Empowering Belle Haven→
Belle Haven Empowered
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Belle Haven Empowered was created by several Belle Haven residents to increase civic education and support active participation in the decisions made by the City of Menlo Park that affect the Belle Haven neighborhood in Menlo Park. Our history is unique, and we remain the most diverse neighborhood in Menlo Park. The Belle Haven neighborhood was annexed to Menlo Park in 1949 and by 1955 was identified as a redlined community.
Since 2018, we elect our council members by districts, which guarantees a council member from and for our neighborhood. It had been 28 years since the only person elected from Belle Haven had sat on the council. The residents of our district live in the Belle Haven neighborhood and apartment complexes on Haven Avenue. The remaining land was previously commercial and light industry and now mostly zoned for high density housing units and offices.
Our main activities are Kitchen Table Chats and InfoChats. Kitchen Table Chats (KTC) are a safe space for discussing, listening, and learning about community related issues that are important to residents. Topics included updates on construction, Belle Haven Visioning and the Mini-grant, commissioner interviews and more. Previous Chats are posted on this website.
InfoChats are 5 - 7 minute “how-to” presentations focused on how to use the city website and participate in meetings. There will also be InfoChats on how items are put on agendas, reviewing staff reports, how zoning affect construction,
We support our community-based non-profits (CBO) by inviting them to be a “guest.” Our guests present their activities, followed by time for question and answer. We will continue to have conversations about environmental justice, resilience, and electrification equity. We are also encouraging residents to review agendas for the council or one of the commissions. By having one or two residents that review the agendas, they can alert the community when there are items that affect our community.
Whether we rent or own, we all pay taxes and we are all entitled to the full benefit of paying taxes.
Our purpose is to demystify city government by increasing awareness and understanding of government processes. This includes defining frequently used terms and abbreviations specific to the government process. We continue to review council and commission agendas and staff reports. We encourage residents to attend council meetings, make a note of what is important personally and the neighborhood as a whole.
The more we know, the more we need to know, which makes our voices stronger
Our plan is to reach every resident through the method that works best for the resident. We are finding ways to reach both English and Spanish speakers in their preferred language. We are transitioning to in-person and hybrid meetings. We are working to record or summarize in-person meetings. We continue to hold short interviews with commissioners and committee members who are residents of District 1.
What do we need to know? What do we need to do, and how do we do it?
Our goal is for residents to recognize their ability to advocate for items that are important personally and to the neighborhood. Is to continue collaboration with other Belle Haven CBOs, and increase communication with adjacent community CBOs. Is to develop a leadership program for residents of color in Belle Haven and Haven Avenue in District 1, and throughout the City of Menlo Park. Register to vote every eligible resident in the residential areas of District 1.
Access to resources encourages effective civic participation.
Belle Haven Empowered is Demystifying city government and working to motivate and support residents raising their voice and effecting change.
The Team Chat Organizers:
Pam D Jones, Program Organizer
Marlene Santoyo, Program Co-Organizer
Angie Bautista, Assistant Organizer
Juanita Croft, Program Partner
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