DECEMBER COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER

Wow, what an incredible year it’s been! From meaningful projects to new connections, we’ve accomplished so much together—and there’s still more to do. As 2024 comes to a close, we’re filled with gratitude for our community and excitement for what lies ahead.

But first, let’s celebrate! Join us for our community celebration to reflect on this incredible year and gear up for what’s next. Read on for more info!

In this NELA neighborhood issue:

🛍️ Mercado NELA Comparte - Now a weekly NELA Night Market

🙋🏽 Community Governance with LA Más - Centering resident leadership

🥳 Join our Community Celebration - Grateful for you all year long

🫶🏽 Support our end of year campaign - Let’s end the year strong

💌 We’re hiring - Join our team

🗓️  Upcoming events

Mercado NELA Comparte

Last week, we wrapped up another incredible Mercado NELA Comparte, a vibrant gathering of our solidarity ecosystem. Over 20 community vendors joined us, and 100+ neighbors came together to invest their dollars locally, supporting our working-class leaders.

The event wasn’t just about shopping—it included meaningful resource sharing, from our community closet to services provided by local organizations - including free bikes from Bike Oven and art activities by Crush + Touch and Omar Ruiz.

Thank you Rudy Melendez for these amazing event photos!

Big News: Mercado NELA Comparte is expanding!

Starting January 16th, Mercado NELA Comparte will evolve into the NELA Night Market, happening every Thursday from 5-8 PM until summer, thanks to United Way’s Community Prosperity Fund.

Our goal? To generate $3K in vendor sales each week while fostering connections and sharing resources through partner activities and tabling. To achieve this, we need our allies to show up weekly and continue investing in our local vendors.

Want to get involved? Contact Miguel at miguel@mas.la.

As you plan your holiday celebrations and gift-giving, please consider supporting our community vendors by hiring them. Together, we can create lasting economic value for our residents and help our community thrive.

Community Governance with LA Más

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.

Now, we’re excited to take the next step in formalizing how we center, serve, and are directed by the community. In 2025, we’ll launch a Community Advisory Committee.

• This group will meet bimonthly to guide LA Más on major programmatic decisions.

• Members will include working-class residents committed to personal and collective growth.

• Resident leaders will receive leadership development and popular education training to ensure they are fully prepared to make impactful decisions.

This initiative is part of our commitment to shared governance and true community empowerment.

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

You’re invited to our Community Celebration

We believe in the power of celebration to bring people together. That’s why we’re thrilled to invite you to our annual Community Celebration on Tuesday, December 19th, from 5-8 PM.

• Live music to get you dancing

• Delicious food to savor

• Special awards honoring our incredible NELA resident leaders

This is a time to connect, share, and celebrate with all members of our solidarity ecosystem. Meet your neighbors, build community, and join us on the dance floor!

Community closet: Bring gently used items (clothing, small appliances, and more) to contribute and support our neighbors.

We can’t wait to celebrate with you—see you there!

Help us end the year strong

This year, our annual Rooted fundraiser was a powerful reminder of what we can accomplish as a community—we raised more than ever before but fell short of our $100K goal.

Your support not only sustains our impactful work but also ensures that we have enough for meaningful gatherings and celebrations.

Become a monthly supporter

By becoming a monthly donor, you’re investing in the future of our working-class residents of color and building economic justice right here in NELA:

• $10/month: Fills our kids’ area with fun games and art supplies.

• $25/month: Ensures language justice and delicious meals at community events.

Every dollar counts—whether it’s $5, $50, or $500. Your contribution helps keep our programs thriving and our community growing.

Our growth can only be cultivated together. Thank you for your donation.

LA Más is hiring

Our team is growing and we’re looking for a dynamic leader to join us as our inaugural Deputy Director!

The Deputy Director will keep LA Más seamlessly moving forward while embracing and championing our organizational culture and meeting the needs of our community, donors, and partners.

If you’re passionate about community-driven change in NELA (or know someone who is) and ready to take on a pivotal leadership role, we want to hear from you!

Learn more and apply here