Have you registered for this Saturday’s 2014 Congress of Neighborhoods? The 2014 LA Congress of Neighborhoods is coming to City Hall on Saturday, September 20, from 7:45 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The event is free, and it includes breakfast and lunch, workshops, networking, and more.

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The Congress of Neighborhoods is designed by council leaders so that there is something for everybody, from curious stakeholders to new board members to seasoned veterans of the civic engagement process to city hall insiders. Workshops will cover a wide variety of topics from ethics and open government to technology to planning and land use, and more.

The “NC Board Basics” workshop will show you how to make the most of your position as Neighborhood Council board member and make an impact in your community. Joining a Neighborhood Council board makes you part of a dynamic system in a dynamic City, a system that is both changing the City of Los Angeles and being changed by the People of Los Angeles. Led by two veterans of the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment, this workshop will help you gain a deeper understanding of: how to build strong Neighborhood Council boards, how to work with your partners in the Neighborhood Council system, and what all those “policies and procedures” really mean for you. We expect a lively discussion with opportunities for you to ask your most pressing questions, from basic to complex.

Want to learn more about how technology and digital tools can help you increase your engagement with the community and your stakeholders? Come to the “Technology Tools for Neighborhood Councils” workshop. This workshop will give you resources and tools to better organize your new life in the NC system, help you outreach to your stakeholders and stay legal at the same time. This workshop is geared to those who want to know more about how best to use “technology” such as your smart phone, Google, Facebook, Twitter, Nextdoor and Nation Builder opportunities. This workshop will be video-taped. Bring your smart phone, tablet or laptop with you.

At the “Public Works Roundtable,” Neighborhood Council leaders will have a special opportunity to learn about street trees including answers to questions such as what is our tree canopy in the City of L.A., protected trees, early notification of infrastructure projects and new ways to partner with Public Works including “New” technology and contracting too. If you are the Public Works liaison on your NC, this workshop is for you! Do you have a stakeholder, committee member or board member interested in Public Works in your community? Invite them to this workshop. Register now at nccongressla.com.

Whether you’re brand new to your Neighborhood Council or have been around for a few years, there’s something for you at the Congress: resources and networking, great ideas, real life experiences and opportunities where Neighborhood Councils have made a difference and where they would like to make a difference in their communities, for themselves and beyond. The Congress is designed so you can take something (or many things) back immediately and put them to use for yourself and your community.

Mark your calendar and register now for this all day event! More information about the event and the workshops can be found at nccongressla.com, or contact Cindy Cleghorn, Chair of the Congress Planning Committee, at hosts@nccongressla.com.