Community Leadership Boot Camp

“The L.A. Conservancy Boot Camp guided me to the “Why” historic preservation matters to me and provided resources to submit a historical designation nomination application, along with the confidence to build a coalition to support that application. I learned about Zimas and Sanborn Maps and LADBS and permits, etc., etc., and equally importantly, about building coalitions to protect rapidly disappearing sites and monuments. It was ...

“The L.A. Conservancy Boot Camp guided me to the “Why” historic preservation matters to me and provided resources to submit a historical designation nomination application, along with the confidence to build a coalition to support that application. I learned about Zimas and Sanborn Maps and LADBS and permits, etc., etc., and equally importantly, about building coalitions to protect rapidly disappearing sites and monuments. It was great to work with the diverse and like-minded people in our cohort – we learned from each other because of our different strengths and interests – and then from facilitators on how best to research, organize and present a preservation/conservation campaign with a greater chance of success!”

Janet S., Venice, Spring 2024

“The L.A. Conservancy Boot Camp guided me to the “Why” historic preservation matters to me and provided resources to submit a historical designation nomination application, along with the confidence to build a coalition to support that application. I learned about Zimas and Sanborn Maps and LADBS and permits, etc., etc., and equally importantly, about building coalitions to protect rapidly disappearing sites and monuments. It was great to work with the diverse and like-minded people in our cohort – we learned from each other because of our different strengths and interests – and then from facilitators on how best to research, organize and present a preservation/conservation campaign with a greater chance of success!”

Janet S., Venice, Spring 2024

“I got involved with the L.A. Conservancy’s Boot Camp to learn more about being proactive in helping save my hometown of Downey’s quickly fading history. The city’s historic buildings are constantly under threat by developers, and a lack of local government protections. Through the program I realized that it goes far beyond the historic architectural features of a property but also how valuable the cultural ...

“I got involved with the L.A. Conservancy’s Boot Camp to learn more about being proactive in helping save my hometown of Downey’s quickly fading history. The city’s historic buildings are constantly under threat by developers, and a lack of local government protections. Through the program I realized that it goes far beyond the historic architectural features of a property but also how valuable the cultural and emotional story behind a building can be to the community. Spreading awareness about the financial incentives of preservation, social media as a tool to engage, were some other key tools I’m grateful to have learned through the Boot Camp.”

-Markos Felix-Martinez, Downey, Fall 2023

“I got involved with the L.A. Conservancy’s Boot Camp to learn more about being proactive in helping save my hometown of Downey’s quickly fading history. The city’s historic buildings are constantly under threat by developers, and a lack of local government protections. Through the program I realized that it goes far beyond the historic architectural features of a property but also how valuable the cultural and emotional story behind a building can be to the community. Spreading awareness about the financial incentives of preservation, social media as a tool to engage, were some other key tools I’m grateful to have learned through the Boot Camp.”

-Markos Felix-Martinez, Downey, Fall 2023

“I applied for the Boot Camp expecting to better understand how preservation works in LA on a nitty gritty level, and learn about some new resources to help in my own research. What I wasn’t expecting was the sheer quantity of passionate, fascinating folks I met, each one with a different background and a different reason for caring about historic places. Many of us have ...

“I applied for the Boot Camp expecting to better understand how preservation works in LA on a nitty gritty level, and learn about some new resources to help in my own research. What I wasn’t expecting was the sheer quantity of passionate, fascinating folks I met, each one with a different background and a different reason for caring about historic places. Many of us have become friends, and continued to interact after the Boot Camp was over.”

-Etan Rosenbloom, Founder, Etan Does LA (Valley Village), Fall 2023

“I applied for the Boot Camp expecting to better understand how preservation works in LA on a nitty gritty level, and learn about some new resources to help in my own research. What I wasn’t expecting was the sheer quantity of passionate, fascinating folks I met, each one with a different background and a different reason for caring about historic places. Many of us have become friends, and continued to interact after the Boot Camp was over.”

-Etan Rosenbloom, Founder, Etan Does LA (Valley Village), Fall 2023

“The Boot Camp this past summer was great! As my city is undergoing transformation, I wanted to gain knowledge on preserving the historical fabric and integrity of it while being open to change.”

-Gayle Love, Fall 2023

“The Boot Camp this past summer was great! As my city is undergoing transformation, I wanted to gain knowledge on preserving the historical fabric and integrity of it while being open to change.”

