Tag Archives: Scientology Los Angeles

Praying and Riding for Peace Through the Streets of South Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- On Sunday, February 26, bikers, low riders and Corvette club members rode through South Los Angeles in celebration of the 10th anniversary of the United in Peace Rides. Along the way, they stopped to pray for the victims of senseless violence. And, as it does each month, the Peace Ride ended at the Church of Scientology Community Center in South L.A., whose participation in each of the rides has been pivotal in the movement's success.

Each month, Peace Riders hand out copies of The Way to Happiness. The signature orange color of the custom cover Peace Ride booklets matches the initiative's banners, flags and T-shirts. But it is what is inside these booklets that makes them so important: 19 common-sense precepts or values shared by people of goodwill of all cultures, backgrounds, religions and beliefs.

A police officer taking part in this month's Peace Ride joined the LAPD eight years ago after serving in the Marines. Born and raised in South Central, he knows first-hand the cultural and ethnic tensions that break out in violence in the city. He spoke of the importance of The Way to Happiness as a way to cut through differences and restore communication by reminding people of what we all have in common.

A woman joined one of the three Peace Ride prayer circles held along Sunday's route to pray for a life lost to gang violence. She spoke of the importance of getting this booklet into the hands of youth. Young people have to make decisions that will affect them the rest of their lives, she said. Their decisions can go either way. And The Way to Happiness can help them choose peace and a better life for their families and the entire community.

At the Scientology Community Center at the end of the ride, a Peace Ride board member presented an award to author, humanitarian and Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard who authored The Way to Happiness, saying the booklet's common-sense values form the foundation of the initiative's success. Next, the Peace Rides recognized the LAPD for 10 years of protecting the riders each month with motorcycle patrols from the South Traffic Division.

United in Peace is a multiethnic, multifaith popular movement that unites people to work together to bring peace to our inner cities. Law enforcement and government leaders have recognized and acknowledged the reduction in violence and crime rates in neighborhoods touched by the Peace Rides. In Compton, California, the mayor and city council have acknowledged the Peace Rides, noting that each ride has also resulted in statistical drops in crime.

For more information on the Peace Rides, watch an episode of Voices for Humanity, an original series of the Scientology Network. Learn how Minister Tony Muhammad used these rides to build a peace movement among notorious warring gangs in South Los Angeles.

Scientology ecclesiastical leader Mr. David Miscavige dedicated the Church of Scientology of Inglewood and its South Los Angeles Community Center in 2011. The Church and Community Center are featured in an episode of Destination Scientology on the Scientology Network.

The Scientology Network is available on DIRECTV Channel 320, DIRECTV STREAM, AT&T U-verse and can be streamed at Scientology.tv, on mobile apps and via the Roku, Amazon Fire and Apple TV platforms.

LEARN MORE:

https://www.scientologynews.org/press-releases/

https://www.scientology.tv/series/voices-for-humanity/minister-tony-muhammad.html

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VIDEO: https://youtu.be/qPyMDmI77BI

On Sunday, February 26, bikers, low riders and Corvette club members rode through South Los Angeles in celebration of the 10th anniversary of the United in Peace Rides. Along the way, they stopped to pray for the victims of senseless violence. And, as it does each month, the Peace Ride ended at the Church of Scientology Community Center in South L.A., whose participation in each of the rides has been pivotal in the movement's success.

Related link: https://www.scientology.org/

Join the Church of Scientology for a Family-Friendly New Year’s Festival

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Don't miss the fun at a New Year's Day extravaganza the children will never forget. The Church of Scientology Los Angeles hosts a New Year's Day festival on L. Ron Hubbard Way in East Hollywood. All are invited to launch 2023 with a day filled with fun for the entire family.

The weatherman promises a warm, sunny day, but that won't prevent ice skating or an afternoon of fun barreling down the snow chute created with 15 tons of real snow.

There will also be arts and crafts, contests, and rides on the trackless choo-choo train. Stay for the toy giveaway for kids 12 and under, and gifts for the older kids and their families.

In addition to free treats, some of Los Angeles' favorite food trucks will offer whatever fare families prefer. And there will be live entertainment all afternoon.

The fun starts at 11 a.m. and continues until 4 p.m. at the Church of Scientology Los Angeles at 4810 Sunset Boulevard. Admission is free.

"We wanted to create an unforgettable afternoon for the East Hollywood community," said Susanna Kaneer, public affairs director for the Scientology Churches of Greater Los Angeles. "Join us in kicking off 2023 with a day of safe, family-friendly fun."

The iconic headquarters of the Church of Scientology of Los Angeles was dedicated by Scientology ecclesiastical leader Mr. David Miscavige in 2010. It is designed to provide the ideal facilities for Scientologists on their ascent to higher states of spiritual freedom and to serve as a home for the entire community and a meeting ground of cooperative effort to uplift people of all denominations.

To learn more, visit the website of the Church of Scientology Los Angeles or watch Inside a Church of Scientology on the Scientology Network on DIRECTV channel 320, at Scientology.tv, through mobile apps, or via the Roku, Amazon Fire and Apple TV platforms.

LEARN MORE:

https://www.scientologynews.org/press-releases/

https://www.scientology.org/our-help-is-yours/

https://www.scientology.tv/series/inside-scientology/inside-a-church.html

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VIDEO: https://youtu.be/B0xMnowNCYo

Don't miss the fun at a New Year's Day extravaganza the children will never forget. The Church of Scientology Los Angeles hosts a New Year's Day festival on L. Ron Hubbard Way in East Hollywood. All are invited to launch 2023 with a day filled with fun for the entire family.

Related link: https://www.scientology.org/

Winter Fun in Hollywood, As Snow Arrives at L. Ron Hubbard’s Winter Wonderland

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- On a mild Southern California afternoon, with temperatures in the high 60s, eight tons of real snow appearing on Hollywood Boulevard would be a remarkable phenomenon. But that is exactly what happened at L. Ron Hubbard's Winter Wonderland, to the delight of local children and those visiting the Hollywood Walk of Fame with their families from out of town.

When not cavorting in the snow, children were treated to entertainment, face-painting, a toy giveaway and photos with Santa and his elves.

Winter Wonderland has welcomed generations of children annually since 1983. It was then that author, humanitarian and Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard first donated a giant Christmas Tree to the Hollywood community. And that tradition has continued ever since.

In keeping with its iconic location at 6724 Hollywood Blvd., Winter Wonderland is designed as a Hollywood set with a 60-foot Christmas tree, Santa's house, and a forest of evergreen trees, providing joy to thousands of children and their families every holiday season.

Angelenos and those visiting from out of town are invited to come and enjoy the fun through December 25, Wednesday through Friday 5-9 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 2-9 p.m. Admission is free.

LEARN MORE:

https://www.scientologynews.org/press-releases/

https://www.facebook.com/LRonHubbardWinterWonderland

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VIDEO: https://youtu.be/B0xMnowNCYo

On a mild Southern California afternoon, with temperatures in the high 60s, eight tons of real snow appearing on Hollywood Boulevard would be a remarkable phenomenon. But that is exactly what happened at L. Ron Hubbard's Winter Wonderland, to the delight of local children and those visiting the Hollywood Walk of Fame with their families from out of town.

