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Celebrating Recent Successes and Future Visions

ISSUE 3 • October 2024

Welcome to the third edition of the quarterly newsletter, Commissions Connection: Celebrating Recent Successes and Future Visions. You can expect to see updates on Commission Services achievements and highlights of the boards and commissions the Executive Office oversees.

Quality & Productivity Commission Host 37th Annual Productivity and Quality Awards Ceremony

Showcasing Department and Community Partner with a Commitment to Serving People and Solving Problems'

County and Community Partner representatives accept the Golden Eagle Award for their work on 'The Neurocognitive Disorders Team.' Photo: Bryan Chan/BOS Chief Photographer 

On October 16, 2024, the Los Angeles County Quality and Productivity Commission commended various departmental project teams for their work in demonstrating excellence, efficiency, effectiveness, and inclusion in County government at their 37^th Annual Productivity and Quality Awards Ceremony.

Master of Ceremonies and KTLA 5 News Anchor Cher Calvin announced the award recipients for the Commission’s “Top Ten” and Commission Special Awards and noted that the projects resulted in more than $1 billion in savings and benefits to the County.

The Top Ten Award winners were made up of project teams from across County departments - from the Public Defender's Office to the L.A. County Library - each offered various projects aimed at the development of a better future for Los Angeles County. The Human Relations Commission's LA vs Hate project, Addressing Bias & Hate, was recognized for developing a hate reporting line and case management system for reporting hate crimes, hate acts and bullying. LA vs Hate also launched eight school Dream Resource Centers to address bullying.

Among the 98 entrants this year, three projects took top honors as Gold, Silver, and Bronze Eagle recipients. The Neurocognitive Disorders Team was awarded the Golden Eagle Award, which focused on bringing best practices to the legal representation of justice-involved adults who are suspected of having cognitive disorders (e.g., dementia, brain injury, autism, etc.); Homeless Outreach and Mobile Engagement took the Silver Eagle Award, which provided street-based engagement and treatment for individuals experiencing homelessness with severe mental illness and profound functional impairment; and Paving a Bright Future for Nursing was awarded the Bronze Eagle Award, which worked to close the hiring gap created by the COVID-19 pandemic between newly graduated Registered Nurses and the availability of clinical experience opportunities with a six-month Nurse Residency Program.

View the Awards Ceremony videos and booklet online here.

Fish & Wildlife Commission Hosts Annual Conference on Conservation

Kenneth Foreman, addresses the attendees at the Los Angeles County Fish & Wildlife Commission's Southern California Counties Regional Annual Conference on October 9th. Seated: Commissioner Hugo Garcia, Chairperson Lee Wax and Commissioner Dr. Karen M. Martin. Photo: Bryan Chan/BOS Chief Photographer 

Sea breeze - check. Crashing waves in the background - big check. Dockweiler State Beach served as the perfect background for conversations about wildlife conservation and education at the Fish & Wildlife Commission's Southern California Regional Annual Conference.

Attendees from partner public agencies and community organizations were treated to a day of discussion about wildlife conservation efforts, educational opportunities for regional youth, and accomplishments in protecting vulnerable ecosystems.

Throughout the day, it became clear that the conservation and protection of Southern California's diverse ecosystems was based on educating young and old alike, promoting accessibility to nature, and combatting climate change.

To learn more, visit the Fish & Wildlife Commission website.

LGBTQ+ Commission Announces Leadership

From left: Vice Chair Sydney Rogers (she/her), Executive Director Sunitha Menon (she/her), Chair Héctor Trinidad Plascencia (they/them, we/us), Second Vice Chair Terra Russell-Slavin (she/her, they/them). Photo: Sunitha Menon/ August 26, 2024

SPOTLIGHT: Youth Climate Commission

Empowering youth and young people to combat climate change. The first-in-the-nation LA County Youth Climate Commission has spent the past month meeting with young people across the region to share the findings of its recently released  LA County Youth Climate Priorities Report.  Nearly two dozen residents under the age of 25 serve on the panel, which draws participants from all five Supervisorial districts. Members are committed to learning from their peers about opportunities for action – as their generation will be most impacted by climate threats like intensifying heat and sea-level rise. The Commission hosted a countywide webinar in late August and coalition community meetings in all five districts, under the supervision of the County’s Chief Sustainability Office. With clean air, green space, and green buildings identified as top priorities, youth provided input on how the County could advance greater climate resilience. You can get updates on Instagram or by joining a quarterly Commission meeting.

In other climate news, Matthew Gonser has just been named Resilience Officer for the Chief Sustainability Office, after serving in a similar role for Honolulu for three years. He has been charged with finding community-driven solutions to such risks as increased temperatures, flooding, wildfires and other challenges outlined in the County’s Climate Vulnerability Assessment.  Detailed recommendations will be included in the next iteration of the ambitious OurCounty sustainability plan, which is due in late 2025. You can read more about his vision and background in this blog post.

LA vs. Hate Launches

'United Against Hate Week' 

Frankie Aguirre, a victim of hate (left), L.A. County District Attorney George Gascón, Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell, and Robin Toma, Executive Director L.A. County’s Commission on Human Relations (right), attended the launch of “United Against Hate Week” at the Historic Watts Train Station in Los Angeles on Friday, September 20. Photo: Martin Zamora/BOS Photographer 

LA vs Hate, the county’s anti-hate program, hosted the launch of United Against Hate Week in Los Angeles on September 20. It welcomed LA County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell and LA County District Attorney George Gascón, as well as coalition partners Not in Our Town, CA vs Hate, and Stop the Hate, for their annual press conference. Partners, activists, organizations, schools, and communities joined the coalition to rally and spread messages of hope and vigilance in the fight against hate. 

United Against Hate Week is a call for local civic action to stop hate, discrimination, and implicit biases that negatively impact our diverse communities, neighborhoods, and cities. While the week has historically taken place in November, this year, organizers moved the campaign up to September to recognize the UN International Day of Peace. The week of action has supported communities nationwide that have historically confronted the rise of hate and divisive rhetoric connected to elections.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Sign up to attend future Commission events - each are open to the public!

November 8: LA County Sheriff Civilian Oversight Commission
4th Annual Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement Conference; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Earvin "Magic" Johnson Recreation Area, Conference Hall
905 E. El Segundo Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90059
RSVP here.

November 14: Commission on HIV
2024 Annual Conference; 9 a.m to 4 p.m. 
MLK Behavioral Health Center
12021 S. Wilmington Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90059
RSVP here.

November 18: Commission for Children and Families
40th Anniversary Celebration and Meeting; 10 a.m.
Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration
500 W. Temple St., Room 140, Los Angeles, CA 90012
RSVP here.

Learn More About Commissions

There are currently more than 200 legislative bodies established in the County of Los Angeles; learn more about them here.

Los Angeles County Commissions are created and governed by County Charter, County ordinance, Board motion or State and Federal law. To view and learn more about these commissions, task forces, special districts, agency boards and joint powers authorities, view the Membership Roster.

Attend an Upcoming Commission Meeting

Find upcoming Commission Meetings, which are open to the public, and take a look at agendas to get details and join us.

Volunteer as a Commissioner Have you ever thought about how you could be of service to volunteer your time, elevate your voice, and listen to your community? There are many opportunities to do just that by submitting your Interest to Serve as a Commissioner.