End of School Year reflection – June 2025

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End of School Year reflection – June 2025


Friend of CHOA,

The CHOA team reflects on what we accomplished together – the team as well as you — for these last 10 months.  We are grateful and pleased.  

We also thank 2 of our young team members for their 2 years of working with the team.  See the highlights below of what they have done.

And we need a rest.  CHOA takes July off, will recharge, and reengage in August.

Have a great summer!  God bless!

Peace,
–Mike Veerman
CHOA Team Lead

Recap of the Sharing Gathering on May 10th


Below are the major highlights of what CHOA has done in the last 10 months:

  • Help pass the Inclusionary Housing Ordinance: This is a brand new approach to bring hundreds of affordable housing to Arcadia that will span for decades.  This new ordinance goes into effect tomorrow, July 1st.  We had 6 folks write letters to the City Council, and had 10 folks stay for 2 hours to make public comments at the City Council meeting on April 1st.
  • CHOA Academy: The CHOA team tried something new, and created an event for new housing advocates in Arcadia to learn what is going on.  We ultimately decided to shorten this event to just the morning, connecting our actions to Scripture and touring many of the key housing locations around Arcadia.
  • 2 Sharing Gatherings: We held 2 in-person gatherings with about 25-29 folks coming.  
    • This was the first for one church– Journey Community Church – to host.  Episcopal Church of the  Transfiguration hosted us a second time, in their refurbished fellowship hall.  
    • We are grateful to share about affordable housing and homelessness (from L.A. CADA no less) in Arcadia.  
    • We are also grateful that city council members joined us: City Councilmember April Verlato, Mayor Sharon Kwan, and Mayor Pro Tem Eileen Wang.  
  • Safe Parking: Although CHOA was not able to pull off the partnership to make the first Safe Parking Project happen in Arcadia, we got so close, and it is still in our minds and discussion, including some churches.  We made this part of the discussion and imagination in Arcadia.

We are blessed to have you join us in these key efforts.

Saying goodbye to 2 CHOA team members


CHOA continues to make efforts to build the team.  Naturally, there are times when folks need to say goodbye, and leave the team.  We want to highlight 2 of our team members, after being with us for 2 years, starting in the summer of 2023.

Raymond Cu joined us wanting to do something on homelessness in Arcadia.  Raymond grew up in Arcadia, and went to Arcadia High School.  While a student at USC, he worked with at-risk youth, and saw their challenges, including housing.  After graduating from college, he wanted to continue work on homelessness efforts, and was a key member to get the Safe Parking Program almost started here in Arcadia.  Raymond is going to medical school, and he will be missed.

Kai Wetterau joined CHOA 2 years ago, after finishing his sophomore year in Arcadia High School.  At his young age, he noticed housing was not affordable, and wanted to make some impact, connecting his Christian faith with action.  While Kai was on the CHOA team, he made public comments to help get the Rezoning passed in 2024, and was a key organizer to help get the Inclusionary Housing Ordinance passed this year.  Kai led three of the five meetings CHOA had with individual City Councilmembers in the last 2 years. He has graduated from Arcadia High School, and will be attending American University in Washington D.C. in the Fall.


Thank you Raymond and Kai, and all the best! God bless you both!