Representing Diversity in Community Governance: Neighborhood Councils in Los Angeles

Date: June 2004

By: Juliet Musso, Christopher Weare, Kyu-Nahm Jun and Alicia Kitsuse, University of Southern California

Summary of the James Irvine Foundation, the National Science Foundation, the U.S.C. School of Policy, Planning, and Development and the U.S.C. Urban Initiative study’s findings on diversity within the Neighborhood Councils. The brief addresses the extent to which the demographics of Neighborhood Council Boards accurately reflect the diversity within Los Angeles communities.

(10 pages. Size 2.45mb)

Neighborhood Councils in Los Angeles: A Midterm Status Report

Date: June 7, 2004

By: Neighborhood Participation Project, University of Southern California

Summary: This very comprehensive report provides recommendations for standardizing election procedures, streamlining open meeting and ethics provisions, developing strategies for inclusion, involving NCs in city governance, making the Congress of Neighborhoods more of a deliberative experience, and building the organizational capacity of NCs.

(60 pages. Size 1.51mb)

Neighborhood Councils in Los Angeles: A Midterm Report-Summary

Date: June 2004

By: Juliet Musso, Christopher Weare and Terry Cooper, University of Southern California

Shorter version of the Midterm Status Report of the study of Neighborhood Councils in the City of Los Angeles

(10 pages. Size 2.13mb)

The Quiet Revolution

A History of Neighborhood Empowerment in Los Angeles, By Dr. Leonard Pitt

(16 pages. 950 KB)

An Option Report

Date: November, 2000

By: League of Women Voters of Los Angeles

Summary: Report discusses options for the structure of the citywide system, and for the size, budgets, powers, and operations of the Neighborhood Councils. Options are presented regarding early warning system, the certification process, the department, the commission, and the evaluation of the system.

(37 pages)

Creating Neighborhood Councils: A Workshop on Emerging Issues

Date: April 8, 2000

By: Neighborhood Participation Project, University of Southern California

Summary: This conference gave neighborhood stakeholders from across Los Angeles an opportunity to share their experiences, reflections, and ideas about the Neighborhood Council formation process.  The conference also offered a series of professionally led skills-based workshops on Neighborhood Council organizing.

(40 pages)