JCOD Wins Silver Eagle Award at 38^th Annual Productivity & Quality Awards

 

On October 15, JCOD was honored with the prestigious Silver Eagle Award at the 38th Annual Productivity & Quality Awards (PQA). JCOD’s Firefighter Training Program earned the Silver Eagle Award (2nd place) out of more than 100 project submissions.

Since 1987, the PQA has celebrated LA County initiatives that demonstrate exceptional innovation, efficiency, and service excellence—recognizing efforts worthy of distinction by the Board of Supervisors, Executive Office, Quality and Productivity Commission, and the public.

In addition to this top honor, JCOD received recognition for several other impactful programs, including Providing Opportunities for Women in Reentry (POWR), Care First Community Investment (CFCI), Pretrial Services, the Justice-Involved Individual Panel and multiple interdepartmental collaborations.

The JCOD Firefighter Training Program’s success was made possible through strong partnerships with the LA County Fire Department, Department of Human Resources, Internal Services Department, and the Public Defender’s Office—all recognized as co-awardees of the 2025 PQA Silver Eagle.

JCOD also proudly served as a collaborator on another top-ten award-winning initiative, the Community Outreach Court, in partnership with the Public Defender, Alternate Public Defender and other County partners.

In addition to earning two Top 10 recognitions, JCOD was also honored as part of the team that received the Outstanding Teamwork Award for the Department of Public Health’s Building Safety in LA Communities initiative.

A heartfelt thank you goes out to JCOD staff, our partnering County departments, the Quality and Productivity Commission, and the Board of Supervisors for their continued support and collaboration. Most importantly, these awards affirm that JCOD is on the right path in advancing our mission—building safer communities, creating second chances, and transforming the justice system for the better.

To see the entire 38^th Annual PQA Ceremony, click here. To watch JCOD’s Firefighter Training Program video, click here. To learn more about the Quality and Productivity Commission’s Productivity and Quality Awards, click here.

JCOD Joins the 79th Annual East LA Mexican Independence Parade

JCOD was honored to participate in the 79th Annual East L.A. Mexican Independence Parade and Festival on September 14—the largest and longest-running celebration of its kind in the nation. This year’s theme, “Tradition, Education, and Achievement,” beautifully reflected the pride, culture, and resilience that continue to define the East L.A. community.

JCOD was proud to stand alongside residents, families, and community partners in celebrating Mexican heritage and unity. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Mexican Patriotic Civic Committee, Inc. for organizing this inspiring event and for welcoming JCOD as part of such a historic and meaningful tradition.

 

JCOD’s 2nd Annual Together We Thrive Summit

JCOD invites you to join us on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, at WePlay Studios for the Together We Thrive Summit and Festival—a day of inspiration, connection and community resources designed to help our neighborhoods thrive.

Experience engaging conversations with community changemakers, a live pitch competition highlighting innovative ideas, and performances from local artists throughout the day.

Attendees will also have access to a variety of on-site resources, including free food, haircuts, and expungement services to help clear eligible records. Thanks to our partners at Delete The Divide, eligible attendees can also receive a free laptop to support their educational and career goals.

We’ll also be hosting a Toy Drive to spread holiday cheer to children in need. Please consider bringing a new, unwrapped toy to donate—your generosity will help make the season brighter for local families.

Don’t miss this opportunity to connect, celebrate and give back as we continue building stronger, thriving communities—together.

Save the Date: November 19, 2025 | 8AM – 6PM

WePlay Studios | 235 W Florence Ave, Inglewood, CA 90301

Reserve your ticket here to attend the Together We Thrive Summit and Festival.

Incubation Academy Launches Cohort 10!

On September 17, JCOD proudly celebrated a powerful milestone with the launch of Cohort 10 of the Incubation Academy at the Earvin “Magic” Johnson Recreation Center in South Los Angeles.

What began as a vision by Judge Songhai Armstead (Ret.), to create a space where grassroots leaders could be equipped and empowered to transform their communities, has now grown into a thriving ecosystem of over 200 community-based organizations across Los Angeles County. The JCOD Incubation Academy continues to embody her belief that sustainable change begins by investing in those closest to the work and most connected to the people they serve.

 

Cohort 10 is the largest one yet, bringing together 30 organizations representing all five Los Angeles County Supervisorial Districts. Each organization reflects the diversity, creativity and commitment that drive JCOD’s mission to build safer, healthier and more equitable communities rooted in care and opportunity.

The JCOD Incubation Academy remains a model for capacity building, leadership development and community collaboration.

The launch was both a celebration of what has been accomplished and a reminder of what is still possible. As these 30 organizations begin their journey, JCOD stands ready to walk beside them, providing the tools, mentorship and support needed to bring their visions to life.

JCOD is accepting applications now for consideration in Cohort 11.  Please submit your application by November 30, 2025 for timely consideration.
Click here to apply.  To learn more about Incubation Academy, visit our website.

LA County Channel Features JCOD x West Coast Customs Training Program

The L.A. County Channel recently highlighted JCOD’s partnership with West Coast Customs, the renowned automotive customization shop known for its creativity and craftsmanship. Together, JCOD and West Coast Customs are opening doors for justice-involved individuals through hands-on training and certification in automotive restoration.

JCOD’s collaboration with West Coast Customs began at the 2024 L.A. Auto Show, where we co-hosted a nine-day automotive restoration workshop for justice-involved participants. The success of that pilot led to a 12-week immersive training program that provides real-world experience inside one of Southern California’s most iconic auto shops.

Now in its second cohort, the program helps participants earn certification in automotive customization and restoration and build connections with employers across the region. This partnership is more than a training opportunity, it’s a chance for participants to gain new skills, rebuild confidence and drive toward a better future.

