Skip to main content

Program Concepts

During Idea Collection, hundreds of ideas were collected from community members. Now, during Proposal Development, community-based nonprofits will make these ideas a reality by proposing a program they can implement for the REPAIR Zone. 

To ensure proposals are reflective of the community's ideas, the Advisory Committee for each REPAIR Zone created program concepts that capture the variety of ideas submitted. Program concepts provide Proposers context for the need in the community, considerations for who the program should serve or how it should be implemented, and a goal for what should be accomplished within the one-year timeframe for the program. Proposals must respond to one or more of the program concepts to be eligible for this grant opportunity

Click the REPAIR Zones below to read the unique program concepts for each:

Arleta - Pacoima

Environment & Climate:

Propose a program that addresses the need for more beautiful, clean, and well maintained public spaces in the community. The program should involve community volunteers, especially youth, in the creation and maintenance of the beautification efforts. These efforts should be mindful of long-term maintenance needs, and if inclusive of plants, should consider native and drought-resistance varieties, especially along the highway entry and exit ways for clean ups. 

Other forms of beautification, such as public art and murals that celebrate local culture and heritage, and activities that involve the broader community and businesses are encouraged. Within a year, the program should implement at least two large scale beautification projects (one each in Arleta and Pacoima) or four to six smaller events across the REPAIR Zone that include the community in the design and implementation.

 

Health & Wellbeing: 

Propose a program that activates public spaces with recreational activities for the whole family, especially youth, and educates the community on healthy living and wellbeing. The programming should promote play and movement through activities such as sports, fun runs, and games for all ages, and access to community resources and education, such as nutrition, health care (including dental and eye exams), and workshops. Within a year, at least two large scale events should be planned (one each in Arleta and Pacoima) or four to six smaller events across the REPAIR Zone that promote a sense of community and connect people to needed resources.

 

Other:

Propose a program that responds to the various needs in the community to engage and empower youth and involve their families. Consider programming that takes families to local nature hikes, nature retreats, and so on for the purpose of bringing families and communities closer together. This programming should be accessible and free to families, including food, entrance fees, and other associated costs. Also, expand offerings for youth such as arts and culture programming, gang reduction activities, and activities that engage youth for extended hours for families with working or stay at home parents. Consider grants for students, families, and communities to participate in youth programs. 

Harbor Gateway - Wilmington - Harbor City

Health & Wellbeing: 

To meet the variety of health and wellbeing needs in the REPAIR Zone, consider the following concepts:

  • Propose a program for youth in the community to develop or enhance their skills. 
  • Propose a program that will reduce the burden of untreated mental health issues and focus on making mental health services more accessible (24/7). 
  • Propose a program that empowers individuals to thrive. Programming should provide environmental, social, and economic healing programs free of charge to the community.

 

Environment & Climate: 

Propose a community beautification and maintenance program that creates a vibrant, clean, and green urban environment where residents are actively involved in the transformation of their communities. The program should be a holistic approach that aims to tackle environmental and community-related issues, ultimately making the city a better place to live, work, and thrive.

 

Education & Access to Information: 

Propose a program that provides skills education in a supportive and enriching environment for youth to thrive academically and personally. Programming could be inclusive of after-school tutoring, life and study skills workshops, literacy and math focused lessons, and/or career and trade program exploration. Consider how the community can be brought into the programming to create community connections through volunteering, resource fairs, and other services that are inclusive. Within a year, the hope is to inspire the next generation for a brighter future.

West Adams - Baldwin Village - Leimert Park

Environment & Climate: 

Propose a program that supports, develops, and sustains a community garden and garden-based programming. Programming should prioritize youth-engagement and produce distribution (such as through farmers markets, give-aways, community-supported agriculture programs, etc.). Programming could also address the need for a more beautiful, clean, green, and well-maintained community through education on and promotion of existing City services available for greening the community, tree-planting and maintenance (including sidewalk repair and maintenance), and street clean-ups.

 

Education & Access to Information: 

Propose a program that addresses the racial disparities in educational outcomes by providing innovative and holistic educational services for youth and/or young adults in this community. 

Programs must cover services for either:

  • K-12 grade aged youth that will enhance and/or supplement the standard school curriculum for reading, writing, and STEAM learning; OR 
  • Young adults (aged 16+) to attend trade school or apprenticeship programs such as union-based or independent film-industry, behind the scenes apprenticeship programs, green-jobs training programs, etc. to learn trade skills, access unionized jobs, and explore career opportunities. 

Proposed programs should include an outline of the curriculum and learning goals, go beyond tutoring in order to effectively improve student outcomes by the end of the year, and include a certification process where applicable.

