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Comunidad en Movimiento
(CEM) |
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 Comunidad en Movimiento (CEM) was born from the
community in 1996. The program was developed from the
community's need to respond to the ongoing violations of the
very basic human rights of the poor in this country. CEM
organizes the community around issues that affect them and
engages them in actions that create institutional change. The
program uses tools such as education, leadership training and
collaboration with Dolores Mission Church and other
institutions. |
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- The "Safe Passage" Campaign began in 1999 to assist
children walking home from school to arrive safely. The
program currently has more than 50 volunteers who are stable
members of the community and trained in this capacity. This
program encourages residents to take responsibilities not
only for their own families and children, but also for all
the children and people in their community.
- The Dolores Mission Safety Project has been implemented
by CEM and involves collaboration between residents and
local police in an effort to make the community safer. The
community-policing program was based on models used by
residents in Chicago and San Diego and has been adapted to
suit the environment of Boyle Heights. While various police
departments around the country have implemented projects in
community policing that were designed by administrators, the
Safety Pilot Program of CEM has the benefit of having been
initiated by residents in response to community-identified
needs.
- The "Mujeres Unidas" Women's Conference is held annually
and includes workshops and information for women. While many
participants are residents of Boyle Heights, some come from
as far away as the Inland Empire and outlying regions of Los
Angeles County to participate. The conference brings
together women with a variety of occupations and interests,
from businesswomen to professors and full-time mothers to
young girls. Past workshop topics have included
self-defense, health and emotional well-being, and artistic
self-expression.
- Comunidad en Movimiento also has weekly trainings in
leadership development providing free childcare to ensure
that all who desire are able to attend. Through these
trainings, residents are taught skills in public speaking,
addressing media, building relationships with public
officials and community to represent themselves and their
views, and above all to continue and strengthen the
connection they have with their community. The effectiveness
of this program can be clearly seen as residents engage
themselves in a range of civic activities, such as a recent
meeting with Mayor Hahn of Los Angeles and a presentation
made in April to Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
Mel Martinez. Individual women have gained a greater
facility with expressing themselves in English and many have
been inspired to further their education and earn degrees.
Participants have also developed an awareness of global
issues and the interconnectedness of humanity through such
activities as their work with earthquake victims in India
and El Salvador. The community, its resident leaders and
families, and individual women are being strengthened and
empowered through the work of Comunidad en Movimiento.
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