Everything you need to know about Sidewalk Stories LA, our pilot program, and how to get involved.
Sidewalk Stories LA is a California nonprofit that repairs broken sidewalk panels and transforms them into community-built mosaic art. Neighborhood kids work with professional teaching artists and licensed concrete crews to design and install each mosaic. It is part public safety fix, part youth
Residents use our mobile app to photograph damaged sidewalk panels. The community votes on which panel matters most. A licensed concrete crew repairs the winning panel, and neighborhood kids work with a teaching artist to design and build a mosaic on the fresh surface. We
Our Year 1 pilot is focused on the Fairfax / Mid-City West neighborhood of Los Angeles, near Blackburn Avenue and Melrose. This is where our founder, Trevor Damyan, lives and walks every day. We selected this area because it has visible sidewalk damage and an active comm
We plan to complete 10 panels in Year 1, at a rate of roughly one panel per month. Each panel takes about two weekends: one for design with the kids, and one for installation. The remaining months are for documentation, reporting, and planning Year 2 scaling.
Each panel costs $2,700 total. That breaks down to $900 for concrete repair by a licensed crew, $1,000 for mosaic materials (tile, grout, sealant, safety gear), $400 for the teaching artist stipend, and $400 for the city right-of-way permit. Sponsors can fund a full panel
Sidewalk Stories LA is a California nonprofit public benefit corporation. We are in the process of applying for 501(c)(3) federal tax-exempt status. Once approved, donations will be tax-deductible retroactively. In the meantime, we can accept donations and will provide receipts for your records. Please
Panel sponsors ($750) receive: their business name on a permanent plaque embedded in the mosaic, professional before-and-after photography, social media campaign tagging their account, press release mention, and listing on our website. Neighborhood sponsors ($5,000) and Founding Partners ($10,000+) receive e
Yes, in-kind donations are welcome. We can accept weather-resistant tile, grout, sealant, safety gear for kids, and professional photography services. Please contact us at trevor@sidewalkstoriesla.org to discuss in-kind contributions and receive a donation receipt for the fair market value of materials.
Youth participants are recruited through local schools, community centers, and neighborhood networks in the pilot area. If you live in or near Fairfax / Mid-City West and have a child aged 10-17 interested in public art, email us at trevor@sidewalkstoriesla.org. We will add you to the participant list and
Yes, we need adult volunteers for community outreach, event support, photography, documentation, and administrative tasks. All volunteers working directly with youth must complete a background check. Sign up on our volunt No prior art experience is required. Our teaching artist designs workshops for all skill levels. The process is collaborative: kids sketch patterns, choose colors, and learn mosaic techniques together. The teaching artist guides every step, from initial design to final grout and sealant.
Yes. Any work in the public right-of-way requires a permit from the City of Los Angeles Bureau of Street Services or Bureau of Engineering. We also coordinate with the Department of Cultural Affairs for public art review. Our team handles all permitting before any work begins. This
Safety is our top priority. All youth participants wear safety gear (gloves, goggles, closed-toe shoes). The teaching artist leads all sessions and enforces safety protocols. A licensed concrete crew handles all structural work. We carry general liability and youth program insurance. Pa
The mosaic becomes part of the public sidewalk infrastructure. The artwork is maintained by the property owner adjacent to the panel, consistent with standard city sidewalk maintenance responsibilities. Sidewalk Stories LA retains the right to document and photograph all panels for promotional, educational, and grant reporting purposes.
Safety is our top priority. All youth participants wear safety gear (gloves, goggles, closed-toe shoes). The teaching artist leads all sessions and enforces safety protocols. A licensed concrete crew handles all structural work. We carry general liability and youth program insurance. Parents sign a liability waiver before participation.
The mosaic becomes part of the public sidewalk infrastructure. The artwork is maintained by the property owner adjacent to the panel, consistent with standard city sidewalk maintenance responsibilities. Sidewalk Stories LA retains the right to document and photograph all panels for promotional, educational, and grant reporting purposes.
We would love to hear from you. Whether you are a potential donor, sponsor, volunteer, or just curious about the program, reach out anytime.