South LA Decides

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Best Start Communities, Region 2 ANNOUNCE A NEW ROUND OF REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS.

The Best Start Communities of Region 2 (West Athens, Compton/East Compton, Broadway Manchester and Watts/Willowbrook), invite you and your organizations to apply for funding through the South LA Decides and Community Change Fund Initiative, located within each respective community.

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 of distributing funding to organizations working to increase the health and well-being of children living in South LA and Compton, prenatal to 5 living in South LA and Compton.

This funding will support the planning and implementation of projects focused on strategic actions that create policy-centered solutions and/or improve systems of services around early childhood education, parks, green spaces and more, with the goal to improve the lives of children, prenatal to 5, and their families.

Funds from this initiative may NOT be used to fund capital projects, or capital improvement projects.

South LA Decides CCFI Budget Template (Excel)
South LA Decides logo

A total of up to $200,000 will be awarded per each Best Start community. Awards will be made for a 12-MONTH period (anticipated: August 1, 2021 – July 31, 2022).

Work under this program must take place in one or more of the four Best Start Region 2 geographies. Funds awarded are intended to support work on priority issues (see page 4) that benefit residents and stakeholders of Best Start Region 2 and are not for individual or personal use.

CHC encourages applications from a spectrum of organizations, community groups and/or coalitions.

Proposed Timelines:

June 5, 2021, at 2:00PM PST

Request for Proposals (RFPs) for the Best Start four (4) geographic areas.

June 9, 2021, 5:00PM

Questions and requests for additional information due

June 11, 2021, 10:00AM to 11:00 AM

Bidders/applicants Q&A webinar

June 18, 2021, 5:00PM PST

Full proposals due

Week of July 5, 2021

Intent to award announcements

Please click here for additional information about South LA Decides and access to the application.

West Athens

South LA Request for Proposals (PDF)
South LA Applicant Evaluation Form

Watts and Willowbrook

South LA Request for Proposals (PDF)
South LA Applicant Evaluation Form

Compton/East Compton

South LA Request for Proposals (PDF)
South LA Applicant Evaluation Form

Broadway Manchester

South LA Request for Proposals (PDF)
South LA Applicant Evaluation Form

South LA Decides Election #1

South LA Decides Election #1 Results (PDF)
South LA CCFI Request for Proposals (PDF)

Voting Results

OptionVotes
EMPLOYMENT & FAIR WAGES311
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION270
FOOD INSECURITY252
DIGITAL DIVIDE/150
MATERNAL AND INFANT HEALTH120
South LA Decides Election #1 Results

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

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