Inclusive Action for the City

Inclusive Action for the City, formerly known as Leadership for Urban Renewal Network (LURN), was established in 2008 to generate innovative community development initiatives driven by community leaders. Conceived as a "laboratory for the city," Inclusive Action for the City engages the expertise of local residents to address income inequality, invest in the built environment, and improve quality of life. In its early days, the organization was volunteer-driven, led by a local group of young professionals. Today, Inclusive Action for the City champions a wide array of initiatives aimed at empowering communities and moving capital into the hands of Los Angeles' most marginalized micro-entrepreneurs and families. These initiatives include efforts to create a permit system for street vendors, a purchasing cooperative to bring healthy food options to food desert communities, micro-finance programs bringing capital and coaching to low-income communities, and convenings to engage residents, leaders, and policymakers. To do this crucial work, Inclusive Action for the City partners with other community-based organizations such as Kounkuey Design Initiative (KDI) and local government entities like the LA County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs. Inclusive Action for the City complements these direct service programs with strategic, research-centered advocacy.

In 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic reached a point of crisis in Los Angeles, Inclusive Action for the City intensified its support for the City's most marginalized micro-entrepreneurs and families. The organization partnered with the East LA Community Corporation and Public Counsel to create the Street Vendor Emergency Fund. The Fund provides direct financial assistance to vendors unable to access government relief resources.