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A new housing community for neurodiverse adults with ground floor retail in the heart of Los Angeles’ Pico-Robertson neighborhood
LOS ANGELES – Today, Cornerstone Housing for Adults with Disabilities broke ground on The Bhatia Family Village, a 64-unit, revolutionary housing model for neurodiverse adults. Located in the heart of Los Angeles’ Pico-Robertson neighborhood, The Bhatia Family Village will serve as a nexus for residents, neighbors, and businesses. This innovative new model for housing will empower residents with developmental disabilities to live independently and contribute to their surrounding community in unprecedented ways, while providing rich amenities, including ground-floor retail, for the surrounding neighborhood. "The Bhatia Family Village will provide the neurodiverse community with an opportunity to live independently and contribute in unprecedented ways. It will also enrich and enliven the Pico-Robertson neighborhood, creating a space of beauty and soul. Most importantly, it will provide a blueprint for how we can meet an urgent housing need that can be replicated across California and beyond. Through this project, we are creating a place where generations of families and individuals can find a sense of belonging and community,” said Kam Babaoff, Chair, Cornerstone Housing for Adults with Disabilities Attendees included Assemblymember Isaac Bryan (D-Los Angeles); Senator Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica); Paul Koretz, Former Member, Los Angeles City Council; Bob Hertzberg, Former Speaker, California State Assembly; Anita Bhatia, CEO and Executive Director of the Ramesh and Kalpana Bhatia Family Foundation, landmark donor for The Bhatia Family Village; as well as representatives from the offices of Congressman Brad Sherman (CA-32); Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37) and Los Angeles City Councilmember Katy Young Yaroslavsky. Ground floor retail will provide vocational opportunities for residents and diverse amenities for the local community. The second floor will provide an inclusive, accessible, and sensory friendly site for education, training and thought leadership. “To me, the groundbreaking of The Bhatia Family Village is the start of a new life and new adventure. I’m looking forward to a brighter future and community of friends,” said Adam Breall, Member of the neurodiverse community and advocate. Additional quotes from elected officials, community leaders, advocates, and donors: "A home means more than just shelter. For the future residents of this innovative housing project, it will mean stability. It will mean acceptance. It will mean independence and self-determination. With this groundbreaking, the 55th Assembly District is leading the way in inclusive housing and guiding California toward a future where everyone can live with comfort and dignity." - Assemblymember Isaac Bryan (D-Los Angeles) “This groundbreaking offers us a glimpse into the future of inclusive housing solutions that provide critically needed space for adults who have intellectual and developmental differences to live, work and thrive. It is my hope that this initiative will inspire future endeavors throughout the state, further promoting inclusivity and compassion." - Senator Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica) “The Bhatia Family Village will not only provide much-needed housing for adults with IDD, but it will also offer those individuals the opportunity to find companionship and community in one of L.A.'s most vibrant neighborhoods. The success of The Bhatia Family Village should serve as a case study for lawmakers across the state and around the country about how public-private partnerships can help alleviate the struggles adults with IDD encounter when searching for housing. As a former member of the California Senate and Speaker of the State Assembly, I am proud that we have taken this important step to ensure no parent ever lies awake at night worried about where their son or daughter with IDD will one day live." - Bob Hertzberg, Former Speaker, California State Assembly “As the parent of a neurodiverse teenager, I am acutely aware of the housing crisis in our country for children like mine. That is why our family is proud to invest in innovative and forward-thinking solutions for the developmentally diverse community like The Bhatia Family Village. This game-changing project exemplifies what can be accomplished when families, community members, business leaders, and government officials work together towards a singular purpose. Our hope is that this will be the first of many ‘Villages’ throughout the United States.” - Anita Bhatia, Executive Director, Ramesh and Kalpana Bhatia Family Foundation “Like every human being, adults with IDD deserve the option to live in an independent, supportive community. Unfortunately, when it comes to housing in Los Angeles, the deck is stacked against them. However, The Bhatia Family Village presents a model of a community where like-minded people can understand, support, and cheer for each other. As a parent, The Bhatia Family Village gives me hope for what the nation is possible of creating for individuals with IDD.” - Eric Schwartz, Cornerstone Board Member and parent advocate About Cornerstone Housing: Cornerstone Housing for Adults with Disabilities is a non-profit organization whose mission is to set a new standard for inclusive and independent living for neurodiverse adults in Los Angeles. To learn more, visit www.TheCornerstoneVillage.org.
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BEVERLYWOOD, Calif. — It’s a question that haunts many parents of children with intellectual disabilities: Where will they live after I’m gone? A new housing development in the center of Los Angeles will soon provide an answer with the nation’s first residential complex for people with autism, ADHD and other neurodiversities.
