CBGrant.org

GRO1000 Gardens and Green Spaces

2012-01-30T12:01:00.000-08:00


2011 GRO1000 Dedication Event in Los Angeles@ Proyecto Pastoral Community Center

ScottsMiracle-Gro is continuing their mission of creating 1000 gardens and green spaces by 2018 through it's GRO1000 Grassroots Grants. The GRO1000 initiative encourages community involvement in the garden creation process. Grants of up to $1500 will be awarded to fund these gardens throughout U.S., Canada and Europe.

Grant applications are now available for filing. The last day to submit an application is Friday, February 24, 2012. Organizations with 501(3)(c) status or have a fiscal agent with 501(3)(c) status are eligible to apply.

For more information or to access the application, please click on GRO1000 Grassroots Grants.

Good luck!

Cherry Tree Giveaway

2012-01-19T12:43:00.000-08:00

Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Japan-US Cherry Blossom event, the Huntington Botanical Gardens, in collaboration with the Consulate General of Japan in Los Angeles and the Japan-related Community is offering FREE bare root cherry trees to organizations in Southern California. Since the trees are available on a first-come, first-served basis, interested organizations should immediately email their request to japanesegarden@huntington.org.

Organizations will need to do the following:
1. Have space available at the end of January to plant the cherry trees.
2. Email your request and include the organization name, address, contact person and number, and preferences on cherry tree and distribution center.
3. Once your request is approved, pick up trees at the distribution center on specified date.

For more information and/or a list of distribution centers, please click here for the flyer.

Seeking Projects for 9th Annual Sharefest Workday

2012-01-12T15:44:00.000-08:00

Sharefest is holding their 9th Annual Sharefest Workday on Saturday, April 28, 2012. In preparation for this event, Sharefest is seeking beautification projects throughout South Bay and Harbor areas that need volunteer support. To register your project for workday assistance, please sign up here and provide the following:

1. Register yourself.
2. Register your organization.
3. Create your project.
4. Outline your project with "Project Activities".

Project applications are due Friday, February 3, 2012. For more info on the process, please click here.

Watch How WE Created a Woodland

2011-06-08T13:11:00.000-07:00

WE (Westminster Elementary) posted this 1.5 minute video on youtube showing the transformation of an asphalted area into the "WE Woodlands!" The video highlights the April 2nd tree planting event, "A Forest For Us", where dozens of volunteers came out and helped create this forest area at WE.

(Video footage provided by Karoff Films)

LANI's 9th Annual Community Forum on May 19, 2011

2011-05-02T16:20:00.000-07:00

Register now for the 2011 Los Angeles Neighborhood Initiative (LANI) 9th Annual Community Forum to learn how to revitalize your neighborhood from industry experts. The forum will be held on Thursday, May 19th, 2011, from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m at the USC Davidson Conference Center, 3415 S. Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90089. Wendy Greuel, City Controller, will start the event with a welcome address to be followed by the keynote speaker, Michael LoGrande, City's Planning Director.

Also, Paul Racs, Director of the Office of Community Beautification (OCB), will be speaking at the event. He will discuss OCB's programs and how volunteers can be a part of the beautification effort that is occurring throughout Los Angeles.

Topics to be discussed at the forum include:

ALL EYES ON THE BLOCK: Putting "Neighborhood Watch" to Work
HOW DO I GET THERE?: Making the Multi-Modal System Work for You
IF YOU PLANT IT, THEY WILL COME: Native Plants that Attract Wildlife
TAKE OUT THE TRASH: Combating Illegal Dumping in Your Neighborhood
BIKE ON!: The Next Cycle of the Bicycle Revolution
MAKING IT WORK: Case Studies of Neighborhood Success
SHOW ME!: An Interactive Neighborhood Design Workshop
THE TOMATOES NEXT DOOR: Community Gardening in Your Neighborhood

More information to this FREE workshop is provided on the brochure. Go to https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/J63P6K2 to RSVP for this event.

Groundbreaking for WAYS Fitness Park

2011-04-08T09:31:00.000-07:00

At the intersection of McKinley Ave and 87th St., 4000 square feet of City land lay asphalted and unused near Wisdom Academy for Young Scientists (WAYS) Charter School. Realizing that the area needed to be beautified, Wisdom Academy applied and was awarded a Community Beautification Grant in 2009 to make their vision a reality...transforming an unused plot of land into a walking trail and sitting area to serve as an outdoor classroom and a gathering place for the local community.

WAYS held a great groundbreaking event for their project, "WAYS Reading and Fitness Park," on March 30, 2011. In attendance were Kendra Okonkwo, Founder of WAYS, Alake Watson, Principal at WAYS, Councilwoman Jan Perry, Heal the Bay organizers, WAYS students and parents, and numerous stakeholders. Excited to be part of this transformation, WAYS students worked on the installation of murals along the walking trail.

The grant funds was used to leverage a $1.3 million state grant to Heal the Bay for the creation of a mini-park at the site. As pictured on the left, landscape architect, Steve Cancian, designed an innovative landscaping plan that incorporated Wisdom Academy's Reading & Fitness Park. Once completed, this will be a place for the local community to come out and enjoy.

The Home Depot: Making an Impact in the CommUnity

2011-04-05T11:03:00.000-07:00

The Home Depot is accepting applications in the Community Impact Grants Program for projects that build and improve the community. Proposals will also be accepted for projects that improve the homes of veterans, seniors and the disabled who are facing economic difficulties.

Organizations that are registered as 501(c)(3) nonprofit, public schools and tax-exempt service agencies can apply for the grant.

Eligible projects include:

Repairs, refurbishments or modifications to low-income and/transitional housing or community facilities
Weatherizing or improving the energy efficiency of low-income and/transitional housing or community facilities
Tree planting, community gardens or landscaping community facilities
Development or improvement of parks or green spaces

Applications will only be accepted online beginning April 4, 2011 through October 31, 2011. Priority for funding will be first given to proposals that aid veterans, seniors and the disabled. The grant will be awarded in the form of The Home Depot gift cards that can be used for the purchase tools, supplies or services.

Questions relating to the grant project should be emailed to The Home Depot Foundation at team_depot@homedepot.com.

Council District 13 Beautification Grant

2011-03-25T12:06:00.000-07:00

Council President Eric Garcetti of Council District 13 (CD 13) is accepting grant applications for the "Clean & Connected Communities" Program. The program will award matching grants of up to $2500 to fund beautification projects in CD 13.

Eligible projects must be located in a public space in Council District 13 and include a beautification element to make the community cleaner, greener and safer.

The Council Office will review and narrow the list of potential projects and the community will vote for their favorite project to be funded in their neighborhood. Three projects will be awarded in each of the eight neighborhoods of CD 13 which includes Hollywood, Silver Lake, Echo Park, Historic Filipotown, Elysian Valley, East Hollywood, Glassell Park and Atwater Village.

