Friends of The Jungle, also known as FOTJ, is a nonprofit organization based in Playa Del Rey, California. Cofounded in 2016 by Lucy Han, Jan Haagen and Elliott Prather, FOTJ was born out of a need for direct action to protect the community and environment. During winter storms, man-made Berms play a critical role in preventing storm surge damage to homes. However, when the County planned to eliminate the annual bern due to budget cuts, FOTJ strongly opposed the decision and launched a community driven campaign. Given that the beach falls under multiple jurisdictions, FOTJ had to navigate the complexities of City and County governance, working tirelessly to advocate for the Berm’s reinstatement, their efforts ultimately lead to the successful reestablishment of the City’s commitment to maintaining this essential protection. This campaign marked FOTJ‘s first exposure to the intricate process of affecting change across overlapping jurisdictions, a skill that would become invaluable in their ongoing mission to safeguard and improve the community for future initiatives
