Connecting Neighbors & Empowering LA!

Social support networks

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

The COVID-19 pandemic reinforced the importance and value of strong, local networks in uplifting communities and protecting vulnerable populations. Communities with engaged individuals that are connected to municipal government know where to seek local resources and regularly volunteer, leading toa better quality of life. In 2023, a study by the U.S. Surgeon General raised the alarm on the consequences of social isolation and prioritized the building of social connections to collectively benefit wellbeing and mental health. The study emphasized the role that local governments play in cultivating a culture of connection among community members. Local governments can leverage their partnerships with local community groups and residents to promote local volunteerism. Skills sharing and leadership building among neighbors creates a culture of learning, civic engagement, compassion, civic responsibility, and leads to a sense of duty towards the greater good.

The Department of Neighborhood Empowerment (EmpowerLA) has a history of cultivating partnerships with organizations and city departments, and leveraging them to promote civic engagement in 99 neighborhood councils across the city. The objective of the Connecting Neighbors - Empowering LA! initiative is to foster a sense of community, create resource sharing and cultural exchange, improve the well-being of community members, promote a sense of social support, and inspire community volunteerism and engagement with their local Neighborhood Council and with other City departments.
As part of this initiative, EmpowerLA will host eight (8) neighborhood events in the south, central, east and harbor regions of Los Angeles, and the San Fernando Valley. In collaboration with city departments and regional partners, the neighborhood events will feature tabling opportunities and workshops/trainings with the goal to sign up volunteers to participate in local improvement projects and join Neighborhood Councils. We will work with local residents to highlight issues that are important to local residents, such as housing, public safety, sustainability, youth engagement, etc. To promote long-term engagement, attendees will be connected to their local Neighborhood Council and encouraged to attend meetings and get involved in community projects and plan future events. Attendee information will be collected to inform them about upcoming community events and resources to stay involved.

The vision of this initiative is to:
build opportunities for neighbors to connect and interact to create a sense of community.
establish knowledge of local government departments, services/programs and local resources.
host community activities that positively impact the neighborhood and enhance the well-being of residents.
create spaces for effective communication of neighborhood needs, issues of interest and concerns to address neighborhood challenges and plan for improvements.
inspire civic engagement by connecting individuals to Neighborhood Council board meetings, volunteer opportunities, and ongoing and new projects to improve the neighborhood.
Connecting neighbors to each other is essential for creating inclusive, participatory societies where individuals collectively address challenges and build thriving, safe and resilient communities. We hope these events are only the beginning and that individuals feel they can connect with neighbors and use their collective civic voice.

EmpowerLA will track the success of the initiative by setting clear objectives and establishing measurable criteria to assess progress and outcomes. For events, we will gauge success by tracking and analyzing the level of involvement by community members, organizational partners, city departments and messaging impact. For example, we will plan for high volumes of attendees at events, sign-ups to our newsletter, connections to Neighborhood Councils, etc. More importantly, our initiative will see an increase in the number of community improvement projects and local events that promote safe spaces for neighbors to connect. We will also define success by the increased number of social media interactions that the event announcements, pictures, and tool kits create.
We envision LA neighbors will remain connected, and work with their local elected officials and Neighborhood Councils to replicate the initiative’s efforts with continued support from EmpowerLA.