Programs

BVCLT nurtures cultural expression and preserves generational knowledge tied to land, especially for communities impacted by displacement. Through cultural arts and land stewardship, we help neighbors reconnect with place and strengthen community resilience.

We also center political education so members understand the systems driving housing inequity and displacement. Through workshops and leadership development, residents learn about community land trusts, cooperative ownership, and housing justice policy- turning education into collective advocacy that protects tenants and expands community ownership.

For questions, contact haejin@bvclt.org

In 2010, LAUSD purchased three multifamily properties in Koreatown with plans to demolish the buildings and build a surface parking lot. Local residents—who would later help found BVCLT—organized to challenge the plan. In 2011, a compromise preserved a corner of the site, which was transformed into what is now the White House Place Learning Garden.

Today, the garden provides rare green space in one of the most densely populated neighborhoods in Los Angeles County. It serves as a place for land stewardship, environmental education, and community gathering—demonstrating the power of collective care over land use decisions.

For questions, contact communitygarden@bvclt.org

For Resident Members Only

The Señoras For Housing (S4H) Limited Equity Housing Cooperative began in 2020 when immigrant, Black, and working-class women organized to stop displacement from the redevelopment of their building. They partnered with BVCLT to pursue cooperative ownership, and in June 2021 BVCLT acquired the property to preserve affordability and stabilize residents.

With technical support from the California Center for Cooperative Development, Public Counsel, and Gunzik & Gunzik & Heger, residents are now transitioning the building into a collectively owned limited equity housing cooperative.

Other BVCLT buildings are also exploring participatory budgeting and shared decision-making models as pathways toward collective ownership or long-term community stewardship.

BVCLT’s Community Power Fellowship engages members and residents in hands-on programming connected to our campaigns for permanent affordable housing and community ownership. The fellowship is rooted in three focus areas:

Leadership Development: Fellows build organizing, advocacy, and leadership skills through trainings that combine political analysis with socio-emotional support.

Context and Strategy: Participants join strategy sessions to understand how housing campaigns are structured, how power operates locally, and how on-the-ground organizing drives long-term change.

Outreach and Education: Fellows participate in direct outreach to expand awareness of community land trusts and mobilize neighbors to engage in housing justice efforts.

Program Status: The fellowship is currently closed and is expected to reopen for applicants in Summer 2026.

Open to Members Only

As a community land trust, our recent real estate work focuses on preserving small multi-unit buildings with existing residents—ensuring permanent affordability, promoting community stewardship, and improving living conditions.

Our policy efforts center on securing public funding and resources to support preservation, expand tenant-led governance, and increase opportunities for CLTs to participate in housing development.

We are committed to continuing to preserve housing in our community while pursuing new acquisition opportunities as they arise. When feasible, we are also exploring alternative housing models and new construction strategies that can serve community needs and strengthen long-term collective ownership.

Please note: We are not currently accepting new building project proposals at this time.