It can be easy to take for granted that every child has a warm bed to sleep in, a refrigerator full of food, and heat to keep a house warm on chilly nights. It’s not unusual for us, who already have all of these needs met, to assume that everyone has [what we deem to be] these “basic” necessities – our biggest struggles might be school or a bumpy relationship with their friends or family. It is easy to get so deep in our own struggles and wrapped-up in our own situations that we lose sight of everything we have that other kids our own age may be missing.
Watts is a small county located in Southern Los Angeles: a densely packed neighborhood encompassing 2.21 square miles with a population of 36,815 residents (aka 17,346 people per square mile). Within this community live thousands of people whose everyday life is filled with constant terror right outside their front door. From extreme gang violence, drug use, and poverty, residents in Watts can’t imagine what it’s like to come home and not worry about getting robbed or hearing gunshots. Watts children do not have safe access to good schooling, making it harder for them to get into college and move themselves and their families out of Watts. Most girls by the age of sixteen are already mothers.
Watts 2 Boston is a family-run nonprofit organization that seeks to support the children living in Watts. The organization raises funds to create scholarships to enable students to attend a safe high school and then continue to navigate the students’ journey to and through college. The ultimate goal: to attend college in Boston.
This week Montrose had the pleasure of hosting the Watts 2 Boston founder, Julie Mulvey, as well as LAPD officers, Captain Whiteman and Senior Lead Officer Ortiz, and Watts 2 Boston scholarship recipients, Cristina, Miracle, and Miracle’s mother Rose. Everyone from Watts 2 Boston was able to speak to the Montrose juniors and seniors about this important foundation, the struggles of Watts’ residents, and the challenges the LAPD face in trying to simultaneously protect and help this crowded southern Los Angeles community.
After opening with an impassioned speech about how and why she created Watts 2 Boston, Mrs. Mulvey handed the microphone to a recipient to speak of all the foundation has to offer. Miracle, a current sophomore in high school, spoke about her life and how she always finds the bright sides of things no matter what. Her mother, Rose, the next to speak, shared her story of being a victim of a shooting in Watts which left her paralyzed from the waist down. Missing just one ingredient for her dinner, Rose quickly went to the store and was shot at her front door. Her key in the lock; her hand on the doorknob. So close. She was in the early stages of her pregnancy with Miracle, her third child. Her incredible strength and faith in God were obvious in every word she spoke. Her’s is a story I will never forget. Afterward, LAPD Captain Whiteman spoke about how the precinct works to try to protect Watts, whether raising money for scholarships or patrolling nearby neighborhoods.
When the guests had finished speaking, the floor was opened up to Montrose students to ask questions. I asked the LAPD officers about the impact the rise of illegal immigration has had on Watts and the surrounding Los Angeles communities. The officers spoke about the extreme rise in child sex trafficking, particularly of girls and young women. The illegal market of importing and selling children has now surpassed the sale of drugs, making children and teenagers the most sold products in the world.
After the event was over, I was able to sit down and interview Mrs. Mulvey and ask about herself and the Watts 2 Boston Foundation.
Q: What inspired you to create Watts 2 Boston?
A: Mrs. Mulvey responded that she had seen all that Officers Coughlin, originally from Boston and a lifelong friend of hers, and Ortiz were doing to raise money for two very bright students from Watts to attend a safe, Catholic private school. These dedicated police officers were investing their personal time and their own money to help Celeste, currently a second-year student at Northeastern University, improve her life and live up to her full potential. They were running marathons outside of their working hours and doing other things to continue their efforts off the clock. Mrs. Mulvey said that she was, “inspired by the selflessness of others” and was emboldened by the officers’ work. She wanted to follow in their footsteps by helping children living in Watts to gain access to education.
Q: How has Watts 2 Boston changed and influenced your life?
A: “If everybody would give back, the world would be a better place,” but Mrs. Mulvey said that she does not feel like she is doing enough. She focuses on spreading love and nurturing others, which has been so enriching to her life.
Q: What advice would you give to girls looking to follow your path and begin helping disadvantaged people in their community?
A: “Keep talking to others and asking for their stories. Get people to open up, learn about them, and inspire others so that they may follow in your footsteps”. Mrs Mulvey also spoke about how, when creating Watts 2 Boston, she knew it was the right time because she could hear God telling her that she was “ready now.”
Q: Has creating Watts 2 Boston deepened your relationship with God? How has it impacted your faith?
A: Mrs. Mulvey said that she knows that the work she is doing is the plan that God has for her. Before Watts’ creation, she was waiting for something, and when she created the foundation, she knew it was for this purpose. Mrs. Mulvey added that, “God provided a path” and that she is working through Him and for Him. She spoke about how she always prays and makes the sign of the cross before sending out a big email to her growing list of supporters. And when she hits send, she feels the Holy Spirit guiding her and enveloping her in a warm embrace.
By Sarah Grace Lange ‘25, Opinions and Politics editor