Applications must be received by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, April 13th. Please submit your applications by email or mail to:

Email: marta.segura@lacity.org

Mail: Clean and Connected CD13

Office of L.A. City Council President

5500 Hollywood Blvd, 4th Floor

Los Angeles, CA 90028

Click on Clean & Connected Communities Program for more information or to obtain a copy of the application.

Good luck!

Creating a 1000 Community Gardens and Green Spaces

2011-03-03T11:25:00.000-08:00

To show that they are “dedicated to a beautiful world”, Scotts Miracle-Gro Company will be awarding grants of up to $1500 for community garden and green spaces projects in its GRO1000 Grassroots Grant. GRO1000 strives to create 1000 community garden and green spaces in US, Canada and Europe by 2018, to coincide with the 150^th Anniversary of Scotts Miracle-Gro Company.

Eligible organizations are those that are recognized under Section 501©(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or have a fiscal sponsor that is nonprofit and tax-exempt. The project must show community involvement and support. Last date to file for the 2011 grant is Thursday, March 31, 2011.

Click on GRO1000 Grassroots Grant for more information or to apply for the grant.

Grant Opportunity: ArtWorks Grant Program

2011-02-28T13:31:00.000-08:00

The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) is accepting applications for its ArtWorks Grant Program which awards grants of $10,000 up to $100,000. Projects must be matched 1:1 with non-federal funds. To apply, projects must meet one of the following outcomes of Art Works:

Creation: The creation of art that meets the highest standards of excellence,
Engagement: Public engagement with diverse and excellent art,
Learning: Lifelong learning in the arts, and
Livability: The strengthening of communities through the arts.

The two deadline dates for the applications are March 10, 2011 and August 11, 2011. Applicants should identify their project outcome and submit their application under the deadline date that is associated with the outcome for their project. Projects with a March deadline will have one of the following outcomes: creation or engagement (projects that engages the public on/after January 1, 2012). Projects with an August deadline will have an outcome of engagement (projects that engages the public on/after June 1, 2012), learning or livability.

If funded, NEA will require applicants to report on their project. The reporting requirements vary for each outcome so please read the reporting requirement prior to submitting your application.

For more information or a copy of the ArtWorks grant application, please click here. Questions regarding the grant program can be directed to Eleanor Denegre @ denegree@arts.gov or (202) 682-5509 or Carol Lanoux Lee @ leec@arts.gov or (202) 682-5020.

Revival of "The Big Blue M"

2011-01-03T16:48:00.000-08:00

After: The Big Blue M

John Marshall High School

St. George and Griffith Park Blvd., Los Angeles 90027

With $10,000 from the Community Beautification Grant, Greater Griffith Park Neighborhood Council (GGPNC) was able to enlist artist, Yuriko Etue, and various supporters and volunteers to create this wonderful mosaic of "The Big Blue M" that adorns a retaining wall of John Marshall High School. As pictured above, members of GGPNC, Councilmember Tom LaBonge, and various stakeholders and supporters showed up for the dedication event on December 16, 2010, to celebrate the completion of the project.

The "M" has been an iconic symbol of Marshall HS that underwent a great transformation from a deteriorated painted "M" (as pictured below) to the mosaic "M".

Before

New Guideline for Parkway Improvements

2010-12-06T14:56:00.000-08:00

The Bureau of Street Services released a new Residential Parkway Landscaping Guideline for City of LA residents. Under this guideline, residents can remove the grass in their parkway and plant 20 different drought tolerant species without having to apply for permits. The parkway is the strip of grass between the curb and the sidewalk. Some surprises on this planting list includes chamomile, thyme and two varieties of strawberries.

Residents may also be eligible for the Residential Drought Resistant Landscape Incentive Program offered to LADWP customers by SoCal WaterSmart. This rebate program offers resident $1 per square foot of grass removed. Residents must meet qualifications and be approved for this rebate prior to removing their grass. Funding is limited and the program will end when the funding is exhausted. The Rebates Remaining Index is at 48% as of November 30, 2010.

Glenwood Elementary Completes "The BEST Mural Project Ever"

2010-10-28T16:17:00.000-07:00

Glenwood Elementary held a dedication on October 26, 2010, to showcase their completed mural project titled "The BEST Mural Project Ever." The mural was featured in The Daily News, as shown in the clipping below. Muralist, Helene Cob, collaborated with Glenwood Elementary staff, students and volunteers to create the bottom two murals in "The BEST Mural Project Ever". This is second "BEST" project funded by City of Los Angeles' Community Beautification Grant.


Left: Daily News clipping on October 27, 2010. Right: Full mural image titled "Healthy Foods" which connects to the school's health curriculum and promotes healthy concerns.

"Heritage Mural 1" which depicts the immigrant experience and the history of the United States.

The first BEST project funded by CB Grant is "The BEST Garden Ever" (pictured below). These two projects ties into the school's BEST program which is a school-wide positive behavior program that teaches students about respect, responsibility and safety.

"The Best Garden Ever"

CB Grant Projects along the cicLAvia route

2010-10-15T15:45:00.000-07:00

Did you take part in the first cicLAvia? On 10/10/10, a reported 100,000+ people took advantage of 7.5 miles of Los Angeles City streets that were closed off to cars. This event brought people from all over to walk, jog, skate, and ride their bikes along this comfortable route. This idea originated in Bogotá, Columbia and has spread across the globe.

Along, this route were many visible Community Beautification Grant funded projects that you might have seen.

Little Tokyo Sparkle and Beautification Project

Beautify Little Tokyo Coalition, c/o Little Tokyo Service Center

111 S Central Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012

In the downtown area, you could not miss this mural along Central Avenue. This mural was created to celebrate Japanese-American culture with images of Manzanar, youth basketball, and local festivals.

Positive Places

Central City Neighborhood Partners

1247 W 7th St., Los Angeles, CA 90017

This project envisions sitting/meeting areas around the City of Los Angeles in random public spaces. They would like to put "community living rooms" all over to create places to read, drink some water, and chill out for a moment before you head off on your merry way.

MacArthur Park Primary Center Building Marker and Community Mural

MacArthur Park Primary Center

2300 W 7th St, Los Angeles, CA 90057

This mural, under the direction of muralist Yuriko Etue, is a great way to announce the primary center located on 7th Street, directly across from MacArthur Park.

Lacer Stars Mural at Sacred Fools Theatre

Los Angeles Center For Education Research (LACER)

660 N Heliotrope Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90004

Upon getting to one of the end points of cicLAvia towards Melrose in East Hollywood, you are greeted with open arms by this mural.

New Gates to Rosewood Community Garden

Rosewood Community Garden

4162 Rosewood Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90004

This project is considered "special mention". It was slightly off the route and many did not even know they were passing this vibrant community garden even though it has those beautiful welcoming gates with a sign announcing its presence.

