Latino Urban Forum
Meeting, Activities and events that promote our mission for
April 2, 2007

Latino Urban Forum

Meeting, Activities and events that promote our mission for
April 2, 2007, 2007

1. Latinos in Planning:  Agents for Social Change

2. "Who Really Runs L.A.?"

3. Community Building and Visions of Change Awards Ceremony

4. Built Environment and Public Health Workshop

5. LA River Bike Ride

Thursday April 5, 2007 @ 6:30 pm- 8:30pm

Latinos in Planning:  Agents for Social Change,

Street vendor by street vendor, Latinos are reusing LA's streets and streets across America. The growing Latino population is creating new demands for housing, open space, transportation and economic development in urban American.  How do we as Latino urban planners begin to articulate these new needs and vision for our communities?  

Many of us struggle daily through our jobs in land use policy and planning to articulate what are the best methods to protect, promote and enhance our communities.  We have recently advocated for and have been granted a new division in the American Planning Association (APA).  The national Latinos in Planning Division, for which I have helped collect petitions and organized a few Dialogues or talks on urban planning in the LA region, will become a vehicle by which Latino urban planners can share their struggles, thoughts, from a national perspective.  

Southern California is home to the largest concentration of Latino urban planners. The Latino Urban Forum has been very successful in attracting Latino urban planners and like minded individuals for the past few years to come together and articulate a vision for our community through policy and projects.

    
You are invited to hear the stories of four Latinas through their work in government and non-profits, are improving the built environment of Latino communities:

Maria Cabildo, Executive Director of East Los Angeles Community Corporation was raised by immigrant parents in the same community she now serves. ELACC develops and preserves quality affordable single and multi-family housing, organizes residents, and provides homebuyer and financial literacy education in an area with a very low rate of home ownership. Ms. Cabildo returned to East L.A. after receiving degrees from Columbia University and UCLA Graduate School of Architecture and Urban Planning.

Norma E. Garcia, is the Community and Environmental Deputy to Los Angeles County Board of Supervisor Gloria Molina and is responsible for policy development in a myriad of environmental and  open space issues.  As an advisory to Supervisor Molina, Ms. García has been instrumental in the creation of the Elysian Valley Gateway in Los Angeles, Thienes Gateway Park in South El Monte, San Jose Creek Vista in Unincorporated Avocado Heights, Cudahy/Riverfront Greenway Project, and various other Emerald Necklace projects in the San Gabriel Valley. Norma Edith is an ardent believer of building better communities, and works to achieve this through her active participation in numerous civic and professional organizations, including: Latino Urban Forum, Hispanics Organized for Political Equality (HOPE), El Monte Coalition of Latino Professionals (emCLP), and serves  as the Chair of the Watershed Conservation Authority, and the Chair of the El Monte City Planning Commission. Ms. García has been honored as the 49th Assembly District Latina of the Year in Community Involvement and was awarded a Conflict Resolution Fellowship through the US State Dept., which allowed her travel and focus on resolving complex planning issues in Indonesia. Ms. Garcia received her masters of urban planning from UCLA.

Maribel De La Torre, Councilwoman for the City is San Fernando, was raised in the City of San Fernando by immigrant parents. Through her work on the City Council, De La Torre secured funding for an Aquatics Center, federal appropriations for the redesign of San Fernando's major corridors, a CNG Trolley System, and restoration of the Pacoima Wash Watershed. She spearheaded the development of Senior Housing, adoption of the City's historic preservation ordinance, crafting of the Downtown Corridor Specific Plan allowing mixed-use by right. The Councilwoman was also responsible for negotiating with LAUSD for the development of 4 new Academies and a new elementary school in San Fernando. She is a graduate University of California at Berkeley.

Barbara Romero, Director of Urban Projects for the Natural Resources and Planning Division of the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority, is responsible for identifying, developing and implementing multiple park development in urban areas. Ms. Romero previously served as Special Projects Manager for the Natural Resources and Planning Division of the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority. Ms. Romero has also served as a Field Deputy for State Senator Richard Polanco. Ms. Romero serves as a planning commissioner for the city of Los Angeles South San Fernando Valley.

To get involved locally contact Elizabeth Delgado at delgado.e@gmail.com or James Rojas at Latinourbanforum@yahoo.com

Location:    
Metro Headquaters Lobby
        
One Gateway Plaza
        
LA, CA.   90012

Tuesday, April 10, 7pm at Central Library

"Who Really Runs L.A.?"

