027

Please email Leslie, & tell her you're from HODG and how you'd like to participate: lcamposcristobal@covca.org. 
 

** For Professional Clothing:  there are a couple options: 

1. you can host a clothing drive, and gather your peeps' unwanted professional/work clothes, and arrange with Leslie to bring them to Covenant House.

2. Or you can drop them off at my House – 153 S. Norton Ave – and I will bring them.  Deadline for this option:  Monday, July 28.

WELCOME TO THE SUNDAY LUNCH DRIVE

Thank you so much for joining us in helping feed our neighbors.

Here’s what you need to know:

1. The lunch drive happens every Sunday morning. Rain or shine.

2. You make lunches at home.

3. Most folks make about 10 lunches, but you can make as many or as few as you like.

4. Label the bag with the type of sandwich (this is important and gives the recipients a choice.)

5. Be generous. This is the only meal these folks get all day.

6. Lunches should contain at least 7 items:

   • A drink (water, Capri sun, soda)

   • Sandwich (PB+J, Turkey, Ham + Cheese are most common)

   • Potato Chips (individually packaged)

   • Fruit (oranges, apple sauce, bananas. No apples: too hard on teeth)

   • Cookies (individually packaged)

   • A  snack (beef jerky, granola bar, nuts, etc.)

7. No Glass

8. Some people decorate their bags. Not required but much appreciated.

9. Drop your lunches off at one of the locations:

Visit the HODG Lunch Drive page for more info!

YARD SIGN MAKING

This past weekend a crew of HODGers came together and made yard signs. The purpose of our signs is to let anyone who travels by our home – neighbors, visitors, works – that we support, welcome, and love immigrants! We made them in English and Spanish. Some of the Spanish ones are grammatically incorrect, but we figured that’s okay. It’s the attempt to connect that matters.

It was a lot of fun. Super easy. And quick. So we figured we should do it again, so we are!

HODG invites you
to

The You Are Not Alone
YARD SIGN ART BREAKFAST

Sat June 26

10am - noon

153 S. Norton Ave

Yard signs, pens supplied. 

Kids Welcome.
 

Please RSVP so I can make sure
we have enough supplies.

WELCOME TO THE SUNDAY LUNCH DRIVE

Thank you so much for joining us in helping feed our neighbors.

Here’s what you need to know:

1. The lunch drive happens every Sunday morning. Rain or shine.

2. You make lunches at home.

3. Most folks make about 10 lunches, but you can make as many or as few as you like.

4. Label the bag with the type of sandwich (this is important and gives the recipients a choice.)

5. Be generous. This is the only meal these folks get all day.

6. Lunches should contain at least 7 items:

   • A drink (water, Capri sun, soda)

   • Sandwich (PB+J, Turkey, Ham + Cheese are most common)

   • Potato Chips (individually packaged)

   • Fruit (oranges, apple sauce, bananas. No apples: too hard on teeth)

   • Cookies (individually packaged)

   • A  snack (beef jerky, granola bar, nuts, etc.)

7. No Glass

8. Some people decorate their bags. Not required but much appreciated.

9. Drop your lunches off at one of the locations:

Visit the HODG Lunch Drive page for more info!

Alliance School Grocery Drive

We are doing another GROCERY DRIVE for the immigrant families of Alliance College-Ready MIDDLE ACADEMY #4 . It is being organized by the school's community outreach organizer, and friend of HODG, Estephania. Estephania has asked us to collect groceries, which she will then hand deliver on July 14th to families who can’t leave their homes. 

All you need to do is drop groceries off – yes, you can Instacart them – to one of our homes.

We will get them to Estephania. 

Here is the GROCERY LIST:
Rice
Beans
Canned vegetables
Canned fruit
Cases of water
Toilet Paper
Body Soap
Detergent
Pet food
Diapers
Wipes

YOU ARE NOT ALONE:
A GROCERY DRIVE for Immigrants

DEADLINE: SUNDAY, JULY 13

Drop off / Instacart groceries to

Peggy: 4627 Worster Ave, Sherman Oaks

Jennifer: 153 S. Norton, Hancock Park

Francine: 2120 Rockford Rd, Silver Lake
 

Bingo Shabbat

It's been way way too long since we've had HODG Shabbat. I wonder, have you missed it as much as I have?  Well, don't worry, cuz it's back. 

