2024-09-21T18:44:32-05:00 2023-12-31 208161914 NKSFB LLC DBA - FOCUS OPERATING LLC 10960 WILSHIRE BLVD 5TH FLOOR LOS ANGELES CA 90024 990 2023-01-01 273782128 OUR COMMUNITY LA FKA OUR CHILDREN LA OURC 3106331976 PO BOX 676 PACIFIC PALISADES CA 902720676 DENISE MCCAIN-THARNSTROM PRESIDENT 3106331976 2024-09-01 1 0 LAURA DIMAGGIO P00995016 3102774657 2023 2024-08-08 14:25:15Z DENISE MCCAIN-THARNSTROM PO BOX 676 PACIFIC PALISADES CA 902720676 192188 0 X OCLAWIN.ORG X 2011 CA OUR COMMUNITY LA (OCLA) IS A VOLUNTEER-LED, 501(C)3 ORGANIZATION THAT LEVERAGES TECHNOLOGY FOR SOCIAL GOOD FOR THE BENEFIT OF HOMELESS AND NEARLY HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES. USING MOBILE COMMUNICATION AND WEB-BASED RESOURCES, OCLA EMPOWERS HOMELESS AND AT-RISK YOUTH, STUDENTS, FAMILIES, SENIORS AND SINGLE ADULTS TO FACILITATE POSITIVE CHANGE IN THEIR LIVES. OCLA'S PROGRAMS ARE PURPOSEFULLY DESIGNED TO EMPOWER HOMELESS AND HOUSING-INSECURE PERSONS OF ALL AGES AND SUPPORT THEIR ABILITY TO EASILY LOCATE AND CONNECT TO NEEDED LOCAL SERVICE PROVIDERS. OUR PROGRAMS INCLUDE: 1) THE FREE WIN WHAT I NEED (WIN) MOBILE APP WHICH EMPOWERS VULNERABLE AND RESOURCE INSECURE INDIVIDUALS TO SEARCH FOR AND CONNECT WITH NEARBY FREE OR SLIDING SCALE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES NEEDED TO BUILD A LIFE OUT OF POVERTY. WIN, DESIGNED WITH THE SUPPORT OF LA'S HOMELESS, IS TRULY "HELP IN THE PALM OF ONE'S HAND." 7 7 9 0 0 0 136832 192186 0 0 367 2 -9725 -8002 127474 184186 0 0 0 0 36556 62506 0 0 0 105333 108237 141889 170743 -14415 13443 128452 141895 0 0 128452 141895 X OUR COMMUNITY LA (OCLA) LEVERAGES TECHNOLOGY TO CONNECT YOUTH, FAMILIES AND ADULTS IN NEED OR EXPERIENCING HOMELESS TO EASILY CONNECT TO ESSENTIAL RESOURCES. OCLA IS COMMITTED TO SOCIAL JUSTICE; WE ENVISION A WORLD IN WHICH NO ONE WILL BE UNHOUSED OR STRUGGLING WITH DEEP RESOURCE-INSECURE SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY DO NOT KNOW HOW TO FIND HELP. THOSE WHO ARE WITHOUT HOUSING OR WHO ARE IN NEED OF ESSENTIAL SUPPORTIVE SERVICES WILL KNOW THAT THEY ARE VALUED, THEIR DIGNITY AND PRIVACY ARE RESPECTED AND THAT THEY HAVE THE POWER TO SEARCH FOR AND CHOOSE THE HELP THEY NEED TO BUILD A LIFE OUT OF POVERTY OR ABUSE. UNDERSTANDING THAT THE HOMELESS AND RESOURCE-INSECURE HAVE SMART PHONES (THANKS IN PART TO THE FEDERAL LIFELINE PROGRAM), OCLA USES TECHNOLOGY TO DIRECTLY SERVE THOSE WHO ARE HOMELESS OR AT RISK WITH ITS FREE PROGRAMS: THE USER-FRIENDLY MOBILE APPLICATION, WIN (WHAT I NEED), AN EASY TO-READ PRINT DIRECTORY OF SERVICES FOR LA HOMELESS YOUTH AND ADULTS (AVAILABLE IN LOCAL LIBRARIES 0 0 57012 WIN WHAT I NEED IS A FREE MOBILE APPLICATION DESIGNED TO EMPOWER REGIONAL HOMELESS OR RESOURCE-INSECURE YOUTH, (AGES 12-25), FAMILIES, STUDENTS, SENIORS AND OTHER ADULTS TO CONNECT TO 12 CATEGORIES OF SUPPORTIVE SERVICES. THE PROTOTYPE WAS FIRST RELEASED IN THE GOOGLEPLAY AND ITUNES STORES IN NOVEMBER 2015, AND WAS ALSO AVAILABLE FOR USE ON OCLA'S WEBSITE AT OCLAWIN.ORG. WHILE THE ORIGINAL APP WAS DEVELOPED TO SERVE YOUTH ONLY (AGES 12-24), IN RESPONSE TO CALLS FOR EXPANSION, IN 2018 OCLA WORKED WITH A TEAM OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPERS TO REDESIGN AND EXPAND WIN'S CAPACITY TO SERVE ADULTS AND FAMILIES. IN 2020 WIN'S