Moderated by Mariel Garza of the Los Angeles Daily News  
Who runs Los Angeles? It's not just the mayor. It's not just the City Council. And it's not just a handful of rich white men. Los Angeles is no ordinary city, and its non-traditional cast of power brokers and political players span the socioeconomic and ethnic divides. But who are they? How did they acquire their power? And how do they wield it? Political consultant Kerman Maddox, LA Weekly reporter Dave Zahniser, political scientist Jaime Regalado, and Los Angeles Magazine writer Jesse Katz visit Zócalo to square off in a raucous and informative discussion of  L.A.'s municipal politics, warts and all. To Reserve a Free Seat at Central Library

Location:  Central Library

Thursday, April 19, 2007 @ 4:30 pm

The Urban & Environmental Policy Institute Presents:  10 years of  Community
Building and Visions of Change Awards Ceremony. This year Elva Yanez will
receive the Northeast Los Angeles Social Justice Award, Angelo Logan, Jesse
Marquez and Penny Newman will receive the Los Angeles Regional Social Justice
Award and Luis Lopez, Principle of Franklin High School will receive eh Alumni
Community Action Award.  RSVP to Sylvia  Chico (323) 259-2991 or email
schico@oxy.edu

Location:    
 
       Occidental College
    
1882 Campus Road
    
Los Angeles, CA. 90041
    
www.uepi.oxy.edu

Wednesday, May 2, 2007 @ 8am-3pm

Built Environment and Public Health Workshop

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is pleased to announce
a Built Environment and Public Health Workshop.  This inter-disciplinary workshop will emphasize new ways to plan for healthy environments, highlight how Public Health can support cities in their planning efforts, and preview a new County funding source for built environment work. City officials and planners, transportation engineers, public works professionals, public health staff, and community based organizations working on land use issues are encouraged to attend.  Note: Pre-registration is required and space is limited.

Registration Deadline: April 20

Location:   Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels

Saturday June 10, 2007

LA River Bike Ride

Conference

Thursday, April 12. 2006 From 8:30 am - 5:00 pm

Sixth Annual Municipal Green Building Conference and Expo:

Countdown to Green: Come discover the benefits of building green at the only education and demonstration forum specifically designed for Southland municipalities and the regional design community.  Learn why cities across California are building schools, libraries, hospitals and fire stations as green buildings - saving energy and resources and preserving the health of building occupants. Discover why building green can benefit private development and help cities stretch tax dollars when needed most. Explore the latest products being developed by local manufacturers and begin to understand the associated costs, resulting benefits and available incentives for sustainable technologies.

For complete sponsor and exhibitor information: Contact dstevens@usgbc-la.org

Cost:  FREE

National Association for Chicana and Chicano Studies (NACCS)
conference in San José www.naccs.org

Friday, April 6, 2007 - Session 7  4681

Chicano/Latino Communities: Why should we care about urban planning?

Richard Martinez:, University of Minnesota.  "The Emergence of the Latina/o Planning Initiative and its Relevance to Latina/o Communities."

James Rojas; Latino Urban Forum, Los Angeles. "Latino New Urbanism: the Disconnect between Latino use of urban space & formal urban policies."

David Diaz; California State Univ-Northridge. "Barrio Urbanism: Can planning organizations reform their legacies, and become relevant to Chicano/Latino communities?"

Margaret Villanueva; St Cloud State University. "Local Planning Practices: The Challenges for New Latino Communities."

Moderator: Hansen, Lori. University of Minnesota.

American Planning Association's 2007 National Planning Conference

Philadelphia, April 14-18.

I will be attending this APA conference and look forward to exploring Philadelphia.

Check out my session on: 
Hispanic-Latino Communities and Urban Spaces

4/17/2007, 4:00 p.m.–5:15 p.m.

Session Description: Scholars and planning practitioners discuss how Latino-Hispanic communities use urban space and how they differ from other groups living in U.S. cities today. What kind of challenges these communities present to existing planning and zoning regulations? What opportunities may arise?

www.planning.org/2007conference/speakerscorner.htm

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Urban Eats:

"East Los Angeles Farmer's Market" every Saturday from 9AM TO 1PM

Features fruits and vegetables grown locally by local farmers. In addition, you'll find one of a kind creations offered by local artisans and meet representatives from local community organizations.
 

Location: First Street (between Rowan and Ditman).
 

Homegirl Café!

1818 East First Street

LA, CA.  90014

Mama's Hot Tamale Cafe

7th Street across from Macarthur Park

Visit LUF on Myspace.com/LatinoUrbanForum

Blog.Myspace.com/LatinoUrbanForum

To post events, activities or meetings that promote planning, cultural or dialogue contact James Rojas at 213 892-0918 or email latinourbanforum@yahoo.com
Please submit posts in Word.