Congress of Neighborhoods on the 24th of September
With FREE parking, one-on-one with your favorite elected official, workshop, FREE lunch and the first time ever a live Congress Action session at 2:30pm there are plenty of reasons to register, right now! Here is the press release on the congress, schedule, workshop list etc.
LA’s Neighborhood Councils Present the
Congress of Neighborhoods-
“Increasing Public Participation in Government!”
Los Angeles has 95 certified neighborhood councils and the Congress of Neighborhoods is designed by council leaders so that there is something for everybody, from curious stakeholders to new board members to seasoned veterans of the civic engagement process to city hall insiders.
The event is free, it includes breakfast and lunch, and registration only takes a moment.
There are two morning sessions and one afternoon session, filled with 21 different programs designed by neighborhood council members to be practical, how-to types of sessions that offer a broad overview of the subject and resources that support local action.
Ten of the programs cover basic information that is important for new Board members. Eleven programs cover more advanced topics designed for experienced Board members and focused subjects that will be attractive to those with special interests and talents.
The afternoon “Action Session” is a literal “Congress of Neighborhoods,” an experimental return to the intent of the City Charter Article IX, Section 901(c) provision that neighborhood councils can come together, discuss issues, and take collective action at a Congress.
The 2011 LA Congress of Neighborhoods puts the future of the neighborhood council system in the hands of the community by creating an environment for education, for empowerment, and for engagement. Most of all, it creates an opportunity for neighborhood councils to work together as a citywide movement.
In 1999 the voters approved a new City Charter which declared “We the people of the City of Los Angeles, in order to establish a responsive, effective and accountable government through which all voices in our diverse society can be heard; to provide fair representation and distribution of government resources and a safe, harmonious environment based on principles of liberty and equality, do enact this Charter.”
Schedule to date:
7:45am Registration
8:30 Opening Session
9:25am Session I
10:50 Session II
Noon Lunch
1:10 Session III
2:30 Action Session (adult and youth)
3:30 Networking
4:00pm End
WORKSHOP SCHEDULE
SESSION 1 WORKSHOP (9:25am – 10:40am)
➛ Meet Your City Officials (brief remarks and a mixer)
➛ Funding Program Basics for Everyone (how spending works)
➛ Emergency Preparedness (CERT, Homeland Security, ham radio, etc.)
➛ How Neighborhood Councils Work (Basics, for New Board Members)
➛ Effective Outreach and Community-Building Techniques
➛ Perspectives: Role of NCs
➛ Perspectives: City Budget
SESSION 2 WORKSHOP (10:50am – 12:05pm)
➛ Working with City Council Committees (subjects, council files, contacts)
➛ Ethics and Open Government (State-required training) session 1 of 2
➛ Animal Issues, Organizations and Programs (different perspectives)
➛ Who and What Do You Need to Know To Get Things Done?
➛ Dealing with Difficult People and Board Conflicts (practical suggestions)
➛ NC Collaborations/(Alliances and Peer Mentoring programs)
➛ Planning and Land Use 101 (what Land Use committees do)
SESSION 3 WORKSHOP (1:10pm-2:25pm)
➛ Working with City Departments (which does what, resources, staff)
➛ Ethics and Open Government (State-required training) session 2 of 2
➛ Green Technologies, Sustainable Living, and Community Gardens
➛ How to Run a Meeting (procedures, fairness, order, time control)
➛ Recruitment, Training, and Management of Volunteers
➛ Creating Community Partnerships (both financial and joint-action)
➛ Online Resources for Neighborhood Councils (Healthycity, ZIMAS, etc.)
South Mar Vista Neighborhood Association 