If you would like to see more of the over 1,000 projects completed in partnership with the community with the Community Beautification Grant, just click this link!

Start a Vegetable Garden: The Home Farming Movement

2010-10-13T10:30:00.000-07:00

Applications are now available for the creation of a vegetable garden in the LA area as part of the "Home Farming Movement", in which Urban Farming and Triscuit is teaming up together in support of community-based home farms.

Urban Farming and Triscuit will be funding the creation of four 400 sq ft vegetable garden, in support of their mission of transforming unused land into a garden that supplies fresh food for the local communities. To apply, applicants must meet the following requirements:
1. The group should consist of people who are committed to implementing and maintaining the garden.
2. The location of the garden must have 6+ hours of sun and have access to water. The location must be in an urban/suburban area that has no existing garden.
** Schools and children's groups cannot apply (with the exception of university level).

Urban Farming will provide the following to the awarded gardens:
- Soil/compost to cover 400 sq ft, 18" high; plants and seeds for one planting season
- Irrigation for 400 sq ft
- Tools (one time)
- Soil testing
- Garden insurance
- Urban Farming and Triscuit "Home Farming" sign
- Assistance with permit approvals
- Help with matching a Master Gardener
** Cost of water is not covered.

Applications are due November 24th, 2010; however, if there are still available funds, Urban Farming will accept applications until December 31, 2010.

For more information or an application, please contact Meg Glasser preferably by email at meg.glasser@gmail.com. Her contact number is (646) 726-1563.

To join in the "Home Farming Movement" and have access to information and garden advice, please click here.

Need Funding to Maintain Your Project?

2010-10-05T10:48:00.001-07:00

Applications are now available for the 2010 Maintenance Matching Fund Program provided by Los Angeles Neighborhood Initiative (LANI). This program awards qualified LANI organizations of up to $3,000 to fund the cost of maintaining past completed projects. Organization must match 50% of the requested amount through volunteer labor, grants, and/or donations of cash, materials or supplies, and professional services.

The following are eligibility information from the Frequently Asked Questions of the application packet:

· Does the proposed maintenance project have to be a LANI improvement?

No, it does not. Although an applicant neighborhood MUST be a LANI neighborhood, the improvement proposed for maintenance does not have to be an improvement originally funded or implemented by LANI.

· What constitutes being a LANI neighborhood?

Being a LANI neighborhood means that your community went through the LANI process of organizing a Recognized Community Organization (RCO), developing a Community work Plan and receiving LANI funding to make public improvement in your community in 1994, 1997, 2000 OR that LANI funding has been used to make improvements in your community and a steering committee or stakeholder group has been established. LANI neighborhoods are listed in the application forms (also provided on this map). Applications will be denied if applicant community is not a LANI neighborhood.

· What constitutes being an eligible organization?

Eligible organizations fall into three categories. Applicant organization must:

1) Be the original LANI RCO; or

2) Be the stakeholder group or steering committee established for implementation of a LANI project; or

3) Be an established organization in a LANI neighborhood that works to achieve our same goals of neighborhood revitalization. Neighborhood councils are eligible organizations.

Funding can be used to pay for the following:

Maintain or repair an existing neighborhood improvement,
Maintenance service, or
Replacing minor low-cost improvements

The last date to submit an application is October 29, 2010. For the complete guidelines and application, please click here.

If you have questions regarding this program, please contact Rebecca Draper, Director of Neighborhood Improvement Projects at (213) 627-1822 x16 or by email at rebecca@lani.org.

Backyard Composting

2010-08-31T10:00:00.000-07:00

Turn Your Green Waste into Compost

Backyard composting is a way to manage your waste at home and eliminating the amount of waste going to the landfill. For information on how you can turn your green waste into compost, read this Composting Guide provided by City of LA Sanitation's Solid Resources division. You can also learn about backyard composting, worm composting, compost bins, grasscycling, and other gardening techniques at one of its workshop events held on the 4th Saturday of the month from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Griffith Park Composting Education Facility located at 5400 Griffith Park Drive, Los Angeles. Compost bin sales are held on the 2nd Friday (9 a.m. to 1 p.m) and 4th Saturday (10 a.m. to 12 p.m.) of the month at the Griffith Park Composting Education Facility. Go to their website for a complete list of workshops, compost bin sales event and worm suppliers.

One Million Dollar Grant Opportunity

2010-08-24T10:19:00.000-07:00

Peoples Garden School Pilot Program

USDA Food and Nutritional Service (FNS) is now accepting proposals for a one million dollar grant for a People's Garden School Pilot Program. The grant will be awarded to a recognized organization who best develops a pilot program to create community gardens at 2 or more eligible high-poverty schools (at least 50% of students are eligible for free or reduce price meals).

The purposes of the grant and pilot program are:

1. To instill knowledge of agriculture practices, diet and nutrition to the students.

2. The sharing of produce from the garden with eligible schools, student households, local food banks and/or senior center nutrition programs.

3. To analyze the impact of school gardens on educational outcomes.

The guidelines and application forms can be accessed here. Applications are due October 8, 2010. If you have questions, contact Lisa Johnson, Grants Officer, by email at Lisa.Johnson@fns.usda.gov or PeoplesGardenSchoolPilot@fns.usda.gov.

Sign up for the webinar on August 31, 2010 from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time to learn more about the grant and to get your questions answered. If you miss the webinar, click here to view the recorded webcast of the webinar.

Good luck!

A Garden Started by Two Moms

2010-08-18T10:03:00.000-07:00

Two moms, Theresa Franklin and Lisa Mann, told their story on momlogic.com about "How Two Moms Brought Organic Food to an Urban School" for Rio Vista Elementary School. After learning that their kid's kindergarten class believed that vegetables came from the store, the two moms became inspired to change the kids' views.

Theresa and Lisa made their idea into reality after seeing an underutilized piece of land that can be transformed into a garden. They received approval from Department of Recreation and Parks to use the land and on behalf of Rio Vista PTA, they applied and was awarded the CB Grant for two consecutive years. With the grant funds, the PTA was able to build over a dozen planting beds and purchase a tool shed, plants and other supplies for the garden.

With the help of the school community, the area has transformed into a beautiful sanctuary that provides a unique learning experience for the teachers and students. As stated by Theresa, the kids can "know that their veggies come from a seed planted in the ground.....learn responsibility, life cycles and much more."

LAUSD Gardens Featured on CNN

2010-08-11T10:20:00.000-07:00

Westminster Elementary School "WE Garden"

CNN's anchor, Anderson Cooper, recently featured a story on LAUSD's gardens, showcasing two gardens, Berendo Elementary School's garden and Westminster Elementary School's "WE Garden" which was funded by the CB Grant.

