One of Coach John Wooden’s quotations is: “failure to plan is a plan for failure”. However, planning for the future is not easy, especially in our fast-paced society where things seem to change so quickly. For LTSC and the 20 different human-service programs we operate, it is likewise very challenging to plan for a changing future but we decided this is a good time to heed Coach Wooden’s advice and take a crack at it.

After nearly a year of internal staff discussions, the LTSC Board of Directors, at its October 2007 meeting, approved a 5-Year Strategic Plan. The Plan describes our 28–year history which began with social services in Little Tokyo, and builds on this foundation as our program grew into the broader Japanese American community, and then providing services to the multi-ethnic Asian community, and then to the general low-income community of Los Angeles county. We invite you to check out our new Strategic Plan on our website (click here) to get a better sense of where we are headed for the next five years.

LTSC staff discuss and review the strategic plan at the all-staff retreat.

Many changes took place in our community in 2007; this coming year of 2008 seems to portend that major changes will continue. We hope that our Strategic 5-Year Plan for LTSC will not be plans for failure but for success that benefits our communities. May the Year 2008 be a good one for all of us!!!

Big Praise for Small Business

The Asian Pacific Islander Small Business Program (API SBP) recognized four small business owners for their outstanding entrepreneurship and business innovation at the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce office.

In 2004 Belinda Xu sought assistance from API SBP in obtaining a conditional use permit for her childcare center and then went on to enroll in our Entrepreneur Training Program. She was able to obtain the permit she needed and with Chinatown Service Center’s Business Counselor’s assistance was able to acquire a Small Business Association Loan. This past June Ms. Xu opened her second childcare facility located in Temple City, Angela Preschool and Kindergarten. Mr. Ota’s story is featured in LTSC’s 2006-2007 Annual Report. Click here to read his story.

API Small Business Owners are honored at the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce office.

JJ Lee and Chris Lord were able to achieve their dream of starting a music production company with the help of the business counselors at Koreatown Youth and Community Center. With the savings from their Individual Development Account they opened “Overtone Productions” in 2005 and have provided music for movies, television, commercials and video games. Their credits include Ant Bully, Evan Almighty, Charlie Wilson’s War and The Great Debators.

Thai Community Development Corporation’s business counselors helped Supranee Chanpradup realize her dream of opening a restaurant. After attending our Entrepreneur Training Program she was ready to give it a try. The business counselors helped her obtain a business license and proper permits. Thai House Express opened in 2005 and a second location is scheduled for 2008.

You can start off the New Year right!

LTSC in partnership with the Asian Pacific Islander Obesity Prevention Alliance (APIOPA) will be holding "Caring Communities Preventing Obesity," a fun, free, interactive two-part workshop on obesity prevention for the Japanese Community, on January 23-24, 2008 from 12:30-2:30pm in the LTSC Casa Heiwa Conference Room. This two-part workshop will discuss obesity-related health risks and what we can do collectively to prevent obesity in our neighborhoods, at work, and at our community gathering places.

Space is limited to 30 attendees so RSVP as soon as possible! The first 15 attendees of each segment will receive a free healthy lunch and all attendees will be entered to win one of several pedometers! To RSVP or for more information please contact Monica Sakata at msakata@ltsc.org or (213) 473-1614. Click here to view more workshops near you .

LTSC and the Wachovia Foundation have teamed up to improve the lives of those in our community. With funding from Wachovia Foundation, LTSC will continue to implement its community development strategy that includes developing affordable housing, assisting small businesses, revitalizing the neighborhood and providing needed social services. These services play an important part in creating a strong community.

LTSC is currently developing projects that will eventually lead to over 300 units of affordable housing. Our API small business program assists the development of small and micro businesses focused in low-income immigrant communities. Finally, LTSC’s goal is to create a continuum of social services and opportunities that help individuals and families in Central Los Angeles achieve self-sufficiency, strengthen families, and make a positive investment in the future. This continuum begins with care for infants, on through early and later childhood years, youth, families and working adults, to seniors. LTSC thanks Wachovia Foundation for their generous support of our programs.

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Little Tokyo Service Center
231 E. Third Street, Suite G-106
Los Angeles, CA 90013
(213) 473-3030