33rd Annual Empowerment Congress Summit
This month, the 33rd Annual Empowerment Congress Summit continued its legacy of community engagement through its convening of elected officials, service providers and key stakeholders from across the Los Angeles community!
The annual event serves to amplify the mission of the Empowerment Congress, highlighting its commitment to educating, engaging, and empowering LA communities. The program this year addressed a variety of topics, including potential solutions to remedy the humanitarian housing crisis in Los Angeles and the anticipated impacts of the new presidential administration on decades of movement work.
Broadcast live on KBLA Talk 1580 and moderated by radio talk show host and author Travis Smiley, this year’s philanthropy panel discussion explored how philanthropic efforts are bridging gaps in civic engagement and public participation in service delivery, public policy development, and civic education.
The panel featured prominent philanthropic thought leaders from across the state, including Liberty Hill President & CEO Shane Murphy Goldsmith, California Community Foundation President & CEO Miguel Santana, Weingart Foundation President & CEO Joanna Jackson, and LA84 Foundation President & CEO Renata Simril.
Together, they explored this year’s theme, “Where Do We Go From Here—Chaos or Democracy?” and provided valuable insights, underscoring the role of philanthropy in addressing the critical question of chaos versus democracy in a society increasingly marked by income inequality, a deteriorating social safety net, and a diminishing commitment to the general welfare of its citizens.
This event was organized by the Empowerment Congress, a civic engagement model designed to tackle the social, economic, and environmental justice challenges faced by historically marginalized communities in Los Angeles.
