SAN FERNANDO VALLEY – Somos Familia Valle director and community organizer, Ronnie Veliz, released the following statement regarding the increase in robberies and homicides in the San Fernando Valley:

"Do not allow for increase in crimes to be an excuse for more funding for cops or jails. What we need is more funding for mental health, counseling, conflict resolutions initiatives, healthy relationships programs, comprehensive body positive sexual health projects, paid internships for young workers, community-school arts collaborations, more youth-led park events where our families actually live, child abuse prevention community gatherings, a year-round 24/7 shelter with wrap-around services, affordable housing, and so much more centered on funding preventative care, multicultural empowerment, and transformative justice. We no longer need more lobbying or more funding for police, militarism, and human cages. Look at our history, more police and more prisons have not worked out and will not uplift our humanity.

Our communities are realizing that some elected officials move faster with developers than with their most vulnerable constituents. They are making deals with the millionaires from other zip codes, but not really here empowering and prioritizing the working-class people from the Valley. We are sick and tired of being ignored, gentrification, and elitism. What we need is urgent action because crime, homelessness, and gang injunctions are not a new phenomenon.

Our Valley deserves real leadership, leaders who put our communities first."

PACOIMA – “It is our belief that together we can end walls of bigotry and advance bridges of social justice and hope. We come out and unite as undocumented and LGBTQ+ because Trump’s America does not align with our family and community values. We will stand up to bullying, a Muslim registry, and the evil deportation machine,” said Jesus Arciga, LGBTQ+ advocate with Somos Familia Valle. “As a movement dedicated to human rights, safer schools, and health equity, we are committed to promoting the dignity and worth of every individual as well as creating safer spaces for all. This march is to show any local Trumps out there that we are not afraid and we will not hide. We are here to thrive. We are here to stay.”

[Read PRESS RELEASE here]

NORTH HOLLYWOOD – "You are not alone, and you are not forgotten. We stand with you this Holiday season."

[Read PRESS RELEASE here]

NORTH HILLS – Somos Familia Valle will be holding a peaceful rally to advocate for family acceptance towards all LGBTQ+ children as well as for an end to homophobia and transphobia in Valley neighborhoods.

[Read PRESS RELEASE here]

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – Somos Familia Valle and Helados Pops join forces to raise awareness about the staggering impact of family rejection which is driving child abuse and LGBTQ homelessness.

[Read PRESS RELEASE here]