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Image of Executive Director Capri Maddox in a blue dress on a white background

Dear LA Civil Rights Family -


There are many reasons to show appreciation as the holiday season approaches, and at the top of my gratitude list is each of YOU! Whether you're a City employee, volunteer, community partner, or trusted leader, you are at the heart of our mission to create an equitable and inclusive Los Angeles. Despite our picturesque skyline complemented by palm trees, we recognize there’s still work to do in LA, and the LA Civil Rights Team remains unwavering in our dedication to building an #LAForAll. By reviewing our 2021 Thanksgiving Newsletter, you'll see we've been filled with hope and determination since our first year of establishment.


As we move forward in this season of gratitude, staff across the city are tirelessly preparing budget proposals for the upcoming fiscal year. We are thankful for the resources Mayor Bass and the LA City Council provided this fiscal year, which allowed us to combat hate and discrimination. Regardless of budget outcomes, LA Civil Rights maintains our commitment to making Los Angeles a city where everyone feels safe, embracing our differences, and recognizing how fortunate we are to live, work, and worship in a beautifully diverse city filled with compassion and resilience.


Today, we have the same appreciation, grit, and determination as in those early days. We work to uplift our valued but often marginalized communities and create the change we envisioned.


Keep the faith and keep the fight,



Capri Maddox, Esq.

Executive Director

LA Civil Rights Department


Making a Difference with

USC Agents of Change

Group photo with ED Maddox and students enrolled in AOC

Image Description: Group photo with ED Maddox and students enrolled in USC's Agents of Change program

In the spirit of thankfulness, we’re delighted to share details of our Executive Director Capri Maddox's speaking engagement at USC's Dornsife Agents of Change (AoC) Speaker Series. AoC is especially meaningful to us because since 2021, LA Civil Rights has proudly hosted and mentored more than twenty AoC interns, who were funded by USC monthly stipends. Our partnership began when Olu Orange, Esq., AoC founder and Director, reached out to Ms. Maddox to host the inaugural cohort of AoC students for the nation's first undergraduate civil rights clinic!


Maddox highlighted her experiences rising through the ranks in her legal career and emphasized how essential programs like AoC are, particularly in addressing disparities in the legal profession. Although African Americans are 13.4% of the U.S. population, they account for only 5% of all lawyers, with similarly low representation among all other communities of color. If you know someone interested in learning more about law school or pursuing a career as an attorney, please share our LACR Pre-Law Resource Guide.


We also encourage potential law school students to register for our upcoming virtual  LA Law Day event, where they can gain valuable insights and resources to support their journey into the legal profession.

Flyer promoting the upcoming LA Law Day

Photo Description: Flyer promoting the upcoming LA Law Day

Register Here

Image Description: Flyer promoting the upcoming TDoR event on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024

Join us in honoring the lives of transgender, gender-diverse, and intersex individuals, who have tragically lost their lives to violence and hate. This year’s Trans Day of Remembrance (TDoR) event will occur on Wednesday, November 20, 2024, at the Tom Bradley Tower in LA City Hall. We welcome you to join us in solidarity and remembrance.


The event will feature moving performances by the Trans Chorus of Los Angeles and words of inspiration from community leaders, who will speak on the significance of TDoR and the resilience of this community. Together, we will gather to reflect, mourn, and reaffirm our commitment to building a safer, more inclusive community for all.


This event is brought to you by LA Civil Rights and its Transgender Advisory Council, in collaboration with the CD11 Office of Councilwoman Traci Park, Trans Chorus of Los Angeles, APAIT, Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA), BabyGay, Nik Kacy's Footwear, and Equality Fashion Week.

Register Here

Election Echoes: A General Recap

Image Description: LA For All circular logo in the foreground DTLA skyline in the background


With recent election results, the City of Los Angeles saw three LA City Council races this election: Council Districts 2, 10, and 14. While we look forward to continuing our work with our new councilmembers to combat hate and discrimination on all fronts, we are excited to continue our partnership with Councilwoman Heather Hutt, who has been a fierce advocate for justice and equity in our City. View this article for detailed local election results.