Related link: https://www.scientology.org/

The Holidays Have Arrived in Hollywood With the Opening of Winter Wonderland

HOLLYWOOD, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Actor Jason Dohring, best known for his role in "Veronica Mars," joined Santa and his elves for the opening of L. Ron Hubbard's Winter Wonderland on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Dohring cut the ribbon and was joined by human rights activist Alberto Godinez; media executive, director and journalist Rolando Nichols; Hollywood Chamber of Commerce board member and chair of the Board of Trustees for the Hollywood Sign Jeff Zarrinnam; and the assistant chief and battalion chief of the West Bureau Los Angeles Fire Department.

Winter Wonderland has welcomed generations of children annually since 1983. That was when L. Ron Hubbard first donated a giant Christmas tree to the Hollywood community. And that tradition has continued ever since.

"It is a beautiful setting for families to come and take their picture with Santa," said Zarrinnam. "It is perfect to have this right here on Hollywood Boulevard."

In keeping with its iconic location at 6724 Hollywood Blvd., Winter Wonderland is designed as a Hollywood set with a 60-foot Christmas tree, Santa's house, and a forest of evergreen trees.

Come for the entertainment, the complimentary cocoa and cookies, and gift bags for the children. And have pictures taken of the kids or the whole family with Santa and his elves.

Angelenos and those visiting from out of town are invited to come and enjoy the fun through December 25, Mon-Thursday 5-9 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 2-9 p.m.

And for more Christmas cheer, watch the Holiday Concert on the Scientology Network on DIRECTV 320 and streaming at Scientology.tv, on mobile apps and via the Roku, Amazon Fire and Apple TV platforms.

LEARN MORE:

https://www.scientologynews.org/press-releases/

https://www.facebook.com/LRonHubbardWinterWonderland

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VIDEO: https://youtu.be/B0xMnowNCYo

Actor Jason Dohring, best known for his role in Veronica Mars, joined Santa and his elves for the opening of L. Ron Hubbard's Winter Wonderland on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Winter Wonderland has welcomed generations of children annually since 1983.

Related link: https://www.scientology.org/

Family Fun at the Holiday Lights Festival at the Church of Scientology

HOLLYWOOD, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Hundreds of families headed to the Church of Scientology for an afternoon and evening of family fun. The annual Holiday Lights Festival included a special appearance of Santa and his elves. As is his custom in Hollywood, Santa arrived in a yellow mustang. This year he brought with him kids from Inner-City Shakespeare, who entertained the crowd by singing "All I Want for Christmas" and dancing to "Santa Claus is Coming to Town."

The young performers were each presented with a Teddy bear and then joined Santa on the red carpet, where they helped him flip the switch, illuminating two city blocks of magical holiday lights.

The deputy fire chief inaugurated the L.A. Alliance's annual toy drive. He stressed how rewarding it is to give back during the holidays and that the Church of Scientology embodies this now and throughout the year with its community functions. Drop off a new gift at the toy drive station at the Church of Scientology at 4810 Sunset Blvd. and help ensure a Merry Christmas for underserved children in the community.

In preparation for the annual Winter Street Fair on L. Ron Hubbard Way, the North Pole was installed, including the kid-sized ice-skating rink and snow slides. From 3 p.m. on, children skated and played in the snow, had their faces painted, and posed for selfies with Santa.

Mr. Jeff Zarinam, board member of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce and chair of the Board of Trustees for the Hollywood Sign, which will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2023, presented the Church with a certificate of recognition:

"On behalf of the Hollywood Business District, we would like to extend our sincere appreciation to all Church of Scientology volunteers in Hollywood for your tenacity and tireless hard work in keeping Hollywood beautiful and contributing more than 4,500 volunteer hours to de-litter, pressure-wash, landscape, paint and beautify our Hollywood cityscape this past year."

"You are stellar examples of being great civic leaders for your dedication to Hollywood and East Hollywood communities and making our city a better place to live, work and play.

"Thank you all for brightening this holiday season with the 2nd Annual Holiday Lighting Festival and for being angels in the City of Angels."

Guests were also invited to visit Winter Wonderland with its 60-foot Christmas tree, Santa's house, and forest of evergreen trees. Winter Wonderland opened Saturday, December 3, at 4 p.m. on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6724 Hollywood Blvd. Humanitarian, author and Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard began this tradition in 1983 when he personally donated the first giant Christmas tree to Hollywood. Winter Wonderland has continued bringing joy to children and their families every year since.

Los Angeles Scientology Churches serve as hubs for religious organizations, like-minded groups and community leaders all over the Southland, welcoming all cultures, all religions and all nationalities to create a positive Los Angeles.

The Church of Scientology Los Angeles, dedicated by Scientology ecclesiastical leader Mr. David Miscavige in 2010, is featured in an episode of Inside Scientology on the Scientology Network, available on DIRECTV channel 320 and streaming at Scientology.tv, through mobile apps and via the Roku, Amazon Fire and Apple TV platforms. For more information, visit the website of the Church of Scientology Los Angeles or the new interactive timeline at Scientology.org/our-help-is-yours/.

LEARN MORE:

https://www.scientology.tv

https://www.scientologynews.org/press-releases/

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VIDEO: https://youtu.be/B0xMnowNCYo

Hundreds of families headed to the Church of Scientology for an afternoon and evening of family fun. The annual Holiday Lights Festival included a special appearance of Santa and his elves. The deputy fire chief inaugurated the L.A. Alliance's annual toy drive.

Related link: https://www.scientology.org/

Scientology Churches Organize Volunteers to Clean Up the Hollywood Christmas Parade Route

HOLLYWOOD, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Scientology Churches in Los Angeles organize their annual parade route cleanup to make Hollywood shine for the thousands of visitors expected to line the streets of Hollywood for the 90th annual Christmas Parade. Anyone wishing to help make the parade special for paradegoers and those watching on TV is invited to join a team of energetic Angelenos Saturday, November 26, who will be making Hollywood beautiful while having a lot of fun.

Each year, Los Angeles Scientologists organize this pre-parade cleanup. But this year's promises to be unique. Not only will they be making Hollywood and Sunset Boulevards litter-free, they will also be upgrading the parade route by cleaning windows and painting out graffiti. And to help everyone join in the holiday spirit, a team of carolers has promised to come along.

Volunteers should arrive at 9 a.m. at the Association for Better Living and Education (ABLE) at 7065 Hollywood Blvd at 9 a.m., for complimentary coffee and donuts, and to collect their supplies. After the cleanup, they return at noon for pizza and sandwiches provided by local businesses that support the initiative.

The cleanup is cosponsored by The Way to Happiness Foundation, named for author, humanitarian and Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard's common-sense moral code. The Way to Happiness promotes universal values adopted by millions of people of all faiths around the world. Among the 21 precepts are two particularly appropriate for such a project: Set a Good Example, and Safeguard and Improve Your Environment, which points out:

"Care of the planet begins in one's own front yard. It extends through the area one travels to get to school or work. It covers such places as where one picnics or goes on vacation. The litter which messes up the terrain and water supply, the dead brush which invites fire, these are things one need not contribute to and which, in otherwise idle moments, one can do something about."

Not only does a cleanup raise the pride of those living and working in a neighborhood, it has also been found to be a deterrent to crime. According to a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences from the University of Pennsylvania and other institutions, "neighborhoods where vacant lots were cleaned up experienced a 29 percent reduction in gun violence, 22 percent decrease in burglaries, and 30 percent drop in nuisances like noise complaints and illegal dumping.

