A message from Executive Director Capri Maddox, Esq.:
On the very first day the LA Civil Rights Department was created, I told Los Angeles that it was time for a change. We could no longer just talk about equity, empowerment, and inclusion - we had to be about equity, empowerment, and inclusion - and turn these ideals into real progress. That’s exactly what we did in 2021.
2021 was our first full year as a city department, and we hit the ground running. We built first-of-their kind programs and community-based partnerships to stand up to hate, expand vaccine equity, and support historically marginalized communities.
To everyone who has worked with us over the past year, know that we are forever grateful for your friendship. The work we do is by and for the community - and we could not have done it without you.
The road to a more just and inclusive Los Angeles is long - but we are heading into 2022 with a clear focus: To expand our partnerships, launch new programs to address discrimination, and continue to bend the arc of Los Angeles history closer toward justice.
May your 2022 be bright, hopeful, and determined.
Keep the faith and keep the fight,
- Capri Maddox
2021 LA CIVIL RIGHTS SNAPSHOT
The work of LA Civil Rights in 2021
CREATED LA’S FIRST-EVER REPARATIONS ADVISORY COMMISSION
The new commission, called for by Mayor Eric Garcetti and members of the LA City Council, will work with LA Civil Rights to develop a future reparations pilot program for a group of Black residents.
LAUNCHED THE LARGEST ANTI-HATE PSA CAMPAIGN IN CITY GOVERNMENT HISTORY
LA for All shares hate act reporting information in 18 languages on over 4,000 ad spaces in Greater LA. Thank you to all our partners who made this campaign possible!
CREATED LA’S FIRST PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING PILOT PROGRAM
LA REPAIR, envisioned in Mayor Garcetti's Justice Budget and passed by LA City Council, will bring $8.5 million to nine underserved LA communities.
VACCINATED HUNDREDS OF ANGELENOS AGAINST COVID-19
LA Civil Rights leads vaccination drives for LA’s immigrant, transgender, and Black communities as well as small businesses and workers. Thank you to Kedren Health, St Johns, First AME Church, VaccinateLA, community organizer Tsega Habte and others for working with us!
PUBLISHED REPORT CALLING FOR EQUITY IN DISASTER RESPONSE
After LAPD detonated fireworks in South LA, damaging dozens of homes and businesses, LA Civil Rights published a report in response to a City Council motion (Bonin-Martinez-Price) calling for a disaster equity fund and other substantive changes.
TRAINED HUNDREDS OF ANGELENOS ON HATE PREVENTION
LA Civil Rights led training & programs with California Attorney General Rob Bonta, community leaders and more to train people on how to prevent & report hate, as well as bystander intervention.
LED TWO DAYS OF SERVICE IN 10 DIVERSE LA NEIGHBORHOODS
Together with the Board of Public Works, City Council members and many others, we brought neighborhoods from South LA to the Valley together to clean community spaces and build stronger community ties.
HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION PUBLISHES REPORT ON POLICING IN SOUTH LA
A series of dinner dialogues hosted by the LA City Human Relations Commission led to a report authored by Commissioner Courtney Morgan-Greene with direct quotes and recommendations from Black Angelenos.
The Human Relations Commission is one of five advisory commissions and councils within LA Civil Rights, with a total of 41 commissioners fighting for a better Los Angeles. Click here to visit our Commissions page.
STANDING UP TO WORKPLACE DISCRIMINATION
LA Civil Rights created multilingual programming on wage theft, employment discrimination and more with Public Counsel, the California Department of Fair Employment & Housing, Councilmember Kevin de Leon and many others.
HOMEOWNERSHIP, YOUTH EMPOWERMENT AND MORE
In partnership with NFL Media, LA Partners in Homeownership, published authors, working artists, and other community groups, LA Civil Rights led workshops for first-time homebuyers of color as well as youth empowerment events.
LAUNCHED AN LA FOR ALL PARTNERSHIP WITH CAL STATE LA STUDENTS
Worked with undergrad students at Cal State LA to develop anti-hate artwork that represent LA’s diverse communities. Thank you to Cal State LA, Professor Zachary Vernon, and all the talented students!
OPENED OUR OFFICES & THE NEW JOHN LEWIS CONFERENCE CENTER
The John Lewis Conference Center will serve as a gathering space for commissions, community organizations and anyone making good trouble for a better Los Angeles. This new space comes with great credit to Gensler architecture firm, LA City's General Services Department and Information Technology Department, and LA City's Bureau of Engineering.
HERE WE COME, 2022
In the New Year, we will do even more - including launching LA’s first-ever Discrimination Enforcement Division to combat discrimination in private commerce, education, employment and housing, rolling out LA REPAIR in nine underserved communities, and much more.
To join us in this work, get in touch with us. We look forward to working with you to build a just and inclusive LA for All.