John Sohn, LAUSD's Chief of Facilities, stated that much of LAUSD's property is asphalted and concreted. By transforming the barren area into a garden, "its bringing learning, its bringing modification, its bringing jobs", as provided by Monica Garcia, LAUSD's Board President.

At Berendo Elementary, students are enjoying their new garden. Cheyenne Banks, a 5th grade student, said that there used to be "just cement a couple of years ago, there wasn't really much life here; but now a lot of creatures have homes here." The students can see the benefits of having a school garden: bugs thriving in their natural environment, less money spent at stores for vegetables, and the vitality it adds to the school.

The video, California's green schools, can be viewed on Anderson Cooper's blog, Anderson Cooper 360.

How do you like the new look?

2010-08-02T10:15:00.000-07:00

We have updated the look of the blog for the first time. We would like to know how you like it. Can you read the text? So you like the colors? Any comments, negative or postive are welcomed at LACBGrant@gmail.com. Thank you!

Need Tools For Your Clean-up Event?

2010-07-27T10:38:00.000-07:00

Planning a community clean-up event in the City of Los Angeles can be easy. The Office of Community Beautification has coordinators that are assigned to different sections of the City to provide your group with the tools needed for a neighborhood-based clean-up event.

OCB has a warehouse full of hand tools that can be loaned out to organizations, including rakes, brooms, hoes, lopping shears, shovels and trash bags to help you beautify your community. These tools can be delivered to your organization or picked up from our warehouse. We request that orders be placed at least 3 weeks in advance of the event to ensure the availability of tools. Gerry Valido, one of the OCB Coordinators, suggests to have the following information ready upon placing your tool request:

Your group/event name.
Clean-up date.
Type of clean-up (e.g. litter pick-up, landscaping, graffiti removal).
Delivery/tool pickup date - OCB in most cases can deliver the tools a few days prior to the event and picks up the tools the week after.
Expected number of volunteers.
Meeting area and map of area to be cleaned.

Below are some other helpful suggestions:

Provide water and snacks to the volunteers before and after the event.
Have a first-aid kit visible and available on site.
Alert all volunteers to wear proper footwear on the day of the event -- no open-toed shoes.
Ensure there's access to restrooms.
Have meaningful tasks for the volunteers to do.

For more information, please call the OCB hotline at (213) 978-0228.

No Funding for New CB Grants for 2010-11

2010-07-12T11:16:00.000-07:00

In the past, CB Grant staff would usually be distributing applications and preparing for workshops during the month of July; however with the City facing another difficult budget year, funding was not allocated to offer Community Beautification Grants for the 2010-11 fiscal year. Since funding is not available, we will not be hosting our popular grant preparation workshops, nor awarding neighborhoods new funding for beautification projects this year.

To date, the CB Grant Program has completed over 1,035 projects in partnership with community organizations. We hope that the suspension of the CB Grant program is temporary so that we can continue to make a difference in the neighborhoods of Los Angeles with this grant.

Although we can't fund projects for 2010-11, CB Grant staff will continue to support the 200+ projects that are in progress. We will also keep an eye out for opportunities that are open to the community and post them on this blog.

Please join our

mailing list to receive updates regarding the CB Grant Program.

Grant Opportunity: NEA's Green Across America

2010-07-06T16:30:00.000-07:00

The National Education Association (NEA), in partnership with Target, is awarding $50,000 in grants for their "Green Across America" grant program.

Grants of up to $1,000 will be awarded to educators who can inspire their students to "go green" through an activity, program, lesson or event. Applications will be scored based on the details of the activity, program, lesson or event.

The proposed plan should include the following:
1. Be creative, original and inspires students to go green .
2. A project timeline with a completion date by the 2010-11 school year.
3. Specific metrics used to measure the impact and/or effectiveness of the proposed program.
4. A budget that is cost-effective.

The deadline for online submission is July 30, 2010. Click here for the complete rules to the grant.

LA Way - An Information Packed iPhone App

2010-05-25T09:56:00.000-07:00

How would you like an free Los Angeles-based iPhone app that shows you the closest library, coffee shop, yoga facility or free wi-fi access point to where you are right now? We found that app. It is called LA WAY.

Once you open the app, you are presented 32 different topics of information on two screens, such as Dining, Events, Tours, Gas Stations, Apartments and News. However, many of the topics have more specific sub-topics. For example, once you click on the Shopping topic, you will find more specific sub-topics like Department Stores, Fashion, Gadgets, Malls and Outlets, and Florists.

It is a quick and simple way to check what services are around you at any given point in the day. You can download this app for free from the iTunes marketplace, by clicking on this link. Let us know what you think.

*To our knowledge, this app is not affiliated with the City of Los Angeles.

15th Annual Grant Workshop

2010-05-18T14:42:00.000-07:00

Photo from last year's grant workshop

Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard will be hosting her 15th Annual Grants Workshop on Friday, June 4th, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Gas Company's Energy Resource Center located at 9240 E. Firestone Blvd in Downey, California. This is a great opportunity to learn about the grants available to you as an organization and to meet grant-making representatives. Below are some of the agencies who will be giving presentations:

U.S. Department of Education
U.S. Department of Labor
Administration of Aging
Health Resources and Services Administration
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Department of Housing and Urban Development
Corporation for National and Community Service
California Emergency Management Agency
Grants.gov

For more information and/or to RSVP for this event, contact Projects Manager, Diana Porras by email (diana.porras@mail.house.gov) or by fax (213-628-8578). The last date to register for this workshop is Friday, May 21st.

Free Mulch to all LA Residents

2010-05-14T05:28:00.000-07:00

Spring is here and it's time to plant your garden. To help you, the City of LA Bureau of Sanitation is offering FREE mulch and compost to all residents of LA. Bring your own shovel and bags to one of the 9 sites listed below and take as much mulch as you need. Click here for a listing of times and locations.

Lake View Terrace - 11950 Lopez Canyon Rd, Sylmar
Sheldon-Arleta - 12455 Wicks St, Sylmar
West Valley - 16600 Roscoe Pl, North Hills
Donald C Tillman - 15800 Victory Blvd, Van Nuys
West LA - 6000 W Jefferson Blvd, Los Angeles
East LA - 2649 E Washington Blvd, Los Angeles
Elysian Valley - 3000 Gilroy St, Los Angeles
San Pedro - 1400 N Gaffey, San Pedro
N Mission Rd - 850 N Mission Rd, Los Angeles

Pitchfork - Free plants available 5/15 at Sylmar High School

2010-05-13T14:52:00.000-07:00

There will be a free plant give-away on Saturday, May 15 at 8:30 at Sylmar High School (13050 Borden Ave., Sylmar 91342). If you have any questions, send an e-mail to schoolgarden@gmail.com. More information below.

CLICK HERE for larger image.

