2026 Los Angeles Congress of Neighborhoods: Workshops
This year marked a special milestone as we returned to City Hall for our 16th convening.
We dove into a full day of learning and conversation with + 20+ workshops covering everything from neighborhood history, city budgeting, and land use to youth leadership, civil rights, public safety, environmental sustainability, and more.
Session 1
9:55-10:55am
Strategic Thinking for Public Organizations
This talk will help participants better understand how public organizations function within an economic framework. It will equip attendees to raise informed, relevant points during Neighborhood Council meetings — and in any public meeting across different organizations.
Location: TBA
Facilitator: Wiliam Burt
Treasurer, Winnetka Neighborhood Council
From Start to Finish: Best Practices for Collaborative NC Events
This workshop explores best practices for collaboration among Neighborhood Councils, highlighting both opportunities and challenges in cross-council coordination. Drawing on examples from the Historic Highland Park Neighborhood Council (HHPNC), Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council (ERNC), and Central Hollywood Neighborhood Council (CHNC), the session will examine strategies for joint advocacy, resource sharing, and community engagement. Participants will gain practical tools to strengthen inter-council relationships, navigate bureaucratic barriers, and build unified approaches to addressing shared neighborhood priorities.
Location: TBA
Facilitator: Adan Martinez
1st Vice President, Historic Highland Park Neighborhood Council
Facilitator: Flor Chaidez
President, Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council
LASAN
Details pending.
Location: TBA
Facilitator: TBA
Facilitator: TBA
SB79 Workshop
Details pending.
Location: TBA
Facilitator: TBA
Business Representative, Atwater Village Neighborhood Council
LADA: Public Safety Workshop: Trafficking and/or Catalytic Converters, Crimes or Senior Scams
Details pending.
Location: TBA
Facilitator: TBA
Navigating Bureaucratic Hurdles of Sustainability Projects
Has your neighborhood council (or other local entity) ever worked to plant trees, adopt a median, install a bike lane, restore a bioswale, plant native landscaping, or tackle another sustainability project? Bring your stories, and together we’ll identify common challenges, lessons learned, and practical solutions.
Location: TBA
Facilitator: Lisa Hart
Executive Director, Los Angeles Neighborhood Council Sustainability Alliance
What’s in a bite? Learning how to stay safe from mosquitoes
Come learn about the Greater LA County Vector Control District (GLACVCD) and how we keep our nearly six million residents safe, since 1952. We’ll share some background on who we are, what we do, and how you can keep you, your family, and your neighbors safe. Through small group discussions and polling, we’ll try to dispel myths about these insects..
Location: TBA
Facilitator: Raquel Trinidad
Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District
Youth Roundtable
Details pending.
Location: TBA
Facilitator: Adan Martinez
1st Vice President, Historic Highland Park Neighborhood Council
Facilitator: Adrian Fernandez
Board member, Central San Pedro Neighborhood Council
Session 2
11:05am - 12:05pm
2027 NC Elections: Understanding the Timeline & Process
Provide an overview of the 2027 Neighborhood Council Election season, including the hybrid election model, election schedule and timeline, the candidate filing process, and voting procedures.
Location: TBA
Facilitator: TBA
Los Angeles City Clerk
How to use AI to Support your Work as an NC.
Right now, A.I. use across the city can feel a bit like the wild west — everyone experimenting, practices evolving in real time, and no consistent standards guiding how these tools should be used. But the City cannot afford incorrect or inappropriate use, especially as A.I.‑generated work ultimately reflects on the city and its Neighborhood Councils.
This session aims to cut through the confusion and clearly outline the City’s guidelines for using A.I. tools in Neighborhood Council business. Attendees will learn what’s allowed, what’s not, and how to use A.I. responsibly, ethically, and in alignment with City policy.
Location: TBA
Facilitator: Sunil Rampersad
Business Representative, Atwater Neighborhood Council
LASAN
Details pending.
Location: Room 401
Facilitator: TBA
Community Improvement Projects You Can Do: Beautification, Engagement and Neighborhood Pride
This workshop will highlight how Neighborhood Councils can use Community Improvement Projects to strengthen neighborhood pride, support beautification efforts, and engage residents in visible, community-centered improvements. Drawing from examples such as beautification projects and Garden of the Month programs, panelists will discuss how councils can identify local needs, build partnerships, secure support, and organize projects that make a lasting impact.
