Built Environment Policy Advocacy Fund (BEPAF) Program Overview
With funding from First 5 LA and The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation, Prevention Institute supports a cohort of six community-based organizations, policy advocacy networks, and coalitions working to improve neighborhood conditions for children 0-5 and their families in Los Angeles County. In Year 2 of the BEPAF program (June 2021 – May 2022), Prevention Institute provides grant funding and technical assistance to the grantee cohort. BEPAF grantees support resident leaders and advocate for policies and public agency procedures to increase access to parks and open space, safe walking and biking routes, public transit options, healthy food, and resources for children and families living in communities that have experienced historical disinvestment. This is a unique opportunity to improve the built environment, with a goal of promoting healthy early childhood development in First 5 LA’s Best Start communities. The BEPAF is part of First 5 LA’s mission to ensure that all children in Los Angeles County enter Kindergarten ready to succeed.
Six organizations were selected to receive BEPAF funding in Year 2 (2021 – 2022):
- Alliance for Community Transit – Los Angeles (ACT-LA) is a broad-based coalition of 37 organizations that is building a grassroots movement for more equitable public transit systems and budgets. ACT-LA, with coalition partners Community Power Collective and Koreatown Immigrant Workers Alliance, will lead a new LA County-wide campaign for transit justice that builds the power of low-income residents to shape policies and funding decisions. The coalition will organize parents and residents in East LA and Koreatown, developing their skills to become effective leaders and spokespeople in the transit justice campaign.
“Plus, [@InvestinPlace] notes that if the majority of LA Metro’s ridership is eligible for low-income and student s… t.co/w5dLBOMYLu
- Community Coalition works to transform the social and economic conditions in South LA that foster addiction, crime, violence, and poverty by building a community institution that involves thousands in creating, influencing, and changing public policy. Community Coalition will apply its renowned model of community organizing and power-building to the issue of park equity. Community Coalition will cultivate knowledge, agency, and leadership among low-income African American and Latino residents of South LA to influence public policies—including tax and fiscal reform—to improve parks, open space, and recreation areas in their neighborhoods.
As for how to reduce violence right now, community-based prevention programs are the answer. They also create large… t.co/yxS5gMCj3E
It’s no secret that we’re encountering very high levels of violence right now. At the end of 2021, there were almos… t.co/8ESHNQSzb6
New year, new skills! We're thrilled to be able to offer you a complimentary 1-year subscription to @MasterClass th… t.co/PcPt3uOs45
Testing and vaccines are available Tuesday-Saturday at South LA Cafe! t.co/NJLpiuq75L
Are you a current college student or recent graduate thinking about a healthcare career? If so, check out this gr… t.co/rGjcOJkmKR
@lacivilrights Thanks but unfortunately we’ve had to postpone this week’s clinic. Here’s one to share. t.co/SshjAk9Rcj
Unfortunately we’ve had to postpone this week’s testing and vaccine clinic. Aiming to get back up and running for n… t.co/7YUHEoOK9b
- Investing in Place works to align policies and public dollars to support transportation investments that strengthen communities. Investing in Place and partners East Side Riders Bike Club, Los Angeles Walks, and South Central LAMP will advance the Moms and Mobility project in South Central LA, Watts, and other South LA neighborhoods. Recognizing that women and their young children face access and safety barriers as they travel to school, work, medical providers, grocery stores, parks, and other destinations, the project will combine new data and new voices from women to influence policy and public investments for a more equitable transportation system.
Interested to learn more about what is going on with Metro's bus operator shortage? We are too. Join us at our… t.co/US35stlBQS
We are saddened to hear about the passing of our dear friend Dana. We are grateful for his vision and his contribut… t.co/Fw236mbEaH
Other recommendations from the Committee: Request the Mayor’s Office to include funding and positions in the Fiscal… t.co/yLNevS5XmZ
Outcomes from meeting: Chair @BobBlumenfield asked the CAO's office for a report back within 30 days with a recomme… t.co/bwEioBbVsa
And you can see our comment letter here for today's meeting. t.co/0QK3hJ1och
We are working with partners at Communities Actively Living Independent & Free (CALIF), Independent Living Center o… t.co/FXpE9AweOs
While many people like to suggest property owners should be responsible for the sidewalks, we firmly disagree. Side… t.co/0JM2VwOMvb
It is likely the sidewalks and crosswalks are one of the largest infrastructure needs in L.A.. But no one really kn… t.co/UwHT7gQjZp
Today at 2pm the Public Works Committee will meet. On the agenda? Repairing LA’s Broken Sidewalk Strategy. See Coun… t.co/VY90Wv0Klw
- Physicians for Social Responsibility – Los Angeles (PSR-LA) is a physician membership organization that advocates for policies and practices that improve public health, eliminate nuclear and environmental threats, and address health disparities. PSR-LA will engage communities across East LA, South LA, and Southeast LA County to take on the intersectional issues of increasing access to parks and open space while protecting children and their families from toxic exposures. The TIERRA project will produce a policy agenda and related tools to facilitate proactive contamination remediation as an essential element of community-driven efforts to increase safe access to parks and other green space.
