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“Courage is a reflection of the heart – It is a reflection of something deep within the man or woman or even a child who must resist and must defy an authority that is morally wrong. Courage makes us march on despite fear and doubt on the road toward justice. Courage is not heroic but as necessary as birds need wings to fly. Courage is not rooted in reason but rather Courage comes from a divine purpose to make things right.” U.S. Representative John Lewis
L.A. DERBY DOLLS LAUNCH FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN TO UPDATE ROLLER DERBY FACILITY LADD’s GoFundMe Campaign Will Help Cover City Zoning Requirements The L.A. Derby Dolls (LADD), the premiere banked track women’s roller derby league in Los Angeles, are rallying to garner community support for their facility updates required for permanent permitting to keep their public roller derby bouts and events in El Sereno alive. LADD is a volunteer run non-profit, holding public bouts showcasing amateur female athletes at all levels from the Juniors League ages 7-17 to the adult league and Derby Por Vida fitness program open to the public. LADD programs are currently still fully operating and working toward the goal of holding public, ticketed bouts in The Dollosseum again very soon. In addition to the recently launched GoFundMe campaign for the Dollosseum in El Sereno (https://www.gofundme.com/keepLADDrolling), funds are currently being generated through sales of merchandise (http://www.derbydolls.com/shop), and the league’s kickrail naming program (http://www.derbydolls.com/shop/kickrail). The league has been working on being in compliance and with multiple city officials for more than two years since relocating from The Doll Factory in Echo Park to The Dolloseum. The L.A. Derby Dolls have been and continue to work closely with the city to find a permanent zoning/permitting solution for this unique business. Safety and compliance have always been LADD’s priority and the league has worked closely with the Fire Marshal through inspections and site visits during denial of temporary events permits, which LADD had been relying on to conduct public games (which fund operations). Each month without a bout makes it more difficult for the L.A. Derby Dolls to cover close down programs that enrich the lives of women, children and the City of Los Angeles through this unique sport. The Dollosseum is located in the community of El Sereno at 4900 Alhambra Ave, LA 90032. Founded in 2003, the L.A. Derby Dolls (http://derbydolls.com/la) are Southern California’s premiere women’s banked-track, roller derby league. Honored as a Treasure of Los Angeles by the Central City Association, the Derby Dolls, a volunteer-run, skater owned co-op, is made up of women from a wide variety of backgrounds and professions. The L.A. Derby Dolls are one of only 14 leagues in the U.S. playing roller derby on a banked track. Within the league, four fierce teams battle for dominance: Fight Crew, Sirens, Tough Cookies, and Varsity Brawlers. The L.A. Ri-Ettes are L.A. Derby Doll’s all-star team, who compete against the best teams in the nation. The league also operates the Junior Derby Dolls (http://derbydolls.com/juniorderby/) for girls ages 7-17 years old.
LA ART NEWS SECTION A