 

Health & Wellbeing: 

Propose a program that provides mental health and wellness services to the community. Consider how to activate a physical space as well as provide mobile or street outreach services to connect folks to the available resources. The services should include mental health, substance abuse, and healthy living education and resources, such as by providing healthy food distributions and other wellness activities.

Westlake 

Education & Access to Information: 

Propose a program that addresses the issue of limited programs for youth and young adults both after-school and outside of school. The program should provide opportunities for youth and young adults to widen their interests and skill sets while also providing the resources to access them, including cost and transportation. Within one year, the hope is that this opportunity will allow them to transition into further education or the workforce.

 

Health & Wellbeing: 

Propose a comprehensive safety program that targets the root causes of the neighborhood safety issues through classes such as CPR, crisis intervention, substance use and prevention, mutual aid or activities that promote community engagement to address the community’s safety needs. This initiative should aim to enhance safety and provide an alternative to police intervention with the goal for residents to have a better sense of safety and wellbeing in their community.

 

Housing and Transportation: 

Propose a program that addresses the urgent needs of homelessness and housing affordability. The program should be inclusive and provide programming, services and/or stipends that assist with addressing the housing needs of the community. Programming should include, but not be limited to, legal assistance, eviction prevention, and affordable housing navigation. Within one year, a considerable amount of residents within the REPAIR Zone should receive assistance or service in regards to their housing needs.

Skid Row

Health & Wellbeing: 

Propose a program that will address the unique needs of women's wellbeing and mental health in the Skid Row community, while offering additional health-related services to all in the Skid Row community Consider services that provide healthy and hot meals, access to clean water, free wifi, referrals to health and human services, and narcan access to prevent overdoses. This program should be collaborative with grassroots organizations inside and outside the community, be offered outside traditional hours, and hire local community members to staff.

 

Housing & Transportation: 

Propose a program that addresses the urgent need for increased access to affordable housing and support services. The program should be inclusive of vulnerable populations, and provide a comprehensive range of services, including funding for rental stipends, job training, and social support, including pro-bono legal services. This can be a program that hosts partnerships with institutions or organizations that are training legal providers. Within one year, the goal is to significantly reduce homelessness and improve housing stability in the community, ensuring that a substantial number of individuals and families have safe and stable housing. 

 

Employment & Financial Security: 

Propose a program that addresses the pressing need for increased employment opportunities and job-related resources in the REPAIR Zone. The program should be inclusive of all community members, with a particular focus on the homeless population. It will provide a range of services, including job placement, job training, and trade programs. Within one year, the goal is to significantly increase employment rates and financial stability in the community.

South Los Angeles

Education & Access to Information:

Propose a program that provides job skills training and development for youth. The goal is to empower youth by expanding their horizons, providing them with valuable skills, and enabling them to secure meaningful employment. Consider focusing on vocational training and creating job pathways, such as in cybersecurity, AI, coding, culinary arts, and tech support to help bridge the digital divide. The program should set a precedent that underscores the importance of offering youth multiple educational and career pathways, thereby transforming their lives and building stronger, more resilient communities.

 

Environment & Climate: 

Propose a community street cleaning and beautification program that will not only beautify the neighborhood but also empower community members to take an active role in shaping their surroundings, fostering a strong sense of pride, cooperation, and belonging. Consider programming that focuses on actively maintaining clean streets and alleyways, as well as provides community education about how to report illegal dumping and properly dispose of trash, bulky items, etc. By providing a clean, beautiful environment and recreational spaces for residents and their pets, the program aims to inspire a greater sense of community engagement, artistic expression, and neighborly cooperation.

 

Health & Wellbeing:

Propose a comprehensive health care program that creates a safe space for youth, adults and seniors. The program will include access to mental health and wellness services, services for folks at risk for substance abuse, physical exercise, and trauma informed care. There will be a fixed location for the program, as well as mobile/traveling elements to reach areas of South LA that haven't previously had access to this type of outreach. Local organizations will also have the opportunity to partner and provide targeted care to their direct community.

 

How were the program concepts created?

The following process describes how hundreds of ideas were summarized, sorted, and eventually narrowed down to the three program concepts for each Zone.

First, ideas were summarized and sorted into six categories: Housing & Transportation, Environment & Climate, Education & Access to Information, Health & Wellbeing, Pandemic Impact, and Other. Then, the three categories with the most ideas were prioritized, and those ideas were clustered into common themes. Finally, the largest clusters were reviewed by the Advisory Committee, and they composed the program concepts from these ideas. 

A flow chart graphic indicating how ideas were sorted, prioritized, clustered, and finally composed into the program concepts.