Watts House Project – Artist Driven Neighborhood Redevelopment
Day 3 / Apr, 14 @ 9:00 am
Top Floor : Starlight Room
Will Sheffie will focus on Watts House Projects (WHP) and its goal of transforming the interiors and exteriors, front and backyards of homes across the street from the Watts Towers. Founded by Los Angeles artist Edgar Arceneaux, Watts House Project engages art and architecture as a catalyst for expanding and enhancing community by facilitating partnerships between artists and community that can lead to real solutions, hope, and change. Watts House Project leverages the creative talents and resources of local residents to address issues ranging from the physical environment of the neighborhood to the need of resources and services in the community. Projects have been varied and range from landscaping, to designing murals, exterior improvements, art programming and creating functional sculpture.
Watts House Project (WHP) is an artist-driven neighborhood redevelopment organization, where artists and design professionals, in collaboration with the Watts Towers area residents, employ art as an economic and community development engine to promote and enhance the quality of residential life in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles. Each of the WHP house projects are in the pre-development phase and are a collaboration between an artist, architect and the residents of the home.
Speaker(s):
Will Sheffie
Los Angeles, California
Will Sheffie is the Managing Director of Watts House Project (WHP), an artist-driven neighborhood redevelopment organization in Los Angeles. Sheffie brings to WHP a wealth of civic and not for profit experience. He has worked for local elected officials and a number of municipal departments such as, the Los Angeles Housing Department and Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office. Will also has experience in the non-profit sector as a community organizer, grant writer and currently serves on several boards for local charities and foundations. Will enjoys working with the Watts and South Los Angeles communities having been involved in numerous projects and programs with community groups and local non-profit agencies.
