Summer Night Lights

Launched in 2008, the Summer Night Lights program is a public and private partnership undertaken by the City of Los Angeles Mayor's Office of Gang Reduction & Youth Development ("GRYD") and the GRYD Foundation. When students are on summer vacation, cities struggle to keep youth engaged in positive activities, leading to the increased influence of gangs in many neighborhoods. 

Summer Night Lights operates at 43 locations across L.A., keeping recreation centers and parks open and adding extended programming between the hours of 7 p.m. – 11 p.m. in the city's most vulnerable communities. Nonprofit organizations and staff members offer athletics, arts, learning, meals, and health and wellness programming to youth and families at each facility. Through these activities provided by this award-winning program, participating kids become part of a safe community while building important social and life skills.