On September 28, 2024, birds chirped outside the steps of city hall, as hundreds of Neighborhood Council board members, dozens of exhibitors, and a handful of prominent guest speakers like Nurit Katz (UCLA Chief Sustainability Officer & Board of Water & Power Commissioners) and Hydee Feldestien Soto (City of Los Angeles Attorney) attended the 25th Annual Congress of Neighborhoods.
If you missed the event, Marco Vargas, the CEO of Fifth Sun Pictures attended the event in-person and has compiled a list of resources for Neighborhood Council board members and the people you serve–Angelenos.
Resources for Board Members
Join the Neighborhood Council Budget Advocate Committee
“Budget Advocates explore, research, study, seek input, prepare, and present the concerns and interests of our communities as they relate to revenue collection and the allocation of City funds, the City Budget, and the efficiency of our City Government, its finances, and financial obligations. We present these findings and recommendations to the Mayor, City and Neighborhood Councils, and stakeholders.”
Unsure of this commitment? Explore the city budget and reports from the City Controller, Kennth Mieja, who also runs a very trendy Instagram to stay up-to-date on a routine basis.
Want to pursue a career in public service? The City of Los Angeles is hiring. Submit an application for civic service jobs, exempt full-time salary roles, emergency appointment for vacant positions, and internships here.
$8.5 million dollars are being distributed through the L.A. Repair Participatory Budget, a program of the Los Angeles Civil Rights Department to organizations addressing structural and historic racism. Explore what projects are made possible through this initiative, especially if your neighborhood council is in a REPAIR Zone. (There may be resources for your constituents from this program.)
Resources for City of Los Angeles Constituents
The next time you walk in Los Angeles consider using a guide from Angels Walk LA, a resource to learn more about specific communities and get your daily exercise in!
A message from the Bureau of Street Lighting: “ When one light goes out because of copper wire and/ or power thrift, entire blocks or neighborhoods go dark, which creates unsafe and dangerous conditions, and encourages more crime. Well-lit streets lead to a 36% decrease in crime, as indicated by a study from University of Chicago Urban Labs. We can all help eliminate the risks involved–report outages to 3-1-1 or MyLA311, and if you see theft in progress, call 9-11."
PST ART, with support from the Getty, is back from September 2024 to February 2025 with 800 artists, 70 exhibitions, and 1 mind-blowing theme: Art & Science Collide. As part of this initiative, there are many free events perfect for friends and family (also great for romantic dates). Explore all exhibits here and immerse yourself at museums and institutions across Southern California.
The Department of Cultural Affairs, the arts and cultural agency of the city who is tasked with “visual, literary, musical, performing, and educational arts programming; managing vital cultural centers; preserving historic sites; creating public art; and funding services provided by arts organizations and individual artists” invites all artists and organization to apply for its grant program. Small businesses may also be eligible for a city funded mural project.
The Water Replenishment District
All community members within the boundaries of WRD’s 43 city services area ages kindergarten to 6th grade are invited to participate in the 10th Annual Student Art Contest. The topics of this year’s competition are as follows:
Guardian of the Aquifer: Protecting Our Groundwater
Tapping into Solution: Saving Water in My Community
Everyone Needs Water: There’s Life in Every Drop!
Interested in climate friendly landscapes while saving water? Enroll in a free Eco Garden Program which explores creating edible gardens, drought-tolerant gardens, rainwater capture, and much more.
Information about the Upcoming Elections
Partnership Opportunities with Fifth Sun Pictures
Fifth Sun Pictures is a social impact marketing and consulting firm that proudly serves education, government, and nonprofit organizations. As an approved and preferred City of Los Angeles vendor, neighborhood councils like CANNDU partner with us to design, host, and maintain their website. Contact us at info@fifthsunpicture.com to request a formal presentation for website services and/or film production services.
Editor & Writer: Jorge Madrigal, Partnership Manager at Fifth Sun Pictures
About Jorge Madrigal
My name is Jorge Madrigal Adan, and I've dedicated the past four years to education 📚, transitioning from non-profit to corporate to address a significant gap: the lack of sustainable and long-term support for students during and after their K-12 journey. 🌎
My passion for education is deeply rooted in my own experiences with inner-city struggles. I've seen firsthand the challenges these communities face, and it's this understanding that drives me to do our core work of consulting and marketing and our adjacent work– developing career pathways that equip students with tangible and relevant skills, providing them with economic mobility. 🌱
This blog post was published on Friday, October 4, 2024