BEVERLY HILLS STAFF REPORT. Meeting Date: January 9, 2018 To: From: Subject:

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1 BEVERLY HILLS STAFF REPORT Meeting Date: January 9, 2018 To: From: Subject: Honorable Mayor & City Council Huma Ahmed, Community Outreach Manager Request for the City Council to Consider Allowing Two Free Use Days at the Wallis Annenberg Center for Performing Arts to Host This is Hunger Exhibit Attachments: 1. MAZON Art Exhibit Information 2. Letters of Recommendation INTRODUCTION This report transmits a request by MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger ( MAZON ) for the use of two of the City s free days at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts ( Wallis ) for a traveling art exhibit titled This is Hunger (See Attachment 1 for information on the MAZON Art Exhibit). The exhibit is proposed for Monday, February 5, 2018 and Tuesday, February 6, 2018 in the motor court area of the Wallis. As this exhibit is free, and MAZON is a nonprofit organization, the limited funding for the exhibit is not able to provide payment to the Wallis for use of the motor court. The Wallis referred the MAZON to the City to see if the City is willing to donate two of the City s free usage days at the Wallis for the traveling exhibit. Staff is requesting that the City Council consider allowing the use of two of the City s free days at the Wallis for the traveling art exhibit. All additional ancillary costs for the event will be funded directly by MAZON. DISCUSSION Hunger affects 1 out of 8 Americans. MAZON is a nonprofit organization which provides anti-hunger education and advocacy programs to communities all across the United States and Israel. Although the MAZON has roots in the Jewish Community, it s purpose is non-sectarian. Per their mission, MAZON educates and encourages active support of government programs which focus on nutrition and food accessibility for vulnerable communities. MAZON is supported by various Beverly Hills community members and groups, such as the Beverly Hills Unified School District PTA, El Rodeo School, local Jewish organizations, and individuals (See Attachment 2 for letters of recommendation for this exhibit). It is an inclusive educational program that does not promote religious activities.

2 Meeting Date: January 9, 2018 The exhibit showcases the need for all communities, regardless of faith and/or ethnicity to be involved in the campaign against hunger. Additionally, the proposed event dates were provided by the Wallis based on their calendar of availability. The immersive art exhibit consists of a 53-foot trailer that has traveled coast to coast on a 10-month national tour of 30 cities. The exhibit has been developed to represent a diverse cross-section of the nation s affected population from all walks of life and communities. The exhibit includes photos and first-person accounts from affected individuals and groups. The exhibit is free to all attendees. However, MAZON does require participants to sign up for a one-hour time frame to enter the exhibit as the truck can only accommodate 30 people at a time. An average daily attendance is estimated at per day. RSVPs will be managed directly by MAZON. The City s two-hour free parking at the Rexford parking structure will, as always, be available for the public. The City s 450 Crescent structure will remain as a pay to park facility due to the City s ongoing weekday parking commitments. The City will not be providing advertising for this event. As the City has some free usage days remaining, and the purpose of MAZON is non sectarian, the City may consider allowing the donation of two of those remaining days for this art exhibit. FISCAL IMPACT The two-day use of the Wallis motor court is covered under the City s agreement with the Wallis. MAZON has indicated that they will fund ancillary costs for the Wallis on both days. This includes advertisements, security and all logistical needs. At this time, no additional funding has been requested by the organization. The following costs are included for informational purposes only: - $5,500 - $3,917 - $752 per day for use of the motor court for a total cost of $1 1,000 (covered by the City s Agreement with the Wallis) Wallis staff costs (MAZON intends to fund directly) for a Special Event Permit (MAZON intends to fund directly) RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends the City Council review and provide direction on the request from MAZON for the use of two of the City s free days at the Wallis for the traveling art exhibit. Pamela Mottice Muller Approved By Page 2 of 2

