Annual MENDing Poverty Conference

Understanding Philanthropy: Paths to Success for Poverty Service Nonprofits was held at MEND in Pacoima and was co-hosted by CSUN Valley Nonprofit Resources and MEND. The10th annual MENDing Poverty Conference featured an opening keynote presentation by three generations of the Lawrence Welk family - Shirley Welk Fredricks, Lisa Parker and Gillian Parker - talking about the importance of family and relationships in philanthropy.  The lunch keynote speakers were Joe Sanberg of Aspiration.com and Natalie Foster of Economic Security Project, discussing innovative approaches to philanthropy, with Tara Roth of Goldhirsh Foundation leading the discussion.  The conference also featured three breakout workshops with distinguished speakers, spotlighting the Change Capital approach to funding, the role of donor advisors in connecting nonprofits with philanthropists, and approaches to understanding philanthropy across the generations.  The conference had 21 sponsors and was co-sponsored also by Southern California Grantmakers. For a brief summary of the 2017 conference and its outcomes, view the 2017 Outcomes Report (.pdf).

The 9th annual MENDing Poverty Conference, Affordable Housing and Healthy Neighborhoods: Working Together Toward Sustainability, co-hosted by VNR and MEND, was held on Wednesday, June 8, 2016 at MEND in Pacoima. Stephanie Klasky-Gamer of Los Angeles Family Housing chaired the conference’s Planning Committee. Keynote speakers were Mercedes Marquez, President of Marquez Community Strategy and former Assistant Secretary of HUD; Rushmore Cervantes, General Manager of LA Housing and Community Investment Department; and Trent Stamp, CEO of Eisner Foundation. The conference also featured three breakout workshops with distinguished speakers. For a brief summary of the 2016 conference and its outcomes, view the 2016 Outcomes Report (.pdf)

For a brief summary of the 2015 conference and its outcomes, view the 2015 Outcomes Report (.pdf). The conference was attended by 110 people, and the focus was on income inequality and its challenges for the nonprofit sector.  PowerPoints of the two keynote speakers can be downloaded for free by clicking on Dr. Robert Kleinhenz (.ppt) (Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation) and Dr. Adam Gamoran (.ppt) (W.T. Grant Foundation). For any questions about the conference, please contact VNR.

For a brief summary of the 2014 conference and its outcomes, view the 2014 Outcomes Report (.pdf). More than 200 people attended the conference, which was focused on hunger and nutrition challenges of people living in poverty. Visit keynote speaker Joel Berg's website to learn more about his work, including his recent book, All You Can Eat: How Hungry is America? For any questions about the conference, please contact VNR.

For a brief summary of the 2013 conference and its outcomes, view the 2013 Outcomes Report (.pdf). Two PowerPoint presentations are available from the 2013 conference:

• "Public Health in the Era of Health Reform" (.pptx) - keynote speech given by Dr. Jonathan Fielding, Director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health
• "Stretch Break" (.pptx) - presented at the conference workshop on worksite wellness programs

For any questions or information needs about the conference, please contact VNR.

The agenda, speakers and outcomes from the 2012 Fifth Annual MENDing Poverty Conference are summarized in the 2012 Outcomes Report (.pdf). Please contact VNR if there is something else from the Conference on which you'd like more detailed input.

For a brief summary of the 2011 conference and its outcomes, view the 2011 Outcomes Report (.pdf). We have available for download presentations by Nonprofit Finance Fund's Karla Salazar and Neighbor Legal Service's Neal Dudovitz, along with a handout from Public Health Enterprise Foundation's Mark Bertler. You can also view a Daily News article about the 2011 conference (.pdf). If there's something else mentioned at the conference you would like to know about, please contact VNR.

• Karla Salazar's presentation summarizes the main points made by Ms. Salazar in her address to the 2011 MENDing Poverty Conference. Tools for Nonprofit Success: Financial Management in Tough Times (.pdf)
• Neal Dudovitz's presentation summarizes the main points made by Mr. Dudovitz in his address to the 2011 MENDing Poverty Conference. Improving Economic Security for Los Angeles' Poor Families (.ppt)
• Mark Bertler's presentation summarizes the main points made by Mr. Bertler in his address to the 2011 MENDing Poverty Conference. Better, Faster, Cheaper: What is a Fiscal Sponsor? (.pdf)

For a brief summary of the 2010 conference and its outcomes, view the 2010 Outcomes Report (.pdf). Also available for download is Heather Grant's Keynote Presentation, "Social Networks as Forces for Change" (.pdf). If there's something else mentioned at the conference you would like to know about, please contact VNR.

Here's how to access publications discussed at the June 4 conference. If there's something else mentioned at the conference you would like to know about, please contact VNR.

• Morley Winograd and Mike Hais's opening keynote address (.pdf)
• Professor Manuel Pastor's luncheon keynote address (.pdf)
• Millennial Makeover: MySpace, YouTube & the Future of American Politics by Morley Winograd and Michael D. Hais, Rutgers University Press. More information can be found at www.millennialmakeover.com
• This Could Be the Start of Something Big: How Social Movements for Regional Equity Are Reshaping Metropolitan America by Manuel Pastor, Jr., Chris Benner and Martha Matsuoaka, Cornell University Press. Visit the Amazon store page for more information
• Staying Alive Resource Guide is a VNR publication which has detailed information and guidance on how nonprofits can best address the challenges of the recession. Visit the Staying Alive Resource Guide page on our site.
• Local Patterns and Dynamics: The State of the Nonprofit Sector In Los Angeles 2008 Report by Helmut K. Anheier, Hyeon Jong Kil, David B. Howard, Eve Garrow, Marcus Lam and Jocelyn Guihama. UCLA Center for Civil Society.

Photos from the First Annual MENDing Poverty Conference, held at the MEND Center in Pacoima, show VNR Executive Director Dr. Thomas Backer, some of the conference speakers, and the participants in one of the conference breakout sessions.