Today, just 40 hours after being certified, the East Hollywood Neighborhood Council returned to DONE's bi-annual Congress of Neighborhoods event, this time at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles. Elson Trinidad, Israel Stepanian and Lucy Varpetian represented the EHNC at the event.

The Congress of Neighborhoods is organized by DONE as an informational conference for and about neighborhood councils, which features training and topical discussion sessions as well as a chance to network with elected officials, city departments, community groups and other neighborhood councils.

Thas been attending the Congress since its first installment in Fall 2001 but decided to stop attending after the Spring 2004 event to concentrate on completing its certification -- little did we know it would take three more years to do just that!

We were greeted by friends and supporters such as our former DONE project coordinator Christine Jerian (now with SCAG), Central Hollywood NC's Debbie Wehbe, Hollywood United NC's Erik Sanjurjo, Rampart Village NC's Tara Brown, as well as BONC Commissioners Linda Lucks, Tsilah Burman and Michele Siqueiros (they all just love us now...).

But perhaps our coolest moment was when our councilman, Council President Eric Garcetti gave us props in front of the 1,000 attendees:

The East Hollywood Neighborhood Council became the 89th certified neighborhood council in the City of Los Angeles on Thursday, April 19 at a packed Faculty & Staff Center on the L.A. City College campus. The Board of Neighborhood Commissioners voted unanimously 4-0 to certify the EHNC, after a public hearing marked with enthusiasm, emotion and some Hollywood style -- the premiere of the short film, "This is East Hollywood," which made a very strong impression on the commissioners. About a dozen residents, businessowners and representatives of local elected officials, nonprofit groups, churches and neighboring neighborhood councils, spoke up in not only their enthusiastic support for the EHNC's certification, but shared their honest and unique experiences in or with the community. The certification vote, met with loud cheers and applause, was the culmination of five long years of hard work by the EHNC.

Read Elson Trinidad's account of the Certification Hearing

Read Alfredo Hernandez's account of the Certification Hearing.

Read CityWatch LA's article on the EHNC's Certification Hearing


Alfredo Hernandez.


Israel Stepanian.


Lucy Varpetian, Alfredo Hernandez, Elson Trinidad.


Aldredo Hernandez, Lucy Varpetian, Israel Stepanian, Elson Trinidad.


Lucy Varpetian, Alfredo Hernandez.


Elson Trinidad, Israel Stepanian, Richard Landis of the LACC Swapmeet and the Varpetians share a laugh from the commissioners.


DONE Project Coordinator Amber Meshack, Elson Trinidad, Israel Stepanian.


Elson Trinidad and Alfredo Hernandez exchange "Hye Fives" immediately following the Certrification vote as the room erupts into cheers and applause.


Former DONE Project Coordinator Christine Jerian congratulates Alfredo Hernandez after the Certification vote.