L.A. Works Thanks it's Project Leaders

L.A. Works Makes it Easy to Volunteer in Los Angeles

We Salute our Project Leaders
July, 2005

Project Leader of the Month

Ken Hagopian

In addition to its regular "interactive" projects each month, L.A. Works also does a number of "Facility-based" projects -- painting and planting and "make-overs" for schools, fire stations, and other community agencies. These "Group Action Projects" like L.A. Works Day and our corporate BusinessWorks projects require strong, steady leadership. Project Leaders for facility projects often have to organize an army of of up to 1000 volunteers in massive strings of tasks. They must ensure the work is done well, that it is finished in a timely manner, and that everyone has a fun, productive time. It takes a special kind of person -- a person like Ken Hagopian!

Ken was born in Los Angeles, and grew up between the San Fernando Valley and the South Bay. He is a first generation American, with anethnic background of Armenian, Lebanese, and Egyptian. He's a business owner, an entrepreneur, a counselor, a friend, a man of service and by his own descrption, "a kid at heart."

We asked him to describe his long involvement with L.A. Works and his views on volunteerism.

"I started volunteering around 4 or 5 years ago when a good friend called me up one day and asked what I was doing on Saturday, and if I could help him out with something. I showed up and was instructed to take thirty-eight people and go paint the second floor of a building. I paused for a second, looked around at him and the volunteers, and said ok. In the course of the day I met people who lived in the building and on the sidewalks all around the building. I was no longer insulated from this part of my community.

I never got the opportunity to just be a volunteer. I was thrown into the leadership role from the get go. So, I kept going. I lead projects because I am effective. I am able to produce the desired results and I really enjoy it. I believe there is a need for strong leadership within volunteer organizations.

My projects of choice are the larger facility-based projects such as painting and planting at schools and community centers. I like elementary school projects because you can see how kids are thrilled by the change in their school in just one day. I also volunteer with Habitat for Humanity, a local church, and on the board of directors of a local non-profit called Bow Wows and Meows. We hold one of the largest pet adoption fairs in Los Angeles. (Coming up Sunday, October 9, 2005, www.bowwowsandmeows.org).

In our society it has gotten easier and easier to be disconnected. Disconnected from family, friends, co-workers, employees, neighbors, etc. Because there are a lot of distractions, it is very easy to be self-absorbed in one’s own world, forgetting almost entirely about everything beyond one’s narrow circle. The concept of family used to extend beyond just our blood lines to those around us. Everyone was treated with a certain regard. Everyone was taken care of with a certain regard. Times have changed, and the concept of family has almost entirely lost its meaning. Communities are fragmented, and there is a distance now between people… a numbness to everyone’s world but our own.

I volunteer because there are people in my community that could use more than they have. There are people in my community that I can directly impact in some capacity. There are people in my community that need the support of people in their community.

There is a coming together that happens during volunteer projects that bridges the gap between “us and them.” Volunteer and you get to see a part of the city you’ve probably never seen and have probably been told not to go to. Volunteer and you get to talk with people you would probably never talk to. Volunteer and you meet people you would probably never meet, and do things you would probably never do. Volunteer and you get to make a difference you would probably never have made.

L.A. Works has done a great job of making it easy for us to impact our community. Show up, sign up, and they will put you in the right place."

We asked Ken for tips on leading facility-based projects:

"The key elements to leading any project is:

Build a team.
Divide the project into sub-tasks.
Make people on the team responsible for their tasks.
Explain thoroughly and clearly what is required and allow people room to ask questions, make mistakes and make their own decisions.
Maintain the chain of command.
Manage the people, not the tasks.
And remember, you are here for them.

A successful project’s foundation lies in creating a team and empowering leaders (Task Captains). This allows project leaders to oversee the team instead of managing every small detail of the project. Next, divide the project into logical progressive tasks. Make sure people understand what they need to do, and then let them do it. Breaking down the project into smaller clear steps takes the overwhelm out and allows task captains and volunteers to focus. Remember, when you empower your people it is important to maintain the chain of command. Questions from volunteers should be directed back to their appropriate task captains, or go back to the task captain with the volunteer so that communication is clear and what needs to get done, gets done. Finally remind the volunteers about who is ultimately being impacted here, make sure they know about the kids, the adults, the women, the hungry, the battered, the animals, and the underprivileged. Make sure they know who is in their community so they will open their eyes, and no longer be insulated from that part of their community."

Ken's last project for L.A. Works was at Sunrise ELementary School on L.A. Works Day 2005 last month. We were taken by how smoothly and well-managed the project was. Each volunteer clearly knew their role and worked like a well-oiled machine. In a few short hours the school was finished and each task successfully completed. All the volunteeres had smiles on their faces. That's the sign of great Project Leadership. Thanks Ken for your continued service to your community and to L.A. Works and its volunteers.

This Month's Project Leaders

Thanks to all of our Project Leaders who are leading projects during the month of July.

You are the real leaders in our community! The Staff & Board of Directors of L.A. Works thanks you for being the real superstars of our community!

Andrew Abeyesinghe
Bobbi Marin
Bryan Kadatani
Clarence Smith
Cynde Knerr
Dave Herman
David Trilling
Ed Simon
Emily Barclay
Gil Gerstein
Helga Hung
Henry Meyer
Howard Weiner
Jane Rockwood
Jay Ross
Laura Bonilla
Lori Kneser
Luis De Avila
Mark Kimura
Mia Farrell
Sandy Boscarino
Sherly Lam
Suzanne Wiener
Teresa Castelli
Timothy Dickey
Veronica Cruz

Want to join the ranks of L.A.'s most involved citizens? Become an L.A. Works Project Leader.

It's easy, it's fun, and it doesn't require a huge amount of your time.

Go to the Courses section of the website and sign up for Project Leader Training or call Natalie at (323) 224-6510 to find out the date of the next session.

Past Project Leaders Of the Month

June, 2005 - Laura Bonilla

May, 2005 - Alexa Benson

April, 2005 - April Fields

March, 2005 - Mia Farrell

February, 2005 - Sandy Boscarino

January, 2005 - Andrew Anura Abeyesinghe

December, 2004 - Jacquie Moreno

November, 2004 - Timothy Dickey and Howard Weiner

October, 2004 - Russell Ali

September, 2004 - Suzanne Wiener

August, 2004 - Veronica Cruz

July, 2004 - Margaret Conway