8th Council District Neighborhoods

SOUTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD 1999 - 2001 Summary Report

INTRODUCTION

WHO WE ARE AND WHY WE ARE

The Eighth District Empowerment Congress Southeast Neighborhood Development Council is a valued experienced group of community volunteers elected by neighborhood residents to serve a 2-year term as community representatives. The Leadership’s accessibility to the Eighth District City Councilman Mark-Ridley Thomas provides training and insight to fulfill the Eighth District Empowerment Congress mission, to Engage, Educate and Empower neighborhood residents, enabling them to make well-informed decisions on public policy issues.

The Eighth District Empowerment Congress SE-NDC Leadership consists of neighborhood representative volunteers dedicated to promoting positive change, engaging in the business of the Eighth District with Councilman Mark Ridley -Thomas on issues concerning public safety policies and neighborhood redevelopment projects. The Councilman encourages Leadership to strongly support neighborhood revitalization efforts, community standards, Senior and Youth advocacy and Economic Justice Projects.

We endeavor to provide effective leadership commitment and to protect our most treasured opportunity, to work wisely and diligently with southeast neighborhood individual residents, group organizers and other neighborhood stakeholders toward a better tomorrow, safer neighborhoods and a more viable, cohesive community base. We pledge our support to uphold the ideas and visions of the southeast community in hopes that together, we will promote realistic change.

SE-NDC Neighborhood Assembly Meetings

SE-NDC Neighborhood Assembly Meetings

The SE-NDC Area Assembly meetings are held quarterly. Our year 1999 -2001 Assembly meetings were held at faith-based organizations and community organizations that included the Mother of Sorrow Catholic Church on Main Street, Southside Bethel Baptist Church on San Pedro Street and WLCAC located on Central Ave.

COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION

Area Assembly, Saturday, April 1, 2000

This assembly was held at Mother of Sorrow Church. This assembly was dedicated to the “Check the Black Box” Census 2000 Project and was in support of the Southern Leadership Christian Council (SCLC) African American outreach efforts. More than 50 “Check the Black Box” Question and Answer Center supervisors, faith-based and community based organization participants attended. The community participation consisted of most frequently asked questions pertaining to Census 2000. Rev. Johnson, Executive Director of SCLC, conducted the question and answer period.

Area Assembly, Saturday, August 12, 2000

This assembly was held at Southside Bethel Baptist Church. The theme was “Let’s Make Southeast Neighborhoods Shine.” The theme referenced a recent clean up that was spearheaded by the newly organized Southeast Neighborhood Beautification committee of volunteers (SENBC). The highlight of the neighborhood assembly was the good news that the SENBC plan to continue neighborhoods clean-up efforts. The immediate plan for the improvement and beautification along the Manchester Avenue throughway was announced as a pilot project approved by Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas. The assembly topics for discussion were:

1. What’s in a name? – (See Appendix II)
· Naming neighborhoods is important for defining ownership.
· Setting boundaries.
2. Clean Sweep Matching Grants – presenter Angela Hernandez, provided information on Clean Sweep Grants for neighborhood beautification, provided criteria for receiving funds, and community participants were given application forms, deadlines for completion, and other materials and illustration relative to the success of the program.

Approximately 20% of projected community neighborhood residents participated. The material presented was relevant and the community participation rating was an 8.

Area Assembly Saturday, January 20, 2001
10:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M.

This Assembly was held at the Watts Labor Community Action Center (WLCAC), host, Mr. Tim Watkins.

The focus of this meeting was to continue our theme “Lets Make Southeast Shine.” The facilitators were SENDC Chair, Julian Rogers, Co-Chair, Elizabeth McClellan and SENDC Coordinator, Ms. Cathy Davis. The discussion centered around two main ideas:
1. “ What’s In A Name?”
2. “Setting Community Standards.”
Our Special guest was Empowerment Congress Standards Council member, Mrs. Doris Spates. She shared information about the work of the Standards Council highlighting the importance of setting community standards.

There was a question and answer period where community resident participated and shared many interesting thoughts and feedback concerning naming their neighborhoods.

Target population: 80 residents. There were 35 residents in attendance 44%

Area Assembly April 28, 2001
10:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M.

This area assembly was also held at WLCAC and continued with the SE-NDC theme: Let’s Make Southeast Shine. The meeting discussion focused on the “What’s in a Name?” Topic.

