Thank You! Community Coalition's Gratitude Report
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‘20
Thank
You!
‘21
Community Coalition’s
Gratitude Report
‘22
Message from Miki & Alberto
Community Coalition entered 2020 and provided $525,000 in direct relief
understanding the material impact that the (including assistance for rent/mortgage,
COVID-19 pandemic was having on South utilities and food).
LA. CoCo reached out to hundreds of youth
We doubled down on our power building
and families to understand their needs and
strategies by continuing to organize digitally,
develop strategies to help. Residents told
coordinating mutual aid efforts within South
us about their inability to connect to
Los Angeles, and continuing our efforts to
broadband and the lack of technology that
close corporate tax loopholes via the
made distance learning and virtual
Schools & Communities First (Prop 15)
classrooms impossible.
campaign which aimed to
Additionally, many of our
make corporations pay their
families are part of the
fair share in taxes. CoCo led
service-sector, so working
a c o n t in u ed P USH t o
from home was not an
decriminalize traffic stops in
option. Many more lost their
LA and centered racial
jobs and immediately
equity by promoting the
became unable to meet
establishment of an Office
basic needs including food
of Racial Equity, which city
and rent.
officials committed to in
In response, Community response to the mass
Coalition delivered water, protests.
sanitizing supplies, and ALBERTO RETANA
In partnership with Charles
paper goods to its CoCo’s President & CEO
Drew University, CoCo
members. We distributed
provided support to a
more than 23,000 pieces of
multilevel gover nment effort which
PPE. We gave laptops and hotspots to
vaccinated 4,478 Black and Brown South
students and families in
Los Angeles residents at Jesse Owens Park
order to access the
#2
in a two-week period. To date, we have
learning environment.
worked with other partners to make sure
Additionally, Community
that more than 10,000 residents in South
Coalition connected
Central have secured more protection
2,000 South Los
against Covid-19.
Angeles senior residents
to hot meal programs (Continued on next page)
Message from Miki & Alberto
We worked with the Police-Free Schools for LA Schools) resulted in LA Unified Board
Coalition (CoCo, BSS, ICS, Students members voting affirmatively 6-1 to distribute
Deserve, LCSC, SJLI, CADRE, UTLA) to an additional $700 million to schools in the
secure $56.7 million in funding to improve 2021-22 academic year using the Student
Black student achievement (BSA) and Equity Needs Index (SENI). The SENI formula
provide alternatives to school police. These is used to inform the allocation of funds so
annual/ongoing investments will serve as the that LA Unified can efficiently address the
groundwork to create the truly transformative achievement gap.
educational environment that our kids deserve.
As we look to 2022, this is our moment
This kind of investment is
to show our gratitude and
s p e c i f i c a l l y d i re c t e d a t
deep appreciation for all
providing alternatives to school
who make Community
police, increasing mental health
Coalition’s work possible.
personnel, creating culturally
We thank each and every
relevant curriculum, establishing
one of our members, staff,
community-based partner-
funders and donors who
ships, and hiring administrative
show their dedication to
personnel solely dedicated to
building a better South
driving BSA program
implementation with direct L.A. You are the reason
community oversight and input. that we remain hopeful.
We are confident about all
The Make L.A. Whole MIKI WOODARD we have to do because of
Coalition (CoCo, Brotherhood CoCo’s Board Chair all we have done together.
Crusade, SEIU 2015 and
InnerCity Struggle) centered And while we are still in the
families, workers, small businesses and throes of a global pandemic from which we
youth—who were the most impacted by the are striving to create an equitable road map
pandemic—while demanding funding for all forward, we know that the path together
Angelenos to thrive. The voices of the people must be taken together. We are grateful to
were heard and our plan made a huge take those steps
impact. The City Council's Budget and with all of you.
#3
Finance Committee incorporated more than
$170 million in funding into LA’s final 2021-22
fiscal year budget.
Our organizing efforts as part of the Equity
Alliance for LA’s Kids (CoCo, Advancement
Project, InnerCity Struggles and Partnership
Making “Care for All” A Reality
E n g a g i n g re s i d e n t s o n k e y i s s u e s together, our future always looks brighter. Coalition’s Civic Engagement Manager. “To
impacting South LA is an every year, every Working with We Are Califor nia, our do that, you always have to listen to what
month activity. Even in quiet election years, it canvassing efforts are part of our political residents are saying about the key issues
is imperative to constantly engage with engagement. Community Coalition is helping impacting them. It helps you stay close to
residents about what’s important to them. spearhead the “We Are South LA” campaign what’s actually happening in the community.”
