Olivia Gossett, 7, (who teaches children and grownups how to grow seedlings and sell them for a profit on her blog liviplants.wordpress.com) plants corn during the Food & Farming Career Fair for Veterans at Santa Monica Civic Auditorium on Wednesday, June 30, 2010.

Currently more than 250,000 U.S. veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are without work. The rate of unemployment for veterans ages 18 to 24 is reported to be as high as 30%. The Farmer-Veteran Coalition (FVC) is a non-profit started by American farmers to help these young men and women find work in agriculture while simultaneously addressing our nation’s critical need for new farmers and a safe food supply.

In conjunction with the Santa Monica Farmers’ Market and regional veteran service organizations, FVC is organizing its first Southern California Food and Farming Veteran Career Fair.

The fair connected veterans with jobs, training, and educational opportunities as well as assistance in starting their own food or farming business.

Veterans were introduced to opportunities that exist in regional farms, produce distribution companies, urban farming and school garden projects, landscaping and culinary arts. Employers were introduced to the hard-working, experienced, disciplined and reliable veterans at the onset of their careers.

The event was free for veterans and employers. On-site counseling was available. Many of the area’s top chefs served food provided by local farmers. Talks and presentations were held throughout the day by leaders in these fields.



Yellow caution tape worn the public of a swarm of bees on the public art sculpture entitled  "Walk on LA" (1988) at Santa Monica beach on Thursday, June, 10, 2010.

Ramon Espinoza, from Craftsman Concrete Cutting, cleans Big Blue Buses 200-foot long programmable glass art wall on Colorado Ave on Monday, June 28, 2010. The public art piece utilizing special translucent glass panels that change colors and patterns to simulate movement along its glass skin. The dynamic blue wall  is a series of curved segments composed of deep blue glass and silver metal. The wall, designed by noted artist Dan Corson, helps provide privacy for the expanded lot, and is visible both day and evening hours. In addition to its glass panels, the wall will also incorporate a unique bus stop at one end. 

This year Santa Monica College's Celebrate America featured global food fair at the beautiful SMC Fountain Quad on Saturday, June 26, 2010. The food fair showcased a wide variety of some of L.A.’s best mobile cuisine and music was provided by KCRW DJ Dan Wilcox. There was also  character sketching and face painting artists. The J.D. Hall band entertained the crowed. A spectacular fireworks show was presented by Pyro Spectaculars. 

Participants walk along the Santa Monica Boardwalk during Lighthouse Medical Missions' 2nd annual Walk to Africa fundraiser on Saturday, June 26, 2010. In 1998 the first Lighthouse team went to The Gambia, Western Africa. The needs of the people were clear immediately, but their warmth and appreciation were evident as well. This made an impact on our hearts and our relationships with the African people has kept us coming back.

Since then, Lighthouse Medical Missions, working with the Door Christian Fellowship in Africa, has organized medical missions to Sierra Leone, Liberia, Burundi, The Democratic Republic of the Congo and The Gambia.They have also built churches, schools, constructed water projects and dug wells.

It has been an amazing journey; people coming together from around the world to serve others in need. I have been able to witness this all first-hand and my hope is the work of Lighthouse Medical Missions will continue to grow and that we will achieve an even greater impact on a world in need.

Mission Statement