Community Support Los Angeles

LA Desi food festival by Radio5

Atheists Volunteer FOOD DISTRIBUTION! Come help and give out food!

[Atheists United](www.atheistsunited.org), California's largest grassroots atheist nonprofit, is fighting the emergency food crisis with our partners [Sunday Assembly Los Angeles](www.sundayassemblyla.com) by hosting a food distribution in Los Angeles outside our offices. We've partnered with the LA Food Bank and give out over 3,000lbs of food each event. **We need volunteers to help us assemble and organize food packages from 12pm - 5pm every third Friday.** From 3:30pm - 5pm volunteers will help hand food out directly to those in need in the neighborhood. From 5pm - 6pm we'll clean up and celebrate everything we accomplished together. Music and snacks will make it well worth your time. If you'd like to be a super volunteer, contact us about showing up at 10am to help with setup! **[If you're able to make a donation to our Food Distribution program please text the code "AUFOOD" to 44-321, or click here](https://secure.givelively.org/donate/atheists-united/support-atheists-united-s-food-distributions). All donations go to helping us feed our community or expand our impact.** **\*\*Food:** Snacks will be provided free for volunteers. We also hope you join us for dinner at a local restaurant after the event. **\*\*Safety:** COVID-19 is extremely dangerous and we prioritize the safety of our volunteers and food recipients. You must be vaccinated to volunteer. If you are not vaccinated you will be asked to leave immediately. **\*\*Parking:** Free parking for volunteers in our parking lot off Rampart Blvd behind the building. **\*\*Dress Code:** Safety requirements include: no open-toe/open-heel shoes or high heels. We recommend casual attire (jeans, t-shirt, light sweater, & tennis shoes). Please dress for the weather and wear sunscreen as needed. Any questions, please contact Marit at marit.ingebretsen@atheistsunited.org or Evan at evan@atheistsunited.org **Few things bring more joy than helping others.** Join us!

DBSA San Gabriel Valley Monday In-Person Meetings

7 to 9 pm. **Please be there by 7 pm because the doors to the building lock.** Latecomers can still be let in. Support Groups Can Change Gene Expression Which Triggers Bipolar Disorder and Depression. Although DBSA (Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance) support groups are 94% effective in helping bipolar (manic depressive) or clinically depressed members with treatment adherence, another important benefit is the ability to create a social network with others sharing a condition friends or loved ones may not understand because they simply haven’t “been there.” For such individuals living in isolation, the science of epigenetics has conclusively demonstrated that this can be a life-changing or life-saving experience to an extent surprising to many immunologists and psychologists. In The Social Life of Genes: Shaping Your Molecular Composition, David Dobbs writes [italics mine]: “If you actually measure stress, using our best available instruments, it can’t hold a candle to social isolation. Social isolation is the best-established, most robust social or psychological risk factor for disease out there. Nothing can compete.” “You can’t change your genes. But if we’re even half right about all this, you can change the way your genes behave—which is almost the same thing. By adjusting your environment you can adjust your gene activity… “Despite these well-known effects, Cole said he was amazed when he started finding that social connectivity wrought such powerful effects on gene expression.” What this means is that the same genetic traits that cause a bipolar or depressive condition to manifest itself can be countered by a positive and supportive social support environment to the point the same gene expression is reduced in severity and can even become manageable. This is how, and why these groups WORK. A lack of a social support environment, and the accompanying loneliness, has some predictable outcomes… The Lethality of Loneliness We are social animals. We were never meant to be alone. Air pollution increases yours odds of an early death by 5%, obesity by 20%, alcohol by 30%, and living with loneliness by 45%. If you are outside the Los Angeles County area and would like to find a support group near you, click here. For further information, you may email us at info@dbsasgv.org, call or text 626 359-7538, or use the Contact Form.

