Community Coalition

In 1990, physician assistant (and future mayor of Los Angeles) Karen Bass held an informal gathering of community leaders, planting the seeds for one of South Los Angeles' most powerful activist organizations. Bass and the other leaders in attendance felt compelled to address the devastating impacts of South LA's crack-cocaine epidemic, as well as the resulting punitive practices characteristic of the era's "War on Drugs." Above all else, these founding members believed that it was essential for the city's African American and Latino residents to guide the conversation about solutions and foster change from the inside out. Since then, Community Coalition has emerged as a powerful voice in combatting addiction, poverty, crime, and violence. Through a combination of community organizing and policy advocacy, Community Coalition uplifts the voices of South L.A. residents and champions grassroots change.

As part of its work, Community Coalition serves as a producing partner for embRACE LA, a Los Angeles-based initiative launched in 2016. Established by Los Angeles City Council members, embRACE LA is supported by nonprofit partners including the Community Coalition Advancement Project, W.K. Kellogg Foundation's Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation (TRHT), the Department of the Future, and Revolve Future. Encouraging individuals and organizations to host conversations about race, the initiative fosters understanding, communication, and collaboration. In 2018 alone, embRACE LA facilitated 1,500 conversations across the City of Los Angeles. This initiative embodies Community Coalition's fundamental belief in the importance of community engagement to seek equity for all Los Angeles residents.