For those of you who've never been, or for whom Shabbat is something you've just heard about, here's the deal: HODG Shabbat is for everyone. You don't need to be Jewish, or believe in God or whatever. All are welcome. Also, it's totally casual. No one cares if you show up in your pajamas. In fact, they will be jealous. 

Usually for Shabbat we have a speaker, but this go around we want to keep things fun and low key so instead we are playing BINGO.  I don't know what the prizes will be.  But there will definitely be prizes.   

So let’s review the rules: 1. Dress as casually as you want. You could wear pajamas and no one would care.  2. All are welcome. You can believe in any god or no god. Yes, there will be a small amount of Hebrew but anyone from any tribe will get the gist -- it's about community and us all being one! 3. We supply the dinner, we ask that you bring drinks or dessert to share. 

Bingo Shabbat

(Yes, we’ll be playing Bingo!)

Friday, July 11
7:00pm 

153 S. Norton Ave.
All welcome!
Bring a dessert or drink to share

Project Ropa Clothing Drive

Yes, it's Project Ropa time again!  Project Ropa is the amazing org that brings clothes and other personal items TO homeless folks in need.  They literally drive up to encampments or shelters, open up their van and let folks "shop" for what they need. 

We have been collaborating with Project Ropa for years.  It's a great partnership because so many of us live in a consumption society where we buy and have more than we need or can ever wear.  Project Ropa takes that excess and shares it with folks who really need it.

This go around the MOBILE COLLECTION VAN (which is really just my sister's big car, will be in Sherman Oaks.) All you need to do is bring your stuff during the hours below, put them in the van, and we take them to Project Ropa.

Please make sure that all the clothes are CLEAN and GENTLE USED.  That means no stains, no rips, nothing you wouldn't give your own kid to wear.  They also really need NEW underwear and socks.

Oh, and no kids stuff.  LARGE sizes are preferable.  

ITEMS NEEDED:

Men's pants

Men's sneakers

Men's hoodies

Men's shorts

Men's belts

Men's t-shirts

Men's underwear (new)

Women's t-shirts

Travel-size hygiene products

Granola bars

Water bottles

Individually wrapped rolls of toilet paper

Baseball hats

 Project Ropa Clothing Drive
** New or gently used clothes only **

Wednesday, July 9

10:00 am - noon

Peggy's House

4627 Worster Ave, Sherman Oaks

Questions? Email hangoutdogood@gmail.com

Backyard Lunch Making

We just did one of these -- and made 200 lunches! -- but HoFoCo has asked us to do it again.  With so many people traveling for the 4th of July weekend, the Coalition is worried they won’t have enough lunches for everyone. So…

 … Sunday, July 6th at 10am, we are meeting at my house to make another 200.  If you are in town, please come and help.  [I can totally see me and Pegah doing 200 by ourselves – and it being fine, but not that fun.]   

Here’s how it works: sign up below to bring a bunch of one item.  On Sunday, July 6th bring yourself and your item to our backyard and help decorate and make lunches.  It takes us about 1.5 hours.

Is it just me, or does making lunch for strangers seems like the ultimate in patriotism?  Come be a true patriot. 

BACKYARD LUNCH MAKING
SUNDAY, JULY 6
10am
153 S. Norton Ave


All welcome -- KID Friendly (But not dogs)
Sign up, Bring Something for lunches,
Make and Decorate together!

GROCERY GANG DROP-OFF

Come participate in our monthly grocery drop-off!

The HODG Grocery Gang buys groceries from a list of non perishable items and drops them off to one of our homes by the 10th of every month. Groceries are then delivered to formerly unhoused folks living in PSH (Permanent Supportive Housing) run by a non-profit called A Community of Friends. The groceries go to two of their buildings: one on Gower and the other on Hudson — where clients live and make their own meals.

If you’d like to participate - please email Pegah at: hangoutdogood@gmail.com

FYI for newcomers: You do NOT need to buy everything on this list.

You can purchase whatever you’d like for either 1 person = 1 bag or as many as you’d like.

Drop off/Instacart is by the 10th of every month before noon.