More than 700,000 people live within 10 miles of the Santa Susana Field Lab's dangerous contamination. We won't sto… t.co/XhLbqrBoAd
“Unfortunately, public health has been in denial,” said Mielke. “They don’t seem to connect the dots. If you put so… t.co/zp6Qrxjjm7
"In an open letter to @POTUS over 1,000 physicians, health professionals and concerned citizens have called on the… t.co/13NQHJG31y
The last things we need in the #BuildBackBetter Act are destructive processes—enhanced oil recovery, subsidies for… t.co/30E6NACrPg
“If you want to set goals, then start from ‘we want to end fossil fuel production,’ and work backwards.” Our execu… t.co/arajobS5Nw
Carbon capture & storage (CCS) is a false climate solution that will only make harmful emissions worse. You can ca… t.co/CeGN8AgfT5
- Promesa Boyle Heights is a collective impact initiative of Proyecto Pastoral, a Boyle Heights based organization that supports educational opportunities, economic opportunities, and safety and well-being. Promesa Boyle Heights, in collaboration with Pacoima Beautiful, From Lot 2 Spot, Advancement Project California, The Wilderness Society, and other Park Equity Alliance partners, will organize residents in neighborhoods across East LA, the Northeast San Fernando Valley, and Southeast LA County, to engage in policy- and systems-change advocacy for parks and open space, and strengthening community-led oversight of Measure A implementation.
COVID testing questions? Find verified testing sites, required documents, and who to contact when encountering a fr… t.co/IhIOLBrtB4
#PromesaBH celebrates amazing news & a major community win in a highly competitive bid for funding parks where only… t.co/Q4voUacv6X
Shoutout to Sugar Sister Bakery and Cafe Rebelde for providing yummy baked goods and coffee 🥐☕ for Teacher & Staff… t.co/mUFzFroUVN
Dear valued community member or partner, Promesa cordially invites you to attend Convivio, our annual winter Genera… t.co/2s3wT2CavQ
Estimade miembre o socie de la comunidad, Promesa le invita cordialmente a asistir al Convivio, la reunión anual vi… t.co/fRQ49erP93
This week's staff spotlight is on Francisco Romero, Program Manager of Community Transformation. Check out our IG o… t.co/6PCZR9ACVj
After you're done gathering and prepping for more holidays to come-we hope you'll keep Promesa Boyle Heights in min… t.co/qADq4j5VJT
Promesa Boyle Heights will be closed Thursday and Friday. We are grateful to our community and partners and wish yo… t.co/TLZPAKWR5r
- United Parents and Students supports students, parents, and community members in amplifying their collective voice and advocating for the issues and changes that matter most to them. United Parents and Students will increase equitable food access in low-income communities by improving the quality of existing grocery stores, enabling and equipping entrepreneurs to focus on healthy and affordable food, and increasing the number of large-scale, high-quality grocery stores that locate in neighborhoods across South LA, East LA, and Southeast LA County.
BIG: LEAP is finally here! What is it? Receive $1,000/ monthly for 12 months with no strings attached! The applica… t.co/fZDVqq9hoG
LEADERSHIP SPOTLIGHT! Candy (GD/UPAS student intern) has showcased her leadership skills through her outstanding re… t.co/cw8mU9O3rs
@LACountyBOS @HollyJMitchell @kathrynbarger @SupJaniceHahn @HildaSolis @SheilaKuehl Families are asking for free pu… t.co/PC4FPLdwF3
Join us on Tuesday, October 26th at 4:00PM for our monthly training sessions to address the racial, social, and eco… t.co/tRrjhSAKdt
About 1 in 5 Angelenos (~2 million ppl) don’t have internet service at home, mostly bc they can’t afford it. Tell… t.co/1xD92BjoVr
@CASenCaballero We are humbled by your leadership! Thank you!
Program Management: The BEPAF is a program funded by First 5 LA and The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation. Prevention Institute manages the BEPAF, selects grantees and administers grants, convenes grantees in a learning community, provides technical assistance, and builds grantee capacity; Ersoylu Consulting leads the BEPAF program evaluation. Since 2014, Prevention Institute has facilitated the Healthy Equitable Active Land Use (HEALU) Network, a multi-sector collaborative that works to improve health equity through land use/built environment policy and systems change in Los Angeles County. Since 2007, Ersoylu Consulting has provided strategy, evaluation, policy analysis, and systems consultation to strengthen systems and empower communities in the social justice space.
For more information, please contact BEPAF@preventioninstitute.org.