DATABASE WAS EXPANDED TO INCLUDE UNIQUE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES AVAILABLE TO VULNERABLE SENIORS AS WELL. WIN NOW EMPOWERS USERS OF ANY AGE TO CONNECT TO OVER 2300 PROGRAMS THAT THEY CAN WALK INTO WITHOUT A REFERRAL. WIN ALSO REGULARLY SENDS USERS HELPFUL ANNOUNCEMENTS ABOUT FREE COMMUNITY EVENTS, RESOURCE FAIRS AND JOB OPPORTUNITIES. WIN (MOBILE AND WEB) WAS TRANSLATED INTO SPANISH AND RELEASED IN THE APP STORES AND ON OCLA'S WEBSITE IN OCTOBER OF 2021. TODAY WIN SUPPORTS THE EFFORTS OF ANYONE IN NEED TO LOCATE ESSENTIAL RESOURCES, USING TECHNOLOGY THAT PEOPLE TODAY TRUST, CELL PHONES AND THE INTERNET. (THE VAST MAJORITY OF HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS UNDER 40 HAS SMART PHONES AND CAN ACCESS THE INTERNET USING WI-FI. FREE WI-FI IS WIDELY AVAILABLE AT LIBRARIES AND COFFEE SHOPS IN LA COUNTY.)EVERY VERSION OF WIN HAS BEEN BUILT WITH THE GUIDANCE AND INPUT OF REGIONAL HOMELESS YOUTH AND ADULTS. OCLA DEVELOPED AND OPERATES THIS SEARCHABLE APPLICATION IN LA COUNTY, AND MAINTAINS THE SUPPORTING DATABASE, OFFERING INFORMATION AND LIVE CONNECTIONS TO OVER 2300 AREA PROGRAMS PROVIDING FOOD, SHELTER, HEALTH/MENTAL HEALTH, LEGAL, DROP-IN/ACCESS CENTERS, JOBS, TRANSPORTATION, EDUCATION, GOVERNMENT BENEFITS, HOTLINES, CRISIS SUPPORTS AND MORE. WIN'S PROGRAM DATABASE IS REGULARLY UPDATED BY STAFF SUPPORTED BY VOLUNTEERS FROM LA WORKS REPAIR THE WORLD.WIN HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF THE TOP 3 RESOURCES FOR LA'S HOMELESS YOUTH AND IS FEATURED ON THE LA HOMELESS SERVICES AUTHORITY'S WEBSITE AND LA COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION'S WEBSITE. COUNTYWIDE PARTNERS WHO PROMOTE WIN TO THEIR CLIENTS INCLUDE THE PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM, THE REGIONAL HOUSING SERVICES AUTHORITY, NUMEROUS NONPROFITS, LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS, AND UNIVERSITIES. WIN AND OCLA ARE RECOGNIZED IN THE NATIONAL CENTER ON HOMELESSNESS AND POVERTY DIRECTORY. HONORS INCLUDE ROTARY STAR AWARD, "KNOWLEDGE SHARING", OPERATION CHILDREN HUMANITARIAN OF YEAR AWARDS (TO FOUNDER FOR DEVELOPMENT OF WIN), AND RECEIPT OF THE CALIFORNIA SENATE CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION AS WELL AS A COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES COMMENDATION.MANY PROVIDERS REQUIRE THEIR STAFF AND/OR CLIENTS TO DOWNLOAD WIN BECAUSE IT IS THE BEST RESOURCE ACCESS TOOL IN THE COUNTY. WIN IS SCALABLE AND DESIGNED WITH THE CAPACITY TO ADD AND SERVE OTHER REGIONS. WIN'S MOST IMPORTANT ACCOMPLISHMENT HOWEVER IS THAT STREET YOUTH AND ADULTS HAVE TOLD US THAT WIN EMPOWERS THEM TO FIND HELP, OFFERS HOPE AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, ITS VERY EXISTENCE MAKES THEM FEEL VALUED AND WORTHY OF SUPPORT. UNLIKE OTHER SERVICES, WIN NEVER REQUIRES USERS TO SIGN-IN; IT IS CONFIDENTIAL AND TRULY A LOW-BARRIER TOOL DESIGNED TO SUPPORT THOSE IN NEED. 8288 B) TEAM WIN: TEAM WIN IS A PAID PART-TIME SOCIAL MEDIA TRAINING AND MENTORING PROGRAM FOR A SMALL COHORT OF HOMELESS OR NEARLY HOMELESS YOUTH. YOUTH ARE TRAINED IN SOCIAL MEDIA SKILLS, (SUCH AS HOW TO MAKE VIDEOS, USE TWITTER, FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM), IN SUPPORT OF PROMOTING AWARENESS ABOUT THE WIN APP IN