Here at Community Coalition, the saying “the as a project of California Calls—a growing
The We Are California team has been
people closest to the problem are closest to alliance of 31 grassroots, community-based
engaging residents on polices and topics that
the solution” is a mantra and at the center of organizations spanning urban, rural and
include Care For All, a state and local measure
our values. And that core belief is the driver suburban counties across the state. We team
that gives much-needed support care for the
behind transformational public policy which up to engage, educate and motivate new and
elderly, children, and sick loved ones. Care For
can be enacted when our community is infrequent voters—particularly young people
All’s goal is to make sure there are community
onboard, feels engaged, and is seen and from communities of color and from poor and
services for those facing various challenges
heard. working class neighborhoods--to ensure that
including housing. California’s housing criss—
#4
Because whether you are from the California’s electorate reflects our state’s
compounded by homelessness and exorbitant
farmlands of Central diverse population.
housing prices—impacted black, brown and
Valley, the suburbs of
#4
“What we want to do is to keep building indigenous residents pre-Covid. Post-
the Inland Empire or the
the people power going into any given pandemic, we know that the
heart of South Central,
election year. Our goal is to mobilize at least
we know Cali folks When people come together, power is built
8,500 residents statewide to stay involved in
innovate, lead, and and opportunities to ensure that equitable
these We Are California canvassing efforts,”
make positive change. policies become a reality for those hit hardest
said Linda Gomez Evans, Community
And when we stand by the pandemic are brought forward.
Solidarity: A Beautiful Struggle
In actual practice, solidarity is not always We demonstrated that our residents are the inclusive of Black and Latino people that is not
smooth sailing--far from it. But the work and experts in, and on, our neighborhoods. We de ned by political lines. Stopping the (police)
effort to achieve it creates true and lasting showcased what makes our communities stops, Make LA Whole, COVID-related mutual
power. d i s t i n c t a n d u n i q u e . We d e n e d o u r aid, vaccinations, and educational funding—
"communities of interest." We highlighted our these are all ghts we have advanced that aim
For the rst time, our organizations came
shared priorities and concer ns. We to tear down structural racism for the bene t of
together as a coalition. We convened 30+
demonstrated why Lincoln Heights, Boyle Black and Brown people in South Los Angeles.
organizations, known as the People's Bloc, to
Heights, and El Sereno should not be broken
conduct grassroots community engagement Multiracial solidarity is the only path
up. We elevated why Koreatown residents'
and education through storytelling, targeted forward. As part of our DNA, CoCo elevates
voices should be heard and, we demanded
messaging, and the creation of "Solidarity the voices of our members to shift power and
crucial economic engines and cultural assets
Maps" which advocated for racial solidarity secure resources for the 8th, 9th, and 10th
be returned to a district with a solidly Black
when drawing new maps of representation. We council districts of Los Angeles in which our
Citizens Voting Age Population (CVAP), which
put our core principles of community members live. While inherently tricky at times,
c o u l d h a v e e m p o w e re d i t s re s i d e n t s
participation, centering people, power-building our struggles bring
economically and politically for the foreseeable
organizations, and transforming action into out the true beauty of
#5
future.
equity at the center of this effort. We stood our communities’
strong together as organizations aligned with This is an unprecedented time, and we still resilience.
one another, and on a mission, to ensure the have an unparalleled opportunity to usher in
redistricting process included every day equitable transformation--as long as we
residents by elevating their voices and putting remember that together we win. We will
forth solutions for Los Angeles' future. continue to ght for a South LA-wide agenda
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2020 Funding Overview #6
Policy, Campaign and Equity Wins
2020 2021 • $170 million in funding demanded by
• CoCo wins one of four $500K LA City Great • Funding Black Student Achievement was The Making Los Angeles Whole plan
Streets Challenge grants to build the People’s another milestone victory in the fight to divest was included in the nal budget to address
Plaza on Manchester and Vermont. from school police and invest in Black students the needs of families and communities
in the Los Angeles Unified School District adversely affected by COVID-19. The
• The L.A. County Board of Supervisors voted (LAUSD). This win ensured a budget leaders and members of the Make It Whole
to end the collection of criminal administrative amendment that permanently reallocated $25 Coalition created a bold community
fees. $1.8 billion in previously assessed fees were million from the L.A. School police budget, and reinvestment platform that centered on
discharged. an additional $12.1 million per year to be women, families, and youth.
spent in ways the community demanded. This
• Measure R significantly strengthened the includes: • Mommy, Daddy & Me resolution was
civilian oversight of the Sheriff’s Department - $4.4 million—Curriculum & Instruction passed unanimously. SCYEA youth
and increased funding for improving psychiatric - $2 million—Community Partnerships leader and LAUSD Board Member Kamarie
care, drug treatment and other services to - $2 million—Expansion of "Community Schools" Brown’s resolution provides support for
individuals impacted by incarceration. model program youth parents throughout the district—a
- $30.1 million—School Climate & Wellness historically underserved student population.
