Community Involvement *NEW*
MetLife Foundation Award Presentation
Brett Dalton presenting the MetLife Foundation Community Police Partnership Award to the Los Angeles Police Department, The City Attorney's office and the Coalition for Responsible Community Development.
Los Angeles, CA (December 5, 2008) The Coalition for Responsible Community Development (CRCD), the Los Angeles Police Department and the Office of the Los Angeles City Attorney were honored on Friday by the MetLife Foundation for significant accomplishments in reducing crime and improving quality of life in the Vernon-Central neighborhood of South Los Angeles. Police Chief William Bratton, CRCD Executive Director Mark Wilson, City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo (invited) Functional Manager Brett Dalton of MetLife, and Julia Ryan, Director of the national LISC program were in attendance at the MetLife Foundation Community-Police Partnership Award ceremony.
The MetLife Foundation Awards recognize community groups and police departments around the country that have joined forces to tackle, head on, the challenges associated with building healthy, livable communities, with innovative models and proven results. The MetLife Foundation Awards, administered by the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), recognize partnerships between  community development groups and police departments that have reduced crime and spurred housing development, economic activity, and improved community services in low- and moderate-income communities. Brett Dalton (shown left) presented to the Los Angeles partners a $15,000 award in recognition of their Graffiti Free Zone project. They were selected from more than 500 applicants nationwide to receive one of 11 MetLife Foundation Community-Police Partnership Awards.
The MetLife Foundation, established by MetLife in 1976, is a long-time supporter of LISC's community revitalization programs. In 1994, the Foundation made a $1 million leadership grant to pilot the Community Safety Initiative (CSI), the national program that administers the Awards. CSI helps neighborhood groups develop strategic alliances with police departments to combat persistent crime and disorder problems. MetLife and the Foundation have also made below-market rate loans and grants of almost $76 million to the organization. MetLife Foundation supports health, education, civic and cultural programs throughout the United States. For more information about the Foundation, visit www.metlife.org.
The award-winning Graffiti Free Zone project targeted a one-mile square area where heavy graffiti has for years served as a visual reminder of the neighborhood’s struggle with gangs, violence and related crimes. The partners each brought their unique resources to bear in a comprehensive graffiti and gang abatement strategy, which included paid positions for youth and young adults on CRCD’s South Los Angeles Beautification Team. Team members, including some former gang members, remove graffiti and engage residents such as the members of the 22nd Street Block Club to improve neighborhood safety.
The Graffiti Free Zone Project is a shining example of what community groups, police, agencies, residents, businesses and other neighborhood stakeholders can accomplish by working together.
(Dec 3, 2008). "Los Angeles Community Safety Partners Win National Award, MetLife Foundation Community-Police Partnership Award honors. Coalition for Responsible Community Development and the Los Angeles Police Department." Press Release. Retrieved on December 9, 2008.
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