Residents were given an opportunity to view a geographical southeast map with neighborhood names, suggested by the Councilman and Constituent Center Staff.The focus of the meeting was to engage neighborhood residents in the naming neighborhoods process as follows:

1. They were asked to identify their neighborhood by geographical area
2. Discuss the importance of taking ownership of one’s neighborhood
3. Think about where the neighborhood boundaries should be set
4. Talk about the history of their neighborhoods and/or people of importance who currently reside in the area or have resided in the area in the past and what are some of the more specific landmarks in the neighborhood?

After the discussion the residents agreed to form a committee to further brainstorm the issue of naming neighborhood. It was suggested that they meet at the Constituent Service Center in approximately two weeks. A person was selected by the residents to chair the neighborhood meeting.

Target Population: 80 - There were 29 residents in attendance - 36%

Area Assembly July 14, 2001
10:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M.

SE-NDC Area Assembly was held at WLCAC continuing with the theme: “Let’s Make Southeast Shine.”

Discussion Topic: “What’s in a Name?”

There was a general assembly of residents prepared to select a neighborhood name from the southeast map or to enter a name of choice.
Residents were divided into four groups with a facilitator appointed to each group:
1. Neighborhood Figueroa Park Square facilitator was SE-NDC Chair, Julian Rogers
The residents in this group chose to name their neighborhood, Magnolia Square.
2. Neighborhood Green Meadows facilitator was SE-NDC Area Coordinator, Cathy Davis
The residents in this group chose to name their neighborhood, Green Meadows Villa.
3. Neighborhood Vermont Vista facilitator was West NDC Area Coordinator, Sondra Howell
4. Neighborhoods Century Palms and Century Cove facilitator was SE-NDC Co-Chair, Elizabeth McClellan.The residents in this group chose to keep the names Century Palms and Century Cove.
They formed a neighborhood committee to work on getting a petition flyer ready to engage other neighbors in the neighborhood naming process.

Target Population 80 There were 100 to 125 resident in attendance – up 64%

FOLOW-UP MEETING
A committee follow -up meeting was held at the home of Ms. McClellan. SE- Area Coordinator, Cathy Davis was also present at the meeting.

During the meeting the following item was discussed:
1. Revision of the petition form submitted by Ms. McClellan.
The revised petition was adopted and approved by the committee and Ms. Davis.
2. The petition form was to be prepared by Ms. Davis and given back to committee.

SE-NDC Year 1999-2001 Work Plan ?– Priority Projects

SE-NDC Year 1999-2001 Work Plan – Priority Projects

The SE-NDC Year 1999 - 2001 Work Plan includes a Committee Operations Team. The frame of reference is people empowerment. The goals are: to effect change and to address southeast neighborhood resident’s quality of life enhancement issues.

The SE-NDC Committee Team is divided into five categories distinguishable by the work assignment and duties of combined actions. We do not operate as five distinct committees, but we do operate as five definite entities representing ONE TEAM. The operations are a reflection of combined efforts to generate energy to effect new growth and developments in southeast neighborhoods.

COMMITTEES

1. Block Club Leadership Network - Goals are to identify existing southeast block clubs, organize new southeast block clubs and to help define the block club leadership role.

2. Southeast NDC Newsletter - Goals are to prepare news worthy articles; to showcase a full disclosure of the Eighth District Empowerment Congress; to demonstrate a positive volunteer images to encourage neighborhood residents to engage in community interests activities. We endeavor to keep information current.

3. Recruitment & Outreach Committee - Focuses on persuading, motivating, mobilizing and engaging southeast residents in community activities in order to create a sense of community. Our goal is to reach across age, gender, culture, race, religion, and ethnic divides. Our strategy includes the engagement of neighborhood groups who are underrepresented, specifically, young adults and senior citizens.

4. Recreation and Parks - Committee plans are to network with southeast neighborhood public parks, Algin Sutton and Green Meadows; to support Southeast Community Neighborhoods Parks & Recreation Advisory Board and to become an active member of the Advisory Board; to respect and endorse the affected neighborhood residents right to maintain an individual park theme.

5. The Training Committee – Function is to prepare and provide technical and resourceful information through workshops training, seminars, and symposiums. The committee trainer’s presents a practical leadership-training model and assumes the responsibility to disseminate information relative to the work of the Eighth District Empowerment Congress structure. The training committee places a special emphasis on NDC membership and community neighborhoods work ethics in areas of commitment, attendance, and interpersonal skills.


ACCOMPLISHMENTS

The work plan of SE -NDC is progressively evolving. During the course of our planning, many suggestions and a variety of activities are visited that have become part of our accomplishments.

