ABOUT US
Empowering Communities and Paving the Path to Resilience
WHAT WE STAND FOR
Resilient Agency (Resilient), established in 2018, is dedicated to providing youth development and community intervention services to residents most impacted by violence, aiming to strengthen personal resilience, foster leadership, and promote community restoration.
Resilient utilizes a comprehensive two-pronged intervention approach to effectively enhance community safety in the South Park and Echo Park communities of LA. We cultivate programming that addresses the community's diverse needs, facilitating intentional healing and peacebuilding events. By harmonizing our approaches, we are steadfastly committed to forging resilient communities where safety, growth, and positive change thrive.
Our Pillars
Resilient Agency has 3 interconnected Pillars. At Resilient Agency, Community Health & Safety, Youth Development, and Food Distribution are not separate programs but interconnected strategies that strengthen individual well-being, family stability, and community resilience. A young person cannot thrive without safety that isn’t fleeting. A family cannot focus on healing while struggling to meet basic needs. Communities cannot sustain health without opportunities for youth leadership and connection. Resilient Agency’s comprehensive life services model recognizes that lasting change happens when communities have access to coordinated support systems that address immediate needs while creating pathways toward long-term stability and opportunity.
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We build safe, empowered neighborhoods by deploying trusted outreach, conflict mediation, and rapid-response violence intervention. By stabilizing communities and reducing trauma exposure, we create the secure environments necessary for families to access essential resources and for young people to safely thrive, learn, and grow.
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We partner with young people to unlock their potential through mentorship, life skills training, wellness activities, and civic engagement. By equipping youth including justice-involved individuals with emotional support and leadership opportunities, we foster social cohesion and prepare the next generation to guide long-term community wellness.
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We provide more than emergency grocery relief; we establish a foundational entryway to family stability and physical well-being. Meeting this basic need reduces household crises, improves youth educational engagement, and serves as a trusted hub where residents can easily connect to our broader network of life-changing services.
Meet Our Executive director
Michael GuEdel
Michael Guedel, co-founder and Executive Director of Resilient Agency, has dedicated his life to fostering resilience and community support in Los Angeles. Raised by a single mother near Dodger Stadium, Michael faced numerous challenges, including poverty, violence, and a lack of guidance during his formative years. A grassroots organization in Lincoln Heights helped him turn his life around, leading him to graduate high school and begin a career in community intervention.
Michael's journey from a volunteer to a leader in the field saw him take on roles such as Community Intervention Worker, case manager, and program coordinator. He also became an instructor at the Community Violence Intervention Academy and earned a Bachelor's degree in Sociology. In 2018, he co-founded Resilient Agency, which has since impacted over 500,000 lives in South LA and Echo Park.
Despite personal challenges, including congenital heart disease and a diagnosis of Bipolar II disorder, Michael's resilience has been unwavering. He continues to lead Resilient Agency with empathy and dedication, focusing on community violence intervention, health services, and weekly food distributions.
Michael's message is simple: "Don't give up, keep going, and be Resilient." His leadership and commitment to service inspire hope and positive change in the communities he serves.
DIRECT SERVICES
Serving Youth, Adults and Families across South Los Angeles
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IN LOVING MEMORY
EVER A. LINARES
Co-Founder & catalyst for change
Ever A. Linares, “Resilient forEver” Co-Founder of Resilient, was a Grandfather, Father, Husband, Brother, and Peacemaker. He lived through the challenges of gang-entrenched communities in Los Angeles. Having fallen into gang activity at a young age, his life was once marred by violence and unproductivity. However, guided by the care and support of individuals similar to the Resilient staff, he bravely walked away from that path, determined to make communities safe and resilient for future generations.
Mr. Linares devoted his life to providing community-based violence interruption services, forging partnerships among businesses, residents, local government agencies, churches, and community-based organizations. Together, they worked tirelessly to save the youth and young adults through collaborative efforts focused on education, training, empowerment, and unity.
His dedication extended beyond local borders, as he became an instructor for the Urban Peace Institute, using his platform to promote peace and violence interruption strategies in cities grappling with gangs, poverty, and violence across the United States. Through his instruction and mentorship, he played a significant role in developing community intervention and outreach workers nationwide.
Ever A. Linares' legacy continues to inspire us to create lasting change and build resilient communities in the face of adversity. He will forever remain in our hearts as a beacon of hope, strength, and unwavering commitment to a better future.