Kid-Friendly Downtown

Downtown resident and mother Susana Benavidez writes weekly articles on living with kids in Downtown Los Angeles.

You Always Have a Choice: Charter, Magnet or Zoned School

By Susana Benavidez — January 16, 2009 — 7 Comments

The quest for a school in Downtown L.A. has brought me in contact with wonderful people. I met with Ted Morris, founder of FuturoPrep Charter School, who proved to be a wealth of information and a perfect source for little nudges in the right direction. I contacted Councilwoman Jan Perry, whom responded incredibly fast and referred me to a few charter schools and to her Education Director: Pamela Huntoon.

The meeting we set up at Urth Caffé, which was attended by parents and Ted Morris, was successful in identifying that we need a guide to find the right elementary school. Through research on the LAUSD website, greatschools.net and individual school websites, I was able to compile data on test scores, the diversity breakdown, and state ratings on the public, charter, and magnet schools that surround Downtown. — Continued Inside...


Negotiating an Education for Downtown Kids

By Susana Benavidez — January 08, 2009
29 Comments

Writing for blogdowntown has opened my senses to everything dealing with children in our neighborhood. Suddenly I am in the middle of a burgeoning cause of concern for the future education of Downtown L.A.’s youngest residents. I have been a loyal fan of blogdowntown and Downtown News since moving to South Park and I have seen a trend of the social issues...


Weathering the Holidays

By Susana Benavidez — January 02, 2009
9 Comments

Christmas week was hectic. The flu flew into our home and took a stronghold in each of us, one at a time. Los Angeles is notorious for having non-Holiday weather during December, sometimes causing confusion in out of state guests as to how anyone can celebrate Christmas on a 70-degree day. This year however, it was cold, windy and even rained in the days preceding...


Trying to Make It Work

By Susana Benavidez — December 17, 2008 — 15 Comments

Pershing Square Holiday Snow Susana Benavidez

A hectic weekday schedule usually prevents parents from spending the amount of quality time they would like with their children. I’m no exception to this rule. With the holidays near, this past weekend I decided to spend some quality time with my girls exploring the festivities and activities Downtown offers to families and kids. — Continued Inside...


Play Dates: Not Just for the Suburbs

By Susana Benavidez — December 11, 2008 — 11 Comments

Pumpkin Patch Ed Fuentes

Since the 1999 Adaptive Reuse Ordinance breathed new life into our once-sleepy urban center, Downtown has become quite the booming neighborhood. Our streets no longer go to sleep at 6pm, and new restaurants, bars and lounges are now keeping us up late. Instead of hiding our residences in shame, Downtowners can now be proud of our neighborhood and invite friends to come gawk at how much Downtown has changed.

Those changes are rapidly including more and more families. Hang out around one of our plentiful coffee shops and you're likely to see a neighbor walking by pushing a stroller. — Continued Inside...