· Developed a work plan relevant to the priorities identified by the SE-NDC.

· Identified committees and assigned members task relevant to the work plan.

· Each committee provided a report relative to their projects.

· Training committee prepared a Community Assessment Survey in both English and Spanish that was circulated at neighborhood assembly meetings to identify the training needs of the neighborhood. (See Appendix III).

· Neighborhood Networks developed a plan to convene neighborhood block clubs. Letters were sent to 21 block club members. To date, one block club network meeting was held at the Constituent Service Center.

· Outreach and Recruitment committee prepared to research project to assess the southeast neighborhood faith and community based organizations. The research finding identified 137 faith-based organizations and 12 community based organization within the southeast boundaries.

· Neighborhood News – SE-NDC developed a website that focuses on the southeast area activities and an accessible e-mail address, sendc@hotmail website address (www.neighborhoodlink.com).

· Neighborhood Beautification - the newly organized beautification committee of volunteers sponsored a clean up campaign in June 2000. Over 200 volunteers and CBO’s participated. Neighborhood businesses provided many resources to make the clean-up campaign a success.

· The Manchester Beautification and Improvement is a Streetscape project in progress and was approved by Councilman Ridley-Thomas and is to be configured by the Department of Public Works. The agency’s involved is the Victor Osugi, Designing Engineer, Bureau of Street Services, Ruben Perez and Leo Fuller from the Department of Building and Safety. A planning committee was formed which included SENDC membership, council staff, and city planners.

· A SE-NDC member was designated to serve on the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board at Algin Sutton Park. Algin Sutton Park is designated to receive funds for city park upgrades.

· Participated in Empowerment Congress Activities and Events.

· Developed an Empowerment Congress Joint Council.

· Established a vacant database.

· Begun naming neighborhood process.

· Participated in the Los Angeles City Mayor’s Operation Healthy Neighborhood Program and the formation of a “ coalition of neighborhood residents.”

· Two southeast neighborhoods needs assessment tours:
1. Councilman Mark Ridley/Staff
2. Mayor’s Office Staff

· Participated in the southeast neighborhood Clean-up and Resource Fair booth set - up by bureau of Street Lighting, Department of Sanitation/Recycling, Operation Healthy Neighborhood, LAPD Explores, Los Angeles City College, Clean and Green Southeast Division Juvenile Impact Program, Family Development Network, Department of Building and Safety, People Who Care and WLCAC, LA Bridges Each agency provide information on city services.


SE-NDC Assessment

STRENGTHS

SE-NDC strengths lay within the diverse experiences of the membership. Our membership representatives are professionals with many talents, gifts, and exhibit a professional attitude and professional competence. Their professional experience includes community organizers, business operators, professionals, technology specialists, dispute resolution, educators, and long-time community activists. All of the members makes a major contributions to the SE-NDC efforts.

CHALLENGES

· Encourage regular membership attendance.
· Note: From September 1999 to October 2000, 8 of 13 members were in regular attendance. From November 2000 to August 2001 there was a sharp decline in membership. Regular attendance dropped to 4 out of 10. (See Appendix I)
· Encourage participation in community outreach efforts, such as phone banking and follow-up strategies
· Motivate members to become involved in the early planning stages of NDC events
· Schedule early planning sessions in order to eliminate last minute preparations
· Understand role versatility of staff and leadership and how to be more flexible in that role
· Plan for leadership training
· To become more visible in the community.
· Encourage individual members to identify personal skills and resources, whereas, the group willingly accepts the influence and the leadership of a member whose skills and resources are relevant to the immediate task.


SUMMARY

HOW TO BE MORE EFFECTIVE

The SE-NDC showcases the many spores of the Eighth District Empowerment Congress and is committed to work together toward a more enriched life for the neighborhood constituents.

· We will develop strategies to convene the southeast neighborhood.
· Identify the neighborhood stakeholders and engage them in the SE-NDC Work Plan.
· Continue to develop and improve follow-up strategies.
· Continue the beautification project.
· Begin the neighborhood naming process in order to prepare for the citywide council system of neighborhood councils.
· Develop and present information so that neighborhood residents are more informed of new developments that impact their daily life activities.
· To become more effective leaders, and develop a more extensive volunteer database.
· Activate and utilize the existing Computer Center at the Constituent Service Center to reduce the digital divide.
· The SE-NDC Leadership membership needs more capacity to effectively serve in respective roles.