The Watts of Power Foundation's The Village Initiative (TVI) will be the first development of its kind. The overarching goal of TVI is to improve the pipeline gap for Black male educators in Los Angeles, California, which will in turn improve the educational, social, and emotional outcomes for all children, and especially Black children. This design is a 5-unit prototype that will offer affordable housing options for Village Initiative Fellows, a program dedicated to increasing the number of Black male teachers in the classroom.

Our approach to the architectural design is to create a communal space to encourage interaction among the young teachers in residence. You'll find a cozy living area, a full size shared kitchen, and large dining space for teachers to gather together to enjoy meals. In the backyard you will find multiple areas to lounge and eat, as well as a half basketball court as a multi-use space for sports and/or fitness. We've created a fun, modern exterior with lots of windows and doors which open to shared communal spaces. Inside each unit, you will find a small kitchenette, sitting area, and bedroom.

For more information on the Watts of Power Foundation please see their website: www.wattsofpowerfoundation.org