LANI's 8th Annual Community Forum on Thursday, May 13

2010-05-05T11:27:00.000-07:00

This week, a great community gathering will take place, the 2010 Los Angeles Neighborhood Initiative (LANI) 8th Annual Community Forum. The forum will be held on Thursday, May 13th, 2010, from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m at the USC Davidson Conference Center, 3415 S. Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90007. The esteemed founder and CEO of Homeboy Industries, Father Greg Boyle, will be the Honorary Speaker at this year's event. Topics discussed at the workshops include:

THE BEAT ON YOUR STREET: Community Policing in Action
POTATO CHIPS TO PRODUCE: Bringing Healthy Food to the Corner Market
PROMOTORES: Neighbors Sharing Information and Creating Change
SOME LIKE IT HOT: Reshaping Our Highways with High-Occupancy Toll Lanes
COMMUNITY WALKING GROUPS: Walking Your Way to Better Health
GRIDLOCKED: Mitigating L.A.'s Notorious Traffic Congestion
L.A.'S UNTAPPED MARKETS: Catalyzing Investment in Inner-City Neighborhoods
SOUTH L.A. UPDATE: Planning for the Renaissance

More information on these topics is provided on the brochure. It is not too late to register -- go to http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/HX6ZXDH.

See you there!

CB Grant Application Deadline: Tuesday, October 20th

2009-10-15T15:45:00.000-07:00

We wanted to wish you good luck as you put the final touches on your grant application. These are a few important reminders as you get ready to submit your application by the deadline date of Tuesday, October 20th:

1. Make 3 copies of the application

2. Use a binder clip to keep the application together. Do not staple or use binders and folders.

3. Applications must not exceed 35 pages.

4. Make sure all parts of the application are filled out.

You can submit your application one of 3 ways:

1. Dropping it off at our office at City Hall, Rm. 356

2. Dropping it off at your local council field office

3. Mailing it (must be postmarked by Oct. 20th)

If you are dropping it off, please have the staff sign and date stamp the Submittal Receipt and keep a copy of it.

We have the full details of submitting an application and the final requirements at this link: http://bit.ly/APP_SUBMITTAL.

Good luck again!!

Only Four Workshops Left for 2009-10!

2009-09-11T18:32:00.000-07:00

The first eleven workshops have been great. CB Grant staff has met many community members who have shared their wonderful ideas in beautifying their respective neighborhoods. Now, we are down to the last of the workshops for the 2009-10 CB Grant cycle. There are only 4 workshops remaining:

September 15th: Venice Library, 501 S Venice Blvd., Venice
September 17th: Harbor Gateway Library, 24000 S Western Ave., Los Angeles
September 22nd: Encino-Tarzana Library, 18231 Ventura Blvd, Tarzana
September 24th: Arroyo Seco Library, 6145 N Figueroa St., Highland Park

Remember that when you attend you are encouraged to share information about your project or organization. Also, bring a sweater -- sometimes, the air conditioning is turned to 11!

America the Beautiful Mural Enriches Special Education

2009-09-10T11:09:00.000-07:00

"American Spirit Arena" project funded by CB Grant and completed by Leichman Development & Beautification Committee

Excerpts from the Leichman's press release:

Nearly 100 special education students have helped muralist Elizabeth Criss create the "American Spirit Arena" at Leichman High School, 19034 Gault Street, Reseda, CA. With support from a Los Angeles Community Beautification Grant, the walls of the school's main courtyard have been filled with colorful details of our country's treasures and traditions. The goal is to help students understand the inspiring concepts contained in patriotic songs.

The project started a year ago when Principal Pauline Furman explained to artist Criss that even though the school recites the Pledge of Allegiance and broadcasts songs with patriotic themes, the meanings remained elusive to her students. The decision was made to enhance a drab courtyard with imagery chosen to convey a sense of country.

Today, the students can see Smokey Bear extinguishing a campfire beneath Half Dome in Yosemite. Opposite that, they can view the dome of the Capitol Building in Washington, DC. Now, when students exit their cafeteria, they walk past Benjamin Franklin and Rosie the Riveter tending "The Supreme Food Court", filled with a cornucopia of New World Crops. As students come and go, they pass "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness" which relays a short history of transportation, from the Mayflower to the Space Shuttle. When students return to school this week, they will better understand the phrases "sea to shining sea," "amber waves of grain," purple mountains majesty," and more through the freshly painted "America the Beautiful".

About Leichman High School: An LAUSD facility, Leichman High School provides instruction to 215 students with moderate to severe disabilities from all over the San Fernando Valley. Ranging in age from 13 to 22, their curriculum focuses on developing communication, vocational, and independent life skills.

"City Offers Grants to Beautify Neighborhoods"

2009-09-03T14:34:00.000-07:00

CB Grant awarded Melrose Parent Group a grant for their project, "Reach toward the Stars, Motivational Mural at Melrose Elementary"

The CB Grant Program and the mural depicted above was highlighted yesterday in an article (page 6), "City Offers Grants to Beautify Neighborhoods" by Amy Lyons of the Beverly Press, a local newspaper serving West Hollywood, Hancock Park and Wilshire communities.

Mentioned in the article are some of the organization members and the projects that was funded in the area: Jim Etue, a mural at Melrose Elementary School; Theresa Dahl, a vegetable garden at Carthay Center Elementary School; a median beautification along Fairfax Avenue; and Krista Michaels, a tree planting along the Cahuenga Pass.

Theresa Dahl, Friends of Carthay Center, described the CB Grant program nicely when she said, “I feel that communities are divorced from their neighborhood schools, and one way to reinvigorate that support is with these grants. They serve as great connectors. The grant really empowers people in their community because you have to get pledges of volunteer hours from all different kinds of people. You have doctors working alongside janitors on these projects...it makes people realize they can make a huge difference in their community.”

To read the whole article, click here. For more information about the CB Grant, click here.

Location Change for 1st CB Grant Workshop

2009-08-10T09:52:00.000-07:00

Edendale Library

Join the CB Grant staff at it's first workshop tomorrow on August 11th at 6 p.m. The location has moved to Edendale Library located at 2011 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles. At the workshop, staff will explain the grant process, explain how to fill out the application, and show pictures of completed projects.

CB Grant staff do not anticipate any more changes to the workshop schedule. Stay informed about the CB Grant on our website or by joining the CB Grant mailing list.

Free Landscape Workshops for LADWP Customers

2009-08-05T13:24:00.000-07:00

From the LADPW Public Affairs Office ~ Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) is offering FREE workshops for its customers on caring for lawns and water conservation through low maintence, affordable landscaping practices.

