The
Los Angeles Department of Neighborhood Empowerment is the organization charged
with facilitating the creation of neighborhood councils and offering education,
training, and support to the councils once they are established. This site offers
a comprehensive guide to all aspects of the Neighborhood Council system, including
the draft plan for implementation of the neighborhood council system and a schedule
of public hearings and information sessions on the creation of neighborhood councils.
Asset-Based Community Development Institute
www.nwu.edu/IPR/abcd.html
Since 1995 this institute, located at Northwestern University in Chicago, has researched
issues around community empowerment. The site includes numerous studies, including
ones about how to organize locally and how to best utilize neighborhood resources.
California Center for Health Improvement
www.policymatters.org
The Center provides “Practical Prevention Ideas for Healthier Communities.”
At the “Policy Matters” page, click on the “Profiles”
icon for policy profiles on a variety of topics regarding healthcare, education,
economic vitality, safety, and environment.
Institute for the Study of Civic Values
Civil Practices Network www.cpn.org
CPN is dedicated to educating people about “practical tools for public problem
solving....” The Community Networking section under the “Topics”
link from the home page of this site provides information on using technology
to enhance community life. Sections under “Communities and Tools”
offer examples and discussions of successful community organizing methods.
CommunityPath.com
www.communitypath.com
This site offers instructions on building a neighborhood Web site. Site requires users
to register (no fee) to obtain much of the information it offers.
Developing a Neighborhood Focused Agenda
www.aecf.org
This site, sponsored by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, offers in-depth, practical advice
on setting up a neighborhood council. The infomation is in a downloadable PDF
file.
“Getting Involved”
www.cchi.org/cgi-bin/cchi/pubs.asp
A report published by California Center for Health Improvement. It suggests that
the overall health of people in the state can be improved by increased community participation.
Institute for Local Self-Reliance
www.ilsr.org
A non-profit research and educational organization that provides technical assistance
and information on environmentally sound economic development strategies that
extract the maximum value from local resources. The New Rules Project attempts
to reconcile the conflicts between local and global interests. Waste to Wealth
provides a recycling road map. Many links to other sites.
Institute for the Study of Civic Values
www.iscv.org
For more than 20 years, the Institute has promoted the belief that our civic values
bring us together as a people. Go to http://libertynet.org/nol/build-com.html
to subscribe for free to their e-mail lists which provide an opportunity to discuss
a wide range of neighborhood issues with others. Can search for relevant messages
in their archives, and participate in a free Neighborhoods Online Chat Room.
Madison Heights, CA (Pasadena)
www.mhnapasadena.org
Includes an on-line survey, and links to things like the 24-hour Old Pasadena Cam.
National Neighborhood Coalition (NNC)
www.neighborhoodcoalition.org
NNC is an umbrella organization for national non-profits, networks of community, neighborhood
and faith-based organizations committed to improving the well-being of residents
of low-income and minority neighborhoods. Their Smart Growth program is a response
to the sprawling pattern of land use that has gobbled up many of our metropolitan
areas. They seek to encourage development that is more compact and efficient than
current land uses. They may be contacted at 1875 Connecticut Ave, NW, #410, Washington,
D.C; phone 202-986-2096.
Neighborhood Knowledge Los Angeles
nkla.sppsr.ucla.edu
A University of California at Los Angeles Web site dedicated to helping prevent
housing and neighborhood conditions from deteriorating. Provides tools for assessing
property and neighborhood data, and mobilizes support for community improvement.
Many links related to community development and housing.
Neighborhood Participation Project
sc2.usc.edu/ccd/npp
The University of Southern California is working hard to prepare Los Angeles for the
new system of neighborhood councils and the requirement that it have a publicly-accessible
database of neighborhood organizations. Please take 30 minutes and respond to
their survey.
Neighborhoods USA www.nusa.org
All three of these sites contain extensive listings of community meetings and events
taking place in Northeastern areas of Los Angeles.
Smart Growth Network
www.smartgrowth.org
This site focuses on the importance of managing city growth and improving the quality
of life.
Study Circles Resource Center
www.studycircles.org
Study Circles is non-profit, non-partisan foundation dedicated to advancing deliberative
democracy and improving the quality of public life in the United States. They
offer advice and assistance, free of charge, to organizations of large-scale study
circle programs, and give people a new way to help solve problems. They publish
a guide, Building Strong Neighborhoods, that is designed to help people address
at the grassroots level, such issues as reducing crime, improving race relations
and housing, and creating quality jobs. Cost is $5. A free quarterly newsletter
is available. They may be contacted at P.O. Box 203, Pomfret, CT 06258; phone
860-928-2616, fax 860-928-3713.
The Department of Neighborhood Empowerment Los Angeles, CA 90012
Neighborhood Council Locator 