• Measure J passes requiring ten percent of (Psychiatric Social Workers, Counselors, School The resolution is inclusive of student
unrestricted county funds—between $360M and Climate Coaches, Restorative Justice lactation centers, day/infant care services,
$900M annually—be spent on investments in Coordinator, and Flexible Grant dollars) staff training, comprehensive sexual health
communities disproportionally harmed by racism. - $600K—Implementation & Accountability education and more.
team (specifically dedicated to this initiative)
• UC System Suspends SAT Requirement. As a
result of a lawsuit brought by social justice • “SENI 2.0 Equity is Justice Campaign”
partners, including Community Coalition, garnered an additional $700 million to schools
University of California regents voted to suspend using the Student Equity Needs Index for
SAT and ACT testing requirements through 2024 2021-22 academic year. The SENI is a formula
#7
and eliminate them for California students by used to inform the allocation of funds so that
2025. One of the lead plaintiffs was CoCo SCYEA L.A. Unified can efficiently address the
youth leader Kawika Smith. achievement gap.
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Investing in Young Minds
Community Coalition had a major responsibility schools due to a lack of communication and Given the impacts of the pandemic, mental
to create a virtual learning experience in order to transparency about the 2021-22 school year. health and wellness were also at the core of the
curb learning loss, support families, and kick off Lastly, parents voiced a strong desire for the SAP program. Youth had the opportunity to share their
the 2021-2022 school year in a way that to include pro-social extra-curricular activities that feelings about going back to school, what
empowered our students and parents. To do that, would foster positive student development. happened in their world during the pandemic, and
we put together the Summer Academic Program “I noticed with all three of my kids who were any losses they experienced. Trained staff
(SAP) for 90 young scholars ages 8-18 from involved in the program that they were just more members also led sessions offering coping
across South LA. It was an opportunity for families social, able to communicate better, and back in strategies to participants. The strategies focused
and their children to become reengaged with all that mindset of seeing their friends in person,” said on building healthy relationships and resilience,
aspects of in-person learning: from waking up on Angelica Ramos, a South LA parent who is also a stress management, and communication skills.
time to being transported to the learning member of Community Coalition. Overall, the program engaged students 5 days a
environment to a full day out of the house and
The SAP focused on project-based learning. week for 7 weeks. Three of the 5 days were in
interacting with fellow students.
Classrooms had different creative themes like person while the other 2 days were virtual learning
Parents were deeply concerned about student developing ideas for restaurants, brainstorming days. Community Coalition hired a culturally
learning loss in addition how to bring more healthy food into South LA, knowledgeable and sensitive academic team
to students’ socio- consisting of six instructors and seven student
#8
and photojournalism. There were also gardening
emotional health due to activities and interactive financial literacy and engagement facilitators. All academic instructors
increased isolation and political education sessions. were/are South LA educators who have
family deaths. Parents experience working with Black and Brown
also expressed frustration “My kids now love plants and are asking me to families.
with their students’ get more of them,” Ramos said with a laugh.
Taking Leadership Development to New Levels
Community Coalition is building upon our 30- the larger social justice movement. CoCo will impact the sector’s ability to build people and
year history of building people and political train a cadre of activists and organizers that political power. There is a particular need for
power from the ground up, anchored in can operate in different communities and advanced training with sustained learning and
community organizing, civic engagement, contexts nationally. connection in the progressive movement.
policy advocacy, mass communications, and We know we cannot export movements; Most notably, more organizing training with a
strategic alliances, to actualize our vision of however, we can share the greatest lessons racial justice analysis is needed to help center
creating a Center for Community Organizing learned over the course of our three decades of Black liberation for other communities of color.
(CCO). The Center, which will be a program of developing leaders, winning policies, and Participants will be trained in CoCo’s
CoCo, is dedicated to supporting local power building power for African Americans and distinctive model of building power, improving
building across the country with people of color Latinos. We know that when everyday people the material conditions of community residents,
who have the most at stake in winning win tangible victories, they are more likely to and developing grassroots Black and Latino
progressive, and transformative social change. stay engaged long-term—which is critical to leadership. Participants will also explore deep
It will also increase CoCo’s ability to engage defending and protecting policy, structural, and neighborhood and high school campus
larger numbers of South LA residents through political wins. The need for trained, organizing that produces grassroots leadership,
cultural organizing and civic leadership training, collaborative, and strategic organizers and in addition to large
as well as a new social enterprise that meets a activists has never been greater. m a s s - b a s e d o r-
critical community need.
