Photos courtesy of PPTFH
By LILY TINOCO | Assistant Editor
Pacific Palisades Task Force on Homelessness hosted a webinar on Monday, November 13, to hear from featured speakers and the organization’s incoming co-chairs, as new leadership begins to step forward.
PPTFH previously announced that it would continue working with The People Concern and Los Angeles Police Department to address homelessness in the Palisades, as the task force revealed plans to “restructure and reposition” in March 2023.
“Our objective tonight is for you to leave this meeting knowing the key entities that will be integral to our work in the days forward in 2024 … We want you to know the people who are going to be leading and doing the hands-on work,” departing Co-Chair Sharon Browning said during the meeting. “We believe that it is the people who lead within the organizations—along with their respective skill and dedication—that generates the task force’s continued success.”
Browning first introduced The People Concern CEO John Maceri to speak, as well as give his perspective on the collaboration and restructuring moving forward.
Maceri explained that PPTFH was the first community-based organization The People Concern teamed up with, which demonstrated the importance of community involvement. After working together for nine years, Maceri said he has seen growth on both ends—and the trust and relationships that have been built over the years have helped drive the success of their missions.
When asked about challenges he foresaw moving forward due to the restructuring, Maceri said they are “short term.”
“Helping the community and the supporters and donors who have supported the task force’s work to understand that it’s going to continue … and, I think, be stronger going forward,” he said.
Following Maceri, Browning introduced LAPD Captain Richard Gabaldon, who was named area commanding officer of West LA in July 2023. Browning explained that although LAPD is not an official partner of the task force, LAPD is still “a core partner.”
Gabaldon said that he was impressed with PPTFH’s work and can see “a difference [in numbers] … this year compared to last year.”
“When that number is going down … that tells me that you guys are doing an outstanding job … so thank you for that,” Gabaldon said.
He went on to answer a series of questions with LAPD Senior Lead Officer for Pacific Palisades Brian Espin.
Toward the end of the meeting, attendees heard from Carmen Kallberg and Cindi Young, who will be taking the reins at the start of 2024 and stepping in as PPTFH’s new leaders.
“We are so excited about the opportunity to lead PPTFH into its 10th year,” Kallberg said. “There is no doubt that we have some pretty big shoes to fill.”
Kallberg explained that she became a member of the Volunteer Response Team in 2008. In August 2021, she met Young, “a neighbor who was curious about [the] duties of the task force.”
“And the rest is history,” Kallberg said. “A wonderful friendship and partnership was born out of our common interest to help those who are experiencing homelessness.”
One of Kallberg and Young’s goals is to grow the Volunteer Response Team, and they hope to recruit community-centric teams of volunteers.
“The bottom line is the more volunteers we have to support PPTFH, the better job we can do addressing homelessness in Pacific Palisades,” Young said. “This organization will remain flexible and responsive to changes affecting homelessness in the community.”
The meeting ended with a recap of work that was accomplished this past year and celebrating PPTFH’s clients.
For more information, or to watch the webinar, visit palisadeshomeless.org.
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