THE GROCERY GANG SHOPPING LIST

Chicken/Tuna Creations (ready to eat package-starkist)

Canned fruit/cups

Canned beans

Canned vegetables

Bag of rice

Breakfast Cereal

Crackers

Oatmeal- instant pouches 

Grits- pouches

Jam/Jelly

Peanut Butter

Hamburger Helper

Pasta

Granola Bars

Apple Sauce

Juice Boxes (eg: Capri Sun)

Milk (Boxed, shelf)

HODG Learning Series: Rudy Espinoza and Doug Smith from Inclusive Action

I have been a fan of Inclusive Action since 2017 when I heard its ED, Rudy Espinoza on KPCC talking about the mission, which is to provide financial capital and support to micro-businesses in underserved communities.  That's my phrasing, not theirs. 

All you need to know is that in the last 5 years or so, Inclusive Action has deployed over $5 million dollars in microgrants and microloans to street vendors and and small businesses in LA.  They are the ones who raised money for gardeners and nannies and pool cleaners during the wildfires.  They are now the ones raising money for street vendors and other immigrant laborers who can't work because of ICE attacks.

Inclusive Action is also part of a lawsuit against the Federal Gov't having to do with I-10 forms, which are tax forms for folks who are not eligible for a social security number but need a a US tax payer number to pay taxes because YES, NON-CITIZENS PAY TAXES --to the tune of $95 BILLION in 2022.  Up until now those I-10 forms have been private but now ICE and Trump want those forms to be released so they can get the addresses of these folks and terrorize them in their homes.  Like they are doing all over LA right now.  Inclusive Action is fighting this in the courts. 

The ED of Inclusive Action Rudy Espinoza and the Policy and Legislative Strategist Doug Smith are joining HODG on Monday night to share their work and see if there are ways HODG can collaborate.  

Please come.  This is an organization that does incredible work.  I love them and really want to introduce them to you.  

** This is part of HODG's Educational Series, where we invite people who are doing great work in the community to teach us about the issues they are focused on.  If there are people or orgs who you want to introduce to HODG, please let us know by emailing hangoutdogood@gmail.com 

-Jen

HODG Learning Zoom with Rudy Espinoza
and Doug Smith from Inclusive Action

Monday, June 30

7:00pm

Zoom

Marissa Roy Meet & Greet

As I've written before, I'm not a fan of our current City Attorney, Hydee Feldstein Soto, who killed a homeless housing development in Venice (the Venice Dell) after people had been working on it for almost a decade, and the city council had okayed it.  That's why I am excited to get to know Marissa Roy, who's running against Hydee in 2026.   

Marissa was at last week's Newcomer's breakfast -- which was amazing!  if you are a newcomer which means you've never been to a HODG event, email Pegah at hangoutdogood@gmail.com and tell her you want to come to the next one -- Marissa was there to hear about HODG, not talk policy, so I don't know a ton about where she stands on the issues.  But I will tell you that she is delightful.  She is also a Deputy Attorney General, and has been a Deputy City Attorney.  Also, as outside counsel for LA County she's beaten Trump as part of legal actions to protect sanctuary cities, defend DACA recipients, and fight the inhumane treatment of immigrants seeking asylum.  

Look, I know there are sexier races than City Attorney, but this is as important as the rest of them.  It's one that affects the every day lives of Angelenos. So please, come over and meet Marissa.  She could be the answer we've been waiting for.  

Meet & Greet
with
MARISSA ROY
(candidate for LA City Atty)

Sunday, June 29
4:00pm

153 S. Norton Ave.

FREE
All are welcome!

HODG Santa Cruz June Grill & Quill

Join HODG Santa Cruz for a summer BBQ, celebrating community and taking civic action.

Come grill, chill, and get out your quill – we’re writing our representatives on hot topics like illegal deportations, free speech, environmental protection, and equal rights. Potluck style. RSVP here.

Help us grow our group! Share with a friend or two! 

HODG Santa Cruz

June Grill & Quill

Sunday, June 29

1:00pm - 3:00pm

in Seabright (RSVP for location)

Backyard Lunch Making

Whether you are a member of the LA Giving Circle (which is our giving circle that is associated with The States Project, and raises money for state legislators) or not, please join HODG and The State Project this weekend as we gather in the backyard and make Lunches together.

We’ve done this many times before.  In fact, it’s out of similar events that our Lunch Drive developed.  It’s super fun, and family friendly.  All you have to do is sign up to bring a bunch of one item (20 mandarins or 50 bags of chips… etc.) then show up on Sunday morning and join our assembly line as we decorate bags, make sandwiches and put together 200+ Lunches.