Civic engagement is essential to building a more equitable, inclusive, and just Los Angeles, especially during election seasons. Sadly, election years often see a rise in hate incidents and violence, with hate crimes in LA increasing during every presidential and midterm election cycle since 2012. In fact, you may have heard the disturbing news about the racist text messages sent to students across the nation, even here in Los Angeles. Chair of our Human Relations Commission, Brittany McKinIey expressed "profound disgust, disappointment, and anger over the racist text messages directed at Black and Latino students in Los Angeles." Commissioner McKinley stated, "the harmful references to slavery and degrading stereotypes undermine the core values of who we are in this City. We fully denounce any form of hate in this City. The Human Relations Commission will continue to serve this City by proactively addressing racism and discrimination in order to make the City of Los Angeles a welcoming place to visit, live, and work."  


LA Civil Rights is resolute in standing with LAUSD and LAPD to address hate and discrimination in our communities, and we are determined to break the silence wherever and whenever it arises. If you need to report a hate incident, please call 211 in LA County or 311 in the City of LA. For instances of discrimination in the private sector—whether in commerce, education, employment, or housing—we are here to uphold your civil rights. File a claim on our website at LAisForEveryone.com.


No matter the color of your skin, how you worship, who you love, or how you voted —

LA is STILL For Everyone!

 Mayor Bass’s official statement For full text please visit Mayor Basss website

Photo Description: Mayor Bass’s official statement. For full text, please visit Mayor Bass’s website

Social Justice

and Jazz

Image Description: Flyer promoting the Activism, Social Justice & Jazz Part II event on Nov.17

Yesterday, Executive Director Capri Maddox joined Activism, Social Justice, and Jazz - Part II, an event presented by Leimert Park Jazz Festival 360 and Dr. Ronald C. McCurdy .


The Activism, Social Justice & Jazz forum provided an inspirational space for the community to explore how these shared themes drive us toward a more vibrant, equitable, and just #LAForAll.


As jazz has long reflected the civil rights journey, our department is committed to highlighting the arts through our LA For All campaign to further civil rights, human rights, and equity. We work to create and ensure all Angelenos have fair access and equal opportunities, free from discrimination throughout our City. 


Facing Job Discrimination?

Image Description: Flyer for the LA Civil Rights Enforcement Unit and contact information, more details below

If you or someone you know has experienced discrimination in a private-sector commerce, education, employment, or housing setting, filing a claim is as simple as 1, 2, 3 and is cost-free:


  1. Scan the QR code or visit LACivilRightsClaim.com
  2. Call us at 213-978-1845
  3. Email CRE@lacity.org


Thanks to the recent approval of CA Senate Bill 1340, LA Civil Rights has even more ways to protect workers. Now, LA Civil Rights Investigators can handle any work discrimination complaints.


Once a claim is filed, one of our staff members will respond within 1-3 business days.


For more information, visit our LAisForEveryone.com.

Fighting Racism

Internationally

Director of Civic Engagement and human Rights Joumana Silyan-Saba and  President of the European Coalition of Cities Against Racism Bendetto Zacchiroli

Image Description: Joumana Silyan-Saba and President of the European Coalition of Cities Against Racism Benedetto Zacchiroli 

LA Civil Rights Director of Civic Participation and Human Rights, Joumana Silyan-Saba, proudly hosted the President of the European Coalition of Cities Against Racism, Benedetto Zacchiroli, at our offices.


They discussed the importance of initiatives to prevent hate and promote equity and inclusion, fostering a dynamic exchange about highlighting local efforts with global significance. Zacchiroli emphasized the value of collaboration across global city networks, including the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization and its international coalitions.


Stay tuned for a recap of our Human Security Resolution event, where we will reaffirm and strengthen the City’s commitment to fundamental human rights, such as freedom of speech and worship.

Students Run LA

Partnership

Image Description: Together in Service logo with all partnering organizations logos

At LA Civil Rights, we are proud to work with our Together in Service community partners, all united by a shared mission - to build an #LAForAll. Together in Service is a monthly community project, where local residents can join us to make a difference.


On Saturday, LA Civil Rights, with our Together in Service partners, along with Students Run LA held a day of service at Woodley Park, where we cleaned Balboa Boulevard between Victory and Burbank Boulevards. Together in Service is working toward an aspirational goal - complete millions of service hours worldwide by 2029 to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy on what would have been his 100th birthday.


Consider joining our Volunteer Corps to help us advance civil rights, human rights, and equity in LA. Applications for the next period are open from December 2 - 13, 2024.


Don't miss this opportunity!

LA Civil Rights Department

www.LAisforEveryone.com

201 N. Los Angeles St., Suite 6

Los Angeles, CA 90012

(213) 978-1845

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