"Residents living near those same spaces also reported feeling much safer post-remediation, with 58 percent having fewer security concerns when leaving their homes and more than three-quarters saying they significantly increased use of their outside spaces for relaxing and socializing."

Hollywood cleanup volunteers hand out copies of The Way to Happiness after the cleanup and place them in shops for their customers to promote simple, common-sense values anyone may use to make their neighborhood safer and more welcoming.

In addition to the annual Hollywood Christmas Parade activity, a partnership between the Church of Scientology, The Way to Happiness Foundation and the Los Angeles Police Department carries out monthly cleanups to keep Hollywood beautiful. The Los Angeles Churches of Scientology also helped organize the Faith and Blue neighborhood cleanup in October 2022, where more than 50 local businesses, nonprofits and faith-based organizations and some 460 volunteers cleaned 170 city blocks and beautified 200 storefronts under the banner "Unity in the Community."

For more information on humanitarian initiatives sponsored by the Church of Scientology, visit a new interactive timeline on the Scientology website.

LEARN MORE:

https://www.scientology.tv

https://www.scientologynews.org/press-releases/

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VIDEO: https://youtu.be/B0xMnowNCYo

Scientology Churches in Los Angeles organize their annual parade route cleanup to make Hollywood shine for the thousands of visitors expected to line the streets of Hollywood for the 90th annual Christmas Parade. Anyone wishing to help make the parade special for paradegoers and those watching on TV is invited to join a team of energetic Angelenos Saturday, November 26.

Related link: https://www.scientology.org/

Holiday Magic and Fun at the Church of Scientology Lighting Ceremony

HOLLYWOOD, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- The family fun begins on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022, when Santa touches down in East Hollywood at the Church of Scientology on L. Ron Hubbard Way. No matter what weather Los Angeles meteorologists predict next weekend, snow will be falling in East Hollywood when community leaders flip the switch on two blocks of holiday lights.

Local families can count on a traditional holiday celebration with all the trimmings. The fun begins at 3 p.m. Saturday, November 19, and continues until 9 p.m.

Volunteers contributed more than 200 hours to make the lighting festival a memorable experience for East Hollywood families, in keeping with their campaign to "Keep Hollywood Beautiful."

Bring the entire family to welcome Santa and enjoy the complimentary hot cocoa, cookie decorating, and lots of other winter fun.

The festival also launches the Church of Scientology Los Angeles's annual Winter Street Fair. L. Ron Hubbard Way will be transformed into a wonderland, with ice skating and snow slides for the kids. There will be music, food, holiday treats and photos with Santa throughout the holiday season.

Los Angeles Scientology Churches serve as hubs for religious organizations, like-minded groups, and community leaders all over the Southland, welcoming all cultures, all religions and all nationalities to create a positive Los Angeles.

The Church of Scientology Los Angeles, dedicated by Scientology ecclesiastical leader Mr. David Miscavige in 2010, is featured in an episode of Inside Scientology on the Scientology Network, available on DIRECTV channel 320 and streaming at Scientology.tv, through mobile apps and via the Roku, Amazon Fire and Apple TV platforms. For more information, visit the website of the Church of Scientology Los Angeles or the new interactive timeline at Scientology.org/our-help-is-yours/.

LEARN MORE:

https://www.scientology.org/our-help-is-yours/

https://www.scientology-losangeles.org

https://www.scientologynews.org/press-releases/

MULTIMEDIA:

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/B0xMnowNCYo

The family fun begins on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022, when Santa touches down in East Hollywood at the Church of Scientology on L. Ron Hubbard Way. There will be music, food, holiday treats and photos with Santa throughout the holiday season.

Related link: https://www.scientology.org/

Scientology Church Honors and Celebrates the Indigenous Michoacán Culture

HOLLYWOOD, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- East Hollywood's L. Ron Hubbard Way was transformed into a street festival in honor of the Day of the Dead and the traditions and culture of the indigenous people of the Mexican State of Michoacán. More than a thousand guests filled the street for the celebration, a Michoacán tradition that honors the ancestors and all who have passed away. It was also an affirmation of the culture of the Purépecha, an indigenous people of Michoacán, hosted by the Monarca Purépecha Association and the Church of Scientology Los Angeles.

Artisans displayed handicrafts, from jewelry to traditional clothing, in a street fair along both sides of the street. They set up next to food stalls where tantalizing aromas invited visitors to sample some of the region's favorite foods.

There was churipo, a spicey stew prepared with chunks of beef, vegetables and chilis. And pozole, a dish made from hominy and meat, often seasoned and garnished with shredded lettuce or cabbage, chili peppers, onion, garlic, radishes, avocado, salsa or limes. There were also tamales and tacos dorados, with ingredients tightly rolled up in tortillas and fried in oil. And to top it off, a steaming cup of chocolate atole, made with Mexican chocolate, water, and milk, spiced with cinnamon sticks and anise, sweetened with piloncillo, a raw form of pure cane sugar, and thickened with corn flour.

Along the street were ofrendas, flowered altars built on the Day of the Dead to honor those who have passed. They are usually made of marigolds, which blossom at this time of the year in Michoacán, and contain photos and other memorabilia to welcome those who have died and celebrate their lives.

Octavio Chavez Aguirre, Mayor of Lagunillas in the state of Michoacán, commissioned a custom artisanal brass plate and had it presented to the Church of Scientology in recognition of Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard and his support of the customs, traditions and rights of people of all cultures.

While this celebration was taking place on L. Ron Hubbard Way, the Guatemalan community was also marking the Day of the Dead in a commemoration reflecting their own unique culture in an event space set up in front of the Church of Scientology Los Angeles.

Los Angeles Scientology Churches serve as hubs for religious organizations, like-minded groups and community leaders all over the Southland, welcoming all cultures, all religions and all nationalities to create a positive Los Angeles.

The Church of Scientology Los Angeles, dedicated by Scientology ecclesiastical leader Mr. David Miscavige in 2010, is featured in an episode of Inside Scientology on the Scientology Network, available on DIRECTV channel 320 and streaming at Scientology.tv, through mobile apps and via the Roku, Amazon Fire and Apple TV platforms.

For more information, visit the website of the Church of Scientology Los Angeles or the new interactive timeline at Scientology.org/our-help-is-yours/.

LEARN MORE:

https://www.scientology.org/our-help-is-yours/

https://www.scientology-losangeles.org

https://www.scientologynews.org/press-releases/

MULTIMEDIA:

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/B0xMnowNCYo

East Hollywood's L. Ron Hubbard Way was transformed into a street festival in honor of the Day of the Dead and the traditions and culture of the indigenous people of the Mexican State of Michoacán. More than a thousand guests filled the street for the celebration, a Michoacán tradition that honors the ancestors and all who have passed away.

Related link: https://www.scientology.org/

Join the Drug-Free Heroes and Help Protect Youth from Drug Overdose

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Church of Scientology Los Angeles hosts the second annual National Red Ribbon Week Drug-Free Heroes Awards to help end the deadly crisis that is threatening the lives of L.A. kids. Los Angeles was rocked in September by the death of a 15-year-old student who died in school after taking a single pill laced with fentanyl. She was the seventh L.A. teenager to overdose on fentanyl in the previous 30 days.

Can anything be done to prevent such tragedies? Foundation for a Drug-Free World says "Yes." That is why the Church of Scientology and the L.A.-based Strike Out Against Drugs nonprofit joined forces to hold their 2nd annual Drug-Free Heroes Awards Gala at the Church of Scientology Los Angeles in celebration of National Red Ribbon Week.

