South LA Decides

ENG | ESP

About South LA Decides and The Community Change Fund Initiative

South LA Decides is how Best Start Region 2 will expand grant making decisions to the residents of South LA and Compton. This Community-Based Grant Making initiative builds on the successful work that each Best Start community in Region 2 has achieved. This initiative will ensure that residents of Region 2 are able to participate in the decision-making process to distribute funding to organizations working to increase the health and well-being of children aged 0 – 5 living in South LA and Compton.

This funding will support the planning and implementation of projects focused on identifying and taking strategic actions to create policy solutions and/or improve systems of services around employment and fair wages, early childhood education or food insecurity to improve the lives of children 0-5 and their families.

South LA Decides Election #1 Results (PDF)
South LA CCFI Request for Proposals (PDF)
South LA Decides CCFI Budget Template (Excel)
South LA Decides logo
South LA Decides Election #1 Results

Voting Results

OptionVotes
EMPLOYMENT & FAIR WAGES311
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION270
FOOD INSECURITY252
DIGITAL DIVIDE/150
MATERNAL AND INFANT HEALTH120

FAQ’s

What is the summit and why are we doing it?
This Community-Based Grant Making initiative builds on the successful work that each Best Start community in Region 2 has achieved. This initiative will ensure that residents of Region 2 are able to participate in the decision-making process to distribute funding to organizations working to increase the health and well-being of children aged 0 – 5 living in South LA and Compton.
Where does the funding for this grant-making come from?
The funds are being distributed by Community Health Councils in partnership with First 5 LA.
What will be discussed at the summit on Feb. 25th?
The Community-Based Grant Making Summit will introduce our newly elected Regional Task Force of South LA and Compton community residents and discuss what community-based grant making is all about!
What is South LA Decides?
South LA Decides is how Best Start Region 2 will expand grant making decisions to the residents of South LA and Compton. Between Feb. 25 – 28, residents will vote on what issues they want to prioritize for 2021 and between Mar. 25 – Apr. 7 residents will vote on which projects they want to fund.
What issues will be included in the vote between Feb. 25 – 28?
The Regional Task Force will review all the research and data collected through the Best Start Region 2 Local Councils as well as City and County data to determine which issues will be included.
How much money will be distributed?
The Regional Task Force will determine the amount of funds available by March 5th .
Who is the Regional Task Force?
The Regional Task Force is comprised of 8 elected residents from across South LA and Compton.
Who elected the Regional Task Force members?
The Regional Task Force Members were elected by residents of South LA who attend Best Start Local Council meetings in West Athens, Compton/E. Compton, Broadway Manchester and Watts/Willowbrook.
Who will be allowed to vote?
The Regional Task Force will release the criteria for voting for community issues by February 25th and voting on proposed projects they want to fund between March 25th and April 7th.
When will the Request for Proposals be released?
The Request for Proposals will be released on March 5th at 3:00 PM.
When will the Request for Proposals be due?
Proposals are due by March 19th at 3:00 PM.
Who will be allowed to apply for funding?
The Regional Task Force will release the eligibility guidelines by March 5th .
How will winning proposals be selected?
The Regional Task Force will use a criteria to select proposals to be included in the South LA Decides vote between March 25 – April 7.
Who do I talk to if I have more questions about this process?

We will be hosting a Bidders Conference Q & A session on Friday, March 12th from 1:00 – 2:00 PM.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/south-la-decides-community-based-grant-making-summit-tickets-141025463959

Will we be able to use any community change agenda funds for current local council initiatives?
The Regional Task Force will determine if any funds will be allocated to existing local council community change activities by March 1st .
What is the role of the Regional Task Force?
The Regional Task Force role is to elevate local issues affecting all of Region 2 by developing recommendations to increase systems-change impact and stewarding community-based grant making.
What key dates do we need to be aware of during this process?
  • February 25: 2021 South LA Community-Based Grant Making Summit
  • February 25 – 28: South LA Decides Vote on Top Community Priorities
  • March 5: Request for Proposals Released
  • March 12: Bidders Conference
  • March 19: Proposals Due
  • March 25 – April 7: South LA Decides Vote on Best Proposals
  • April 9: Grant Awards Announced 
South LA decides timeline

Register Today!