Location: TBA
Facilitator: Adan Martinez
1st Vice President, Historic Highland Park Neighborhood Council; Vice President, 2026 Congress of Neighborhoods
Addressing Illegal Dumping Community Crisis: What You Can Do
Illegal dumping continues to harm neighborhoods across Los Angeles — especially low‑income communities, seniors, and unhoused residents who are most impacted by unsafe and unsanitary conditions. This workshop will highlight practical, real‑world solutions, including free and accessible disposal sites, stronger enforcement, public education, and collaborative community partnerships.
Participants will explore why prevention is far more cost‑effective than cleanup and how residents, city partners, and local organizations can work together to keep every neighborhood safe, clean, and respected. The session will feature interactive discussion, lived‑experience insights, and opportunities for attendees to shape local strategies moving forward.
Location: TBA
Facilitator: Velvet Yvette Victorian
Founder of the Velveteen Rabbit Project, Former Zapata King NC Board Member
Accessing Resources for Aging in Los Angeles
Details pending.
Location: TBA
Facilitator: Tony Wilkinson
Chair, Panorama Neighborhood Council
Public Comment 101: Getting Your Point Across in Limited Time
Delivering public comment during Los Angeles City Council meetings isn’t as simple as showing up and speaking your mind. Learn what to expect when attending, best practices for crafting a comment that will land your message effectively, and basic public speaking skills.
Location: TBA
Facilitator: Stacey Segarra-Bohlinger
Traffic & Transportation Committee Chair and Government Affairs Committee Member, Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council; Former Council Member.
President’s Roundtable
Details pending.
Location: TBA
Facilitator: Daniel Perez
President, Central Hollywood Neighborhood Council, Pico Union Neighborhood Council Board Member
Session 3
1:55pm - 2:55 pm
Outreach Strategies for 2027 NC Election
Provide an overview of the 2027 Neighborhood Council Election season, including the hybrid election model, election schedule and timeline, the candidate filing process, and voting procedures.
Location: TBA
Facilitator: Michael Lektorich
Office of the City Clerk, Neighborhood Council Election and Funding Division
So, You’re the Homelessness Liaison. Now what?
Becoming a Homelessness Liaison revealed a major gap: no defined responsibilities and no resources to guide the work. By connecting with the Chinatown Mutual Aid group and later the Mutual Aid Union, I uncovered community‑driven models that can strengthen Neighborhood Council engagement and support unhoused neighbors more effectively.
Location: TBA
Facilitator: Taery L Anglin
Secretary, Historic Cultural North Neighborhood Council
Facilitator: Sophat Phea
Legal Topics for Neighborhood Councils
This essential session offers Neighborhood Council members clear, practical guidance on key legal responsibilities. Learn the basics of the Brown Act (including SB79 updates), the California Public Records Act, and conflict of interest laws in a way that’s easy to understand and apply. Whether you're new to your board or need a refresher, this workshop will help you navigate legal requirements with confidence and ensure your NC operates with transparency and integrity. Session does not replace any NC training requirements.t
Location: TBA
Facilitator: Elise A. Ruden
Managing Assistant City Attorney, Neighborhood Council Advice Division, Office of the City Attorney
Capital Infrastructure Plan
Details pending.
Location: TBA
Facilitator: Daniel Perez
Chair, 2026 Congress of Neighborhoods, President, Central Hollywood Neighborhood Council; Pico Union Neighborhood Council Board Member
Empowering Healthy Neighborhoods: Using the Built Environment to Provide Equitable Access to Outdoor Fitness
Empowering Healthy Neighborhoods: The National Fitness Campaign
Discover how to transform your local parks into hubs of wellness and art! This workshop introduces the National Fitness Campaign, a public-private partnership bringing world-class outdoor Fitness Courts® to Los Angeles. Learn how Neighborhood Councils can secure grant funding, activate public spaces with free digital coaching, and promote equitable fitness for all ages. Join us to build a healthier, more connected community—one 7-minute workout at a time.
Location: TBA
Facilitator: Elizabeth Bennett
Woodland Hills Neighborhood Council
A Neighborhood Council Role Play: Tips on Effective Meetings
There are many regulations that govern neighborhood councils, and volunteers are required to complete hours of online training. This workshop will exercise that training through simulated role-playing activities that occur or are likely to occur at an NC board meeting. Experts will advise on the proper procedures volunteer NC board members should follow. Whether you're new to the Neighborhood Council system or a veteran member, this fun exercise will help you serve your community better.
