Lee Werbel

12 Oct Lee Werbel

“We are honored to provide a recommendation for Diana Marie Lee, Sweet Livity. From November 2009 through March 2011, Diana Marie Lee led a co-design process to develop a comprehensive Community Capacity Building framework as a key component of Best Start, First 5 LA’s place-based funding approach in 14 Los Angeles County communities. With her guidance and leadership, the inter-departmental team of 15 of program officers, managers and directors designed the framework including our values and principles in implementing capacity building in partnership with the communities, along with four core capacities (engagement, leadership, infrastructure and investment) that are shaping the work as we move forward. In developing the framework, Ms. Lee led us through a process of internally modeling the processes we would ultimately implement in the 14 communities. Diana Marie Lee’s passion for community-based development, along with her vast on-the-ground experience, was not only inspiring, but provided a necessary, solid foundation for our place-based work. The team, agency and Commission couldn’t get enough of Diana Marie Lee. Her description of the work that we were embarking on helped the organization to affirm its move forward with the place-based approach.”