Event keynote speaker and awardee Mr. Henry Lozano is an example of what one man or woman can do to reverse this catastrophe. For decades, countless children's lives have been saved because of his work.

Lozano is the founder of National Red Ribbon week, the nation's oldest and largest drug prevention awareness program. He also served as director of USA Freedom Corps under President George W. Bush, has held the position of director of Los Angeles County Teen Challenge and Urban Ministries Initiative since 2011, and is active in Californians for Drug-Free Youth and Points of Light Foundation.

National Red Ribbon Week honors the life and sacrifice of Enrique (Kiki) S. Camarena, a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent working undercover in the 1980s to close the pipeline of deadly drugs into the U.S. from Mexico. His operation was compromised and in February 1985, Camarena was kidnapped. A month later, his body was found.

Lozano, a high school friend of Camarena, launched Camarena Clubs in their hometown of Calexico, California, in coordination with Congressman Duncan Hunter. Hundreds of club members wore red ribbons and pledged to lead drug-free lives to honor the sacrifices made by Camarena and others. In 1988, the campaign gained national prominence when President and Mrs. Ronald Reagan agreed to serve as honorary chairpersons.

Each year, during the last week in October, more than 80 million young people and adults show their commitment to healthy, drug-free living while wearing or displaying the Red Ribbon.

Betsy Davis, who coordinates the Drug-Free World Foundation's Los Angeles chapter, showed those attending how simple it is for anyone to take effective action to combat this deadly crisis.

The Foundation's Truth About Drug materials communicate the cold, hard truth about what drugs are and what they do in youth-friendly booklets and videos. The Truth About Drugs educator's manual enables anyone to provide fact-based drug education.

Cohosting the event was David Sanchez, founder of the L.A. nonprofit Strike Out Against Drugs. Since 2014, his organization has visited more than a hundred communities throughout Los Angeles and Southern California spreading the truth about drugs, reaching some 1.5 million people with an anti-drug message and changing the lives of countless kids. A documentary on his work and accomplishments is featured as an episode of Voices for Humanity on the Scientology Network.

Twelve new Drug-Free Heroes were awarded for their dedication and work to creating a Drug-Free Los Angeles and beyond. These included Beacon of Hope Sober Living cofounder Nick Salvato; Grace Sierra, Los Angeles-based Vice Consul of Honduras; and Alejandro Jose Letona Alvarado, Consul General of El Salvador and his staff.

Mr. Lozano presented Anna Grace Zaucha with the prestigious Gold Medal Presidential Volunteer Award including a medallion, certificate of achievement and a letter signed by President Biden in honor of her outstanding volunteer work to help youth remain drug-free.

The Church of Scientology and Scientologists support Foundation for a Drug-Free World, making it possible to provide the materials free of charge to teachers, community groups, churches, and anyone wishing to educate others on the facts behind drugs and addiction.

After extensive research on the effects of drugs, Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard wrote, "Research has demonstrated that the single most destructive element present in our current culture is drugs."

The Church of Scientology Los Angeles is designed to provide ideal facilities for Scientologists on their ascent to higher states of spiritual freedom and to serve as a home for the entire community -- a meeting ground of cooperative effort to uplift people of all denominations. The Church was dedicated by Scientology ecclesiastical leader Mr. David Miscavige in 2010.

The Church of Scientology Los Angeles is featured in an episode of Inside Scientology on the Scientology Network, available on DIRECTV channel 320 and streaming at Scientology.tv, through mobile apps and via the Roku, Amazon Fire and Apple TV platforms.

For more information, visit the website of the Church of Scientology Los Angeles or the new interactive timeline at Scientology.org/our-help-is-yours/.

LEARN MORE:

https://www.scientology.org/our-help-is-yours/

https://www.scientology-losangeles.org

https://www.drugfreeworld.org

MULTIMEDIA:

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/B0xMnowNCYo

Church of Scientology Los Angeles hosts the second annual National Red Ribbon Week Drug-Free Heroes Awards to help end the deadly crisis that is threatening the lives of L.A. kids. Event keynote speaker and awardee Mr. Henry Lozano is an example of what one man or woman can do to reverse this catastrophe. For decades, countless children's lives have been saved because of his work.

Related link: https://www.scientology.org/

Day of the Dead Festival at the Church of Scientology Honors Ancestors

HOLLYWOOD, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Members of the Los Angeles Guatemala community gathered at the Church of Scientology Los Angeles this weekend for a ceremony and Fiambre -- a 500-year-old Guatemalan custom in which families join in creating a huge platter of food that is then shared by all. It is held each year as part of the observance of the Day of the Dead to remember and celebrate the lives of loved ones who have passed away.

This year's Fiambre weighed 900 pounds and is thought to be the largest ever created outside the borders of Guatemala. It included 80 Ingredients from a variety of meats and seafood to vegetables, fruits, nuts, legumes, spices, juice, and an oil and vinegar dressing. It was followed by a traditional Guatemalan dessert made of ayote, a winter squash native to Guatemala, flavored with cinnamon and a cane sugar product called panela.

Los Angeles County is home to more than 200,000 Guatemalans making it the largest Guatemalan community in the U.S. -- a community that has grown more than 25 percent over the past decade.

Guatemalan-American community leaders believe in the importance of promoting the traditions, values and culture of the land of their ancestors some 2,700 miles away.

With entire generations growing up having little contact with their roots, a traditional Guatemalan Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebration is one way to preserve these customs and keep the culture alive. Organizers believe that sharing the community's cultural heritage is vital to preserve the children's sense of identity and instill unity and national pride.

While families created the magnificent Fiambre, mural artist Oscar de Salcaja created a chalk painting in the Church of Scientology parking lot celebrating the culture of Guatemala.

"Thank you to the Church of Scientology for providing a place to keep our country's traditions alive," said Walter Batres, leader of the Guatemalan Migrants Network. "We want to preserve our heritage here in the United States and pass it down to our children. This is the second year we have been able to hold our Fiambre here at your Church and we are grateful for this."

The Church of Scientology has partnered with the Guatemalan community since the 1990s to provide tools to improve the quality of life and the future of Guatemalans in their homeland and Los Angeles.

Working together on food drives, the Church of Scientology Los Angeles and the Guatemalan Chamber of Commerce helped thousands of local families overcome food insecurity during the pandemic.

Those attending the Fiambre were invited to return for the Church's annual Community Holiday Lighting Ceremony Saturday, November 19, to help "flip the switch" on two city blocks of holiday lights and stay for the hot cocoa, live music, and winter-themed family fun.

Los Angeles Scientology Churches serve as hubs for religious organizations, like-minded groups and community leaders all over the Southland, welcoming all cultures, all religions and all nationalities to create a positive Los Angeles.

The Church of Scientology Los Angeles, dedicated by Scientology ecclesiastical leader Mr. David Miscavige in 2010, is featured in an episode of Inside Scientology on the Scientology Network, available on DIRECTV channel 320 and streaming at Scientology.tv, through mobile apps and via the Roku, Amazon Fire and Apple TV platforms.

For more information, visit the website of the Church of Scientology Los Angeles or the new interactive timeline at Scientology.org/our-help-is-yours/.