THE COMMUNITY. PRE-COVID YOUTH ENGAGED IN IN-PERSON OUTREACH AT LOCAL HOMELESS COALITION MEETINGS TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT WIN. DURING 2020, TEAM WIN SHOT AND PRODUCED 2 HOW TO USE WIN VIDEOS, (IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH). IN 2021 TEAM WIN SHOT AND BEGAN RELEASING SEVERAL "HOW-TO SURVIVE" WITH WIN VIDEO SERIES INCLUDING HOW TO OBTAIN HYGIENE PRODUCTS, COOKING WITH FOOD FROM A FOOD PANTRY, AND MORE. IN 2023 THEY ADDED VOICES OF TEAM WIN, A BLOG SHOWCASING THEIR EXPERIENCES AND THOSE OF OTHERS WHO ARE ATTENDING COLLEGE WHILE STRUGGLING WITH HOMELESSNESS. THEY ALSO RESUMED IN-PERSON OUTREACH BY ATTENDING COMMUNITY EVENTS SUCH AS WORKING WITH FOOD PANTRY FOOD DISTRIBUTION SITES TO INCLUDE INFORMATION ABOUT WIN IN ALL FOOD BASKETS WHILE CONTINUING TO SURVIVE VIDEOS. 23770 C) SOUTH LA OUTREACH PROGRAM: OCLA'S SOUTH LA PROGRAM IS A DOOR-TO-DOOR DIRECT OUTREACH CAMPAIGN WHICH SEEKS TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT WIN IN THE SOUTH LA COMMUNITY. OUR OUTREACH WORKER, A SOUTH LA NATIVE, IS CHARGED WITH VISITING LOCAL BUSINESSES AND LOCAL RESIDENCES, ATTENDING EVENTS AND SEEKING OTHER LOCAL OPPORTUNITIES TO INTRODUCE WIN TO THE COMMUNITY. HE EDUCATES COMMUNITY MEMBERS ABOUT THE WIN APP AND ENCOURAGES LOCAL COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO DOWNLOAD THE APP TO USE FOR THEMSELVES IN A TIME OF NEED AS WELL AS TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO OTHERS. 70442 70442 159512 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 7 0 1 9 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 7 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 CA X DENISE MCCAIN-THARNSTROM 3106631976 PO BOX 676 PACIFIC PALISADES CA 902720676 X DENISE MCCAIN-THARNSTROM PRESIDENT CEO 50.00 X X 0 0 0 TUAN LE FOUNDING BOARD MEMBER 1.00 X 0 0 0 MELISSA SCHOONMAKER BOARD MEMBER 1.00 X 0 0 0 LAURA DIMAGGIO BOARD MEMBER 1.00 X 0 0 0 WILLIAM FINKELSTEIN BOARD MEMBER 1.00 X 0 0 0 SAMUEL J ASHE II BOARD MEMBER 1.00 X 0 0 0 ASHLEY MAXWELL GILLIAM BOARD MEMBER 1.00 X 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 54697 50100 87389 4784 192186 2 2 0 54697 8002 -8002 -8002 184186 0 0 -8000 56650 56650 5856 5856 125 125 2564 1322 1242 2400 2400 2784 52 2732 54958 54958 1104 1104 7132 7132 OUTSIDE SERVICES 25791 25791 WEBSITE 11379 11379 170743 159512 11231 0 120702 109400 4331 23147 6640 3419 2708 128452 141895 0 0 X 0 0 0 0 128452 141895 128452 141895 128452 141895 13443 0 X 0 0 0 X 63886 76831 118102 136832 192186 587837 63886 76831 118102 136832 192186 587837 265312 322525 587837 0.54870 0.51220 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED CONNECTIONS COUNT SHOWCASE 54697 54697 2907 98 750 4247 54697 54697 2907 98 750 4247 8002 -8002 FORM 990, PART I, LINE 1, DESCRIPTION OF ORGANIZATION MISSION CONTINUED: AVAILABLE IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH, IT PROVIDES EASY ACCESS TO OVER 2300 LOCAL PROGRAMS THAT SERVE THE UNHOUSED, HOUSING-INSECURE AND RESOURCE-INSECURE OF ALL AGES. WIN ALSO SENDS USERS ALERTS ABOUT IMPORTANT COMMUNITY SERVICES AND EVENTS WITH THE GOAL CONNECTING THEM TO A WIDE VARIETY OF LOCAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT CAN SUPPORT THEIR EFFORTS TO NOT ONLY SURVIVE BUT TO IMPROVE THEIR LIVES. 