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4 The faces of hunger in America are both familiar and hidden from view, yet they are all too real and far too many. MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger has a long tradition of engaging the American Jewish community as well as anti-hunger organizations to become catalysts for the change we need to end hunger in America. We know all too well that there are persistent myths about hunger in America, about who is hungry and why. Until our nation recognizes the profound prevalence of hunger here at home, we will never be able to rally the political will required to end it. That s why, in November 2016, MAZON will officially launch the public tour of This Is Hunger, a powerful community engagement program that will encourage individuals to embark on a journey one that will challenge their beliefs about who in America struggles with hunger and why and empower them to take action. The This Is Hunger Experience This Is Hunger is a high-impact, experiential installation on wheels literally, it s a big rig. When the 53-foot-long double expandable trailer is parked and open on both sides, it provides almost 1,000 square feet of interior space to take participants on a voyage of awareness and activism: to help them understand the stark reality of hunger in America and to spark their commitment to taking action that will help end hunger once and for all. 1) Part One: Illuminate Participants enter the truck and are invited to sit at a communal table to meet, virtually, real people struggling with hunger. Portraits are projected at each end of the table, one by one, as they share their stories in their own voices and in their own words. 2) Part Two: Advocate At the end of Part One: Illuminate, participants are invited to engage in hands-on activities and experiences to deepen their awareness about the complexities of being hungry and to join MAZON in educating the rest of our nation and advocating for change. MAZON assembled an acclaimed creative team to help bring This Is Hunger to life, including Barbara Grover, Photographer and Documentarian; Marni Gittleman, Creative Director/Principal Concept & Content Developer; Gail Greenberg, Principal Designer; Chris Green, Multimedia Show Developer/Production Designer; and Karen Snider, Project Manager/Developer. This Is Hunger will be on tour nationwide for 10 months with stops in and around Los Angeles, Phoenix, Tucson, Dallas, Atlanta, Miami, Washington, D.C., the greater New York area, Philadelphia, Boston, Cleveland, St. Louis, Kansas City, Chicago and the San Francisco Bay Area. mazon.org (800)

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7 Beverly Hills Unified School District El Rodeo School 605 North Whittier Drive, Beverly Hills, CA Ph. (310) Fax (310) Mr. Kevin Allen, Principal December 21, 2017 Huma Ahmed Community Outreach Manager City of Beverly Hills Dear Huma, MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger is a national organization headquartered right here in Los Angeles. Their efforts to end hunger for people of all faiths and backgrounds on the federal level are exemplary. They have been a local presence for decades, and their recent engagement on the state level has produced two legislative victories that benefit California s food-insecure college students. We look forward to partnering with them as our neighbors and as experts in the field. Along with PTA leadership, we had the opportunity to see and participate in MAZON s This Is Hunger installation in August. We immediately saw the potential for BHUSD students and families and ideally, the greater community of Beverly Hills. The exhibit provides a moving look into the lives of those who struggle with hunger in America. It leads the particpant from a place of desperation to one of hope, challenging challenging myths around the causes of hunger and addressing solutions to address it. We discussed integrating the issues of hunger and poverty into the curriculum for the year, as our students explore themes of character and social justice. Access to the This Is Hunger program will be an invaluable educational tool in teaching our students about the reality of food insecurity and the vital importance of advocacy. As this national tour nears its completion, we feel we cannot let this opportunity pass for our community. It will have an impact on the citizens of Beverly Hills who are fortunate enough to see the exitibit. Sincerely, Kevin Allen Principal, El Rodeo School CREATING A WORLD CLASS EDUCATION

8 Cindy Owens From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Bradley Caro Cook Wednesday, December 20, :57 PM Huma Ahmed; Mahdi Aluzri Lisa Greer Mazon request Dear Madhi and Huma, I was made aware that there is the opportunity for Mazon, a leading anti-hunger organization, of which I am a supporter to bring their inspiring interactive educational experience to Beverly HIlls. As a member of Next Beverly Hills committee, I strongly believe that this is an important experience for individuals of all ages and a bold statement of ending hunger in America. I urge the city to do whatever necessary to ensure this exhibit has a place in our city. Please feel free to contact me with any questions. With appreciation, Bradley 1

9 Cindy Owens From: Sent: To: Subject: Emily Wolf Thursday, December 21, :50 AM Huma Ahmed; Mahdi Aluzri This is Hunger exhibit Hello Huma and Mahdi, I'm the PTA President at El Rodeo and had the opportunity to experience the This is Hunger exhibit back in September. It is a powerful exhibit and it would be wonderful if the City of Beverly Hills could help make it available to our students and the rest of the Beverly Hills community. By being stationed at the Wallis, our students would have access to it and this would help facilitate them learning about food insecurity and hunger in the United States. In addition, the exhibit encourages civic responsibility and would also engage our students in trying to effectuate positive change in and around Los Angeles and the country. Thank you for all that you are doing to help bring this important exhibit to our students and community. Sincerely, Emily Wolf 1