A City Reborn, Lives Rewritten: How Huntington Park, SLA, and a Powerful Network of Support Created One of the Most Transformative Green-Workforce Success Stories in Southeast Los Angeles

Four months ago, the City of Huntington Park took a bold step, a decision not just to revive its parks, medians, and public spaces, but to define a new standard for what community transformation can look like.

They chose to partner with SLA.
And together, we created one of the clearest WIN–WIN–WIN outcomes in the region:
A win for the city,
a win for the residents,
and a win for people rebuilding their lives after incarceration.

But here’s something most people don’t see:
This moment, this contract, this impact, began years earlier with investment and belief from organizations that saw SLA’s potential before the world did.

This didn’t happen by accident.
This was built step by step, with support from a larger movement.

🌱 THE ORIGIN WIN: REDF & CA RISE Helped Make This Possible

Before SLA ever won this contract…
before we ever restored a single median in Huntington Park…
before a single formerly incarcerated participant picked up a shovel…

SLA was given a chance to grow.

Through REDF and the CA RISE Grant, SLA received:

Seed funding
Coaching
Strategy development
Business training
Support in formalizing our maintenance division
Guidance on pricing, operations, and contracting
A belief in our mission that helped us scale

These investments allowed SLA to:

Strengthen internal systems
Build a workforce training pipeline
Professionalize operations
Compete for public contracts
Present the capacity and credibility needed to serve a full city

Without REDF and CA RISE, SLA would not have been ready to secure a contract of this scale, and Huntington Park may not be experiencing the transformation it sees today.

This is part of the win.
This is part of the story.
This is the ecosystem that made the impact possible.

🌿 THE CITY WIN: Huntington Park’s Green Spaces Are Unrecognizable

When SLA arrived, Huntington Park was battling years of decline in its green spaces:

Medians were mostly dead.
Irrigation systems had collapsed.
Parks were brittle, overheated, and empty.
Trees were in distress.
Public spaces lacked care and consistency.

But four months later, the city looks reborn.

Documented Impact:

16+ acres of parkland restored
185,000 sq. ft. of medians and public space revived
120+ irrigation repairs and rebuilds
Hundreds of trees stabilized and cared for
Massive weed, brush, and debris removal
35% water savings in key sites through mulch and efficiency

The results are visible.
They’re drastic.
And they’re reshaping daily life in Huntington Park.

Families are using green spaces that once sat empty.
Medians that were dry for years are now vibrant green corridors.
The city feels more alive — because it is.

💧 THE RESIDENT WIN: Safe, Beautiful, and Beloved Public Spaces

Greener cities make people feel proud of where they live.
They increase safety.
They support mental well-being.
They encourage exercise and community gathering.

Before SLA’s work, many residents felt disconnected from their own parks.

Today?

Residents tell us daily:

“I actually bring my kids here again.”
“My street hasn’t looked like this in years.”
“Whoever is doing this — thank you.”

Huntington Park didn’t just improve appearance —
it restored community trust.

🔧 THE HUMAN WIN: From Incarceration → Training → Union Careers

This partnership did something rare and deeply meaningful.

During these four months, SLA trained and employed 12 formerly incarcerated individuals, each having served an average of 16 years.

These are people who returned home with limited opportunities, but limitless determination, and were given a real pathway.

Today, all 12 are on track to become UNION apprentices.

This means:

High-wage careers
Benefits
Stability
Professional identity
A new legacy for their families

This is not just workforce development.
This is redemption.
This is economic mobility.
This is systemic change at ground level.

And it happened while restoring the city.

🌟 THE TRUE TRIPLE WIN

WIN for the City of Huntington Park:

A greener, healthier, restored environment.

WIN for Residents:

Safe, beautiful public spaces they can enjoy and be proud of.

WIN for Workforce Development:

Twelve individuals who spent an average of 16 years incarcerated are now stepping into union careers, something that changes families and generations.

WIN for the Movement:

REDF and CA RISE didn’t just support SLA.
They helped create the conditions for this transformation,
a living, breathing example of what social enterprises can accomplish with real backing.