Melvin Irving Weisburd (1927-2015) was a prominent environmentalist, magazine editor, writer and poet. Aside from his work with the Los Angeles County Air Pollution Control District, Weisburd is well known for his contribution to the Los Angeles beatnik poetry movement of the 50’s.

Boyle Heights is a historic neighborhood of Los Angeles,California which was diversely populated by Jewish, Latino, Russian, and Japanese Americans in the mid-Twentieth century. It was once home to the largest Jewish community in the Western United States, however many Jewish families left because of the freeway development in the community and banks redlining the neighborhood. Currently, Boyle Heights is a working-class, heavily Mexican American, youthful neighborhood of almost 100,000 residents.

The East Los Angeles Community Union (TELACU) is dedicated to the development of Los Angeles County. Founded in 1968, TELACU is a non-profit community development corporation with a mission to create greater opportunities, services, and affordable housing in undeserved communities. TELACU also provides scholarships for Latino students through the Latino Education Foundation.