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City staff propose updates to Monrovia Area Partnership to boost youth and underserved outreach
Summary
City staff reviewed the history and activities of the Monrovia Area Partnership (MAP) and proposed enhancements including more youth engagement, updated EDU topics, recorded classes, expanded block-party trailer use and outreach to Spanish-speaking and underserved residents.
Staff presented an overview of the Monrovia Area Partnership (MAP) to the City Council on March 4, tracing the program’s origins in a 2005 neighborhood strategy team and describing current activities and proposed enhancements to keep the program relevant citywide.
Sherry Vermeijo and Jocelyn Blakely summarized MAP’s history and accomplishments, including neighborhood revitalization grants, leadership academies, block parties, an annual neighborhood conference and a youth leadership academy. Vermeijo said MAP now serves citywide needs and has earned awards; staff manage the program on a modest budget and want to update content, outreach and delivery by focusing on mental health, disaster preparedness, public safety and development application workshops.
The current MAP budget is $34,000, Vermeijo said, and staff recently deployed a new block-party trailer in June; staff reported five block parties to date and said they are streamlining the reservation and deployment process to allow the city to bring the trailer into neighborhoods as an engagement tool.
Suggested enhancements include recording EDU sessions for on-demand viewing, offering hands-on workshops on topics such as how to file permit applications, expanding time spent with department staff in the leadership academies, and greater connection to youth programming — including partnerships with school clubs, Explorer programs and youth commissions — to build pipelines into the YES internship program and city commissions.
Council members praised the program but urged greater emphasis on underserved youth, Spanish-language outreach and programming that will draw young people rather than check-the-box presentations. Vermeijo and Blakely said staff will refine MAP EDU topics, grow youth engagement and bring details of potential staffing or budget changes to future meetings.
Vermeijo noted the MAP conference is scheduled for Saturday, April 26 at Second Baptist Church from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and encouraged council and community participation.
The presentation was informational; no council action was taken at the March 4 meeting.
