People
Community
Lasting Change
The Three Programs
01
Days of Dialogue
Structured, facilitated conversations on the issues communities don’t always know how to talk about — race, justice, public policy, civic life. DoD creates neutral, welcoming spaces where people can disagree honestly, build trust, and stay in the conversation instead of walking away from it.
Designed for community groups, schools, faith organizations, and civic institutions who want facilitated dialogue on issues that are hard to talk about alone.
Democracy depends not just on the right to speak, but the willingness to listen.
02
Empowerment Congress
A civic engagement model, running for over three decades, that helps residents understand how government works, how to influence it and hold representatives accountable. EC predates — and helped inspire — LA’s neighborhood council system. Its throughline: civic participation shouldn’t be limited to election years.
Designed for residents, community leaders, and organizers who want practical training and hands on experience with how LA city and county government works, how change happens, and exposure to the community resources that help make that change real.
Educate. Engage. Empower.
03
Community Voter Education Project (CVEP)
Nonpartisan voter education and civic literacy work, built on the legacy of AAVREP — one of California’s largest African American voter engagement efforts, which helped defeat Proposition 54 and registered hundreds of thousands of voters. CVEP treats civic engagement as a year-round practice, not a once-every-few-years event.
Designed for voters, community organizations, and civic groups looking for nonpartisan election information and registration support.
Informed voters. Stronger communities.