LEARN MORE:

https://www.scientology.org/our-help-is-yours/

https://www.scientology-losangeles.org

MULTIMEDIA:

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/B0xMnowNCYo

Members of the Los Angeles Guatemala community gathered at the Church of Scientology Los Angeles this weekend for a ceremony and Fiambre - a 500-year-old Guatemalan custom in which families join in creating a huge platter of food that is then shared by all. It is held each year as part of the observance of the Day of the Dead to remember and celebrate the lives of loved ones who have passed away.

Related link: https://www.scientology.org/

Halloween Magic and Fun for Local Families at the Church of Scientology

HOLLYWOOD, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- A safe and exciting Halloween party for kids of all ages launched the holiday season at the Church of Scientology Los Angeles. Neighbors and friends joined staff and volunteers from the Church of Scientology to make Halloween 2022 a safe and memorable holiday for neighborhood children. More than 2,000 took part in the annual Halloween street fair in East Hollywood October 31 on L. Ron Hubbard Way.

There was plenty of popcorn and cotton candy. Ghouls, witches and skeletons joined Winnie-the-Pooh and a life-sized Minion to hand out 120,000 pieces of trick-or-treat candy and pose for Halloween photos. And face-painting and the reptile petting zoo vied with the pumpkin-carving booths for the most popular activity.

"So many people contributed to making this a special day for local children," said Susanna Kaneer, Church of Scientology Community Affairs Director for the greater Los Angeles area. "Neighbors and friends, local Scientologists, and Church staff who manned the trick-or-treat stations and photo booths and contributed candy and other treats had as much fun as the children and their parents. We love to see families attend our community events and then bring friends and neighbors with them to the next one to join the fun. That's what these events are all about. We are here for the community."

Families were also invited to come for the annual Community Holiday Lighting Ceremony Saturday, November 19, to help "flip the switch" on two city blocks of holiday lights and stay for the hot cocoa, live music, and winter-themed family fun.

Los Angeles Scientology Churches serve as hubs for religious organizations, like-minded groups and community leaders all over the Southland, welcoming all cultures, all religions and all nationalities to create a positive Los Angeles.

The Church of Scientology Los Angeles, dedicated by Scientology ecclesiastical leader Mr. David Miscavige in 2010, is featured in an episode of Inside Scientology on the Scientology Network, available on DIRECTV channel 320 and streaming at Scientology.tv, through mobile apps and via the Roku, Amazon Fire and Apple TV platforms.

For more information, visit the website of the Church of Scientology Los Angeles or the new interactive timeline at Scientology.org/our-help-is-yours/.

LEARN MORE:

https://www.scientology.org/our-help-is-yours/

https://www.scientology-losangeles.org

https://www.scientologynews.org/press-releases/

MULTIMEDIA:

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/B0xMnowNCYo

A safe and exciting Halloween party for kids of all ages launched the holiday season at the Church of Scientology Los Angeles. Neighbors and friends joined staff and volunteers from the Church of Scientology to make Halloween 2022 a safe and memorable holiday for neighborhood children. More than 2,000 took part in the annual Halloween street fair in East Hollywood October 31 on L. Ron Hubbard Way.

Related link: https://www.scientology.org/

Religious Freedom in the Spotlight at a Peace Day Forum at the Church of Scientology

HOLLYWOOD, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Religious leaders discuss the importance of tolerance in today's world at a forum at the Church of Scientology Los Angeles. Freedom of religion or belief is often described as the "canary in the coal mine" -- a metaphor for a social issue that predicts danger or disaster. With a recent Pew Research Center study finding government restrictions on religion reaching a record high worldwide, the Church of Scientology Los Angeles marked International Day of Peace with an open house and forum on the importance of tolerance for people of faith.

The program featured religious leaders of several minority faiths whose members have experienced discrimination and worse because of their beliefs.

Speakers were Mr. Shahrooz Ash, trustee of the California Zoroastrian Center and founder of Lord of Wisdom, a cultural and educational organization that promotes Zoroastrian philosophy; Shaykh Qazi Asad, Pakistani-born spiritual leader and the first Islamic chaplain in the L.A. Police Department and L.A. County Sheriff's Department; and Professor Nirinjan Khalsa, executive director of the California Sikh Council, who has served as a commissioner on the City of Los Angeles Human Relations Commission for more than 18 years.

Each speaker described their own religious beliefs and the importance of religious freedom and tolerance to the adherents of their faiths.

According to the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism, hate crimes in major U.S. cities rose in the first half of 2022 for the third year running.

Results of a poll conducted by the Pearson Institute and The Associated Press National Opinion Research Center for Public Affairs Research, released in October 2022, found that most Americans believe misinformation leads to extreme views including violence based on race, religion or gender.

The Church of Scientology supports United for Human Rights (UHR), a human rights education initiative based on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Over the past 20 years, the Church has seen countless instances of increased tolerance and decreased social conflict with the implementation of human rights education. Scientologist Kelley Pomerantz, a United for Human Rights volunteer, introduced those attending the forum to the UHR educational materials.

Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard believed in the importance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and that "human rights must be made a fact, not an idealistic dream."

In appreciation for the work of the Church of Scientology in forwarding these ideals, Mr. Ash presented the Church with a gold pin representing the Cyrus Cylinder.

A human rights documentary that is part of the United for Human Rights educational program describes the significance of the Cyrus Cylinder. After Cyrus the Great conquered Babylon in 539 B.C., he freed all slaves and proclaimed that people are free to choose their religion, a revolutionary action. These rights were enshrined in the clay cylinder that was discovered in Babylon in 1879 and now bears his name.

From its beginnings, the Church of Scientology has recognized that freedom of religion is a fundamental human right. In a world where conflicts are often traceable to intolerance of others' religious beliefs and practices, the Church has, for more than 50 years, made the preservation of religious liberty an overriding concern.

The Church of Scientology Los Angeles is designed to provide ideal facilities for Scientologists on their ascent to higher states of spiritual freedom and to serve as a home for the entire community--a meeting ground of cooperative effort to uplift people of all denominations. It was dedicated by Scientology ecclesiastical leader Mr. David Miscavige in 2010. To learn more about the Church's many contributions to Los Angeles, visit the new interactive timeline on the Scientology website.

The Church of Scientology Los Angeles is featured in an episode of Inside Scientology on the Scientology Network, available on DIRECTV channel 320 and streaming at Scientology.tv, through mobile apps and via the Roku, Amazon Fire and Apple TV platforms.

LEARN MORE:

https://www.scientology.org/our-help-is-yours/

https://www.scientology-losangeles.org

https://www.scientologyreligion.org

https://www.scientologynews.org/press-releases/

MULTIMEDIA:

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/hC0nHBNaqBk

Religious leaders discuss the importance of tolerance in today's world at a forum at the Church of Scientology Los Angeles. Freedom of religion or belief is often described as the "canary in the coal mine" -- a metaphor for a social issue that predicts danger or disaster.

Related link: https://www.scientology.org/

Church of Scientology Celebrates Latin Culture and Women’s Empowerment

HOLLYWOOD, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- The vibrant strains of Latin Music filled East Hollywood when the Church of Scientology Los Angeles hosted the Miss Hispanidad Festival. It was held during National Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15-October 15), set aside to honor the history, culture and contribution of those whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America. Miss Hispanidad Festival promotes women's empowerment and celebrates the Latin culture of the Americas.

The annual event, produced by Miss XV magazine, included traditional music, dance, and costumes celebrating unique cultures of the Americas.