#9
Based on interviews with over 20 ganizing that pro-
There has been considerable change in the organizational and movement leaders across duces the scale
eld of community organizing over the past the country in early 2019, CoCo compiled a necessary to win
three decades that can help inform and snapshot of the opportunities and gaps policy and electoral
strengthen local power building strategies. The among base building organizations that campaigns.
goal is to utilize the Center as a contribution to
fi
The Power of Prevention
In 1990, South LA providers convened a 1992 civil unrest. The Prevention Net-work landscape in order to create avenues of
conference entitled “Crack: Crisis in the also led local and regional efforts to pass investment that South Los Angeles so richly
African American Community” and from that California’s Proposition 47, a historic bill in deserves. More than 52 providers joined the
convening, Community Coalition for 2014 that stopped the use of excessive relaunch to hear the results of the Covid-19
Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment prison sentences for minor crimes and Communities of Color Assessment
was born. A few years later, the Coalition invested prison spending savings into presentation from Dr. Cheryl Grills and
formally launched the Prevention Network prevention and treatment services. became members of the newly reformed
(PN)—an alliance of South LA social service On September 7, 2021, the Prevention was network.
agencies providing drug treatment, relaunched. “Prevention is about trying to reach family
transitional housing, mental health, and other members before intervention is needed,” says
services in the community. “I think the Prevention Network relaunch is
timely and very relevant. COVID-19 amplified Corey Matthews, Chief Operating Officer of
Over the last 30 years, social service inequities that already existed, creating Community Coalition. “We are pushing an
providers in the PN identified key issues that greater need for South LA residents,” says agenda to help persons as a whole with their
drove decisive campaigns throughout Marianna Hernandez, Community Coalition’s overall needs because people come to you
Community Coalition’s history, including Prevention Manager. “The PN brings together whole.”
“Rebuild South service providers to strengthen the social The Prevention Network continues to
Central Without
#10
safety net of the community by providing d i re c t p o l i c y i n i t i a t i v e s a n d re s o u rc e
Liquor Stores,” holistic care for those in need.” distribution according to the real human
which resulted
The power of the Prevention Network is the needs they see and address on a daily basis.
in the closure of
ability to bring together service providers Network members remain at the forefront of
150 liquor
from across the Service Planning Area 6 (SPA the movement to increase the state’s
stores in South
6) to shape the social services delivery investment in programs that help families and
L.A. after the
local neighborhoods thrive.Thank You For Your Support!
We continue to face a crisis unlike none For any social justice organization,
we’ve seen before. The loss of lives due to longevity is by no means guaranteed, so we
the ongoing threat of COVID-19, the protests were honored by your continued support and
for racial justice and equity, the chaos of the allyship. We are sending our sincerest thanks
census and redistricting, and the uncertainty and so much gratitude for your support this
of when we will be able to return to more year. Together, we have made a tremendous
public lives continue to perpetuate stress, impact on improving the conditions in South
anxiety, and feelings of disconnectedness. In LA because together, we win!
addition, we are still facing various social, As 2021 comes to a close, I cannot help
racial, and political but feel inspired by the amount of
challenges that cause hope we created together during
f e a r, m i s t r u s t , a n d this unforgettable year. Your fi-
division. nancial support allowed us to do
The need for amazing work while remaining
collaborative con- socially distanced and in virtual
versations to discover environments. Your gifts fueled
equitable solutions has another year of progress,
n e v e r b e e n g re a t e r. community building, and re-
Likewise, the willingness siliency in South L.A. com-
of communities, coun- munities that we all love so
tries, and governments to much!
work together to acknow- GERRI LAWRENCE
I know I speak for the entire staff
ledge the value of people of Community Coalition when I say
power for the collective Deputy Director of Advancement we are excited to make 2022 a
human interest has never year in which we strengthen our
been more relevant. momentum to gain significant political,
With all we’ve faced this year, what gives economic and social justice wins with our
us strength, hope, and solace is that we’ve community
done so with you--our members, donors, residents and
#11
and partners. We are grateful for you and members
the relationship you share with CoCo. leading the
Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings charge.
peace for today, and creates a vision for With Hope,
tomorrow.”Address: 8101 S. Vermont Avenue
Phone: 323.750.9087
www.cocosouthla.org
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