What You Need To Know
“Fortunately, our society is building much-needed housing for the homeless, veterans and seniors. This is a very good thing,” Schwartz said. “However, we also need housing in various forms and shapes for the varying needs of the underserved intellectual disability population.” According to the California Department of Developmental Services, 75% of adults with developmental disabilities live with aging family members or caregivers. About 70,000 teens with autism turn 18 each year, according to the Autism Institute at Drexel University, but once they become adults, they are often unable to find well-paying jobs and support themselves. The idea behind the Village is to create “a nurturing neighborhood where kindred spirits can encourage, comfort and support one another, make lasting friendships, become independent, empowered and confident,” Schwartz said. “A place where support is readily available. A place where size and scale allow services to be delivered effectively and efficiently.” In the works for over 20 years, the Village will have 64 apartments when construction is complete, as well as 10,000 square feet of retail on the ground floor. Individuals who live in the building will receive skills training and job placement opportunities and be provided with meals, activity rooms, exercise classes and transit access in a building that is staffed 24 hours a day with security. The Village is based on work by the nonprofit ETTA, which provides services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families, including housing, employment training and social services. ETTA was one of several Jewish organizations that approached the Jewish Caucus in the state legislature when California experienced an unexpected budget surplus last year to request funding and make the Village a reality. “Lots and lots of people came to us with ideas, but very few came to us with the background and the credibility that ETTA has,” California Senator Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica) said at Friday’s groundbreaking. “We saw a great plan. We saw that there was a lot of philanthropic support. We saw there was support from a variety of sources, and we said, ‘We’ve got to get behind these guys.’” The $57 million project at the corner of Pico Blvd. and Glenville is funded with $17 million in private funding and $9 million from the state of California. “This is why California is a leader — so all the other states can look to us to say, ‘This is what Los Angeles doing, and now we need to do the same thing,’” said Anita Bhatia, executive director of the Ramesh and Kalpana Bhatia Foundation and mother of a neurodiverse 15-year-old. “It really took a village. When you see parents fighting every day for their kids and then you get support from community members and you get political leaders who are willing to fight as well, look at this beautiful thing that we’re creating.”
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UTSW Volunteer SPOTLIGHT: Anita bhatia2/27/2023 Anita Bhatia on Why her Family’s Foundation Supports Recruiting the ‘Best and Brightest’ to UT SouthwesternPresident’s Advisory Board member shares how the Medical Center has made a difference for those she cares aboutBy ANDREW MARTON | February 15, 2023 The proud daughter of Indian immigrants, Anita Bhatia, M.H.A., dreamed from an early age of becoming a doctor. Anita Bhatia with her daughter, Anya SmithProvided by Anita BhatiaGrowing up in Dallas, her dreams evolved, but her passion for health care never changed. Today, as Executive Director of her family’s eponymous foundation, she continues to volunteer her leadership and marketing experience with UT Southwestern Medical Center’s President’s Advisory Board. The group provides President Daniel K. Podolsky, M.D., and the institution’s leadership with guidance on opportunities and challenges facing the medical center. Reflecting on the exceptional care her family has received at the Medical Center, Ms. Bhatia recently shared how collaboration and a passion for brain research set the institution apart. Anita Bhatia with her daughter Anya Smith How has UT Southwestern impacted you and your family? As long time Dallas residents, we have always known of the extraordinary patient care and clinical research taking place at UT Southwestern. However, it wasn’t until 2020 when our family experienced firsthand the excellence and compassion of the UT Southwestern team. My father, Ramesh Bhatia, who founded The Ramesh and Kalpana Bhatia Family Foundation, suffered a transient ischemic attack or minor stroke. He was taken to UT Southwestern’s emergency department and transferred to the stroke center where he stayed for two days. As a family, we were so impressed with the hospital. From admission to treatment and beyond, the incredible nurses, physicians, and support staff made us feel like we were in the best hands possible. We were so grateful for the care my father received that we arranged a thank you luncheon for the staff on the floor. UT Southwestern President Daniel K. Podolsky, M.D., left, poses for a photo with the Bhatia family, including, left to right, Niraj Bhatia, Kalpana Bhatia, Ramesh Bhatia, and Anita Bhatia, inside The Ramesh and Kalpana Bhatia Family Foundation Atrium in William P. Clements Jr. University Hospital in October of 2022. The atrium was named in recognition of a gift from the family. Eddie Marak/UT Southwestern Medical Center What distinguishes this institution as a national leader in academic medicine? UT Southwestern’s distinguished level of intellectual talent led my family to support further faculty growth by establishing the Ramesh and Kalpana Bhatia Family Foundation Distinguished University Chair in Brain Science. As Dallas continues to grow, we look forward to welcoming the best