South America was represented by the culture of Peru, Central America by Costa Rica, North America by Mexico, and the Caribbean by the Dominican Republic.

With their commitment to promoting and defending the human rights of all Angelenos, L.A. Scientologists believe in the importance of preserving and honoring the languages, traditions and heritage of the many cultures that call Los Angeles home. There are nearly 5 million Hispanics and Latinx men, women and children in Los Angeles County. They each have the right, as stated in Article 27 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, to freely "participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits."

The Church of Scientology Los Angeles partners with Hispanic and Latinx organizations to provide resources to celebrate and keep these unique and diverse cultures alive. According to UNESCO, there are over 7,000 languages spoken globally, of which nearly 6,700 are indigenous languages. Some 40 percent of these are at risk of disappearing, and, with the loss of these languages, a unique piece of humankind's history will also be lost.

The Church of Scientology Los Angeles is designed to provide ideal facilities for Scientologists on their ascent to higher states of spiritual freedom and to serve as a home for the entire community -- a meeting ground of cooperative effort to uplift people of all denominations. It was dedicated by Scientology ecclesiastical leader Mr. David Miscavige in 2010.

The Church of Scientology Los Angeles is featured in an episode of Inside Scientology on the Scientology Network, available on DIRECTV channel 320 and streaming at Scientology.tv, through mobile apps and via the Roku, Amazon Fire and Apple TV platforms.

For more information, visit the website of the Church of Scientology Los Angeles or the new interactive timeline on Scientology.org.

The Scientology religion was founded by author and philosopher L. Ron Hubbard. The first Church of Scientology was formed in Los Angeles in 1954 and the religion has expanded to more than 11,000 Churches, Missions and affiliated groups, with millions of members in 167 countries.

LEARN MORE:

https://www.scientology.org/our-help-is-yours/

https://www.scientology-losangeles.org

MULTIMEDIA:

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/B0xMnowNCYo

The vibrant strains of Latin Music filled East Hollywood when the Church of Scientology Los Angeles hosted the Miss Hispanidad Festival. It was held during National Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15-October 15), set aside to honor the history, culture and contribution of those whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America. Miss Hispanidad Festival promotes women's empowerment and celebrates the Latin culture of the Americas.

Related link: https://www.scientology.org/

New Video on the Scientology Website: How the Church Reaches Out with Help

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- A video on Scientology.org shows why underserved neighborhoods in Los Angeles know they can depend on the Church of Scientology. When one thinks of Hollywood, some envision fancy cars on Rodeo Drive, red-carpet events and searchlights announcing movie premieres. That's the impression that fills the pages of entertainment and celebrity websites and blogs and endless social media posts.

What these news sources fail to convey is what goes on behind the scenes and the people who make these lavish events possible: Those who prepare the delicacies, park the automobiles, pour the drinks, clear the tables and wash the dishes. And particularly, what happened to these people when the pandemic struck.

The service industry was among those hit hardest by the lockdown. Restaurants, movie theatres, shops and other nonessential venues abruptly closed their doors, putting workers out of their jobs for an undetermined amount of time. They didn't know if they would be able to return to work at all.

Many in the service industry are immigrants residing in far less affluent East Hollywood, earning hourly wages and working long hours to put food on the table for their families and see to their basic household necessities.

"A lot of the organizations that volunteer closed," says the executive director of an immigrant charitable foundation in East Hollywood. "The local food bank half a block away from here closed its doors until December. Those people needed food and now the places they could get it from before were not available."

She turned to other nonprofits and churches for assistance to get food to families in need. "Nobody came through except the Church of Scientology," she said.

For six months, she worked with the Church of Scientology to feed the local population. The need was intense.

"When you have someone coming in with a walker and standing in line for three hours to get a couple of bags of groceries, you know he really needs it," she says. "Our collaboration has been very, very fruitful. We've touched so many lives."

When the holidays approached, her foundation organized a toy drive for gifts for children of out-of-work parents.

"We figured if people were willing to stand in line for three hours for groceries, there were not a lot of discretionary funds left over for toys," she says.

They decided to provide toys for 100 kids but when they posted about it, within two days there were requests for 450.

"Out of desperation, I called the Church of Scientology," she says. "And like knights in shining armor, in a matter of a week, they were able to send me more than 400 toys."

"To understand the impact of that, you'd have to understand the families we serve."

She described a very humble young man who came with his sister and brother and he made sure his brother had toys first and put himself last in line after his younger siblings. When they gave a toy to him, his grandmother started crying and explained this was the first time this boy had ever received a present of any kind. He was 14 years old.

"It has been a privilege to get to know your volunteers," says the foundation's executive director. "If there is a need, they show up. That is such a rare thing. And I am grateful. Thank you for making our work possible."

The Church of Scientology of Los Angeles is designed to provide ideal facilities for Scientologists on their ascent to higher states of spiritual freedom and to serve as a home for the entire community-a meeting ground of cooperative effort to uplift people of all denominations. It was dedicated by Scientology ecclesiastical leader Mr. David Miscavige in 2010.

The Church of Scientology Los Angeles is featured in an episode of Inside Scientology on the Scientology Network, available on DIRECTV channel 320 and streaming at Scientology.tv, through mobile apps and via the Roku, Amazon Fire and Apple TV platforms.

For more information, visit the website of the Church of Scientology Los Angeles.

LEARN MORE:

https://www.scientology.org/our-help-is-yours/

https://www.scientology-losangeles.org

MULTIMEDIA:

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/B0xMnowNCYo

A video on Scientology.org shows why underserved neighborhoods in Los Angeles know they can depend on the Church of Scientology. The service industry was among those hit hardest by the lockdown. Restaurants, movie theatres, shops and other nonessential venues abruptly closed their doors, putting workers out of their jobs for an undetermined amount of time.

Related link: https://www.scientology.org/

Community Comes Together in Support of the LAPD and a Cleaner and Safer Hollywood

HOLLYWOOD, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- With violent crime on the rise in Los Angeles, more than 50 local businesses, nonprofits and faith-based organizations joined the LAPD in a community coalition on Faith & Blue Weekend to reclaim the streets of Hollywood with a neighborhood cleanup launched by the Hollywood Community Police Station and co-organized by the Church of Scientology.

October 8 was no ordinary Saturday morning in Hollywood. As crowds gathered in the Capitol Records Building parking lot, tourists and locals soon realized something special was happening. Was it the presentation of a new star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame? Or an unexpected movie premiere? No. This was the launch of a coalition of more than 50 organizations that decided to take back the streets of Hollywood.

More than 460 volunteers gathered for a community cleanup -- the largest ever done in the area. Two local businesses donated the space and parking for the event that was organized by the LAPD and the Church of Scientology on National Faith & Blue Weekend under the banner "Unity in the Community."

The purpose of Faith & Blue Weekend is to create safer and stronger communities by engaging law enforcement officers and local residents through the connections of faith-based organizations.

Hollywood LAPD Captain Yasir Gillani welcomed the volunteers, thanking them and the many LAPD officers for their support of the project. He gave a special shout-out to the Church of Scientology for bringing the community together to support the program.

Faith & Blue founder Rev. Markel Hutchins, in Los Angeles from Atlanta, Georgia, to launch the Los Angeles Faith & Blue Weekend celebrations, spoke of a turnout like this being proof that when faiths, communities and law enforcement work together, we can bridge differences, increase collaboration and reduce bias and violence.

