Introducing Los Angeles County’s new Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnership was the focus of a Faith Leader Appreciation Breakfast hosted Oct. 29 in the Huffington Center at L.A.’s landmark St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral.
L.A. County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, who led the initiative to form the office, underscored its role of strengthening communication and collaboration between congregations, organizations, and county departments.
Barger paid tribute to the tandem work of the new Los Angeles County Faith Alliance (LACFA) and introduced its leader, Pastor Troy Vaughn, presenting him with a certificate of appreciation on behalf of the county. Vaughan encouraged faith leaders countywide to register on the LACFA website to become involved and receive regular updates.
Barger, who represents the county’s District 5 – comprising the Antelope, Crescenta, San Fernando, San Gabriel, and Santa Clarita valleys – also introduced the new office’s director, Latrice Jones, a respected staff member of the County Executive Office’s Center for Strategic Partnerships. Jones may be reached by email at ljones@ceo.lacounty.gov while the new office’s web pages continue in development.
The new faith-based office was established after almost two years of listening sessions and planning meetings coordinated under the leadership of Barger, who regularly attends services at San Gabriel’s Episcopal Church of Our Saviour.
The Episcopal Diocese – which includes 75 congregations located in Los Angeles County while also spanning four-and a half adjoining counties – was represented in the planning process by Bishop John Harvey Taylor and Canon for Common Life Bob Williams.
Coordinating the planning and organizing process was Lou Moore, executive director of Foster All, a Glendale-based non-profit that specializes in recruiting foster parents from faith communities.
Vaughan, who is CEO of both Christ Centered Ministries and Los Angeles Regional Reentry Partnership, encouraged faith leaders to register on the LACFA website to become involved and receive regular updates.
The Alliance, Vaughn said, is bringing “laser focus” to L.A. County’s growing challenges including homelessness, poverty, foster care, mental health, good insecurity and incarceration. He underscored that, with 4,000 congregations in L.A. County, the faith community “represents an unmatched force for compassion and local action.
After her opening remarks, Jones then welcomed to the podium colleagues in county leadership, Dr. Lisa Wong, director of the Department of Mental Health; Sarah Malin, who spoke on behalf of Homeless Services and the Housing Department; Brandon Nichols of the Department of Children and Family Services; and Shawn Amiel, chief deputy of the Department of Social Services.
Breakfast attendees applauded the program and expressed enthusiasm for becoming more involved in the new office and alliance.