The Giving Spirit was founded as a platform for learning through the immersive learning experience of direct outreach and engagement with our unhoused neighbors. We are dedicated to replacing stereotypes, misinformation and fear with fact-based learning, impactful lived experience storytelling and direct engagement to allow the truth to drive long-term change. #hopeinhumanity.
We curate several forms of Giving Spirit Learning Experiences. From immersive, in-the-field outreach to live curated moderated dialogues to produced video learning modules to the launch of our first digital course on “Youth Homelessness” we strive to provide multiple access points to drive learning.
Learning Experiences are opportunities to build an accurate understanding of the complex realities of homelessness in Los Angeles- why people become homeless, why homelessness is difficult to escape, how current policy is flawed, and how people can start to make a difference- not just to reduce homelessness, but to end it. By making homelessness relatable it is empathetic gateway to action.
Live Curated Panels
Let us host a curated panel at your workplace, school, place of worship and/or community center. We will empanel formerly unhoused “lived experience” policy and agency experts and academics to provide a 360 holistic look at a relevant issue that your families, teams, constituents, congregants or classmates have expressed the need to learn more. These powerful dialogues inspire thoughtful, perspective shifting interactions to catalyze empathy, understanding and action.
Hosted Curated Events
We co-host customized events for small and large groups all over Greater LA. These private sponsored events are perfect for team building, holiday events, celebration events, community activism and high access, material impact and learning experiences.
In the 25 years of executing these events we have been told by our hosts and their constituents that these curated experiences were thought-provoking, powerful and memorable. And a rich return on their donation.
To learn more, visit Curated Events
Annual Outreach
Our direct outreach to our unhoused neighbors is where magic happens. Volunteers after training and coaching are guided and led by Giving Spirit leadership to neighborhoods, encampments and to agency partners. It is a unique opportunity to learn by serving a widely diverse universe of the poor with our signature survival kits. Lives, souls, hearts change, stereotypes fade with the truth as the one degree of separation between us clears the pathway to powerful understanding for the volunteer AND for the recipient.
December Outreach is our one public event and sparked our mission in 1999.
Sponsorships are vital for us to serve as many unhoused babies, children, men, women, families and animals when at the holidays is when both the need is the most and the weather is the most.