Those coming on board for a cleaner, safer and more beautiful Hollywood included the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, the Hollywood Partnership, the L.A. Office of Community Beautification, the L.A. Department of Sanitation, and numerous local businesses and faith-based organizations.

The volunteers divided into seven teams, each headed by an LAPD Hollywood Division officer. The City of Los Angeles Department of Sanitation and Home Depot equipped them with bags, shovels, brooms and trash pickers.

Teams cleaned 170 city blocks totaling 17 miles of Hollywood streets, and they beautified 200 storefronts by cleaning, painting and removing graffiti.

The trash was carried away by one of the L.A. Department of Sanitation's new zero-emission all-electric garbage trucks.

As the teams returned to the Vine Street staging area at noon, they were serenaded by a mariachi band while they enjoyed a complimentary lunch provided by local businesses including Pinks Hot Dogs, In-N-Out Burger, Tommy's Hamburgers, Domino's Pizza, Sharky's and Fresh Brother's Pizza.

The Church of Scientology, LAPD and The Way to Happiness Foundation have partnered in monthly neighborhood cleanups since 2018, including a special annual scouring of Hollywood Boulevard on the eve of each year's Hollywood Christmas Parade.

After each cleanup, volunteers hand out copies of The Way to Happiness, written by humanitarian and Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard. The Way to Happiness is a common-sense nonreligious moral code with 21 precepts to guide people to make better choices in their lives. With precepts such as "Set a Good Example," "Safeguard and Improve Your Environment," "Be Worthy of Trust" "Fulfill Your Obligations" and "Be Industrious," The Way to Happiness encourages people to point the way to a moral, less dangerous and happier life.

National Faith & Blue Weekend was created to facilitate safer, stronger, more just and unified communities by directly enabling local partnerships among law enforcement professionals, residents, businesses and community groups through local faith-based organizations. These connections are built through activities held in neighborhoods of every kind across the United States, jointly hosted by houses of worship and local law enforcement entities.

LEARN MORE:

https://www.scientology.org/our-help-is-yours/

https://www.scientology-losangeles.org

MULTIMEDIA:

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/B0xMnowNCYo

Video News Release on the October 8 LAPD Hollywood Cleanup: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZoH0ZOCv4Pw

With violent crime on the rise in Los Angeles, more than 50 local businesses, nonprofits and faith-based organizations joined the LAPD in a community coalition on Faith & Blue Weekend to reclaim the streets of Hollywood with a neighborhood cleanup launched by the Hollywood Community Police Station and co-organized by the Church of Scientology.

Related link: https://www.scientology.org/

The Church of Scientology, Uplifting, Inspiring and Changing the World

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- A new interactive timeline on the Scientology website provides a glimpse into why so many people count on the Church of Scientology for help in Los Angeles and around the world.

From the 101 to Sunset Boulevard and all over the Southland, Los Angeles Scientology Churches serve as hubs for religious organizations, like-minded groups and community leaders.

Watch a series of videos on the Scientology website and learn how L.A. Scientology Churches welcome all cultures, all religions, and work with the community to create a positive impact, with neighborhood events, holiday celebrations and charity fundraisers attended by more than 50,000 in the past year alone. Learn how:

* Scientology volunteers have organized weekly food drives distributing 258,000 pounds of food to help more than 17,000 families over the past 16 months.

* At the height of the pandemic, Scientologists distributed 380,435 How to Stay Well booklets door-to-door to neighbors and essential businesses for their customers.

* They supported those on the front lines, sanitizing 1,378 police vehicles and 82 police stations throughout the region so the police could stay well and continue to serve our communities.

Scientologists take responsibility for their neighborhoods:

* They bring the community together by organizing neighborhood cleanups.

* Scientology Volunteer Ministers provide support to firefighters and other emergency personnel. They have responded to every major disaster in Los Angeles and throughout California since 1989.

* Responding to another kind of disaster affecting L.A. families, Scientologists provide drug education to tackle drug abuse, addiction and overdose deaths in our schools and neighborhoods. They have organized and held some 1,200 drug education seminars reaching more than 5 million people in and around Los Angeles with the truth about drugs.

* Scientologists work to reduce crime and gang violence by organizing Peace Rides that promote the common-sense values of The Way to Happiness, the nonreligious moral code written by author, humanitarian and Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard.

Hear what community and religious leaders have to say about Scientology. Hear from neighbors and local nonprofits about why they count on the Church to support their activities. And learn how the work of L.A. Scientology Churches betters the lives of people throughout the Southland.

Visit the Scientology website and see why so many Angelenos count on the L.A. Churches of Scientology and the Scientologists to help make life better in the City of Dreams.

LEARN MORE:

https://www.scientology.org/our-help-is-yours/

https://www.scientology-losangeles.org

MULTIMEDIA:

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/B0xMnowNCYo

A new interactive timeline on the Scientology website provides a glimpse into why so many people count on the Church of Scientology for help in Los Angeles and around the world. From the 101 to Sunset Boulevard and all over the Southland, Los Angeles Scientology Churches serve as hubs for religious organizations, like-minded groups and community leaders.

Related link: https://www.scientology.org/

Church of Scientology Weekly Food Giveaways Help People Cope with Food Insecurity

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- For the past 63 weeks, Volunteer Ministers of the Church of Scientology Los Angeles have been making life less challenging for East Hollywood families and individuals trying to cope with food insecurity.

As of July 2022, 24.3 percent of L.A. County households had experienced food insecurity in the past year. According to a USC survey, 40 percent of them have children in the household. Inflation has made it harder to purchase foods they were relying on before. And hardest hit has been low-income and Hispanic/Latinx households.

To help the community cope with these circumstances, each week Scientology Volunteer Ministers set up their bright yellow tents in the Church parking lot right off Sunset Boulevard near Vermont and provide a variety of foods to those driving or walking through.

Cars simply line up and pop their trunks and the volunteers place food items inside. And they have put food in an estimated 17,000 trunks since the program began.

According to the L.A. Regional Food Bank, the economic impact of the pandemic and inflation have significantly increased the food-insecure population. "Due to the soaring costs of both housing and transportation in Los Angeles County, many people who work - even families with two incomes - often can't make ends meet or put enough good food on the table."

The Church also organizes seasonal giveaways such as turkeys at Thanksgiving and Christmas foods, candy and gifts for local children.

The Church of Scientology Los Angeles is located at 4810 Sunset Blvd.

The iconic headquarters of the Church of Scientology of Los Angeles is designed to provide the ideal facilities for Scientologists on their ascent to higher states of spiritual freedom and to serve as a home for the entire community - a meeting ground of cooperative effort to uplift people of all denominations.

The Church of Scientology Los Angeles is featured in an episode of Inside Scientology, which first aired in March 2018 when Scientology ecclesiastical leader Mr. David Miscavige launched the Scientology Network on DIRECTV channel 320. The episode can be streamed on Scientology.tv and is available through mobile apps and via the Roku, Amazon Fire and Apple TV platforms.

For more information, visit the website of the Church of Scientology Los Angeles.

LEARN MORE:

https://www.scientologynews.org/press-releases/

https://www.scientology.tv/series/inside-scientology/inside-a-church.html

https://www.scientology-losangeles.org

MULTIMEDIA:

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/8XnzFn688js

For the past 63 weeks, Volunteer Ministers of the Church of Scientology Los Angeles have been making life less challenging for East Hollywood families and individuals trying to cope with food insecurity.