and brightest minds from around the world. UT Southwestern Assistant Professor of Neurology Samuel Pappas, Ph.D., left, gives a tour of a research lab located in the third tower of William P. Clements Jr. University Hospital to Anita Bhatia, center, and her mother, Kalpana Bhatia, in October of 2022. Eddie Marak/UT Southwestern Medical Center What have you learned about UT Southwestern? What I find truly incredible is the collaboration between departments. When departments, facilities, and organizations within the same health system work in silos, it can hinder forward-thinking and swift action. But collaboration is an area of strength at UT Southwestern. The response during the COVID-19 pandemic was a prime example of how various areas can come together for one goal. Clinicians worked with researchers; nurses partnered with environmental services; and marketing supported all departments to communicate internally and externally. As the saying goes, “It takes a village,” and UT Southwestern exemplifies that sentiment. Located on UT Southwestern’s North Campus, the nine-story Peter O’Donnell Jr. Biomedical Research Building opened in October of 2022. The facility is the new home of the Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute. Mei-Chun Jau/UT Southwestern Medical Center As a donor, why do you continue to give? For us, the opening of the Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute is a game-changer. As the mother of a daughter who had brain surgery at 18 months old, I am extremely passionate about finding and funding the latest research and treatments that address the devastating toll of brain diseases. The innovative discoveries at UT Southwestern – such as gene editing, biomarker analysis, and other advanced technologies to understand better, treat, cure, and prevent a wide range of neurological and brain disorders – is exactly what families like mine need. What is UT Southwestern’s biggest contribution to the community? One of the primary reasons UT Southwestern is a “Hall of Famer” in the health care space is because of their dedicated commitment to scientific and medical research. It is because of investigations and breakthroughs in the fields of cancer, neuroscience, cardiac disease, and stroke that UT Southwestern has opened doors to new treatment options and preventative care. Dr. Podolsky holds the Philip O’Bryan Montgomery, Jr., M.D. Distinguished Presidential Chair in Academic Administration, and the Doris and Bryan Wildenthal Distinguished Chair in Medical Science.
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FOX News 4: Ability connection12/2/2022 DALLAS - Thursday and Friday were supposed to be moving day for four women moving into a group home in Dallas, but thieves stole just about everything inside.
The home designated for people with disabilities is located in a Northwest Dallas neighborhood. The home is run by Ability Connection, a non-profit group that serves people with disabilities. Thieves took appliances and furniture. The house was empty because its newest residents hadn’t moved in yet. In addition to the living room furniture, the thieves stole the home's washer, dryer, stove and ice machine. Ability Connection says it was all worth about $12,000. Meantime, the women who would have moved in will stay with family until the situation can be resolved.
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Inside pHILANTHROPY11/22/2022 How Long-Term Support for Community Groups Can Help Break Cycles of Intergenerational TraumaAnita Bhatia and Kavita Mehra, Guest Contributors | November 22, 2022
Giving comes in many forms. It is common for philanthropic trusts and donors to offer sizable gifts to larger organizations where heightened visibility and favorable press mentions are almost guaranteed. Giving to smaller, community-based organizations that have roots widely and deeply embedded within the communities they work with is, sadly, much rarer. But that may be changing, and we hope a new partnership between our organizations can offer one example of how steady support at the ground level can make a profound impact, particularly when it comes to a problem like gender-based violence. In October, the Ramesh and Kalpana Bhatia Family Foundation awarded Sakhi for South Asian Women, the country’s second-oldest gender justice organization focusing on this community, a $3 million grant spread over the next 10 years. The main focus of the grant is to deepen multigenerational healing within South Asian families experiencing gender-based violence. The largest gift of its kind to any South Asian American social service organization, this uniquely long-term funding will help Sakhi establish the South Asian Safe Families Initiative, which will support survivors and their families through a culturally rooted approach. Historically, South Asian communities, and the grassroots organizations that support them, have been overlooked due to a lack of research into the demographics and cultural norms South Asian families face. This initiative makes the Ramesh and Kalpana Bhatia Family Foundation among the first to invest heavily in the mental health of South Asian survivors of domestic violence and abuse. Healing takes more time and a longer commitment The Bhatia Foundation’s grant to Sakhi is a landmark gift in the history of the South Asian philanthropic space. It also further solidifies the foundation’s commitment to the mental health of South Asian communities and to creating long-lasting, impactful relationships with community-based nonprofits. Among Bhatia’s other major grants in this space, in 2019, the foundation supported Sakhi to expand programming to incorporate children and youth affected by violence or abuse. This allowed Sakhi to offer unique, culturally competent care to families experiencing