Best Start East Los AngelesCommunity Partnership Meeting SummaryFebruary 24, 2016 4:30-7:00 pm

Welcome and Introductions Advisory Committee members welcomed

everyone. Acknowledged members who’ve attend over 1 year and new attendees.

BSELA vision and Partnership agreements were read.

Group icebreaker “How do you show love to a child 0-5”; members shared table responses with the whole room.

Agenda/Objectives were read.

Updates Park Needs Assessment – County will

provide input for prioritization of how resources will be used to improve parks in the near future. February training to introduce community to County Park Planning process. Items that were prioritized by the residents were better security; promotion of Tot Parks; and planning that takes into account children 0-5 years old.

Next Steps Have a debriefing meeting with BSF grantee

Proyecto Pastoral and meeting with County Park on next steps for the community.

Elections Due to limited time Advisory Committee

Elections presentation was shortened. All applications should be sent to Jocelyn by no later than April 4.

All 15 seats on Advisory Committee will be selected at next meeting.

Agenda Welcome & Activity Parks Needs Assessments Presentation and Conversation With Kim

Belshé Elections Next Steps and Community AnnouncementMeeting Objectives Give necessary Best Start updates Conversation with Kim Belshé, First 5 LA

Executive Director Presentation and Vote on BSELA Structure

and Introduction to Advisory Council Community Announcements and Next Steps

Presentation and Conversation with Kim Belshé,First 5 LA Executive Director

Kim Belshé spoke on current strategic plan and acknowledged ELA’s accomplishments. She underscored her understanding that it took much community time and effort to build a plan to support families and children. More than ever, First 5 LA needs to be financially

responsible and invest money where the most need is and where it will have the most community impact.

Direct services are still needed but First 5 LA will focus investments mostly in system and policy change to have more impact with its funding.

The information used in developing community needs and developing a plan was vital in selecting Proyecto Pastoral as BSF Grantee.

Proyecto Pastoral will have the duty of engaging and recruiting more families, and in implementing the Leadership Academy.

First 5 LA is working to get more fathers involved at all levels of community planning.

First 5 LA is still learning and will work with community leaders to leverage community’s work, include public leaders to impact change, and to help leverage efforts and funds.

One item learned was that BSELA wanted more help with data to steer community decision making and advocacy.

Community Announcements/Upcoming Meetings

ROCs – Family Fun Day March 24th from 12pm-5pm at Obregon Park

Advisory Committee – Transition team is being formed. Presentation April 1st

Proyecto Pastoral/Inner City Struggle introduced lead staff. Asked community to fill out questionnaire before leaving

Dia de los Niños event – April 23rd at Belvedere Park.

Support Group for Children with Special Needs every 4th Thursday of the month at Eastern LA Family Resource center.

Community-Scientist Dialogue on Pollution, Stress on Maternal and Child Health – Centro Maravilla Service Center, March 7th 11:00am-1:30pm

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