Investing in Place is an award-winning, human-centered public policy implementation and advocacy group in Los Angeles. Investing in Place advocates for a more inclusive decision-making process and equitable resource allocation for all people, especially those most in need and dependent on public infrastructure (transportation, sidewalks, street improvements, etc.) in Los Angeles.
Founded by Jessica Meaney in 2015, Investing in Place leads and collaborates with a network of community based organizations, advocacy groups, public agencies, policymakers and individual community volunteers. One of Investing in Place’s key organizational strategies is to build a shared understanding of the City of Los Angeles’ and Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro)’s policy-making and budgetary processes to support inclusive decision-making efforts. A core function of Investing in Place is ensuring that public dollars and policies for roads, sidewalks, transportation, and other public infrastructure are accessible and prioritize racial justice and low-income Angelenos.
Team Members
Aziz Fellague Ariouat
Advocacy Associate
Jessica Meaney
Executive Director
Advisory Board
Richard France
(Leave of absence through June 2022) Estolano Advisors
Luis Gutierrez
Southern California Edison
Madeline Brozen
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Advisory Emeritus
David Diaz Avelar
Active San Gabriel Valley
KeAndra Cylear Dodds
Community Development Commission
Alexis Lantz
Los Angeles County Department of Public Health
Max Podemski
Pacoima Beautiful, Former Investing in Place Advisory Board Member 2015-2017
Rudy Espinoza
Leadership for Urban Renewal
Eric Bruins
Former Investing in Place Advisory Board Member 2015-2016, Strategic Consultant 2016-2017
Stephanie Ramirez
AARP, Former Investing in Place Advisory Board Member 2015-2016
Mojha Rhoads, PhD
South Bay Cities Council of Governments, Former Investing in Place Advisory Board Member 2015-2016
Ryan Wiggins
AECOM, Former Investing in Place Advisory Board Member 2015-2016
Caro Vera
Fehr & Peers
Monica Gomez
MG Development Strategies
Strategic Plan
View AllOur vision is a City that addresses the safety and access needs of all who call Los Angeles home. We work toward this vision by supporting community organizing, helping to embed racial justice in public policy, and aligning transportation investments with community-led movements to rethink public budgets. We collaborate with organizing and efforts that center the voices of those historically cut off from influencing decisions related to public investments and exercising power over our infrastructure and public space at Metro and the City of Los Angeles.