These lunches will be taken to the Hollywood Food Coalition, where they will be distributed to 20 - 40 organizations who feed food insecure folks.

As far as The State Project, you won’t be asked to do anything except maybe listen to what we are up to, and how you can participate now, or next year.

BACKYARD LUNCH-MAKING with THE STATE PROJECT 

Sunday, June 19

10am - noon

153 S. Norton Ave 

Bring friends, family – kids are welcome – but no dogs (sorry, they eat the food!)

LA River Field Trip

LA never ceases to surprise.  Right there, winding through the ugly sprawl is a fricking river!  Full of ducks and pelicans, and herons – yes, I’ve become a bird person in my old age – and also lined with delightful parks and restaurants (Spokes, anyone?!)  This weekend FOLAR – the Friends of The LA RIVER – is offering a guided walk along this weirdly beautiful ecosystem.

Studies show that being in nature is good for us.  Reduces stress.  Improves our mood and sex life, and is a powerful tool for healing.  Ok, I may have added the part about sex, but you get the point, and I bet it's true. 

I've been talking to my peeps and they are all feeling the intense stress of the world.  I bet you and yours are too.  An LA RIVER WALK is a fun, family-friendly way to counter that.  Orgy to follow.  Kidding!  It was just a stupid call back... nevermind.

LA RIVER FIELD TRIP with FOLAR 

Saturday, June 21

10am - 11:30am

Lewis MacAdams Riverfront Park

2944 Gleneden St, LA CA 90039

$10 for non-members to register

WELCOME TO THE SUNDAY LUNCH DRIVE

Thank you so much for joining us in helping feed our neighbors.

Here’s what you need to know:

1. The lunch drive happens every Sunday morning. Rain or shine.

2. You make lunches at home.

3. Most folks make about 10 lunches, but you can make as many or as few as you like.

4. Label the bag with the type of sandwich (this is important and gives the recipients a choice.)

5. Be generous. This is the only meal these folks get all day.

6. Lunches should contain at least 7 items:

   • A drink (water, Capri sun, soda)

   • Sandwich (PB+J, Turkey, Ham + Cheese are most common)

   • Potato Chips (individually packaged)

   • Fruit (oranges, apple sauce, bananas. No apples: too hard on teeth)

   • Cookies (individually packaged)

   • A  snack (beef jerky, granola bar, nuts, etc.)

7. No Glass

8. Some people decorate their bags. Not required but much appreciated.

9. Drop your lunches off at one of the locations:

Visit the HODG Lunch Drive page for more info!

No Kings Rally

June 14th is another NATIONWIDE Day of Defiance. Why? Because it's Trump's bday and he is throwing a $45million military parade for himself. I am not kidding.  

Now, I know many of you are wondering "what does this do...?"  "does showing up matter..?" I have asked a lot of smart people that question recently -- people who have been studying authoritarianism for a long long time -- people like Tim Snyder, and Eric Ward, and Mark Dunkelman (if you don't know who those guys are, look them up.).  -- and they all all all have the same answer.  Protests matter.  Showing up matters.  Pageantry matters.  When you are fighting tyranny.  But not for the reasons you think.  

Does Trump care that we are gathering?  Not a bit.  But other people on our side do!  Elected officials care.  They see us out there and it gives them some wind in their sails or more accurately, some spine in their spine.  Also, your friends see you out there, and they start thinking, hmmm...  maybe I should go out there too.  And the movement starts to grow and grow, and the protesters start doing other things like making demands of the people in power. 

It is illegal to protest in a lot of place.  It's not illegal here.  Yet.  So get out there.  We need you.  Before it's too late.  

** The protest is happening in DTLA (at least the big one is -- there will be others). A group of us is coming up with a plan to meet beforehand, and take the metro.  Please reach out and let us know if you want to join. 

No Kings Rally

Saturday, June 14
10am - 2pm PDT

LA City Hall
200 N. Spring Street
Downtown Los Angeles

Meeting Place:

153 S. Norton Ave (Larchmont)

at 9:30am on Sat 6/14

We will walk together 5-6 blocks to the metro station and take the metro downtown.

Want to join? Email:
hangoutdogood@gmail.com

HODG Movie Night

HODG has a whole lotta buckets.  There’s the lefty politics bucket.  The do-goodery bucket.  The education bucket.  But more and more these days we need to pull out and start filling the Community-Building Bucket.  

