SESSION 1
9:25 AM – 10:50 AM
BOARD BASICS & EFFECTIVENESS
ROOM: 1050
Coordinator/Presenter: Ivan Spiegel
Joining a Neighborhood Council board makes you part of a dynamic system in a dynamic City, a system that is both changing the City of Los Angeles and being changed by the People of Los Angeles. This workshop will help you gain a deeper understanding of: how to build strong Neighborhood Council boards, how to work with your partners in the Neighborhood Council system, and what all those “policies and procedures” really mean for you. This workshop is not a repeat of the EmpowerLA Orientation and will cover many other topics.
MEET YOUR CITY OFFICIALS
ROOM: Council Chambers
Coordinator: Sarah Ramsawack
Panelists: Capri Maddox, Special Assistant City Attorney; Paul Krekorian, Council District 2; David Ryu, Council District 4; Curren D. Price, Jr. Council District 9; Jan Perry, General Manager, EWDD; Holly Wolcott, City Clerk
A favorite of Congress attendees! A panel of City Elected & Appointed Officials with Q&A session for 40 minutes, then one on one time.
BEST PRACTICES FOR LAND USE COMMITTEES
ROOM: Controller’s Conference Room (City Hall East, 3rd Floor)
Coordinator: PlanCheckNCLA
Speakers and panelists will share best practices for successful Neighborhood Council land use committees including outreach, comment submittal, appearing before hearings, outreach and more.
VISION ZERO
ROOM: 1020
Coordinator/Speaker(s): Glenn Bailey
Check back for confirmation speakers and descriptions.
THE ETHICS COMMISSION’S LOBBYING REVIEW
ROOM : 1025
Presented by: Arman Tarzi, Director of Policy
RESTORATIVE JUSTICE AND YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD
ROOM: Public Works Room
Coordinator: Patti Berman, Past President of DLANC
Panelists: Jose Egurbide, Supervising Attorney, Neighborhood Justice Program; Will Sheffie,
Administrative Coordinator, Neighborhood Justice Program Project Intercept; Geoffrey Carlson, Associate Professor Criminal Justice, University of Antelope Valley; Peter Tulagan, Officer Los Angeles Police Department; Andrew Said, Deputy City Attorney, Neighborhood Prosecutor – Rampart Division, Safe Neighborhoods & Gang Division
There is probably no neighborhood in Los Angeles that does not consider crime a serious issue.
In this workshop, we will define the basics of Restorative Justice, an approach to justice that personalizes the crime by having the victims and the offenders mediate a restitution agreement to the satisfaction of each, as well as involving the community. The result can significantly reduce the number of repeat offenders. We will hear from persons who have participated in Restorative Justice panels and introduce you to programs in your area.
COMMUNITY IMPACT STATEMENTS: WRITING FOR SUCCESS
ROOM: 1060
Coordinator: Cindy Cleghorn
Presented by: Linda Gravani, President of Lake Balboa Neighborhood Council
What is a CIS? What is it good for ? How does it help anyone ? Who can start the process ? This workshop will cover the basics from initiating a Community Impact Statement to the submittal, pitfalls and follow-up. A test will be given to thoroughly review the steps involved and the long term benefits. This workshop is for NCs not submitting CIS’s and those who are submitting regularly. Detailed handouts will be provided.
DIVERSE OUTREACH IN A DIGITAL WORLD: SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGIES
ROOM: 1010
Coordinator/Speaker(s): Ann-Marie Holman, Chair of Outreach and Marketing for the Congress of Neighborhoods, Outreach Columnist, EmpowerLA Newsletter & Freddy Cupen-Ames, MPA, North Hollywood West Neighborhood Council Boardmember, Outreach and Marketing Committee Member for the Congress of Neighborhoods
(Coursework prepared with assistance from Deputy City Attorneys Carmen Hawkins, Elise Ruden & Dania Minassian)
Social media is vital for Neighborhood Council outreach and community engagement. But there are also are important legal considerations when using social media, such as Public Records Act requests, or the potential for Brown Act violations. In this workshop, you will learn to create and use NC-appropriate accounts on popular social outlets like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Learn how to:
- Set up accounts on different social media platforms
- Identify and grow your audience
- Use hashtags effectively and correctly
- Tailor posts to different audiences and outlets
- Use free tools to create quality graphics sized correctly for each platform
- Schedule posts to make updating easy
- Create and share engaging event invites
- Decide how and when to respond – or not respond – to questions and comments
Any NC member will benefit from this class, whether a social media novice or experienced social media user.
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS FOR OUR DIVERSE NEIGHBORHOODS
ROOM: 1070
Coordinator: Dave Brown
Moderator: Len Shaffer, BONC Commissioner, President of Tarzana Neighborhood Council, Neighborhood Council Emergency Preparedness Alliance
Panel: Janet Gibson – Financial Preparedness; Bill Hopkins, MYN, Neighborhood Preparedness Strategy; Linda Pruett, CERT; Erin Huey, Pet Emergency Preparedness is Great Outreach
Steps Neighborhood Councils can realistically do now to achieve a degree of Emergency Preparedness among themselves and their diverse stakeholder populations.
GETTING OUR WHEEL IN THE DOOR AND AT THE TABLE BEYOND THE ADA: ENGAGING YOUR DISABLED STAKEHOLDERS
ROOM: 1035
Coordinator: Andy Griggs, At Large Board of Governors member, Echo Park NC
Speaker: Emma Rosenthal, Writer/Photographer/Disability Rights Activist
Panel: Janet Gibson, Financial Preparedness; Bill Hopkins, MYN, Neighborhood Preparedness Strategy; Linda Pruett, CERT; Erin Huey, Pet Emergency Preparedness
Do you want to reach out and get a significant part of your community involved in your Council committees, activities, and decision-making? Though they are a significant percentage of our population, these individuals are almost always the most difficult to engage, because they are often ignored, taken for granted, or because of past experience, have given up on trying to be involved. As a part of city government, Neighborhood Councils are required to meet ADA accessibility requirements for our meetings and events, but we still encounter difficulties in providing full access and inclusion. In this workshop, you will learn about local, community, and regional resources to assist in providing support. You will be provided templates, tactics, and techniques for action that will engage this population and encourage your local venues, presenters, and service establishments to do the same.
A WIN-WIN FOR ALL NEIGHBORHOODS: BUILDING COALITIONS TO ADVANCE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
ROOM: 4th Floor Media Room
Coordinator/Moderator: Lisa Hart, Neighborhood Council Sustainability Alliance
Speakers: Tamika Butler, Executive Director, Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust; Mark Lopez, Executive Director, East Yard Communities for Environmental Justice; Kent Minault, Community Organizer, Sierra Club
Did you know that your zip code predicts how long you will live? We don’t all have the same access to clean water and air; parks; safe, walkable, and bikeable neighborhoods; tree canopies that reduce the urban heat island effect; and healthy food; and these differences take their toll. Inequities are sometimes inadvertently perpetuated within the environmental movement as we struggle to be inclusive and achieve environmental equity for everyone. We will explore environmental justice efforts in Los Angeles, how environmental advocates can best work with each other and others, and why this matters to every Neighborhood Council in the city.