Serving the communities in Los Angeles covering the Los Angeles County Second Supervisorial District, the Empowerment Congress is here to empower and engage all members of our diverse communities to ensure our collective voice is heard by:
- Encouraging and enlisting the full participation of our community to improve our quality of life;
- Educating and informing our community on how government works;
- Developing strategies that shape policy and legislation; and
- Connecting our community with public resources
Founded in 1992 by then Los Angeles City Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas, the Empowerment Congress, a distinctive and deliberate national model of civic engagement built on the core principles of participatory democracy, reciprocal accountability, and intentional civility, is a dynamic partnership among neighborhood groups, residents, nonprofit organizations, businesses, religious institutions, and community leaders within the diverse communities of Los Angeles County’s Second Supervisorial District. The Empowerment Congress served as a model and precursor to the City of Los Angeles’ Neighborhood Councils. It is now serving over 2.0 Million residents in the Los Angeles County Second Supervisorial District.
The Empowerment Congress is an ongoing effort in participatory government, founded on the principle that elected officials are most effective when the constituents they serve are actively involved in the decision-making process. After nearly 25 years since inception, the Empowerment Congress has now expanded its programs and mission of civic engagement and community empowerment to the broader Los Angeles County Second District, which includes nine cities (Los Angeles, Carson, Compton, Culver City, Gardena, Hawthorne, Inglewood, Lawndale, and Lynwood) and many neighborhoods of unincorporated areas: Athens, Baldwin Hills, Del Aire, East Compton, El Camino Village, Firestone, Florence, Graham, Ladera Heights, Lennox, Marina del Rey, Rancho Dominguez, View Park, West Carson, West Compton, West Rancho Dominguez, Westmont, Willowbrook, Windsor Hills, and Wiseburn.
The Empowerment Congress is organized with an Executive Committee, which serves as its governing body; a Leadership Council comprised of key stakeholders and community leaders; and nine standing committees that focus on prominent community issues that align with various policy areas.