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Los
Angeles Community Policing is denied its first grant!
... so ... why am I smiling?
Dear Friends:
As I'm sure you know by now, Los Angeles Community Policing has
become a California non-profit, 501(c)3, tax deducible organization.
Well we were just denied our first grant ...
So ... why am I smiling?
Because a friend of mine, with far more experience in these things,
commented that "each 'no' is one step closer to your first
'yes' ."
I suppose that means we're on our way ...
"And the reason we were told 'no' ?" you ask.
Without revealing the name of the Foundation, here's what they said:
"Thank
you for your request to [our] Foundation [for seed money] support
of Los Angeles Community Policing.
Unfortunately we will not be able to support your work. [Our]
grantmaking is limited to organizations engaged in grassroots
community organizing. As such, the Community Funding Board was
forced to decline your group as it is not a strong match with
our funding guidelines.
We regret that we must decline your request but wish to thank
you for informing us about your work. We wish you much success
in your fundraising efforts." |
Further,
the Foundation says it "... creates change by ... making grants
to grassroots groups in L.A. County that empower people to challenge
the policies, institutions and attitudes fostering inequality ..."
I'm still scratching my head over here. Because all we're doing
is grassroots organizing. All we're doing is being as inclusive
as possible, bringing all parties together, disseminating information
and advocating for two things relating to making our Los Angeles
streets safer and improving the quality of life:
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community
policing specifically, and |
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community
involvement in government in general |
Not only that but,
despite the fact it makes things much more difficult for us, we have
expressed our desire over and over to NOT approach the Mayor, City
Council, LAPD or the PPL (police union) for any financial support.
Los Angeles Community Policing does cooperate fully with each
of these groups, of course ... they are our natural allies.
But we do not want even the appearance of impropriety or "ownership"
to taint what we're trying to accomplish, a citywide understanding
that the philosophy of community policing is not about "a program"
or even a set of programs, but a way of doing business, a mindset,
where the community is included as a full partner at every turn.
As an aside I might tell you that I just took a look at the statistics.
It seems LACP.org, this website, has attracted well over 20,000 referrals
in the last 30 days, and there was one day last week where some 800
pages were read! These numbers continue to grow, exponentially, yet
there's been virtually no promotion done for our group (other than
my occasional emails, from a list I created from scratch, and the
fact that I frequently wear an LACP.org inscribed baseball hat).
Until very recently, this effort, launched last spring, has been entirely
out of pocket (and has cost us thousands and thousands of dollars),
but now we can gratefully report a few contributions from you, the
community, have been received.
This is important. Very important. Because grants or not, we want
Los Angeles Community Policing to stay a grassroots effort that serves
the entire community, especially the most needy and the most disenfranchised.
We believe the best way to accomplish our mission is to be self supporting
through our own contributions.
| NOTE:
If you've not done so, please take a moment to read about
contributing
to LACP, and find out why and how you can help. |
In grateful acknowledgment
of those who have supported us, and continue to participate, in word
and deed, I remain,
Yours in service,
Bill Murray
LA Community Policing
| "Community
Policing ... its everyone's issue" |
Website address:
www.LACP.org |
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