Glendale Initiative
Since 2010, VNR has been working with Flintridge Center and the City of Glendale Community Services and Parks Department, among other partners, to increase capacity-building services for nonprofits in the City of Glendale. The Glendale Initiative began with a convening in September 2010.
For more information about current Glendale Initiative activities, see In the News.
| More than 50 nonprofit sector leaders came to Glendale Nonprofit Day on September 22, 2010, to hear Assemblymember Mike Gatto and other speakers, and to brainstorm about how the nonprofit sector in Glendale can get better support, both financially and for good capacity building (here are photos from the session, showing VNR Executive Director Dr. Thomas Backer and meeting participants; photos courtesy Glendale Adventist Hospital). |  |
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Current Resources
* Resilience and Vulnerability: The State of the Nonprofit Sector in Los Angeles 2009, by Jocelyn Guihama, UCLA Center for Civil Society - for PDF, click on UCLA Study (presentation made at the September 22 event)
* Reaching New Heights: Rising to the Challenges of the Current Economic Recession, by Neal Dudovitz, Neighborhood Legal Services - for PDF, click on NLS Presentation (presentation made at the September 22 event)
* Flintridge Center, a nonprofit capacity-building center that serves Glendale, as well as Pasadena and Altadena, with workshops, technical assistance, an extensive nonprofit library including a Foundation Center regional library, and other services; click on www.flintridge.org
* City of Glendale Community Development Block Grant Program - to learn more about the City's upcoming Request for Proposals for support of local nonprofits, click on http://www.ci.glendale.ca.us/parks/default.asp
Burbank Initiative
Overview Launched in 2011, VNR's Burbank Initiative provides capacity-building and networking opportunities for nonprofits in the City of Burbank. VNR is collaborating on this Initiative with the Burbank Nonprofit Executive Directors Coalition and other groups in the City. The first activity in 2012 under this Initiative was the January 24th Burbank Nonprofit Day. VNR also has presented several educational workshops in Burbank, and has more upcoming. A calendar of events (see below) is updated monthly, and lists conferences, workshops and other activities being conducted within the Burbank city limits.
Highlights of Burbank Nonprofit Day Some 70 people gathered at Providence St. Joseph Medical Center on the morning of January 24, 2012 to participate in the first-ever gathering of the Burbank nonprofit sector. After a breakfast provided by the Medical Center, speakers included EngAGE's Tim Carpenter, California Assemblymember Mike Gatto, and the Mayor and City Manager of Burbank - all talking about the challenges and opportunities facing the nonprofit sector in the City. Local nonprofit leader Suzy Jacobs led a discussion about how nonprofits in Burbank can work together to meet the multiple needs of its residents. Among the other speakers and participants were representatives from local funders - Community Foundation of the Verdugos, Walt Disney Company, Warner Bros., and the Cartoon Network (for funder contact information, contact VNR). Click on Burbank Leader for a newspaper article describing the conference.
The gathering was organized by VNR, assisted by a capable planning committee, and co-sponsored by Providence St. Joseph Medical Center, Burbank Nonprofit Executive Directors Coalition, Burbank Cultural Arts Commission, and Burbank Ministerial Association.
Burbank Nonprofit Day concluded with participants discussing next steps the community and its nonprofit sector can take:
1 - Create a fundraising/grantseeking collaboration for nonprofits in Burbank, to apply for funding from government, foundations, corporations and major donors in a more coordinated way. Such a collaboration also could help nonprofits coordinate their services so they can better serve residents with multiple needs.
2 - Create a directory of services offered to the residents of Burbank by local nonprofits.
3 - Organize a follow-up networking event to bring together some of the people who participated in Burbank Nonprofit Day - City Manager Mike Flad suggested that the City might provide a meeting space for this purpose.
The Burbank Nonprofit Executive Directors' Coalition and other local groups can play an active role in moving forward on actions such as the three listed above, as can Valley Nonprofit Resources through its Burbank Initiative. VNR already has another event planned (see listing below). Future actions will be posted on this website section.
Burbank Nonprofit Calendar This listing is updated monthly, and includes only events within the City that are organized by nonprofit organizations. To add a listing, contact VNR at least 45 days before the event is scheduled to occur.
