The following story appeared in the Park Labrea News and Beverly Press 70th Anniversary issue, published April 21. To view the entire issue, click here.

Beverly Grove resident Joyce Kleifield found her calling in education in the 1990s when her children attended Hancock Park Elementary School. A stay-at-home mom, Kleifield worked with the principal on special events and was determined to get further involved at local campuses.

Harrison Trust’s Joyce Kleifield builds bridges
between the community and L.A. High School.
(photo courtesy of Joyce Kleifield)

She continued working at the school until her children moved on to middle school, and she also became involved with the Mid City West Community Council. In 2007, she took a job Fairfax High School as director of development and remained there until 2013, generating financial and community support for the school.

Kleifield was successful because she built relationships with organizations such as the Mid City West Community Council, the Miracle Mile Chamber of Commerce and local city council district offices. She said one of her biggest accomplishments was helping to raise approximately $1 million for the high school’s stadium and athletic field, which was completed in 2012.

Her work at Fairfax High led to her current position as executive director of the Harrison Trust, a nonprofit that supports Los Angeles High School, located on Olympic Boulevard. Kleifield’s experience in community relations and education serves her well at L.A. High. It is the oldest high school in the city, yet the school lacked outside support when she took the position in 2013.

“A lot of what I do is building support in the community. I am meeting people and sharing information about the school and bringing together alumni and bringing them back into decision making, fundraising and volunteering,” Kleifield said. “The key is having someone to put all this together. Principals don’t have time to do all that stuff.”

Kleifield said she enthusiastically supports educational programs and extracurricular activities that enrich the lives of the school’s 1,500 students, including the marching band and athletic department. You could say she’s their biggest cheerleader. She plans to continue building relationships that will help the school grow, and she regularly attends reunions and alumni events to get more graduates involved.

She has also partnered with the Miracle Mile Chamber of Commerce on special events showcasing the school’s culinary and dance programs. Other partners include the Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council, the Olympic Park Neighborhood Council, the Longwood Avenue Neighborhood Association and CIM Group. Kleifield said she is willing to meet with anyone wishing to learn more about how they can help make L.A. High a better place for students and the community.

“I’ve always thought we should be doing more for public education and think public education is where we should be investing our time and money,” Kleifield said. “It’s something I am passionate about. I love the school and plan to keep building support.”