By Susan Motander
Ten years ago, the City of Monrovia began a program called MAP (Monrovia Area Partnership).
Focusing on a neighborhood in the city that had a significance increase in crime, blight, and apathy, city staff began an outreach program through block parties, designed to bring residents and city staff together to communicate and to build partnerships to restore the sense of community in that area.
In the ensuing 10 years, the program has spread to other neighborhoods and started what City Manager Oliver Chi has characterized as a “the philosophy that we have today of ‘Partnering Together for a Better Monrovia.’”
Now the annual MAP conferences bring together residents from throughout the city, not just the MAP areas. This year, more than 250 people attended the conference that featured discussions ranging from drought tolerant gardening to the city’s history and heritage, to coffee with the cops, and adventures in Canyon Park.
Sheila Spicer, neighborhood and business services division manager for Monrovia said that apathy was a major focus for MAP now. She explained that one way MAP is working to combat that apathy is through its two “academies” that teach individuals how municipal government works and encourages involvement. One academy is designed for adults, the other for students. In addition, there are quarterly education meetings that Spicer described as “all of part of making this city better.”
A decade ago, the block parties that started the MAP movement featured what the city referred to as “hot dogs, hot links, and hot topics.” As homage to those parties, the 10th anniversary celebration will again serve free beef hot dogs and pork links, as well as popcorn.
As to the hot topic portion, there will be city booth publicizing upcoming programming, as well as booths from community partners that have supported MAP. The whole celebration will be held on July 9, in Julian Fisher Park, starting at 6 p.m.
In addition to the food and information, there will be activities for children and families with the final highlight being the showing of the movie, “Hotel Transylvania 2,” a definite family movie.
Additional information can be found at: www.cityofmonrovia.org/communitydevelopment/page/neighborhood-services.