| DATE | EVENT | CONTACT |
|---|---|---|
| 2/1 - 2/9/12 | Oral Health Month - Free oral health examinations for children up to age 18 |
dale.gorman@att.net |
| 2/16/12 | VNR Strategic Planning Workshop Burbank Nonprofit Executive Directors Coalition |
go to VNR Workshop |
| 2/24/12 | Annual Boys & Girls Club Poker Tournament | brittanyvaughan@bgcburbank.org |
| 2/25/12 | First District PTA Reflections - Art Reception & Exhibit | barbpta@yahoo.com |
| 3/2/12 | Annual Burbank Temporary Aid Center Dinner | bhowell@theBTAC.org |
| 3/25/12 | Empty Bowls Fundraiser for Family Promise of ESFV | jwhite@familypromiseesfv.org |
| 3/29/12 | Trivia Challenge - Burbank Friends of the Library | unclebooks@earthlink.net |
| 4/18/12 | Annual PTA Honorary Service Awards Dinner | barbpta@yahoo.com |
| 4/27/12 | Party on the Plaza - Burbank Arts for All Foundation | trena@burbankartsforall.org |
| 4/28/12 | Y-Healthy Family Home (Healthy Kids Day) | susan@burbankymca.org |
| 4/30 - 5/5/12 | Used Book Sale - Burbank Friends of the Library | unclebooks@earthlink.net |
| 5/12/12 | Annual Dinner - Boys & Girls Club | shannawarren@aol.com |
Latino Initiative
Since 2009 Diana Medina Wiley (former VNR Project Coordinator and now USC graduate student) has led VNR's Latino Initiative, bringing together Latino leaders from the nonprofit, government and business sectors together for networking and education on topics of common interest. The first networking session was held in September 2009, followed by an educational workshop in December 2010 that focused on finding and recruiting Latino volunteers. In December 2011, "Nonprofit Leadership Development for Young Latinas" was the third event in this series, with a distinguished panel of Latina nonprofit and government leaders.
In addition, since 2008 VNR has been conducting a research study, funded by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, which has developed and is pilot testing a program for involving Spanish-speaking Latino families in mental health services for their adolescent family members. The program now is being disseminated both locally and nationally, and further pilot tests are underway at Valley-based mental health agencies. The program is funded by the Annie E. Casey Foundation (for more information, go to Latino MFG Program).
To learn more about VNR's Latino Initiative, please contact Julaine Konselman at julainehiri@aol.com or 818/990-0176.
Los Angeles Alliance to End Poverty
The Los Angeles Alliance to End Poverty serves as a platform to join together organizations and individuals engaged in fighting poverty. The Alliance helps its members magnify their impact in addressing the full spectrum of issues related to lifting Los Angeles communities out of poverty. To view the Alliance's mission statement, click here. There are two levels of membership - the Alliance's Steering Committee meetings bi-monthly and is responsible for communicating decisions and advocacy activities to the General Membership, comprised of individuals or organizations that want to be kept informed of the Alliance's activities and events, but are not actively involved in the bi-monthly meetings. Both levels of membership are free. To join contact either:
Sarah Brennan
Policy Deputy, Office of Councilmember Richard Alarcón
sarah.brennan@lacity.org (213) 847-7777
Rudy Espinoza
Senior Program Officer, Community Financial Resource Center
rudy@cfrc.net (310)597-1812
Annual MENDing Poverty Conference
To provide a "community voice" for staff and board of nonprofits in the Valley, VNR each year conducts several activities that bring together nonprofit leadership with policymakers (including elected officials and their staffs) and community leaders, to discuss issues, policy decisions and legislation that affect the Valley nonprofit sector. One such activity is a major annual event co-hosted with MEND and presented at the MEND Center in Pacoima, the MENDing Poverty Conference (see outcome reports on the 2008 (17 KB PDF), 2009 (16 KB PDF), 2010 (16 KB PDF) and 2011 (16 KB PDF) conferences).
| Photographs courtesy MEND from the June 15, 2011 MENDing Poverty conference Clockwise from the right:
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June 15, 2011 MENDing Poverty Conference Materials
For a brief summary of the 2011 conference and its outcomes, click on 2011 Outcomes Report. PowerPoints are available from presentations by Nonprofit Finance Fund's Karla Salazar and Neighbor Legal Service's Neal Dudovitz, along with a handout in PDF from Public Health Enterprise Foundation's Mark Bertler. For a Daily News article about the conference, click on 2011 Daily News Article (49 KB). If there's something else mentioned at the conference you would like to know about, please contact VNR.
* PowerPoint for Karla Salazar's presentation summarizes the main points made by Ms. Salazar in her address to the 2011 MENDing Poverty Conference. To download a free copy, click on Tools for Nonprofit Success: Financial Management in Tough Times (978 KB)
* PowerPoint for Neal Dudovitz's presentation summarizes the main points made by Mr. Dudovitz in his address to the 2011 MENDing Poverty Conference. To download a free copy, click on Improving Economic Security for Los Angeles' Poor Families (593 KB)
* PowerPoint for Mark Bertler's presentation summarizes the main points made by Mr. Bertler in his address to the 2011 MENDing Poverty Conference. To download a free copy, click on Better, Faster, Cheaper: What is a Fiscal Sponsor? (309 KB PDF)
June 16, 2010 MENDing Poverty Conference Materials
| Photographs courtesy MEND from the June 16, 2010 MENDing Poverty conference Clockwise from the right:
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For a brief summary of the 2010 conference and its outcomes, click on 2010 Outcomes Report. A PowerPoint from Heather Grant's Keynote Presentation, "Social Networks as Forces for Change," may be downloaded for free by clicking on Grant Keynote (5.3 MB PDF). If there's something else mentioned at the conference you would like to know about, please contact VNR.
June 4, 2009 MENDing Poverty Conference Materials
| Photographs courtesy MEND from the June 4, 2009 MENDing Poverty conference Clockwise from the right:
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Here's how to access publications discussed at the June 4 conference. If there's something else mentioned at the conference you would like to know about, please contact VNR.