That’s what this action is. Community Building. 

Connecting. Hanging out.  No politics.  No do-gooding for others.  This time we are do-gooding for ourselves!

And we're doing it in Marissa’s backyard – she has a stellar outdoor movie situation – on Friday June 13 at 8pm.  Yes, it’s Friday the 13th and we considered showing a scary movie, but reality is scary enough these days, so we decided to go the other way and show the happiest, funniest, sweetest movie we could think of.  We hope you agree with our choice.  (If you don’t, I don’t know if we can still be friends.)

Popcorn and candy will obviously be served.  (If you want real food, eat beforehand.)

HODG MOVIE NIGHT

presents

THE PRINCESS BRIDE

Friday, June 13

8:00pm

Marissa’s Backyard
243 N. Lucerne, LA 90004

Bring a friend. But not your dog.

RSVP so we know how many chairs,
and how much popcorn to make! 

Meet & Greet with Esther Kim Varet

The Dems only need to flip 3 seats to win back the House and block some of this insanity. That's why I am coming at you early with this. Esther Kim Varet is running against Young Kim down in the OC.  Young Kim has been like teflon against us, but she has -- I think -- met her match in Esther. 

Here's what I know about Esther.  3 people from totally different parts of my world have reached out to me about her so she is well-connected.  This is her first campaign, but she runs a bunch of art galleries in LA -- and now in OC -- so she is a hustler who knows how to get shit done.  She's a Korean woman and so nullifies one of the few things Kim had going for her in the district.  Oh, and she's a democrat.  That's about it.  But I want to know more.  And I am thinking you might want to know more too. 

I explained to Esther and her finance people, that HODG is not about big money fundraising.  We need a $25 ticket option, and honestly I don't think anyone should pay anything before meeting a candidate.  Especially a newbie.  So...  just come.  If you love her, great, give her some $.  If you don't, or if you don't have money to spare these days, great.   

Also, I am personally hosting this, rather than HODG.  That's because a bunch of folks in HODG thought it was too early to start meeting candidates.  Maybe they're right.  I don't know.  But I wanted to meet her. And I figured you would too.   

Meet & Greet with ESTHER KIM VARET
(Dem Candidate, US Congress in CA-40)

TUESDAY, June 10
6pm - 8pm
153 S. Norton Ave, LA 90004

More info about Esther here

RSVP through link below, or email me at jentwelve@gmail.com

WELCOME TO THE SUNDAY LUNCH DRIVE

Thank you so much for joining us in helping feed our neighbors.

Here’s what you need to know:

1. The lunch drive happens every Sunday morning. Rain or shine.

2. You make lunches at home.

3. Most folks make about 10 lunches, but you can make as many or as few as you like.

4. Label the bag with the type of sandwich (this is important and gives the recipients a choice.)

5. Be generous. This is the only meal these folks get all day.

6. Lunches should contain at least 7 items:

   • A drink (water, Capri sun, soda)

   • Sandwich (PB+J, Turkey, Ham + Cheese are most common)

   • Potato Chips (individually packaged)

   • Fruit (oranges, apple sauce, bananas. No apples: too hard on teeth)

   • Cookies (individually packaged)

   • A  snack (beef jerky, granola bar, nuts, etc.)

7. No Glass

8. Some people decorate their bags. Not required but much appreciated.

9. Drop your lunches off at one of the locations:

Visit the HODG Lunch Drive page for more info!

HODG Newcomer Breakfast

HODG always has so much stuff going on. It’s easy to be overwhelmed or confused.  Especially for folks who are new.  That’s why we've put together a “newcomer breakfast,”  where we’ll actually explain things. Like what HODG stands for – do you know?!  How it got started? All the different actions and teams you can join. We’ll also answer any questions you have.  And we'll  ask some of our own – like why haven’t you shown up before? And what can we do to make things easier, or more enticing? 

Note: This gathering is for folks who have never been to a HODG event before.  If you joined HODG yesterday.  Or signed up 5 years ago.  But for whatever reason – and we want to learn what they are! – you've never found your way to Norton.  Now is your chance!  Please don't miss it!
 

HODG’s NEWCOMER BREAKFAST

Saturday, June 2

10am - noon

153 S. Norton Ave

For members who have never been to a HODG event before.

You must RSVP to attend