Weekly Volunteering with @Myfriendshousela Skid Row

Social hike & coffee - Kenneth Hahn hike

The REAL Men’s Walk - Millard Falls Hike

**🌿 REAL Men’s Walk — Men’s Group Walks in Nature (SGV)** **Date & Time: Saturday, September 19th, 2026 @** **8 AM** **Location: Millard Falls Trail in Altadena** 3555 Chaney Trail, Altadena, CA 91001 **Presented by: Compassionate Transformation Community (CTC)** **Contact: Jay Dubois\, PhD \| Executive Director \| [welovectc@gmail.com](mailto:welovectc@gmail.com) \| \(213\)280\-5206** *** **This is a walk for your nervous system. And for your life.** **Not therapy. Not a lecture. Not a place to perform healing.** **Just men walking together in nature — making room for what’s real.** *** ## **What to Expect** * **A grounding, guided hike in Angeles National Forest** * **Light prompts for reflection (always optional)** * **Space for honest conversation — no fixing, no pressure, no advice-dumping** * **Moments of quiet, breath, and presence** * **A closing circle to integrate and leave resourced** **You can share a lot, a little, or nothing at all.** **Your pace is honored. Your story is yours.** *** ## **Schedule + Trail Details** **8:00 AM — Meeting location** 3555 Chaney Trail, Altadena, CA 91001 **We’ll begin with a short welcome and simple baseline measurements (for those who opt in), then begin our walk.** **We’ll head up together and start the hike as a group.** **Millard Falls Hike** * **1.5 miles round trip** * **Shaded Dirt Path on Maintained Trail** * **Moderate pace with plenty of time to pause, breathe, and connect** **This is not a race. It’s a reset.** *** ## **Who This Is For** **Men of all ages who want:** * **stress relief without stigma** * **real conversation without judgment** * **community that doesn’t require a mask** * **movement that supports mental health** * **practice returning to presence with other men** **If you’ve been carrying a lot — silently, steadily, or on the edge — you belong here.** *** ## **About the Research / Learning Piece (Optional Research Study)** **CTC is preparing an IRB-approved research study called Roots of Renewal (launching 2026), designed to understand how nature-based community healing supports stress reduction, connection, and wellbeing in SGV families.** **These men’s walks help us learn what this kind of space feels like in practice and how to shape culturally grounded nature-therapy programs for our region.** **We may invite participants to complete optional, confidential questionnaires about stress, mood, and social connection.** **You are welcome whether or not you participate in any surveys.** **There is no pressure to report improvement — we value what’s honest and real.** *** ## **What to Bring** * **comfortable hiking shoes** * **water (at least 1 liter)** * **snacks if you want** * **sun protection / layers** * **a willingness to be yourself** *** **Come as you are.** **Walk with us.** **Let the land do what it does.** **Let brotherhood do what it does.** **RSVP to save your spot and receive any last-minute updates.**

Bake Stuff with Lindsay - Live Baking/Comedy Show + Dessert

live baking + audience chaos + special guests + questionable decisions ### **Bake Stuff with Lindsay** The most unhinged baking show you’ve never seen. Bake Stuff with Lindsay is a live, audience-immersive baking experience where chaos is encouraged and we actually eat the results. It’s a fever dream for anyone who’s ever wished TV bakers would loosen up, get messier, and curse a little (a lot) more. Along the way, we attempt to answer important questions like: Do feelings matter more than the recipe? and Does the 5 second rule count with liquids too? **What to expect:** *• Live baking (in real time, with real stakes)* *• Audience involvement throughout the show (games, prizes, FUN)* *• \*SPECIAL GUESTS\*, commentary, and mild spiraling* *• Questionable decisions, emotional detours, and laughter* *• Dessert served (assuming nothing is completely destroyed)* **Theme: F\*cking Apples (All Apple Everything!)** Featuring: Kyle Ayers (Sous Chef) and a panel of special guests! * **\*\*You must buy your ticket through the Eventbrite page [HERE](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bake-stuff-with-lindsay-live-bakingcomedy-show-dessert-tickets-1999178742435) \*\***

Salsa Dancing at Ivy Station: Fermin Fusion Salsa band in Culver City

**Come and Experience Salsa dancing at the plaza at Ivy Station in Culver City for an evening of live Latin music and dancing at sunset.** The fun starts on September 18th with a free beginner- friendly salsa lesson led by dance instructor Pepe Gonzalez from 6:30-7pm before hitting the dance floor to live music from Fermin Fusion Salsa from 7-8:45pm * Date: Friday, September 18th , 2026 * Time: Salsa Dance lesson 6.15 PM –7 PM * Fermin Fusion Salsa Band from 7-9:30 pm * * Location: 8900 Venice Blvd. and 8840 National Blvd. in Culver City * You can check-in with me @ 2132451413 in front of the tables opposite the parking validation table * Price: This event is outdoors, free, and open to the public! No partner is needed to attend * Parking : Visitor parking is available on levels P1 and P2 of Ivy Station's garage (entrances at 8900 Venice Blvd. and 8840 National Blvd. in Culver City) with complimentary 2-hour parking validations available at the event *

A South Pas/Garfield Park & Beyond, 10K-Step Challenge #30 [TCP MOAI Adventure]