Related link: https://www.scientology.org/

A Month of Community Celebrations at the Church of Scientology of Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- With its purpose to serve as a home for the entire community, the Church of Scientology Los Angeles makes holidays special for local families. And May has been no exception. A Memorial Day festival Monday May 30 at the Church will round out a month of special activities.

May began with a rousing Cinco de Mayo fiesta - a celebration of Mexican culture and heritage. A mariachi band set the tone of the day that was filled with Mexican food, piñata contests, and plenty of treats for the children.

Next, the Church hosted a Mother's Day party, complete with craft stations where kids created flower crowns, bouquets and Mother's Day cards. The "mommy and me" photo booth was filled all afternoon. And many more activities engaged the kids so mothers could spend some quality time trying out products at artisanal booths and chilling out at the Mother's Day massage and pampering stations all along L. Ron Hubbard Way.

Now East Hollywood neighbors are invited to save the date for a family fun festival on Memorial Day. From 12 noon to 6 p.m. on Monday May 30, there will be all-American barbecue, kids games, bouncy houses, an inflatable maze, a water slide (and splash pool for the younger children), sack races, hula hoop contests and arts and crafts with red, white and blue themes. And at 2:30 p.m., the Church will host a veterans recognition ceremony.

All are invited to head for the fun at the corner of Sunset Boulevard and L. Ron Hubbard Way.

The Church of Scientology Los Angeles is an Ideal Scientology Organization, configured to service Scientologists in their ascent to spiritual freedom and serve as a home for the entire community - a meeting ground of cooperative effort to uplift people of all denominations.

The Church, featured in an episode of Inside Scientology on the Scientology Network, was part of the special when Scientology ecclesiastical leader Mr. David Miscavige launched the network in 2018. Watch it on DIRECTV channel 320, at Scientology.tv, through mobile apps or via the Roku, Amazon Fire and Apple TV platforms.

LEARN MORE:

https://www.scientology.tv/series/inside-scientology/inside-a-church.html

MULTIMEDIA:

VIDEO (YouTube): https://youtu.be/8XnzFn688js

With its purpose to serve as a home for the entire community, the Church of Scientology Los Angeles makes holidays special for local families. And May has been no exception. A Memorial Day festival Monday May 30 at the Church will round out a month of special activities.

Related link: https://www.scientology.org/

Church of Scientology Kicked off the New Year with a Winter Street Fair

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- This New Year's Day, L. Ron Hubbard Way was the place to be when the Church of Scientology of Los Angeles wrapped up the holiday season by hosting its first annual Winter Street Festival. Hundreds of East Hollywood families came to share the fun.

The Church welcomed 2022 with a marketplace of local vendors, carnival games, and a snow slide made of real snow.

Kids laughed and screamed as they coasted down the 20-foot snow slide - for many, it was the first time they'd ever seen real snow. Or they romped in the nearby snow-filled play area. Others played carnival games, took a twirl around the kid-sized ice-skating rink, patiently waited as stylists painted their faces, or watched as an artist crafted their favorite animal from balloons.

All the while, a trackless choo-choo train toured families up and down the street that was filled with food trucks, vendor booths from local stores and shops, and a community corner with tables for local nonprofits. The train wove its way down L. Ron Hubbard Way, careful not to disturb the street artist painting a mural saying "Happy New Year from East Hollywood" right down the center of the road.

This was the last of a series of holiday-themed events organized and hosted by the Church of Scientology. These included:

* A Christmas festival featuring the famous Mexican cartoon character "Cri-Cri, the singing cricket"

* La Posada procession organized by the local Oaxacan community

* Candy Cane Lane Toy Giveaway where they placed 7,000 Christmas gifts in the hands of local children

* Annual L. Ron Hubbard Presents Winter Wonderland at their Hollywood Boulevard Public Information Center

* Holiday Lighting Ceremony and Family Fun Night, where civic and community leaders helped them launch their holiday toy drive and

* A Happy Thanksgiving Turkey Giveaway

The Church of Scientology Los Angeles is an Ideal Scientology Organization dedicated in April 2010 by Scientology ecclesiastical leader Mr. David Miscavige. The Church, featured in an episode of Inside Scientology, is configured to service Scientologists in their ascent to spiritual freedom and serve as a home for the entire community-a meeting ground of cooperative effort to uplift people of all denominations.

For information on upcoming events, contact the Church of Scientology Los Angeles Community Relations Director at (323) 950-3200.

For more information on the Church of Scientology Los Angeles, visit their website, their Facebook or their Instagram.

LEARN MORE:

https://www.scientology-losangeles.org/

https://www.facebook.com/ScientologyLA

https://www.instagram.com/scientologyla/

This New Year's Day, L. Ron Hubbard Way was the place to be when the Church of Scientology of Los Angeles wrapped up the holiday season by hosting its first annual Winter Street Festival. Hundreds of East Hollywood families came to share the fun.

Related link: https://www.scientology.org/

A Holiday Celebration at the Church of Scientology Honoring the Diversity of Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- A popular holiday celebration dating to 16th century Mexico graced the streets of East Hollywood for the first time this year. The music and traditional costumes of Oaxaca transformed L. Ron Hubbard Way in East Hollywood in a procession that was a melding of two cultures.

La Posada, which celebrates the journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem, includes singing and dancing in a unique blend of cultures. Musicians from a Oaxacan community band led the procession. The Church of Scientology Los Angeles hosted the celebration as part of its commitment to honor and help preserve the traditions and culture of the many diverse communities that call Los Angeles home.

In the 1580s, Spanish friars adopted an Aztec winter solstice holiday that celebrates the birth of Huitzilopochtli, the god of the sun and war. They built La Posada on this tradition to convert indigenous people to Catholicism.

Posada means a lodge or inn in Spanish. Posadas are held for nine days from December 16 through December 24. Also known as "Los Peregrinos, San José y la Virgen María," (the pilgrimage of Saint Joseph and the Virgin Mary) participants reenact the experience of Mary and Joseph seeking lodging on their trip to Bethlehem.

"I grew up in a town in Oaxaca with this music and these traditions, but I have not participated in a Posada for at least 30 years," said one guest. "We love our traditions, and we want to share this love with Angelinos and with all in this beautiful country who have been so generous to our people."

The Church also hosted a celebration this year of Día de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead, organized by members of the Los Angeles Quilana community of Oaxaca, Mexico. And leaders of the L.A. Oaxacan community took part in a convention in October 2021 in support of the human rights of Oaxacan and other Mexican and Central American indigenous people at the Church of Scientology of the Valley in North Hollywood.

The Church of Scientology Los Angeles is an Ideal Scientology Organization dedicated in April 2010 by Scientology ecclesiastical leader Mr. David Miscavige. The Church, featured in an episode of Inside Scientology, is configured to service Scientologists in their ascent to spiritual freedom and serve as a home for the entire community-a meeting ground of cooperative effort to uplift people of all denominations.

For more information, visit the website of Church of Scientology of Los Angeles, @ScientologyLA on Instagram or https://www.facebook.com/ScientologyLA

LEARN MORE:

https://www.scientology-losangeles.org/

https://www.scientology-valley.org/

A popular holiday celebration dating to 16th century Mexico graced the streets of East Hollywood for the first time this year. The music and traditional costumes of Oaxaca transformed L. Ron Hubbard Way in East Hollywood in a procession that was a melding of two cultures.

Related link: https://www.scientology.org/