trauma. Over the three-year investment, the Bhatia family learned that while it is important to find ways to break the cycle of intergenerational trauma, there is also a need to recognize that such healing can take time. The foundation decided that its commitment needed to stretch beyond traditional expectations. As a result, this latest gift breaks the mold for nonprofit giving in the gender-based violence space. Over the next decade, Sakhi will use this funding to provide therapy to strengthen the parent-child bond and prevent this toxic cycle from perpetuating. Sakhi will be able to measure outcomes in real time and alter its practices if needed to arrive at the most effective ways of healing. This kind of scalable and meaningful direct impact that can be measured across several years is rare, not only for the South Asian community, but also the entire field of community-based organizing. The program will bring much-needed relief to a community that suffers steeply elevated rates of domestic violence. According to the latest Together We Rise report by SOAR, 48% of South Asians in the U.S. have experienced at least one form of gender-based violence in their lifetime. Meanwhile, 2 out of every 5 South Asian-American women have reported experiencing physical or sexual abuse in their lifetime, compared to 1 out of 4 women with similar experiences nationwide. The Bhatia Foundation knows that the work of gender justice organizations around the country is unseen, underfunded, and deeply undervalued. The vision is to change that. We need to think beyond what’s expected Gender-based violence has become a pressing concern in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, when reports of assaults and violence against women reached alarming levels, leading the U.N. to name it the “shadow pandemic.” The National Commission on COVID-19 and Criminal Justice found that cases of domestic violence have increased by 8% in the United States alone. Yet somehow, this issue has failed to attract philanthropic attention on the scale that it deserves, particularly in this moment of heightened crisis. According to the tracking website Nonprofits Source, giving to health services, education, arts and culture services, and environment-related organizations saw an exponential increase in the past few years, while religious organizations maintained their lion’s share of increase in charitable donations. In comparison, issues of gender-based violence and violence against women have been receiving only 0.5% of official development assistance and philanthropic funding, as reported by the Spotlight Initiative, a global initiative of the U.N. Gender-based violence not only remains severely underfunded, but is also often called the “elephant in the room that has been repeatedly ignored when decisions about public policy and philanthropic programs are made.” The Bhatia Foundation’s commitment to Sakhi is so unique, in part, because traditional models of gift giving and funding often overlook organizations where their help may be needed the most. While this does not imply that larger, more visible nonprofits are any less worthy or deserving of funding, smaller organizations like Sakhi often employ culturally relevant practices that require a deeper understanding of their communities and demand a greater application of nuance within their programs. In absence of the visible branding of larger, better-known organizations, smaller, community-based organizations tend to lose out on funding. Academic research that contributes to the decision-making for many funders is also often lacking when it comes to marginalized communities of color. This lack of scholarly attention also leads bigger donors to overlook organizations like Sakhi. By prioritizing direct, ground-level engagement with their communities, organizations like Sakhi not only engender new research where previously none existed, but also do so within limited funding and visibility. A rare grant that expands the space Committed to the sustainable healing of South Asian survivors, the foundation and Sakhi understand that working with marginalized communities requires creative problem-solving and innovative solutions. This insight was among the main reasons the two entities decided not only to work together, but also to highlight some of these best practices that could serve as a template and, perhaps, even a source of inspiration to other funder-organization teams looking to make similar changes. In the field of gender-based violence, there can often be a great deal of focus on more immediate interventions or short-term programming. Community-based organizations like Sakhi center the lived experiences of survivors over a somewhat dispassionate and clinical attachment to measuring of output, which also makes them more suited to effectively apply evidence-based models. This partnership aims to set a precedent for how funders and grantees can meaningfully engage with overlooked communities over longer periods of time. Donors must make true leaps of faith and invest in the future and the progress of community-based organizations. As the influential research and grantmaking organization Open Philanthropy has pointed out, it’s “important for philanthropists to make deliberate multiyear commitments to causes.” But funders also need to fully trust these organizations by believing in their vision and acknowledging the wisdom they have acquired through their years of engagement with vulnerable and neglected communities. Giving looks different now Philanthropy is changing. We are seeing a rise in nontraditional ideas that challenge our perspectives and even push us toward a more just, equitable future of funding. As more funders emerge from tech spaces, where startup culture has paved the way for a more engaged framework of