Community Governance

We shift decision-making power to NELA’s working class residents. 

At LA Más, community is at the heart of everything we do. For years, we’ve prioritized working-class residents of color, ensuring that our programs serve those most excluded by existing systems. Community voices and priorities have shaped initiatives like our community housing program and the evolution of Mercado NELA Comparte over the past two years.

Informed by community conversations - LA Más will launch a Community Advisory Committee (CAC) in 2025 - a next step in formalizing how we center, serve, and are directed by the community. The first cohort of up to 20 residents will be invited to join the CAC by LA Más staff based on their commitment to personal transformation, collective well-being, and our mission to keep working class residents rooted in Northeast LA.

Have resources to share? Contact melissa@mas.la 


 
 

  • Members of the CAC will participate in bimonthly leadership development trainings that cover topics such as conflict resolution, public speaking, collective decision-making, existing systems of oppressions, alternative models for social justice, etc.

  • CAC will meet bimonthly to guide LA Mas on major programmatic decisions, such as which community housing projects to pursue, how to best activate our community hub, what is the long-term vision for our weekly night market, etc.

  • LA Más’ commitment to community governance will be an iterative process. We plan to phase in the growth of our CAC model as needed, including evolving into a larger membership body, shifting our board of directors structure, or expanding decision-making to include organizational priorities.

    Have resources or expertise to share? Contact Melissa at melissa@mas.la.

Impact

  • LA Más programs will reflect the lived experience and priorities of working class residents in Northeast LA.

  • Members of our CAC are supported in making programmatic decisions with leadership development and popular education training.

  • Increase community capacity to advocate for alternative models of housing and economic justice.

  • Demonstrating a new model for community governance that focuses on deep learning over broad participation.