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2024 Grants Challenge

East Rancho Dominguez Funding Request

This funding request will be used to support 3 community initiatives and events:
Tile Murals (5 murals in high traffic graffiti areas)
Volunteerism: Community Clean Up (large bin rental once a month)
Senior Activities:
Food Access: Cooking Classes/Healthy Charcuteries 5K Walk
Spanish translation for our Spanish speaking Senior population

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What is the primary issue area that your application will impact?

Community safety

In what stage of innovation is this project, program, or initiative?

Research (initial work to identify and understand the problem)

What is your understanding of the issue that you are seeking to address?

Our association has served for 18 years. The question addresses one issue but we are in great need. The funds will be divided into 3 issues. Tile Murals:Our community has expressed concern about the graffiti. Public Works has a 2 day turnaround time to paint graffiti yet, within hours there is already a new tagging. On the surface the issue our community looks ugly but on a deeper level the graffiti creates low community morale and less involvement because they feel afraid, disappointed, and disconnected. Volunteerism:Members expressed concern for the trash in residential areas and alleyways. In order to tackle this issue we would like to host monthly clean up events. Senior Activities:Finally, many of our members are elderly. Our Spanish speaking members have stopped coming due to the lack of translation. With the power of AI we would like to translate without having to worry if a member becomes ill or passes. Secondly, monthly cooking classes. Lastly, host Senior Awareness Month 5k.

Describe the project, program, or initiative this grant will support to address the issue.

Tile Murals: We will encourage community members to submit a design for a tile mural. We will select 5 designs. All materials will be purchased with the grant (see budget). We will then ask the community to volunteer to help create the tile murals. Volunteerism: We will host monthly community clean up events and "dump" days to help alleviate the amount of trash in East Rancho Dominguez. SeniorActivities: We will host monthly senior cooking classes. Purchase the technology to use AI to translate. We would like to celebrate the completion of all the projects with a 5k during Senior Awareness Month. The 5k walk will take place in East Rancho Dominguez with various hydration stations in front of each mural where the individual(s) who designed the mural will be available to speak with members about their art. Each station will also have a tasty treat that people can take that seniors created during their cooking classes.

Describe how Los Angeles County will be different if your work is successful.

As a part of unincorporated Los Angeles County East Rancho Dominguez doesn't always get the funding it needs for beautification and community needs. With the help of this grant our community will not only visibly look beautiful with 5 new tile murals but we will have built a strong sense of community pride that will hopefully last way beyond the project dates.

What evidence do you have that this project, program, or initiative is or will be successful, and how will you define and measure success?

These projects are still in the initial early stages but we hope to measure success by:
Keeping track of the number of individuals who volunteered or participate through sign in sheets
Social Media Engagement Surveys Anecdotal interviews
Feedback via our monthly Community Meetings

Approximately how many people will be impacted by this project, program, or initiative?

Direct Impact: 1,000.0

Indirect Impact: 15,000.0