Location: TBA
Facilitator: Aaron Vanek
Board Member, Mar Vista Neighborhood Council
Expand Your Reach with Social Media in Your Outreach Toolbelt
Dive into one of the most powerful tools a neighborhood council can employ to engage with younger and larger communities of Angeleanos: social media. Immerse yourself with every step needed to begin and manage your neighborhood council's social media accounts. Gain tips and tricks shared by a high school student who has advocated for the inclusion of younger audiences into areas of civic and community engagement his entire high school career, and who has experience managing social media accounts amassing over 50,000 views.
Location: TBA
Facilitator: Daniel Bagumyam
Youth Representative, Sun Valley Area Neighborhood Council
Treasurer’s Round Table
Details pending.
Location: TBA
Facilitator: Tony Wilkinson
Chair, Panorama Neighborhood Council
Facilitator: Glenn Bailey
Executive Member, Valley Alliance of Neighborhood Councils; Treasurer, Los Angeles Neighborhood Council Coalition, Co-Chair, Neighborhood Council Budget Advocates
Session 4
3:05pm - 4:05pm
Emergency Preparedness: What to do if under stay-at-home order.
Details pending.
Location: TBA
Facilitator: TBA
Emergency Management Department
Facilitator: Daniel Perez
Chair, 2026 Congress of Neighborhoods; President, Central Hollywood Neighborhood Council; Pico Union Neighborhood Council Board Member
Pure Water Los Angeles: Shaping Equity in Los Angeles’ Water Resilience
This workshop, developed in collaboration between UCLA, LADWP, and LASAN, invites participants to learn about the Pure Water Los Angeles Program, one of the City’s major water resilience investments, and the equity initiatives currently being explored. This session creates space for Neighborhood Council members to share which equity issues matter most in their communities, including affordability, access, engagement, local workforce development, and equitable economic impacts.
Attendees will help shape future program considerations by identifying local priorities and opportunities that support trust, partnership, and meaningful participation across Los Angeles neighborhoods
Location: TBA
Facilitator: Cynthia Rodriguez
Los Angeles Department of Water and Power & LA Sanitation
The City Budget - How Do We Change it?
The City Budget does not serve our City? We keep doing the same thing and get the same results. In this workshop we will discuss how we can change it and what we want to change it to.
Location: Room 1050
Facilitator: Kay Hartman
President, Palms Neighborhood Council
LADWP Ratepayer: Affordability Listening and Solutioning Workshop
The Office of Public Accountability (OPA) has an ongoing effort to better understand Angelenos’ perspectives on their LADWP utility bills and broader challenges with affordability.
This workshop will be designed to explore water and power usage issues, attitudes about bill affordability (now and in the future), program access, and support.
Location: TBA
Facilitator: Tim O’Connor
LA City Office of Public Accountability / Ratepayer Advocate
Tackling Tough Neighborhood Council Challenges Through Civic Assemblies
This interactive workshop introduces civic assemblies, a proven model that brings a representative group of residents together to tackle complex public issues. Through a brief overview and hands-on simulation, participants will deliberate and develop solutions to challenges such as homelessness, public safety, or land use. The session blends real-world examples with local application and concludes with brainstorming how this model can be applied in their neighborhoods and across the city to support more inclusive decision-making.
Location: TBA
Facilitator: Alexandra Levy
Public Democracy Los Angeles (PDLA)
Access for All Abilities -From Walkways to Websites
How to meet ADA requirements and include everyone in Neighborhood Council work.
Location: TBA
Facilitator: Tony Wilkinson
Chair, Panorama Neighborhood Council
Youth Proposal to Rebuild NC Election Turnout
The 2025 NC elections recorded the lowest voter turnout since 2010, with roughly half of the stakeholders who attempted to participate losing between the application and the final vote. Civicate Youth presents a youth-developed proposal for three concrete reforms NC boards can advocate for. Through live polling, Q&A, and a gallery walk, attendees will analyze the data, evaluate each reform, and leave with a model resolution and outreach toolkit for their next board meeting. 1) Resource Fair and 2) Candidate Forums
Location: TBA
Facilitator: Angel Song
Civicate Youth (501(c)(3) nonprofit; Youth Representative, Greater Valley Glen Neighborhood Council; 2026 LA Congress of Neighborhoods Planning Committee Member
PLUM Chair’s Roundtable
Details pending.
Location: TBA
Facilitator: Laura Meyers
President, United Neighborhoods Neighborhood Council