VAN NUYS, CA — The Van Nuys Neighborhood Council is pleased to announce the involvement of Los Angeles City Councilwoman Nury Martinez in the “Homelessness & Mental Illness” Summit this month. The Van Nuys Neighborhood Council is hosting this Special Council Meeting on Wednesday, December 17th, 2014 at 6:30 pm to address homelessness in the San Fernando Valley and throughout Los Angeles.
“Los Angeles City Councilwoman Nury Martinez has always been helpful and receptive to the needs of the Van Nuys Neighborhood Council. Councilwoman Martinez has co-hosted every one of our summits, and I look forward to working with her to address homelessness in Van Nuys and throughout the San Fernando Valley,” said George Christopher Thomas, President of the Van Nuys Neighborhood Council.
Born and raised in the San Fernando Valley, Nury Martinez has dedicated her life to her community, working to create good-paying local jobs, keeping our communities safe and advocating for our children and students. A neighborhood watch captain, homeowner and a mother, Nury is working to deliver resources to Valley residents.
Nury’s family history and background in community organizing inspire her goals on the Los Angeles City Council. Nury will fight to attract and retain businesses that create solid middle class jobs. She will do this by revitalizing key commercial corridors, like the Van Nuys Corridor or old Montgomery Ward site in the heart of Panorama City, with smart economic development plans.
With her experience in the non-profit sector fighting for grant funds, Nury will work to finish the 40-acre Cesar Chavez park project and turn some of the existing landfills in Sun Valley into more open space for the residents of CD 6. She will also fight to fully fund public safety so that all our City’s residents can count on faster emergency response times and well-trained first responders.
Nury is a graduate of San Fernando High School and California State University at Northridge. She and her husband Gerry live in Sun Valley with their young daughter.
“It is a great honor and privilege to work alongside all of the high profile speakers we have scheduled for the summit this December. Each one brings an interesting and unique perspective to addressing homelessness in the San Fernando Valley. This is a major issue in Van Nuys, as well as throughout the Valley and Southern California. This summit is a perfect opportunity to come together with community leaders in our area, and really tackle this terrible problem head-on,” said George Christopher Thomas, President of the Van Nuys Neighborhood Council.
A list of confirmed speakers include but are not limited to: Don LeStrange, Van Nuys LAPD Volunteer and Community Police Advisory Board (CPAB) Homeless Committee Chair. Representatives from the Office of Councilwoman Nury Martinez (CD6). Anthony Gonzales from the Village Family Center in North Hollywood. Ryan Bell from Community Outreach for PATH in Los Angeles. Representatives from the San Fernando Valley Rescue Mission. Representatives from the National Coalition For The Homeless. Representatives from the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority. Representatives from the Weingart Center Association. Representatives from the Homeless Health Care Los Angeles. Representatives from the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. And representatives from the Los Angeles Coalition to End Hunger & Homelessness.
The Van Nuys Neighborhood Council meets at 6262 Van Nuys Boulevard and the Summit will take place in the Council Chambers starting at 6:30 pm. If your Neighborhood Council or organization would like to co-host this summit with the VNNC, please email Council President George Thomas at george.thomas@vnnc.org. For more information please visit www.vnnc.org. The Van Nuys Neighborhood Council is the largest Neighborhood Council in the San Fernando Valley, and the second largest of all 95 Neighborhood Council’s in Los Angeles. (http://www.vannuyscpab.org/)
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All media and the general public are invited to attend. Please email any questions or comments to george.thomas@vnnc.org.