Neighbourhood Decision Making - Open Letter from the Urban League of London

London City Council
City of London
300 Dufferin Ave
London ON

Dear Mayor Morgan and Councillors,

Members of the Urban League Board have been following the discussion regarding Councillors Lewis and Lehman's proposal to cancel funding for the Neighbourhood Decision Making program and London Community Grants' annual Capital and Innovation Grants. We are disappointed to hear this proposal and wish to join with others in the nonprofit sector to urge you not to support it.

Urban League members are neighbourhood associations and community organizations. These volunteer groups are essential to Londonders across the city and do important work of building community despite limited resources. These groups rely on Neighbourhood Decision Making and London Community Grants funding to do meaningful work in their communities. 

The Urban League has actively engaged with the City of London staff, hosting information sessions on the Neighbourhood Decision Making program at two recent meetings. Our individual and group members have consistently expressed their unwavering support for this vital program. This ongoing engagement and the positive feedback from our members are a testament to the significant value provided by the recipients of these grants, which far outweighs the initial investment.

On behalf of the Urban League of London, we strongly urge the Mayor and Councillors to reconsider their support for the proposal to cancel the funding for the Neighbourhood Decision Making program and London Community Grants. The continuation of this funding is crucial as it provides essential support for the community builders across the city.

Sincerely,

Jon Bradford
Board President
Urban League of London
Representing the views of the Board of Directors