Get a brief introduction to the work of the DLANC Sustainability Committee through Summer 2010. The Neighborhood Council subcommittee, founded in October 2008, is dedicated to creating a culture of sustainability for a more livable, affordable and efficient urban center.

2. In the beginning… Need Identified: A strategic, sustainable vision for Downtown and DLANC Goal: Develop a community greening strategy (plan) and resource toolkit Tool: Launched the Sustainability Committee in October 2008 Park[ing] Day LA 2008

3. Refine our mission Establish a mission, objectives for committee Include broad participation with diverse representation of the community Listen to your neighbors to understand needs. Long list of brainstormed ideas refined to a more defined group of projects for our first year “Pilot” is critical concept; data-driven conclusions Support other initiatives Bilingual postcards

4. Foster partnership Focus on existing resources within the neighborhood 2008 Park[ing] Day Sponsors: City Council Districts and CRA-LA, professional and volunteer groups, private sector, etc. Leverage limited budget to accomplish community goals Engage a broad base with relevant and timely information NC Event Budget: $200

5. Park for a Day Community Workshop DLANC Outreach Dog Park Basketball Recreation Music Youth Literacy Public art

6. Develop reputation Created a committee vision and mission to guide our decision-making and involvement in the neighborhood Applied for a national grant from the American Institute of Architects – professional association which gives $15K in resources with $5K community match Ashley Zarella, LEED AP, Assoc. AIA Greening the DLANC Office

7. Our mission The Sustainability Committee is dedicated to empoweringthe Downtown community to create a culture of sustainability. We will work with the communityto increase accessibilityto existing programs and services through outreach and public education. We will identify and create opportunitiesfor new programming and partnershipsto meet our goals for a morelivable,affordable, and efficienturban center.

8. Find know-how To develop community greening strategy, need people who understand different issues Affordable housing Reintroduction of parolees Economic development Parks and open space Transportation and walkability Amenities and livability 2009 SDAT Application

9. Talk about your work Presented to LANCC, First-Ever LA Bioneers Beaming Conference; DLANC and Downtown stakeholders. Community-driven change 2009 AIA SDAT

10. Creating visibility Outreach through word-of-mouth, blogspot, listservs, and meeting reports (both online and flyers) Develop skills in outreach through best practices and testing Innovation in numbers – grew list serve through event outreach and sign-up lists (opt-in marketing) Blogger – free website Committee work provides content

11. Community Project What do we want as a neighborhood? Identify topics, themes, and other ways to organize ideas Limit the total number of projects Lesson Learned: We took on a lot of projects our first year making it difficult (and sometimes impossible) to meet goals. Create guidelines (project and letter templates) and a structure to keep focused. Harlem Place Project

12. Our approach Education What did we learn? What do people want to know? Who can help us find out more? What is available Downtown? Outreach Who would like to know? Why is it relevant? Are there existing tools? Advocacy What is the problem? Who do we talk to? How can we solve this together? PPS with James Rojas Workshop

13. Our goals Livability Urban beautification and living solutions Affordability Equity now and for the future Efficiency Resource efficiency and the efficient use of resources Empowerment Representing our community as a knowledgeable and inclusive voice Shovel-ready

14. Year One Projects Eight projects total (yes - 8) Project 1: Rooftop Edible & Compostable Containers Project 2: Tree Planting Projects 3 & 4: Increase Participation in City Services (Water & Energy; Waste & Recycling) Project 5: Online Toolkit Project 6: SDAT & Community Greening Strategy Project 7: Education & Event Calendar Project 8: Green Living Program Ground Up

15. (1) Urban Gardens Rooftop gardens presented challenge – ordinances and rules unclear Author of The Urban Homestead inspired “do-it-yourself” approach with presentation and stories Community internship brought volunteer to help research Committee’s Urban Garden Guide with local resources Volunteer graphic designer

16. (2) Tree Planting Consensus-building in neighborhood Million Trees (Mayor’s office) designated “corridor project” means bigger trees Los Angeles Conservation Corps, community partner Surveys and survey day Verification of surveys Permitting Trees, tools, and staff Planting day Maintenance

17. 31 trees on S. Alameda Street

18. (3) Energy, Water(4) Waste & Recycling First meeting – presentation by Bureau of Sanitation on multi-family recycling, waste assessment city programs Maintained ongoing communication; distributed outreach materials for City; learned about resources Looked for information that would appeal to business owners and residents

19. (5) Online Toolkit Collection of information, resources, and best practices Lessons learned for increased efficiency Why re-create the wheel? Under development (ongoing) Calendar of “green” Downtown activities downtownsustainability.com

20. (6) SDAT&Community Greening Strategy Team of ten professionals from across the country Visited neighborhood and stakeholders 3-day visit included tour of Downtown with guides Meetings with stakeholders on community organization, walkability, affordability, First time ever awarded to neighborhood organization SDAT would like to come back Preliminary Report 12/2009

21. (7) Education & Event Calendar Connect people who share similar interests Provide a resource for the community Don’t always have to be the host Calendar of events provides a good reason to revisit the website Outreach kit provides easy tool for attending events Community asset Civic engagement

22. (8) Green Living Program Researched different programs, both city-sponsored and non-profit Sought options that were free or affordable Collected information and contacts for future program Generally applied to all projects This content will be useful for the online resource toolkit. Urban Garden Guide

23. Other projects Green alley project by graduate student team from UC Santa Barbara Adopted final document for planned (but unfunded) Fashion District program Green Pockets – helping a Downtown Youth Center build a “green” parking lot Understanding our options

24. Today Recognition by others 2009 Planning Excellence Award for Grassroots Initiative 2009 Award of Merit for Grassroots Initiative First Annual NC Peer Award for the Environment Community reference for sustainability issues SDAT plan issued with recommendations from outgoing board Identifying opportunities for change

25. Tomorrow… Board chair seat open Volunteer for project(s) Host office hours