* PowerPoint for Morley Winograd and Mike Hais's Keynote Presentation summarizes the main points made by Mr. Winograd and Dr. Hais in their opening keynote address to the 2009 MENDing Poverty Conference. To download a free copy, click on Winograd/Hais Keynote (5.46 MB PDF)
* PowerPoint for Professor Manuel Pastor's Keynote Presentation summarizes the main points made by Professor Pastor in his luncheon keynote address to the 2009 MENDing Poverty Conference. To download a free copy, click on Pastor Keynote (1.08 MB PDF)
* Millennial Makeover: MySpace, YouTube & the Future of American Politics by Morley Winograd and Michael D. Hais, Rutgers University Press. For more information: www.millennialmakeover.com
* This Could Be the Start of Something Big: How Social Movements for Regional Equity Are Reshaping Metropolitan America by Manuel Pastor, Jr., Chris Benner and Martha Matsuoaka, Cornell University Press. For more information: http://www.amazon.com/This-Could-Start-Something-Big/dp/0801474620/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1243955757&sr=1-1
* Staying Alive Resource Guide is a VNR publication which has detailed information and guidance on how nonprofits can best address the challenges of the recession. To download a free copy, click on Staying Alive Resource Guide.
* Local Patterns and Dynamics: The State of the Nonprofit Sector In Los Angeles 2008 Report by Helmut K. Anheier, Hyeon Jong Kil, David B. Howard, Eve Garrow, Marcus Lam and Jocelyn Guihama. UCLA Center for Civil Society. To access: www.spa.ucla.edu/ccs/docs/2008%20Nonprofit%20Report_52908.pdf
June 18, 2008 MENDing Poverty Conference
| Photographs courtesy MEND from the June 18, 2008 MENDing Poverty conference Clockwise from the right:
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Resources for Nonprofits
Roster of San Fernando Valley Neighborhood Councils is a VNR publication that lists all Los Angeles City Neighborhood Councils in the San Fernando Valley, along with details on how to get more information about them. To download a free copy, click SFV Neighborhood Councils.
Torie's Top Ten Tips for Nonprofits to Become Change Agents This resource guide by social change leader Torie Osborn offers practical advice on how nonprofits can participate in social change advocacy. It includes websites and other resources to consult for further information, and is based on Osborn's recent keynote address to the 2008 California Association of Nonprofits annual conference. To download a free copy, click Torie's Top Ten (176 KB PDF).
Links to Elected Officials
To reach elected officials representing your area in the San Fernando Valley, please e-mail (or call):
State of California Assemblymembers
- Assemblymember Bob Blumenfield (40th District) e-mail (818-904-3840)
- Assemblymember Julia Brownley (41st District) e-mail (916-319-2041)
- Assemblymember Mike Feuer (42nd District) e-mail (916-319-2042)
- Assemblymember Felipe Fuentes (39th District) e-mail (916-319-2039)
- Assemblymember Mike Gatto (43rd District) e-mail (916-319-2043)
- State Senator Carol Liu (21st District) e-mail (818-409-0400)
- State Senator Alex Padilla (20th District) e-mail (818-901-5588)
- State Senator Fran Pavley (23rd District) e-mail (310-314-5214)
- State Senator Tony Strickland (19th District)
e-mail (805-306-8886)
- Mayor: Jess Talamantes e-mail (818-238-5750)
- Vice Mayor: Dave Golonski e-mail (818-238-5750)
- Council Member: Gary Bric e-mail (818-238-5750)
- Council Member: Emily Gabel-Luddy e-mail (818-238-5750)
- Council Member: Dr. David Gordon e-mail (818-238-5750)
- Mayor and Council Member: Laura Friedman e-mail
- Council Member: Rafi Manoukiane-mail
- Council Member: Ara Najarian e-mail
- Council Member: Frank Quintero e-mail
- Council Member: Dave Weaver e-mail
- 3rd District Zev Yaroslavsky e-mail (818-901-3831)
- 5th District Michael D. Antonovich e-mail (818-993-5170)
- 2nd District Paul Krekorian e-mail (818-755-7676)
- 3rd District Dennis P. Zine e-mail (818-756-8848)
- 4th District Tom LaBonge e-mail (818-755-7630)
- 5th District Paul Koretz e-mail (818-971-3088)
- 6th District Tony Cardenas e-mail (818-778-4999)
- 7th District Richard Alarcon e-mail (818-756-9115)
- 12th District Mitchell Englander e-mail (213-473-7012)
- Mayor: Mario F. Hernandez e-mail (818-898-1201)
- Mayor Pro-Tem: Brenda Esqueda e-mail (818-898-1201)
- Council Member: Antonio Lopez e-mail (818-898-1201)
- Council Member: Sylvia Ballin e-mail (818-898-1201)
- Council Member: Maribel de la Torre e-mail (818-898-1201)
- Mayor: Jim Cohen (818-888-9281)
- Mayor Pro-Tem: Stuart E. Siegel (818-888-9281)
- Council Member: Steve Freedland (818-888-9281)
- Council Member: Marv Landon (818-888-9281)
- Council Member: Larry G. Weber (818-888-9281)