investing, they are now bringing similar models of giving into the philanthropic space. In-depth research into areas of interest, strategic investments into organizations that are meaningful and match the funders’ personal value systems, and making crucial connections that set up nonprofits (especially smaller ones) on a path to success are all part of the new venture-capital-inspired ecosystem of philanthropy. The Ramesh and Kalpana Bhatia Family Foundation, with their continued support for Sakhi, are a part of this change. For smaller, community-based organizations to succeed and realize their full potential, it is crucial that they have flexibility and autonomy over their spending decisions. Funders, even with the best of intentions, often end up restricting emerging organizations with bureaucratic red tape that can impart a lack of trust in the judgment of community-focused organizations. In contrast, trust-based philanthropy — a radical approach to giving that has gained traction in recent years -- advocates for flexible, unrestricted funding and centers on relationship-building, mutual learning and transparency between funders and nonprofits. This approach is a game-changer for the progress and development of smaller nonprofits and can go a long way in uplifting emerging BIPOC nonprofits that have been historically excluded from the philanthropy table. We hope the Bhatia Family Foundation’s unrestricted funding of Sakhi for South Asian Women can serve as a new model for funders, and showcase how direct impact can be generated through meaningful application of their power. By providing sustainable and long-term engagement with grassroots movements, funders can generate the kind of valuable, direct impact that encourages us to alter our systems and even reimagine the possibilities of philanthropy. Anita Bhatia, MHA, is executive director of the Ramesh and Kalpana Bhatia Family Foundation. Kavita Mehra is executive director of Sakhi for South Asian Women.
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Indica News: Feature article10/27/2022 Let’s talk about domestic violence: Anita BhatiaDomestic violence is embarrassing because in many cases you feel you are an intelligent woman and how could this happen to you and you choose not to share that information with anyone, so the first step to healing is actually to be open and be honest to speak up, says Anita Bhatia, executive director, of Ramesh & Kalpana Bhatia Family Foundation, who earlier this month, made a $3 million grant to Sakhi, the second oldest South Asian gender-justice organization in the United States.
Bhatia was one of the speakers at the Indiaspora 10th anniversary gala. She spoke to indica on the sidelines of the conference held at Hayes Mansion San Jose, Curio Collection by Hilton in San Jose, California. Bhatia, supporting Sakhi, said, “The reason is, I have experienced violence myself in a relationship, and I have also experienced violence at home. The one our community doesn’t talk about. So, I am here to talk about emotion, feelings, and how we communicate with each other.” On donating funds to Sakhi, Bhatia said that Kavita Mehra, Executive Director of Sakhi for South Asian Women, is a friend of hers for many years and that she [Mehra] had invited her to a Sakhi gala in New York. “I was moved by the survivors who spoke out in 2018, and that time I made a personal donation,” Bhatia said. She asked Mehra what they are doing for youth survivors, and that she would like to support them because she learned Sakhi had a support system for domestic violence victims’ mothers, but no specific program for the youth. It was then she asked Mehra to submit the proposal because “we wanted to serve a youth survivor.” Bhatia said that when you are an adult and you are experiencing trauma you hopefully have a good foundational base, so to get out of that trauma is very difficult. When a child experiences trauma, its brain is still forming and the child’s idea of how a relationship exists is seen then. When you see your father speaking to your mother in a certain way or hitting her, you think that is how life is. “I think education has to start from childhood,” Bhatia said. “And our culture, our family says it’s your problem. Don’t talk about it, because we don’t want to hear about it. You are on your own. You are married and you have to deal with it.” The number of domestic violence cases is rising, she said. “Covid was a very big factor because women are stuck at home with their abusers and unable to get out. In that situation, Sakhi has done a lot of work and provided rapid response to get to the survivors. Bhatia said that “domestic violence in our community is highly underreported and it is because culturally we are told not to speak about it.” Families are affected and it takes a lot of courage to speak out. She said she had a conversation on this with her mom [to speak about herself]. Asked what makes her strong and speaking fearlessly about this issue said that “god gave her the ability to be this strong since childhood.” She added, “I’m born this way.” Bhatia said it is difficult for Indian or south Asian women to talk about domestic violence but the only way to change this culture is to get people to talk about it. Bhatia has earned a Master’s Degree in Health Administration from the University of Southern California and graduated with a BA from the University of Texas, Austin. She currently serves on the UT Southwestern Medical Center President’s Advisory Board and Marketing Committee. Prior to joining the Foundation, Bhatia, who held senior leadership positions in healthcare developing and implementing marketing campaigns and business development strategies for major hospitals and healthcare systems, says being able to help people is her passion. Writer: Ritu Jha |