Compton Jr. Posse Fundraiser May 21

By Paula Parisi March 27, 2011

It’s the season for surf and saddles, as the Compton Jr. Posse prepares to host its annual fund-raiser on May 21. The event—always a crowd pleaser, with bargains at the silent and live auctions—will take place at a new venue, the California Yacht Club in Marina Del Rey. “We’re going for a new energy and new excitement, as well as a new view!” said the CJP’s Mayisha Akbar, referring to the romantic vistas of bobbing boats and the setting sun visible from the club decks and windows.

Though her title is executive director, Akbar is perhaps more aptly described as the dynamo behind the CJP, which she founded in 1988 with a very specific mission: “Keeping kids on horses and off the streets.” Since then, more than 5,000 students have been educated by the program. Kids earn the right to ride through sweat equity as they are required to pitch in at the ranch, and to maintain their academic standing. “We encourage them to do the best they can but they will need at least a B average to get into college,” Akbar explained.  In 2009, CJP established the first inner city high school equestrian team to compete in the Interscholastic Equestrian League.  This allows riders to earn credit for high school competition making them eligible for college equestrian scholarships.

Currently, there are about 50 kids enrolled in the program. “I admire Mayisha’s drive, the enormous energy that it takes for her to pull everyone together so everyone pulls through. It’s very inspiring,” said longtime supporter Jo Cho Astani of Hunters Hideaway Farm. Astani is spearheading a major initiative to get a dedicated CJP equestrian center built. “The idea is to make it a training facility for all the inner-city teams,” Akbar said. Currently, CJP members ride at Akbar’s ranch property in the Richland Farms area of Compton and at various sponsor facilities around town.

Akbar said that with the new facility “we anticipate being able to service 200 kids a week, give them a ranching experience and an introduction to horses and ranching and open their sights to new career possibilities.” The CJP has a summer camp program starting in late June.

Funding also goes to support the CJP competition in hunter/jumper, dressage, Eventing and other horse show activities. The kids compete in hunter/jumper competitions, and the group recently became part of the Interscholastic Equestrian League (IEL), which offers credit for riding activities.

This year’s event includes a child’s ticket to encourage the entire family to join in the festivities. Children’s tickets are $75 each.  Adult tickets are early bird priced at $125 (thru April 30) and $175 thereafter. The group is currently seeking auction items. Those wishing to donate can do so via the newly developed website: www.comptonjrposse.org.

This year’s honoree is Kathy Vara, co-anchor of KNBC’s “Today in LA” and an avid horsewoman. “Kathy has been very supportive in terms of getting our message out, and she and her husband both ride, so it’s our pleasure to honor her,” Akbar said. Radio personality Pat Prescott of 94.7 The WAVE will once again be mistress of ceremonies, and Olympic rider Will Simpson is also lending his support as a special guest.

In addition to the CJP’s famous dinner, dancing, auctions and live band (Harmony Project youth will provide music during the silent auction), a short original musical will highlight the evening performed by the CJP kids with the help of  Emmy-winning director Rodney Vacarro and film and theater actress Nina Daniels .

“I enjoy watching these children grow up,” Astani said. “I have had the pleasure of meeting children who have blossomed into adulthood and overcome many difficulties, and I would like to see them grow up and be strong and loving and productive, happy citizens of our country!”

Malibu Valley Farms is another big CJP supporter. Mia Boudreau, who co-owns Malibu Valley Farms with her husband, Brian, praises Akbar’s “hard and selfless work to keep kids away from the influence of inner-city gangs.” The program, she said, offers a “safe haven where in learning to respect horses they learn to respect themselves as well as others, while developing into confident adults.” Boudreau lauds the fact that Akbar “requires each child to be responsible for the care of the horses they ride.”

The CJP also provides opportunities for CJP students to travel the horse world and experience the many careers it has to offer. The L.A. County Mountains Conservation and Recreation Authority has initiated a “Mounted Junior Ranger” program and created field trips that allow the city kids to experience nature. “Joseph Edmiston, executive director of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, has been very supportive, taking kids up for a helicopter ride to see the mountains from a different vantage point and making sure inner-city kids have access to parks and natural resources. It’s people like Joe and so many others that have allowed this program to thrive and grow,” Akbar said appreciatively.

The appreciation goes both ways. “Without Mayisha’s tireless fund-raising efforts—the lifeblood of the CJP—and the generosity of sponsors, none of this great work would be possible,” Boudreau said.

For more information or to buy tickets, go to www.comptonjrposse.org.

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