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Home of First Ever Regional Congress of Neighborhoods |
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South LA
Release provided by the DONE
Los Angeles’ first-ever regional Congress of Neighborhoods, titled “The Gathering: Making Change Happen,” will take place on May 17 at the West Adams Preparatory High School, located at 1500 W. Washington Boulevard from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Members of the steering committee planning the Gathering intend for the event to pave the way for future regional congresses that will be held throughout the City.
 According to Guy Leehmuis, chair of the Empowerment Congress and co-chair of the Gathering planning group, the South Los Angeles Gathering will set the stage for greater cooperation on regional concerns among participating neighborhood councils, community organizations, stakeholders and other local groups.
“Though the Gathering will focus on public safety concerns, such as gang violence, and planning and land use issues, it is envisioned as the beginning of a long-term effort to address the concerns of South Los Angeles through the development of shared resources, policy development, and practical solutions to problems we experience every day in our communities,” he said.
BongHwan (BH) Kim, the Interim General Manager of the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment, said that the plan to hold regional congresses has been part of ongoing Department and Neighborhood Council discussions, but that the circumstances to launch a successful event hadn’t gelled until conversations with Leehmuis and other South Los Angeles leaders indicated an interest and willingness to take the lead on this ground-breaking project.
“We anticipate that the Gathering will become a model for other Regional Congresses that will be held throughout Los Angeles in the future. The success of the Neighborhood Council System, in great part, will depend on localizing the Neighborhood Council experience to maximize stakeholder participation and ensure that local issues are addressed,” Kim said.
In October, a Citywide Congress involving Neighborhood Councils across Los Angeles will be held. A work group comprised of City staff and Neighborhood Council leaders throughout the City will be convened in the near future to plan that event.
Members of the May 17 Regional Congress Gathering work group include representatives from the South Los Angeles Alliance of Neighborhood Councils, Empowerment Congress North Area Neighborhood Development Council, Empowerment Congress South East Area Neighborhood Development Council, Empowerment Congress West Area Neighborhood Development Council, Watts Neighborhood Council, the Olympic Park Neighborhood Council, the Mid City Neighborhood Council, the Park Mesa Heights Neighborhood Council, the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment staff, members of the Empowerment Congress and others. _
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