Voices of Antelope Valley
On September 24, 2024, the Board of Supervisors passed the motion, “Bridging Resource Gaps in the Antelope Valley,” which directed ARDI to collaborate with philanthropic partners to seek funding to support an equity analysis, mapping and atlas, and a plan to prioritize and pursue coordinated long-term investment in the Antelope Valley that advance equitable outcomes throughout the region.
Last month, on June 12, 2025, Supervisor Kathryn Barger and ARDI hosted an event called “Voices of the Antelope Valley: A Journey of Listening, Learning, and Lifting Communities,” in collaboration with our sponsors, The California Endowment and the Weingart Foundation.
This event brought together County departments, philanthropic organizations, non-profit agencies and community-based leaders to participate in an immersive set of experiences to understand community needs and identify opportunities for partnership with LA County and philanthropic leaders.
The day consisted of:
A fireside chat between Supervisor Kathryn Barger and Joseph Nicchitta, Chief Executive Office Chief Operating Officer for the County of Los Angeles, about the Supervisor’s vision for the Antelope Valley.
A panel of community-based organizations to discuss their role in reshaping the region’s future, how to cultivate partnerships for the creation of a stronger funding ecosystem in the Antelope Valley, and the most pressing capacity-building needs for local agencies to support transformation.
A series of four bus tours visiting multiple organizations covering four areas of focus including: 1) family and children well-being; 2) workforce and youth development; 3) justice, health, and environment; and 4) faith-based organizations.
More than 160 participants attended, including representatives from more than 60 organizations, 20 County departments, representatives from the Cities of Lancaster and Palmdale, and several philanthropic funders, including but not limited to, The California Community Foundation, The California Wellness Foundation, First 5 Los Angeles, Liberty Hill Foundation, Ralph M. Parsons Foundation, the W. M. Keck Foundation, and Weingart Foundation.
Following participants’ feedback from Voices of the Antelope Valley, ARDI will continue to:
- Deepen stakeholder engagement by organizing ongoing convenings in the Antelope Valley;
- Provide regular updates on the development of the AV Equity Atlas to gather community input for the report; and
- Help facilitate stronger connections between community-based organizations, non-profits, funders, and County departments to improve coordination, strengthen capacity building, and increase access to resources.
All with the aim to sustain momentum, align investments with community priorities, and support long-term impact in the region.