Watch the LA County Channel feature here.

 JCOD Staff Spotlight

Kassandra Angel – Justice Program Analyst

Kassandra Angel is a Justice Program Analyst on JCOD’s Care First Community Investment (CFCI) team and joined JCOD in December 2024. She began her LA County service with the Board of Supervisors in September 2021, on Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell’s Justice and Legal Affairs team, serving there until January 2023.

Kassandra, known to colleagues as “Kassy,” stepped away from the County to work as a policy analyst in youth justice for the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs before returning to join JCOD last year. “I’m grateful for my experience at UCLA that helped build my knowledge regarding strengths-based and healing-centered justice systems, but I felt myself wanting to come back to the County to use my expertise and skills to create more immediate and local impact in the justice sphere. When the opening for this role popped up, I immediately knew this was the opportunity I had been looking for,” Kassy shared.

Kassy holds a Bachelor of Arts in anthropology from UCLA and a Master of Public Administration from USC, a rare participant on both sides of the cross-town Bruin/Trojan rivalry.

JCOD’s CFCI team members, such as Kassy, perform complex work and wear multiple hats, from helping run CFCI Advisory Committee meetings to drafting reports and memos to the Board of Supervisors to managing CFCI County programs. There are 82 programs across 14 County departments approved by the board to administer CFCI funding for direct community investments and alternatives to incarceration. “It’s been wonderful building relationships with the leads of these programs to ensure that these critical services are going to our community members who need them most,” said Kassy.

This isn’t just a job for Kassy, who shared, “I was at Supervisor Mitchell’s office when JCOD was first established through Supervisor Kuehl’s motion in 2022, so getting to work here now has been a full-circle moment for me! I come from a family with justice involvement, so I’ve witnessed firsthand the importance of prevention, diversion, and reentry. However, a lot of these efforts are often siloed, so JCOD is distinct in that we are a central, unifying entity for these kinds of resources. It’s been an honor to work for such a unique department that prioritizes these efforts to foster the wellbeing of individuals with justice system involvement and to cultivate a safe and healthy county for all.”

Kassy also spoke about the fulfillment she finds in this work: “Our work directly uplifts community voice through the JCOD CFCI Advisory Committee that develops funding recommendations that go straight back to community-led organizations, whether through Care Grants or through contracts with County Departments, who are already doing the work by providing these vital services and programs to stop the cycles of incarceration and poverty in LA County. I’ve seen how these services positively impact our communities, and that’s what drives me to continue contributing to this invaluable, community-led work we do at JCOD CFCI.”

Kassy was born and raised in Pomona, Calif., with proud roots in Sonora and Michoacán, Mexico, through her parents. She volunteers weekly with cats with severe cerebellar hypoplasia, also known as wobbly cats, at Kitten Rescue L.A. She loves to read (just finished The Shards by Bret Easton Ellis) and to take meditative walks in her neighborhood. She also just got into gaming exclaiming “Baldur’s Gate is awesome!” She has one sibling, an older brother and two kitties named Tofu and Joey who like to say hi to Kassy’s colleagues during Teams calls.

 Org Spotlight

Champions in Service

Founded in 1989, Champions in Service (CIS) has been providing wraparound support to individuals impacted by poverty, addiction and trauma for more than 35 years. The organization was born out of a dual inspiration: to uplift marginalized youth and families who have been overlooked, and to promote peacebuilding initiatives that heal and empower communities across the San Fernando Valley.

Robert Arias, M.S.W., M.P.A., president of Champions in Service, acknowledges that advocating for those often unseen by city leaders can be challenging—but he emphasizes that every individual deserves a second chance. His journey with CIS has been one of patience, persistence, and purpose.

“The most rewarding part is witnessing the transformation of at-risk youth, adults and families as they realize their potential. The joy that comes from seeing lives change because of our support is a constant reminder of why we do this work,” Robert shared.

Robert Arias, president of Champions in Service (CIS), shared a moment that continues to inspire him and his team.

“An incredible moment unfolded with a young man who courageously faced the challenges of being tried as an adult. After completing his sentence, he took a bold step toward healing by seeking our tattoo removal services, where our skilled professionals helped remove the ink that symbolized his past. This transformative decision sparked a new journey—one fueled by hope and determination. He dedicated himself to his education and ultimately achieved the remarkable milestone of earning his degree. His story beautifully reflects the power of transformation and the limitless possibilities that come with second chances.”

It was a CIS staff member with lived experience who helped connect JCOD and Champions in Service.

“I learned about JCOD through Anthony Gabriel, one of our dedicated case managers,” Robert shared. “He told me about JCOD’s initiatives and how they’ve made a real difference for at-risk communities in the San Fernando Valley.”

Together, JCOD and CIS continue to uplift individuals who are rebuilding their lives—reminding us all that with the right support and opportunity, transformation is always possible.

 

Since then, CIS has become one of JCOD’s trusted partners and provides services through JCOD’s Care Management program. “CIS has been awarded several grants from JCOD, which have provided critical support to meet the urgent needs of our community. These grants allow us to expand our services and create lasting impact for those we serve. JCOD has enabled us to provide much-needed services to our reentry community. We truly value this partnership and look forward to continuing our work together. With JCOD’s partnership, we are breaking barriers and building second chances,” Robert continued.

Robert concluded with a word of encouragement for nonprofits that are just getting started: “I urge aspiring nonprofit founders to embrace the challenges that come their way. The path may be filled with obstacles and criticism, but your commitment to make a difference will often lead to extraordinary outcomes. Stay resilient, remain passionate and never lose sight of the profound impact you can have in the lives of others.”

To learn more about Champions In Service, follow them on Instagram @champions_in_service or visit their website here.