Community Corner
Video: El Alisal Filled With Support for Lummis Day Benefit
Approximately 140 people turned out for the sixth annual Lummis Day benefit.
Charles Fletcher Lummis celebrated diversity. On Saturday night, a gala and fundraiser was held at the pioneer folklorist’s home, in an effort to spread and reinforce Lummis’ beliefs.
“Today we live in one of the most diverse cities in the world and Charles Lummis was speaking about this diversity way back then. It’s only fitting that we not only cite Charles Lummis, but do everything to preserve what he has left us,” 14th District L.A. City Council member José Huizar said, addressing the crowd of nearly 140 people in attendance.
The annual benefit is in its sixth year and was put together by the Lummis Day Community Foundation, an organization composed entirely of volunteers.
“Each year it’s a scramble to get it going and this is the lead into the culminating event, which is on June 5,” secretary of the board Carmela Gomes said. “Everything that happens in the six months ahead of time really emphasizes how much this community comes together and enjoys themselves with one another.”
The gala provided an opportunity for supporters to gather in El Alisal’s intimate setting, dine on food donated by local businesses and enjoy entertaining performances by The Buelna Sisters, Pepe Peña and The Cleary Irish Dancers.
Lummis Day planning board member Eliot Sekuler said it's gratifying seeing the event unfold, because it shows the hard work committee members have done to make it happen.
For new Los Angeles residents, like Sharon Richter, the fundraiser was an opportunity to get a real sense of the community.
“This is really the first, authentic, Southern California thing we’ve done where people from the neighborhood come together and do something, it’s really interesting to me,” said Richter.
First district councilmember Ed Reyes also made an appearance at the event.
“It’s really exciting to see all the different neighborhoods come together in one focal point to enjoy this day because really, Lummis Day is about celebrating our culture and its diversity in the northeast community,” Reyes said. “It’s one of the rare times where we have this kind of coalition and it’s so significant now because of the challenges we have in our neighborhood.”
Sekular applauded the folks from the Lummis home and the Historical Society of Southern California for their contributions, and also the city councilmembers for showing up and demonstrating their support.
“There’s not a lot of other places in the city of Los Angeles where you can get this kind of community elected cooperation. We support each other in a way that very few places do,” Sekuler said.
“For them I think this is a way of staying connected to the active members of the community, for us, it gives us a kind of encouragement. Frankly we couldn’t do this event without their support, both in terms of labor and the financial support they provide for us as well. So having them cheerleading for us and having them provide moral and real support for us, is critical.”
Gomes, who also serves as president of the Highland Park Heritage Trust, said the Lummis Day Community Foundation has a lot to tell people about the community.
“It’s quite a delightful place. It’s a historic community, it’s where Los Angeles began and we have culture coming out of the ear,“ Gomes said. “We also have the arts which are so delightful and supplements everything that we do.”
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A portion of the funds raised came from raffle tickets that were sold throughout the evening. Prizes ranged from movie posters and books to a board game from Spain. A framed lithograph from local artist Roderick Smith sold for $120 during the live auction that was held towards the end of the evening.
When asked if the fundraiser was a success, Sekular replied, “Absolutely!”
“And it warms my heart to be a part of this,” he added.
