In August, the Northeast Valley (NEV) Best Start Community – facilitated by Los Angeles Education Partnership (LAEP) – and El Nido Family Centers hosted a Best Start San Fernando Valley “United in Action” Grant ceremony at Las Palmas Park to award 2023-2024 participatory budget project (PBP) grants.
Through the participatory budget process, LAEP and El Nido work with community members to identify needs in the community and vote on projects local organizations propose to meet those needs. Grantees invite the community to be a part of the project and report back on progress. Several members of the NEV Best Start Committee receive training on the participatory budget process in order to manage this each year. This is community-centered, community-led, community-driven work.
LAEP facilitates the Best Start Community in the Northeast San Fernando Valley (NEV), while El Nido facilitates Best Start Panorama City & Neighbors (PCN).
This year’s grantees are:
- Champions in Service (NEV)
- Child and Family Guidance Center (PCN)
- Discovery Cube Los Angeles (NEV)
- Partnerships to Uplift Communities (PUC Schools) (NEV)
- Urban Partners – LA Baby Cooperative (PCN)
- YMCA (PCN)
Each agency received $75,000 for their projects – resulting in $450,000 invested in the San Fernando Valley community! $225,000 of this will be invested the Northeast San Fernando Valley where LAEP works. The projects will take place over the next year.
This is the third year LAEP has awarded these grants. Past projects include:
- Multicultural storytimes
- School wellness lounge
- Cultural events
- College scholarships
- Activities to explore nature
- Community art
- Mental health workshops
NEV Best Start, facilitated by LAEP, empowers local families and volunteers to lead community initiatives that address important issues for local families and children so that kids enter kindergarten ready to succeed in school and life.
