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City Council proclaims April 29 as L.A.'s Best Day, highlights program's role in after‑school care
Summary
The Los Angeles City Council recognized L.A.'s Best and presented a resolution designating April 29 as L.A.'s Best Day, with city officials and program leaders urging continued priority and funding for the after‑school program that serves thousands of students across the city.
The Los Angeles City Council on April 4 presented a resolution recognizing April 29 as L.A.'s Best Day and heard testimony from program leaders, school staff, parents and students about the nonprofit's role in after‑school care.
Councilmember Eunice Hernández introduced the presentation and the resolution, saying the program has been “a lifeline” for working families and children across the city. Hernández introduced Michelle Broadnax, who the council identified as president and CEO of L.A.'s Best, to speak about the program's reach and services.
Michelle Broadnax, president and CEO of L.A.'s Best, told the council the program was founded in 1988 and now serves elementary students citywide. “We represent the whole city and the children of the city,” Broadnax said, and described L.A.'s Best as a free program that provides academic support, enrichment, meals and before‑school services at some sites.
Monte Vista Elementary School principal Lucy Hunt and parent María Ríos spoke about local impacts, saying L.A.'s Best gives families reliable supervision and students additional learning time. Student speakers — including Rubí González and Sarahí Torres — described clubs, sports and academic help the program provides.
Council members and presenters emphasized the program's partnership model: Broadnax described ongoing collaboration between the city, the Los Angeles Unified School District and private partners. She told the council that L.A.'s Best serves large numbers of elementary students citywide — calling out roughly 70,000 children as being served across the program's sites — and that it operates free to families. Principal Hunt told the council the program’s extended hours (parents drop off by about 7:30 a.m. and pick up as late as 6 p.m. at some sites) help families maintain work schedules while students receive academic and enrichment activities.
In presenting the resolution, a council member said, “In the name of the City of Los Angeles, I present this resolution, officially recognizing Wednesday, April 29, as the day dedicated to L.A.'s Best.” The record shows the item was introduced as a ceremonial recognition and no formal legislative action or vote on funding for the program was recorded during the presentation.
Speakers urged continued priority and stable funding for the program; Broadnax asked the council to “continue prioritizing and supporting financing for this critical program,” noting L.A.'s Best provides free services that city leaders said support both children’s enrichment and parents’ economic stability.
The presentation concluded with a short video from the program and applause from the chamber. The council closed the presentation portion and proceeded to other items on the agenda.
