TWC Volunteers Beautify East Los Angeles Middle School

By Katherine McDonald, Community Investment Manager

Providing meaningful volunteer opportunities is one of the best ways to engage and retain employees.  It’s also a great way to leverage your company’s resources to make a meaningful impact in the community.  For Tiime Warner Cable, what better way to accomplish both, than to have a TWC employee service day?   And who better to partner with to achieve these goals that City Year Los Angeles.

On Saturday, February 21, 2015, Time Warner Cable volunteers, along with their friends and family members gathered at Griffith Middle School in East Los Angeles to beautify the campus with a series of  inspirational murals.  Additionally, volunteers revitalized a green space and planted a brand new garden.

The artwork was especially meaningful as it was designed by one of the Griffith Middle School teachers and then voted on by students.  Students selected inspirational quotes from historical figures like Martin Luther King Jr. and Sonia Sotomayor among others; along with images embodying the fun and importance of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).   A perfect example was the quote by Martin Luther King Jr., along with his portrait, which now adorns the entrance of the school:  “The time is always right, to do what is right.”  A sentiment which proved fitting for the theme of the entire day.

Overall, the community was thrilled and so appreciative of the TWC presence and contributions.  The day began with a brief program attended by Assemblymember Jimmy Gomez and Head Field Deputy Representative Joseph Martinez from the office of Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis.  Both spoke of what contributions like these mean to the community and expressed appreciaton to Time Warner Cable for stepping up and helping out.   Griffith Middle School Principal Ruiz also shared heartfelt remarks about how meaningful the mural project is to their students and teachers.  All applauded TWC for the service in the community with a special nod to the commitment to inspiring students to further pursue STEM learning opportunities through the Connect a Million Minds initiative.

The Time Warner Cable employee volunteers who attended that day were simply thrilled to roll up their sleeves and make a difference in a community that truly needs and deserves investment.  Many employees brought their children with them and enjoyed the day working together as a family.  One employee volunteer, in particular, had a full-circle moment as he had attended Griffith middle school as a boy, and had his middle school aged children there volunteering with him.

Over the course of the day, TWC volunteers transformed the school.  Volunteers left with a sense of achievement and having made a positive difference. Students of the middle school walked in on Monday with beautiful artwork and images to inspire them. Needless to say, the first ever TWC Service Day was an immense success, and Griffith Middle School campus is now a markedly more colorful, vibrant, and engaging place for students to learn and play.