All workshops are held from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Free parking is available. The dates and locations are:

Saturday, August 8: 4030 Crenshaw Blvd, Baldwin Hills
Saturday, August 15: 14401 Saticoy St, Bldg. #3, Van Nuys
Saturday, August 22: 1350 S. Wall St, Downtown-Fashion District
Saturday, August 29: 1350 Sepulveda Blvd, West Los Angeles

Class space is limited. Reserve your space now by emailing LADWP or calling (800) 544-4498 and pressing "5".

2009-10 CB Grant Application is Now Available

2009-07-15T11:38:00.000-07:00

The Application and Guidelines packet for the 2009-10 Community Beautification Grant (CB Grant) is now available online HERE. The CB Grant is a competitive annual matching grant of up to $10,000 awarded to community groups to fund neighborhood beautification projects. Grants have been awarded for many different types of projects including public sculptures, murals, landscaping and neighborhood identification markers.

The application is available on our website, www.laocb.org/cbgrant. Last day to apply is Tuesday, October 20, 2009.

Learn how to apply at one of the 15 workshops held throughout the LA area. At the workshops, you will receive tips on how to make your application more competitive, see bef0re and after pictures of successful projects, meet CB Grant staff and like-minded members of your community, and have your questions answered.

The images that grace the new application cover were chosen from some great Community Beautification Grant funded projects. We would like to recognize these organizations and their projects.

Front Cover (left to right)

Back Cover (top to bottom)

"Two Lives Lost - Their Spirit Forever Remembered"

2009-07-06T15:14:00.000-07:00

Families, friends and the Public Works family came together for a dedication ceremony of a statue in honor of two City of Los Angeles Department of Public Works employees who lost their lives by a co-worker on February 24, 2005. The monument was created by REMEMBERED, a private organization honoring the two employees, Mr. Ricardo "Big Rick" Garris and Mr. Rene Flores. REMEMBERED was awarded a CB Grant of $10,000.

On the plaque are the words:

In Memory of Rene Flores and Ricardo "Big Rick" Garris

February 24, 2005

The City of Angels wept this day....

Hearts broken... Grief insurmountable...

Time stood still...

A singular cry was heard.

Alas, the burden lifted... Held high with a promise... One by one...

They came to know Love Surrenders Not To The Passage of Time

And we... The City of Los Angeles... Shall Remember...

Our New Outreach Graphics are Now on the Presses!

2009-06-30T15:06:00.000-07:00

The graphics for the 2009-10 Workshop Flyer have just been recently sent to the City's exceptional Publishing Services Division of the Department of General Services. Publishing Services prints most of the publications that the various deparment uses. From posters to postcards, they strive to create publications that we can be proud of. We are fortunate to have such incredible services "in-house".

It shouldn't be long now.

Nine New Projects Completed

2009-06-25T11:40:00.000-07:00

Our grantees have been very busy in the last few days with their projects. CB Grant staff has taken part in over 8 dedication in the last 10 days. These are (in no particular order):

TERA - The Eagle Rock Association, "Eagle Rock Make Art Not Trash Project" ~ Commissioned local artists to design and create ceramic mosaic panels. The panels were attached to 20 cast concrete trash receptacles gracing Eagle Rock's main commercial streets.

The Collaborative Eagle Rock Beautiful, "Wiota Circle" ~ Installed an impressive neighborhood marker on Colorado Blvd.

Friends of Westminster Avenue Garden, "WE Garden" ~ Expanded and revitalized the garden area in the school.

Castle Heights Elementary, "Spacing Out!: Creating Learning/Play Spaces" ~ Created a host of improvements to the kindergarten yard.

Silver Lake Neighborhood Council Beautification Committee, "ArtCans for Silver Lake" ~ Installed the third set of "Art Cans" in Silver Lake.

Vinedale ES Parent Teacher Association (PTA), "Vinedale Elementary School/La Tuna Canyon/Sun Valley Community Mural Beautification Project" ~ Created a mural honoring America's past and present. The border of the mural features tiles that were created by each student in the school.

Wilton Place Elementary School, "The Power to Dream/Strive To Succeed!" ~ Painted a inspirational mural in the school at the main enterance.

Playa del Rey Beautification Committee, "The Little Garden That Could" ~ Transformed a corner of the school into a beautiful garden.

Also of special mention is the recently finished project "Literary Mosaic" by the Friends of Memorial Library. The internationally recognized artist Brent Spears, known for his designs for the first five House of Blues venues, created a mosaic bench at the Memorial Branch Library. This amazing work of art using tiles, glass and unique "found objects" brings to mind the Watts Towers and the work of Antoni Gaudi.

CB Grant General Information Workshops: Aug - Sept 2009

2009-06-23T10:59:00.000-07:00

View 2009-10 CB Grant Workshop Locations in a larger map

Save the Date to attend one of the 15 CB Grant Workshops near you. Released is the LIST of 15 Community Beautification Grant Workshops held throughout the Los Angeles area.

At the workshops, the CB Grant staff shares a lot of information about 2009 -10 grant process, including showing pictures of previous projects, explaining in detail how to fill out the application, and offering tips on how to submit a competitive proposal. No reservations are required to attend.

Check the CB Grant website's WORKSHOP PAGE a few days prior to the event to confirm the date and location as there may be changes to the workshop schedule.

We look forward to seeing you at a workshop.

Community Day of Service & Grand Opening: June 27th, 2009

2009-06-04T12:06:00.000-07:00

Bureau of Sanitation and Million Trees LA (MTLA) is teaming up to increase the public's awareness of the City's environmental programs and to make Los Angeles the cleanest, greenest big City in the nation. The event includes:

Community Day of Service- Volunteers will be planting trees along Mission Rd. To be a part of the tree planting, RSVP to Thalia Uribe by June 23rd at (213) 473-9950 or by email, Thalia.Uribe@lacity.org. Remember to bring gardening gloves, sunblock and a hat to the event.
Grand Opening of the East LA MTLA Tree Center and Environmental Facility- Trees and mulch will be given away at the grand opening. A limited quantity of citrus trees will be available for adoption (must live or own property within the City of Los Angeles) so it's first come first serve. The facility, soon to release its schedule of operation, will offer free mulch and trees. To find out more, contact the City's Citywide Services Directory at 3-1-1 (within LA area) or at (213) 473-3231 and request for the Million Trees LA Program.
Over 20 eco-friendly organizations will be sharing their services and/or products to help the community to act and think green.

Event Info:

Date: Saturday, June 27, 2009
Time: 8:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Where: 850 N. Mission Road, Los Angeles (between Cesar Chavez Ave. & 5 fwy on ramp). Street parking available.

ZERO Waste Conference - May 30th, 2009

2009-05-26T10:45:00.000-07:00

All of us together can make ZERO!

The City of Los Angeles' Department of Public Works will be hosting its 4th Zero Waste Citywide Conference on Saturday, May 30th, 2009 from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at The Center at Cathedral Plaza (Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels), Second Floor Ballroom, located at 555 W. Temple St, Los Angeles. Doors are open at 7:30 a.m. for early attendees to partake of a light breakfast and to receive information from the vendor tables.