-Gayle Love, Fall 2023

“As a writer, I’m constantly researching. I wanted to take the Boot Camp to get myself better acquainted with Los Angeles architecture, history and culture. The Boot Camp afforded me a completely unique view of Los Angeles that I’d never seen before. I highly recommend the Boot Camp for all writers, poets, novelists, screenwriters and painters. All Artists! And, you’ll meet new and groovy people, ...

“As a writer, I’m constantly researching. I wanted to take the Boot Camp to get myself better acquainted with Los Angeles architecture, history and culture. The Boot Camp afforded me a completely unique view of Los Angeles that I’d never seen before. I highly recommend the Boot Camp for all writers, poets, novelists, screenwriters and painters. All Artists! And, you’ll meet new and groovy people, too!”

-Waide Riddle, Spring 2023

“As a writer, I’m constantly researching. I wanted to take the Boot Camp to get myself better acquainted with Los Angeles architecture, history and culture. The Boot Camp afforded me a completely unique view of Los Angeles that I’d never seen before. I highly recommend the Boot Camp for all writers, poets, novelists, screenwriters and painters. All Artists! And, you’ll meet new and groovy people, too!”

-Waide Riddle, Spring 2023

“My family has been watching Old Los Angeles disappear for almost 100 years, and I wanted to help. The research skills I learned in the inaugural Boot Camp unexpectedly led to the launch of Empty Los Angeles (.com), in which I primarily expose misuse and loss of older housing.”

-C.C. de Vere, Fall 2020

“My family has been watching Old Los Angeles disappear for almost 100 years, and I wanted to help. The research skills I learned in the inaugural Boot Camp unexpectedly led to the launch of Empty Los Angeles (.com), in which I primarily expose misuse and loss of older housing.”

-C.C. de Vere, Fall 2020

“I was compelled to participate in Boot Camp because I believe that preservation is essential to building a more sustainable and equitable future. Historic places provide us with a sense of identity and place, and they can help us to connect with our past and imagine a better future. I am grateful for the opportunity to have participated in Boot Camp, and I highly recommend ...

“I was compelled to participate in Boot Camp because I believe that preservation is essential to building a more sustainable and equitable future. Historic places provide us with a sense of identity and place, and they can help us to connect with our past and imagine a better future. I am grateful for the opportunity to have participated in Boot Camp, and I highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in learning more about preservation or becoming involved in their community.”

-Carron Leon, West Hollywood, Fall 2023

“I was compelled to participate in Boot Camp because I believe that preservation is essential to building a more sustainable and equitable future. Historic places provide us with a sense of identity and place, and they can help us to connect with our past and imagine a better future. I am grateful for the opportunity to have participated in Boot Camp, and I highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in learning more about preservation or becoming involved in their community.”

-Carron Leon, West Hollywood, Fall 2023

“The Preservation Bootcamp was an interesting–and eye opening!–introduction to the process as we pursued group assignments which drew on the collective experiences of class members. It was encouraging that many of the participants were relatively young.”

-Stephen Slakey, Glendora, Fall 2023

“The Preservation Bootcamp was an interesting–and eye opening!–introduction to the process as we pursued group assignments which drew on the collective experiences of class members. It was encouraging that many of the participants were relatively young.”

-Stephen Slakey, Glendora, Fall 2023

“I now have a greater understanding of how the City’s preservation ordinances operate, what qualifies a building to be considered a monument, and the important work that needs to be done to ensure that our collective memories are protected.”

– Brian Morrison, Los Feliz, Fall 2020

“I now have a greater understanding of how the City’s preservation ordinances operate, what qualifies a building to be considered a monument, and the important work that needs to be done to ensure that our collective memories are protected.”

– Brian Morrison, Los Feliz, Fall 2020

“During the Boot Camp, I helped put together a cohesive action plan and identified key stakeholders to galvanize them into action. My experience in the program helps me bring a historical lens to my community work now.”

– Jesus “Chuy” Garcia, Research and Policy Analyst – SEIU 721, Elysian Valley, Fall 2020

“During the Boot Camp, I helped put together a cohesive action plan and identified key stakeholders to galvanize them into action. My experience in the program helps me bring a historical lens to my community work now.”

– Jesus “Chuy” Garcia, Research and Policy Analyst – SEIU 721, Elysian Valley, Fall 2020

“One of my favorite elements of the Community Leadership Boot Camp was getting the chance to learn about the variety of issues affecting communities across the county directly from each participant.”

– Hannah Go, Highland Park, Spring 2021

“One of my favorite elements of the Community Leadership Boot Camp was getting the chance to learn about the variety of issues affecting communities across the county directly from each participant.”

– Hannah Go, Highland Park, Spring 2021

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