**SNIFF - EXPLORE - EXERCISE** **Welcome to [The Canis Pack IKIGAI 10K Adventure] + Purpose, Friendship, Togetherness & Support!** **We Will Not Wait Until Life Is Not Hard To WELCOME Strength, Beauty & Joy Into Our Lives!** [**THIS IS A WALK FOR PEOPLE WHO DO NOT HAVE DOGS - AND FOR THOSE WHO DO**] **AGENDA;** **\- Gathering at 5:45 \- 1000 Park Ave\ Garfield Park** **\- Leaving at 6:00 pm Promptly** **\- Bathroom Break as we head out** **\- Continue with the Inner and Outer Loop walk** **\- After the Loops\, then exploring the surrounding South Pasadena neighborhood\.** **\- This will be a 10K Walk – About 6\.2\-5 miles** **\- 2 Hours or so Walk** **\- 8:00 pm \- Returning to Garfield Park** **WHAT TO BRING;** **\- Water** **\- A Warm Jacket for Chilly Nights** **\- Flash Lite** **\- Bug Spray** **\- Snacks if needed** **\- Good walking shoes** **\- Comfortable walking clothes** **\- A bright Jacket for the Dark days** **LISTEN, THERE'S MORE** **Goal: A STRONG LIKE-MINDED TOGETHERNESS!** \* We will Establish Togetherness \* We will Bring about a Strong Awareness \* We will Establish a Strong National Presence \* We will Be Active and Responsible \* We will Always Think as a Like-Minded Group \* We will Put our Health and Wellbeing First \* We are a Pack-Family \* We will Gather and Walk with Harmony **THE IMPORTANT POINTS ARE THESE;** ONLY (10) TEN DOGS FOR THIS WALK, SO SIGN UP QUICK AND BE ACTIVE AND SHOW UP. CALLING UP TO (60) HUMANS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN GETTING SOME STRONG, INVIGORATING, FRESH AIR! **[ALSO, PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU ARE BRINGING YOUR DOG!]** We will be walking around. No running involved. Just a casual, social walk. Bring water if you need it. Around the center loop of GP and around the outer loop of GP. Then we will venture through the neighborhood and back to the Park. At the end of the walk, the humans with the dogs may stay for 15 to 20 minutes to ask questions or get tips on dog behavior. 🙏🏾Space is limited, so **Please (RSVP) only if you’re 100% sure you will attend.** If you (**RSVP)** and don’t show, it is a **🚩Red Flag🚩** for future events—we all appreciate strong reliability and respecting others’ being able to have a spot.🙏🏾 We’ll be **walking until** **around 8:00 PM.** Expect to hit somewhere between **10,000–12,000 steps (approximately 7.5-9 miles),** depending on the pace and group. This is going to go really well, and I will be hosting more **midweek walking events** **every other week** so we can **stay active together** and **make exercise a routine in our day-to-day lives.** **NOW IS THE TIME, LET'S GET TO IT – GENERAL INFO;** This meetup group is for Dog owners and Humans who enjoy exploring, exercising, and socializing with their furry friends. Whether you're into agility training, dog training, or simply love visiting the great outdoors and fun places with your pup, or just yourself, this group is for you. All sizes and breeds of dogs are welcome to join us for group walks, or meetups, and social gatherings. Let's make new friends, strengthen the bond with our dogs, neighboring humans, and have a Pawsitively good time together! Join us and become part of the pack today. Garfield Park allows dogs. But they must be on a leash, and it will be your own responsibility. **Free street parking is available in the surrounding areas** **Garfield Park is located at 1000 Park Ave. South Pasadena, CA 91030**

09/20/26 Full Moon Fire Event. Please get tix in the link below.

September 20th, 6pm-8pm. Full Moon "Release and Let Go" Fire Ritual/ Meditation. Limited spaces. Let go of that which does not serve you. Clear your subconscious. Make room for new growth and new goals. [https://events.com/r/en_US/tickets/full-moon-letting-go-ritual-september-20th-los-angeles-september-1071404](https://events.com/r/en_US/tickets/full-moon-letting-go-ritual-september-20th-los-angeles-september-1071404)

AU Food Distribution -- Volunteers Needed!