The Zero Waste Plan is being developed with input from stakeholders representing a broad section of the community. In the last two years, stakeholders have met to contribute to the City's development of a Solid Waste Integrated Resources Plan (SWIRP) that will lead Los Angeles into a "zero waste" city by 2030. The plan will include waste reduction, increase recycling and trash management. At the conference, the Policy, Program and Facility Plan will be presented for review and discussion.

To learn more about Zero Waste Plan, go to http://www.zerowaste.lacity.org/.

CB Grant Featured in 2009-10 Budget Summary Book - Part 2

2009-04-30T10:54:00.000-07:00

The Community Beautification Grant Program was cited as a "Community Win" in the Mayor's Proposed 2009-10 Budget Summary Book. Included in the budget book are highlights of the CB Grant, as provided below:

Since 1998, over 930 projects have been completed in partnership with the community. To view over 540 projects situated on an interactive map, follow this link (http://www.cbgrant.org/).
The City's original investment of $5,460,000 to fund these projects has yielded over a 200% return of $16,403,000 in matching funds and labor from the community and its partners.
Over 102,000 people volunteered their time and expertise to complete the projects.
These projects have solved many problems plaguing our communities and were done so without incurring City of Los Angeles staff time or resources.
Some of the more innovative projects include a community-based recycling program in Pacific Palisades, a proposal to install solar-powered trash receptacles in Echo Park, and developing a community garden SECURED TO A WALL in Downtown LA's skid row.
Many community leaders have used the grant to spark revitalization efforts that have lead to further community investment, including Atwater Village, Pacoima, Downtown Los Angeles, Studio City, Venice, and Larchmont Square.
Many cultural communities have installed projects, such as the Japanese-American mural on Central Ave., the Thai Town angels on Hollywood Blvd., the dome representing ancient Latino culture on Huntington Blvd., and the landscaping project at the California African American Museum to name a few.

CB Grant Featured in 2009-10 Budget Summary Book - Part 1

2009-04-30T09:38:00.000-07:00

The success of the Community Beautification Grant Program was recently recognized on two pages of the Mayor's Proposed 2009-10 Budget Summary Book. Grant recipient, Save Chatsworth, is profiled on page 54. The full text below:

In 2005, the area above the 118 Freeway at the end of Canoga Avenue was a 13-acre public site plagued with problems. Former trails were overgrown with non-native weeds and plants. The spectacular rock formations were covered with graffiti, and illegal campsites

were found throughout the area. That was before the organization Save Chatsworth received three grants for the area in 2006, 2007, and 2008. The grants were awarded to revitalize the area, including its trails, and to install informational kiosks highlighting the local flora and fauna. Even after suffering damage in the recent fires, the area continues to prosper. Hikers and horse riders now regularly utilize the area. Since the improvements have been completed,vandalism has been almost non-existent in the park.

Vanessa Watters, the Head of Save Chatsworth,said "I know times are tight and we all have to sacrifice a little bit but I am glad the City recognizes the value created by their Community Beautification Grants. Our experience has been extremely gratifying. The City worked with us and helped us when we encountered any problem and ours was not a typical project. Our goal was to clean up the sites of dumping and debris and make it a nice area for people to pass-through. We've had a great response to the informational panels we have erected that educate passers-by as to the fascinating history of Chatsworth and the local fauna and flora. Next on our list is to create a hitching post and add an information kiosk on equestrian life. Once you start these projects, the work goes on. In these times it’s difficult, but even a little bit spent on projects like this is so uplifting."

Attend the Free LANI Community Forum on May 14th at USC

2009-04-27T17:17:00.000-07:00

The Los Angeles Neighborhood Initiative (LANI) will host the 7th LANI Community Forum on May 14th from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at USC Davidson Conference Center, located at 3415 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles, CA, 90089. The forum is a one-day conference focused on having community members connect, learn and share information.

This year’s forum offers a variety of workshops on diverse topics such as incorporating art into your commercial district, fundraising, and transforming alleys into vibrant, productive spaces. The full list of topics is on the brochure. Joyce Perkins, Co-Founder and Board Member of LANI, will be the Honorary Speaker at the event.

The presenters will include industry experts and representatives from private, public and non-profit sectors sharing their knowledge. From our office, Michael Espinosa, the Manager of the CB Grant program, will be moderating a panel on Neighborhood-based efforts to reduce waste.

Free parking, free food, wonderful conversation, and great speakers. What more could you ask for?

For more information and to reserve your spot, visit LANI.org.

The City of Los Angeles Provides Free Recycling Services for Your Big Event

2009-04-27T11:12:00.000-07:00

Help the City of Los Angeles reach its goal of reducing waste by 70% by the year 2015. In support of this, the City of Los Angeles Special Events Recycling Program provides free recycling services for special events held throughout Los Angeles. Bins will be provided at events to recycle beverage containers (glass, plastic or aluminum) and/or cardboard. Special events can include dedications, workdays, or festivals.

Contact the Special Events Recycling Program at (213) 922-8301 to coordinate free recycling services at your next special event. Have the following information ready:

Name, date, time and estimated number of attendees.
Information for the crews and their trucks.
On-site contact information for the day of the event.
City Council District.

The program provides uniformed staff and colorful, clearly labeled yellow or blue recycling bins at the events free of charge. The staff will set up the bins with plastic liners, monitor and change the bins throughout the events and pick up bins and recyclables at the end of the event. The program does not provide trash removal containers or services.

Mayor Villaraigosa's Proposed 2009-10 Budget

2009-04-23T15:13:00.000-07:00

On April 20, Mayor Villaraigosa released his 2009-10 Proposed Budget for the City of Los Angeles's Fiscal Year 2009-10 (July '09 to June '10). The budget will be discussed, debated, changed and adopted during the next two months by the Los Angeles City Council and then approved by the Mayor.

The budget will go before the Council's Budget and Finance Committee starting April 27 and hearings will continue until approximately May 12. It will then be vetted in front of the full council where a final budget must be approved or modified by June 1st. The details of the process can be found in the City Charter, sections 310 - 315.

The Mayor's Proposed Budget allocates $525,000 for the 2009-10 Community Beautification Grant cycle, cut from last year's amount of $600,000 (which was reduced to $480,000 in mid-year). The Office of Community Beautification is looking at how to stretch the available dollars to fund the maximum number of projects in Los Angeles. We are considering returning to a maximum grant amount of $5,000 to allow for the maximum number of community projects. We'd like to hear your thoughts. How will a $5,000 cap affect the projects you are considering for the next grant cycle? If you have comments, please send us an e-mail at cbgrant@lacity.org.

