“What would it take to have 35,000 children living in the neighborhoods within the 5-square mile/500 blocks of the Magnolia Catchment Area in Los Angeles, California break all records of success in their education and their health, and the quality of nurturing care and the economic stability they receive from their families and community?” (a mouthful, their words not mine) This was the topic for the USC Center on Philanthropy and Public Policy “Conversations on Philanthropy” gathering today held at Inner-City Arts. Fred Ali, President of The Weingart Foundation talked with Alex Morales, President of the Children’s Bureau of Southern California about the Magnolia Place Community Initiative. The goal for their transformational strategy of fostering empathy, cultivating a community network, promoting civic engagement and strengthening protective factors is to enable safe and nurturing parenting, educational stability, good health and education success. This is a holistic approach designed “with” the community in a way that is sustainable for the long term. This is not a three year “program” that comes in and after completion goes away. This is a long term pathway to real change. Started by the Children’s Bureau in 2008, this is a true collaborative. It is a partnership of more than 75 partner organizations made up of nonprofits, government agencies, communities of faith and schools with 100 community groups and 500 volunteer Neighborhood Ambassadors working with 14,000 families. This is a “place based strategy” in action. While the initiative was only begun five years ago, and is still in the growing and learning phase, it is already seeing success. As the roots go deeper into the neighborhoods over time, the tree will blossom with a more successful community overall, while specifically improving the lives of children. http://cppp.usc.edu/
http://www.magnoliaplacela.org/