## Details [Atheists United](http://www.atheistsunited.org/), California's largest grassroots atheist nonprofit, hosts a food distribution in Los Angeles every month at our office building. We've partnered with the LA Food Bank and Sunday Assembly Los Angeles to give out over 4,000lbs of food each event. **We need volunteers to help us unload, sort, assemble, and give away grocery kits from 12pm - 5pm.** From 12pm - 3:30 we unload the truck, sort the food, and build the grocery kits. From 3:30pm - 5pm volunteers will help hand food out directly to those in need in the neighborhood. From 5pm - 6pm we'll clean up and celebrate everything we accomplished together at a local restaurant. Free snacks and drinks provided for all volunteers. If you'd like to be a super volunteer, contact us about showing up at 10am to help with early setup! **Food:** Snacks will be provided free for volunteers. We also usually buy lunch for everyone. After the event volunteers usually gather at a local restaurant to debrief. **Safety:** Safety vests, gloves, and masks are available for all volunteers. Volunteers are expected to be fully vaccinated. **Parking:** Free parking available for volunteers in our parking lot off Rampart Blvd. **Dress Code:** Safety requirements include: no open-toe/open-heel shoes or high heels. We recommend casual attire (jeans, t-shirt, light sweater, & tennis shoes). Please dress for the weather and wear sunscreen as needed. Any questions, please contact Evan at [evan@atheistsunited.org](http://evan@atheistsunited.org/) We know we have only one life to live and few things bring more joy than helping others. Join us! **If you can't attend but would like to help support the program financially please consider a donation to Atheists United so we can organize more projects like this in the future:** [https://www.atheistsunited.org/donate-now](https://www.atheistsunited.org/donate-now) At Atheists United, we are committed to creating safe, inclusive, and harassment-free environments at all of our events. By participating in an event hosted by Atheists United you agree to follow behavior outlined in our [Event Code of Conduct](https://www.atheistsunited.org/policies) policy.

A San Marino/Lacy Park & Beyond, 10k-Steps Challenge #44 [TCP MOAI Adventure]

**Welcome to [The Canis Pack IKIGAI 10K Adventure] + Purpose, Friendship, Togetherness & Support!** **We Will Not Wait Until Life Is Not Hard To WELCOME Strength, Beauty & Joy Into Our Lives!** **SNIFF - EXPLORE - EXERCISE** [**THIS IS A WALK FOR PEOPLE WHO DO NOT HAVE DOGS - AND FOR THOSE WHO DO**] **AGENDA;** **\- Gathering at 5:45 \- 1485 Virginia Rd\. Lacy Park** **\- Leaving at 6:00 pm Promptly** **\- Bathroom Break as we head out** **\- Continue with the Inner and Outer Loop walk** **\- After the Loops\, then exploring the surrounding San Marino neighborhood\.** **\- This will be a 10K Walk – About 6\.2\-5 miles** **\- 2 Hours or so Walk** **\- 8:00 pm \- Returning to Lacy Park** **WHAT TO BRING;** **\- Water** **\- A Warm Jacket for Chilly Nights** **\- Flash Lite** **\- Bug Spray** **\- Snacks if needed** **\- Good walking shoes** **\- Comfortable walking clothes** **\- A bright Jacket for the Dark days** **LISTEN THERE'S MORE;** **Goal: A STRONG LIKE-MINDED TOGETHERNESS!** \* We will Establish Togethereness \* We will Bring about a Strong Awareness \* We will Establish a Strong National Presence \* We will Be Active and Responsible \* We will Always Think as a Like-Minded Group \* We will Put our Health and Wellbeing First \* We are a Pack-Family **\* We will Gather and Walk with Harmony** I know—10,000 steps might not sound like a lot, but for those of us who sit at desks or stand in one place all day, it's not always easy to hit that goal. And while 15,000 or 20,000 steps would be great, they also require more time. So to make it fun and manageable, we’re starting with 10k steps as a challenge—and we may increase the goal in future events. **THE IMPORTANT POINTS ARE THESE;** Space is limited, so **please RSVP only if you’re 100% sure you’ll attend.** 🙏🏾If you RSVP and don’t show, you will be 🚩Red Flagged 🚩for future events—we all appreciate reliability and respect for others' abilities to get a spot to walk!🙏🏾 Expect to hit somewhere between **10,000–12,000 steps (approximately 7.5-9 miles),** depending on the pace and group. This **midweek walking event** is going really well. So, let’s **stay active together** and **make this a Strong part of our routine.** **See You There.** [COMMENT BELOW IF YOU ARE IN AGREEMENT] **NOW IS THE TIME, LET’S GET TO WALKING;** Btw. Yes, Lacy Park allows dogs. However, they must be on a leash and it will be your own responsibility. No running involved. Just a casual, social walk. Bring water if you need it. **Free street parking is available in the surrounding areas. Please avoid parking inside the park lot, as the gates may close before we finish our walk.** **Park closes at dusk so I strongly advise against parking inside any of the lots. Just drive around, and you can easily find free open parking spaces.** **Lacy Park is located at 1485 Virginia Road, San Marino, CA 91108**