Metro’s CBO Partnering Strategy Team Shares Its First Draft for Better Community Outreach and Partnerships By Saybin Roberson, Contributing Writer Published December 17, 2020 KeAndra Cylear-Dodds, Metro’s Executive Office of Equity and Race (Courtesy photo) Since last year, Los Angeles Metro has worked to enhance, reconnect and deepen its relationship with Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) with goals of aligning and coordinating Metro’s current partnerships and to create a structure for the future. This past Friday, December 10, 2020, Metro’s CBO hosted a virtual meeting to discuss the strategy and recommendations with community leaders across Los Angeles. As stated in the draft, “The CBO Strategy establishes clear and consistent parameters for Metro to continue partnering with CBOs, as appropriate, by formalizing partnership structures and developing mutually beneficial, equity-focused relationships that bring real and tangible benefits to the Agency, CBOs, and Los Angeles region.” The meeting held over Zoom was the first glimpse into a long journey of education and preparation for a better and more cohesive strategy to better serve those in underserved and compromised positions, much like the work done on Metro’s Blue Line which improved much of the programs delivery methods. For nearly two hours, several Metro staff workers who make up Metro’s CBO Partnering Strategy team discussed possibilities while also laying out the purpose, goal, and pre-determined recommendations for the project.