2) THE PRINT DIRECTORY OF SERVICES FOR HOMELESS, OFFERS A COMPREHENSIVE LISTING OF FREE REGIONAL RESOURCES. IT IS USED BY LIBRARIANS, TEACHERS AND SOCIAL WORKERS TO CONNECT HOMELESS YOUTH, ADULTS AND FAMILIES TO NEEDED SERVICES; 3) TEAM WIN IS DESIGNED TO OFFER HOMELESS OR FORMERLY HOMELESS YOUTH THE OPPORTUNITY FOR TRAINING IN SOCIAL MEDIA. TEAM WIN MENTORS YOUTH IN MARKETING AND OUTREACH SKILLS AND TRAINS THEM TO PROMOTE WIN WITHIN THE GREATER LA COMMUNITY USING DIRECT OUTREACH (SUCH AS PRESENTATIONS AND TABLING EVENTS) AND SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS (TWITTER, FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM) AND VIDEO PRODUCTION FOR OLCA'S YOUTUBE SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS. 4) HUD HOUSING ELIGIBILITY & ADVOCACY TOOL, EMBEDDED WITHIN THE WIN APP- WAS RELEASED IN 2023 TO ENABLE ANYONE TO TAKE AN INTERACTIVE QUIZ AND LEARN IF THEY QUALIFY FOR HUD HOUSING AND IF SO RECEIVE SUPPORT ON WHERE TO APPLY AS WELL AS OTHER SUPPORTIVE SERVICES 5) WIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE OUTREACH-LAUNCHED IN 2023, THIS UNIQUE OUTREACH EDUCATES STRUGGLING COLLEGE STUDENTS ON HOW TO USE WIN TO LOCATED HELPFUL RESOURCES THAT THEY CAN ACCESS TO MITIGATE FOOD, HOUSING AND OTHER INSECURITIES THEY ARE EXPERIENCING WHILE TRYING TO ATTEND LOCAL COLLEGES. 6) OCLA'S OUTREACH & EDUCATION PROGRAM FOCUSES ON HIGH NEED COMMUNITIESOUR OUTREACH COORDINATOR TRAINS LOCAL NONPROFITS TO INTRODUCE WIN TO THEIR CLIENTS, AS WELL AS ATTENDING COMMUNITY EVENTS AND RESOURCE FAIRS AND OFFERING PRESENTATIONS ON THE WIN APP. WE ALSO HAVE A DOOR-TO-DOOR SOUTH LA OUTREACH DIRECT OUTREACH CAMPAIGN DEVELOPED TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT WIN IN THE SOUTH LA COMMUNITY. A STAFF MEMBER WHO IS A SOUTH LA NATIVE, VISITS LOCAL BUSINESSES, SERVICE PROVIDERS AND RESIDENCES, SEEKING LOCAL OPPORTUNITIES TO INTRODUCE WIN TO THIS HIGH NEED COMMUNITY. 6) THE OCLAWIN.ORG WEBSITE HOSTS THE WEB VERSION OF THE WIN APP. IT ALSO OFFERS ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY RESOURCES TO THOSE IN NEED IN THE FIND HELP SECTION. THE WEBSITE IS ALSO USED TO PROMOTE GENERAL COMMUNITY AWARENESS ABOUT THE PLIGHT OF THE HOMELESS AND TO LIFT-UP RELATED NEWS AND RESEARCH. FORM 990, PART III, LINE 1, DESCRIPTION OF ORGANIZATION MISSION CONTINUED: SCHOOL DISTRICTS AS WELL AS ON OCLA'S WEBSITE; AND A WEBSITE WHICH OFFERS ACCESS TO THE WEB VERSIONS OF WIN AND THE DIRECTORY AS WELL AS OTHER RESOURCES. OUR OUTREACH PROGRAMS LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE AND EMPLOY THOSE WHO HAVE LIVED EXPERIENCE WITH HOMELESSNESS. FORM 990, PART III, LINE 4D, OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES EXPENSES: OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES INCLUDE $62,634 OF VARIOUS EXPENSES RELATED TO OTHER MISCELLANEOUS PROGRAMS FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11B A COPY OF FORM 990 WAS DISTRIBUTED TO THE GOVERNING BOARD FOR REVIEW PRIOR TO THE FILING OF THE RETURN. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19 THE ORGANIZATION DOES NOT MAKE ITS GOVERNING DOCUMENTS, CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY, AND FINANCIALS STATEMENTS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.