Meeting_Body
PLANNING & PROGRAMMING COMMITTEE
JUNE 16, 2021
Subject
SUBJECT: COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATION PARTNERING STRATEGY
Action
ACTION: RECEIVE AND FILE
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
RECEIVE AND FILE status report on Community Based Organization Partnering Strategy: Elements for Successful Partnering in Professional Services (Attachment A).
Issue
ISSUE
Staff developed Metro's "Community Based Organization Partnering Strategy: Elements for Successful Partnering in Professional Services," a set of recommendations that establishes consistent and equitable processes for Metro to utilize across the agency when directly or indirectly engaging Community Based Organizations (CBOs) for professional services.
BACKGROUND
Research has shown that vast disparities exist in Los Angeles County among neighborhoods and individuals that make it difficult to seize opportunities in jobs, housing, education, health, and safety to improve their circumstances. Metro recognizes that transportation plays an important role in addressing these issues and that opportunities should be a core concept to public decision-making, public investment, and public service. That is why in 2017, the Metro Board of Directors passed the Metro Equity Platform Framework to illustrate Metro's commitment to advancing equity and for Metro to actively lead and partner in addressing and overcoming these disparities. To align with Metro's Equity Platform Framework, Metro's Transit Oriented Communities: First/Last Mile unit in 2017 procured a consultant team, that included CBOs, to assist with walk audits and community engagement needed for the First/Last Mile Blue Line Project.
The integration of CBOs as Metro's partners in engagement rather than targets of outreach represented a departure from the standard approach, both for Metro and the CBOs. This partnership allowed for a more robust and inclusive engagement and trust in the community, ultimately making it a model approach for future p...
Click here for full text