Earth Day at Los Angeles City Hall

2009-04-22T15:44:00.000-07:00

Today, we spent our morning in the beautiful Tom Bradley tower of the City Hall building honoring special citizens and organizations that are making a difference in each Council District (CD). We went as a guest of Ida Tallala, a recent grant recipient and staunch neighborhood advocate. Also present were former recipients, Kent Smith of the Fashion District and David Kietzman of Project Youth Green.

The full list of honorees at the event were:

Los Angeles River Keeps (CD1)
The Unitarian Universalist Church of Studio City (CD2)
Wilbur Avenue Elementary (CD3)
Toluca Lake Garden Club (CD4)
Jonathan Weiss (CD5)
Glenn Lopez (CD6)
Project Youth Green (CD7)
City Year Los Angeles (CD8)
Sustainable Economic Enterprises of Los Angeles (SEE-LA) (CD9)
Renee A. Gunter (CD10)
The Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission (CD11)
Chatsworth Neighborhood Council (CD12)
Ida Tallala (CD13)
Los Angeles Fashion District (CD14)
Lori Moilov (CD15)

We would like to congratulate these groups for their hard works making Los Angeles a cleaner and greener city.The PROGRAM has all the descriptions of the groups' outstanding achievements.

The Friends of Atwater Village Poem

2009-04-20T16:48:00.000-07:00

Some of the organizations that we work with have been blogging for years. Sandra Caravella, of the Friends of Atwater, put together a poem for our 10th year anniversary a few years back and posted it on their blog.

It was the year 2000

And a few understood

There were things we should do

To beautify the hood

We formed a non- profit

Let’s call it FAV

And started to plan

What projects to have

Now ideas were plentiful

And poured out with no end

But where to start, how to start

And just where to begin.

Money the road block

Without it we can’t

Then Netty said, “I have this app

For a city funded grant”...

CLICK HERE to see the full poem on their website, friendsofatwatervillage.org/blog

2008-09 CB Grant Awardee Banner

2009-04-15T07:56:00.000-07:00

For the last five years, the Community Beautification Grant has presented the recipients of the grant a banner to display on their project. The banner has a signature "AWARDEE" displayed across the top of the banner. This is to alert passers-by that their neighbors are striving for something more.

The image above depicts the 2008-09 banner that was presented to each organization at the Awardee Recognition Ceremony on March 16th, 2009 (full list of awardees). The 16 project pictures that grace the top and bottom of the banner are from exceptional recently completed projects. They represent a variety of projects and areas, including a new recycling program in Pacific Palisades, elegant new community signs in Harvard Heights, the transformation of a neglected space to a school haven in Sunland, and a community garden attached to the side of a wall in Skid Row. All the organizations shown on the banner are listed below with the name of their projects:

Top row, left to right:

Japanese American Cultural & Community Center, "Maple Bridge at the Japanese Garden in Little Tokyo"
Rockdale Elementary School, "Rockdale's Secret Garden"
Fair Avenue Elementary, "Garden of Knowledge"
Liggett Street School, " 'Project Pride!' Liggett Lions Community Cleanup Drive"
North Harvard Heights Beautification Committee, "Harvard Heights - Signs to Remind"
Urban Farming, "Urban Farming Food Chain"
Plainview Avenue School, "Plainview's Patch of Green"
Tarzana Community And Cultural Center, "Beautification and Refurbishment of Ventura Blvd Frontage"

Bottom row, left to right:

Healthy Start Project, "Pathway to Knowledge Reading Garden"
Rosewood Community Garden, "New Gates to Rosewood Community Beautification Garden"
Associated Supporters of Mariposa, "The Art Starts Here! Mariposa Playground Beautification Project"
Arnold Schwarzenegger Charter Elementary School, "Arts Oasis"
Community School Parents Association, "The Not So Secret Garden"
Mural Restoration, "Hard Drive Mural"
Palisades Green, a division of Palisades Cares, "Green the Palisades/Recycling Bins"
Valley Cultural Center, "Reseda's Cornucopia of Cultural Contributions-Past & Present"

Look for the banner in a neighborhood near you.

Learn How to Use Web-based Tools to Promote Projects. Free Talk on May 16th at the Garden in Every School Resource Fair

2009-04-13T08:14:00.000-07:00

Do you have a community-based project that you'd like to promote, but lack the money to advertise it? With the internet and a few minutes a week, you can open new avenues for your project and organization.

Michael Espinosa, Editor of CBGrant.org and Grant Manager of the Office of Community Beautification, will be sharing his knowledge on how to use web-based tools to promote projects. The workshop, "Expand your web knowledge! Blogging and tweeting, picture-taking and video-making your way to success", will take place on May 16, 2009 at the Garden in Every School Resource Fair at the innovative Venice High School Learning Garden located at 13000 Venice Blvd., Venice, CA 90066. The Fair, open from noon to 4 p.m., is completely free of charge. Michael will present the 45 minute talk three times, at 1pm, 2pm and 3pm.

The Garden in Every School Resource Fair will offer information on support programs and resources. In addition to our web tools workshop, there will be workshops on composting, worms, earthboxes, nutrition gardening, fundraising, and teaching strategies. More information can be found on their FLYER.

See you there!

The Transformation of the Historic Hoover Steps

2009-04-09T10:21:00.000-07:00

The dedication of the CB Grant funded mural, "Fluid City Rising", on the Hoover Steps on March 26, 2009 was glorious.

It was glorious because it transformed the staircase at the end of Hoover Street from being a neglected dead end known for attracting vandalism and dumping to a vibrant cul-de-sac.

It was glorious because it celebrated the successful pairing of the acclaimed muralist, Ricardo Mendoza, with the caring, yet persistent Mary Frances Smith-Reynolds of the Franklin Hills Residents Association.

It was glorious because the muralist, City of Los Angeles' staff members, and the community behind the project bestowed the triptych mural to the residents and the many students that use the steps to get to and from school.

It was glorious because the project was finally done. This project had slowly simmered to completion -- people constantly asked Mary Frances, "Is it almost done, yet?"

Yes, it's done now.

The Birth of the Community Beautification Grant Blog

2009-04-07T17:05:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone. Thank you for visiting the new CB Grant blog. We will be sharing information that is relevant to the grant-seeking community, information about Los Angeles, and exciting information related to the Community Beautification Grant. On the right side of this page we have a photoshow displaying pictures of completed projects. To see the pictures situated on an interactive map, click on the map image. What can you do with this map? well...

Zoom in or out on the map to see the completed projects in a specific area of the City of Los Angeles.
View projects by categories. Click on the following categories, Murals · Landscaping · Benches · Community Gardens · Mosaics · Reading Gardens · Marquees · Planters · Community Identification Signs.
View all projects in the web album.· Select a picture to view a larger image, including project information and map of the location.

More coming soon. Stay tuned....