By: Abigail Machado & Deztenie B Toscano
When you hear the name Watts, what comes to mind? Is it the neighborhood’s rich cultural and artistic heritage, its historical and social impact—including its vital role in the civil rights movement—or the resilient, vibrant, and tight-knit community that thrives along Wilmington Avenue, Imperial Highway, and 103rd Street? If one of these attributes is what first comes to mind, chances are you’re part of this community or have been at one point in your life.
Deztenie B. Toscano, a MSW student from USC, grew up and spent her entire childhood in this neighborhood and has a deep connection and understanding of what it is, but an even deeper understanding of what is missing for so many people in this community. A community should be a foundation– a place that provides stability, protection, and a sense of security. When the community is unstable, everything else—work, education, mental and physical health—becomes harder to maintain.
With about 33% of residents living below the poverty line, there is undoubtedly a crisis due to how poverty-stricken the majority of the population in Watts is (US Census Bureau, 2019). “Poverty” is probably more along the lines of what you first think of when you hear the name Watts. If this community has such a critical issue to the extent that poverty is ingrained into its identity, why aren’t we seeing an equal amount of criticality in amending this issue?
The truth of the matter is, trying to resolve systemic poverty is debilitating, even in a small community like Watts. It requires collective action, systemic change and long-term commitment. While there is no single solution to poverty, there are various approaches that can help reduce its severity. It is crucial that we continuously work on and refine these solutions, focusing on those that provide long-term, sustainable impact. In order to facilitate this long-term change, it is critical to promote and nourish a youth-centered approach.
The youth can play a vital role in diminishing poverty because they are the next generation of leaders, innovators, and changemakers. An investment in the youth of Watts is an investment in the future of the entire community. By providing opportunities, education, and support, we can empower the next generation to lead with purpose and drive positive change. When young people are given the tools they need to succeed, they not only transform their own lives but help uplift their entire community, creating a stronger, more resilient community for generations to come. To empower the youth of Watts, heavier funding should be allocated to youth programs that provide academic support, college and career readiness, mentorship programs, and social-emotional support, helping to steer young people away from violence and instability while fostering positive opportunities for growth.
Although youth programs, such as the “I Have a Dream” Foundation, already exist in Watts, evidence indicates that they are not receiving the funding they deserve. This lack of funding limits organizations’ ability to fully support the community and achieve the lasting systemic change they aim for. According to the California Grants Portal (2024) and Watts Healthcare (2020), there have been significant funding cuts to nonprofits serving youth and violence prevention programs. These grants are highly competitive and not always guaranteed.
(Photo: @ImagerybyOscar)
Furthermore, it has been found that investments made to the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) are 70 times greater than the investment made in the City’s youth development initiatives (LA City, 2020). Due to an overemphasis on punitive public safety measures and a lack of investment in youth development infrastructure, many young people become entangled in the criminal justice system, limiting their potential and perpetuating the cycle of systemic poverty.
To empower the youth of Watts and contribute to the dismantlement of the cycle of poverty, significant investment in youth programs must be made a top priority.
Abigail Machado and Deztenie B. Toscano are graduate students studying social work at the University of Southern California Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work. Machado and Toscano both grew up in South LA with Toscano being a former resident of Watts.
