Santa Monica Police Sergeant Mike Braaten drives a during a rescue training drill on Tuesday, January 3, 2012.

Santa Monica Police Harbor Patrol Officers Dan Buchanan 'rescues' Officer Kit Camp during their weekly training drill on Tuesday, January 3, 2012.

Santa Monica Fire Department Deputy Chief Bruce Davis (center) makes pancakes while Santa Monica Fire Chief Scott Ferguson (right) and Santa Monica Police Department Chief Tim Jackman lend their support during Santa Monica PAL's (Police Activities League) Holiday Workshop on Saturday, December 17, 2011.

Its a Wrap - Images by Fabian Lewkowicz

Community leaders, volunteers from the Police Activities League (PAL), Bayside District Corporation and Santa Monica Place, wrap  gifts  during the  'Its a Wrap Party' at Santa Monica on Thursday, December 15, 2011.  The toys will be distributed this Saturday at Santa Monica PAL’s Holiday Workshop.

Santa Monica Police Lieutenant Calisse Lindsey and SMPD Police Activities League (P.A.L) Officer Austin Brown transport toys from Shutters at the Beach to Santa Monica Police Activity League during the annual Share the Holidays Reception and Gift Drive on Monday, December 12, 2011. The toys will be distributed this Saturday at Santa Monica Police Activity League’s Holiday Workshop. 

CANDY CANE DRIVE (2011) - Images by Fabian Lewkowicz

Santa Claus came to town very early this year escorted by Santa Monica firefighters and police officers for the nineteenth annual "Candy Cane Drive” on Saturday, December 3, 2011.

Santa Monica Police Department Sergeant Mike Braaten and Harbor Patrol Officer Jared Kingsbury motor north aboard the Monica One amid the sunrise at Santa Monica Bay on Thursday, November 10, 2011.

Santa Monica Police Department Chief Timothy Jackman and Santa Monica Fire Department Chief Scott Ferguson discuss the youth’s photographs during Santa Monica Bay Human Relations Council's Third Annual Kids With Cameras Photo Exhibit & Conversation at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica satellite campus at John Adams Middle School on Saturday, October 15, 2011.

This year’s theme was Public Art as Community Wealth. The project involves participation in photojournalism workshops by local youth selected from the Police Activities League, Boys and Girls Club and Santa Monica Family YMCA. 'By showing them the community’s wealth expressed through public art, the children are exposed to a world many of them would not experience otherwise. This opportunity will enrich their lives in a way that will alter their futures for the better,' says Timothy J. Jackman, Chief of Police. 

Fabian Lewkowicz, a professional photojournalist who has supervised and mentored the group in the past is joined by photographers Dr. Charles Haskell,Nick Steers and Bill Beebe and the City Public Art coordinator Malina Moore whose expertise and experience in Santa Monica’s artwork is invaluable. The youth met once a week (for eight weeks) exploring the rich displays of public art in the city. 

Among the artwork photographed were ‘Santa Monica’ (1934) in Palisades Park by Eugene Monrahan, ‘Chain Reaction’ (1991) by Paul Conrad and’ The Dinosaurs of Santa Monica’ (1989) by Claude and Francois LaLanne. 

The Santa Monica Human Relations Council, a partnership of local community organizations, individuals, institutions, and businesses endeavors to improve human relations and advocates a socially just community through its various projects.