On Saturday, March 15, 2008, members of the Los Angeles Youth Council and recruited youth volunteers participated in the Day of Service for the Mar Vista, Del Rey, and Venice communities. Hosted by Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa and Councilmember Bill Rosendahl, residents and volunteers from throughout the city joined to work together on more than 50 separate projects to benefit the local neighborhoods. Lucia Diaz, CCYF Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of the Mar Vista Family Center, invited the LAYC to become involved as project leaders of the Ballona Creek clean up project with their youth group, By Youth For Youth.

With gloves on, rakes in hand, and the environment in mind, we collected refuse from the Ballona Creek pathway behind the Mar Vista Family Center. Not only did we greatly affect the cleanliness of the pathway, which was demonstrated by the mound of trash in bags collected, but we also touched on other areas of the Mar Vista neighborhood. Some members of our group planted trees along the previously barren sidewalks and islands. Others assisted in various projects at Stoner Elementary School.

In a cooperative spirit of service and giving back to the community, the lesson we learned from this experience transcends the actual fruit of labor that we produced. Our current theme is the environment and it is important that not only our thoughts and words support this cause, but also that our actions follow closely behind.