This past weekend, we celebrated American workers. Labor Day is a time to reflect on all that organized workers have given us - from weekends off to employment rights to a robust middle class.

But that's not all - organized workers are also the reason we have an LA Civil Rights Department.

The Los Angeles Black Worker Center, together with IDEPSCA, UCLA Labor, and many others, fought for years to create local discrimination protection and a city department that would focus on discrimination and equity for LA's workers and marginalized communities.

This work - from marching in the streets to meeting with city leaders - is what led to the LA Civil Rights Department being established in 2020. Thanks to the support of Mayor Eric Garcetti and the LA City Council, their efforts were realized in the first city department focused on protecting Angelenos from hate and discrimination.

We send a special thanks to those workers - and to everyone fighting for equity and justice in Los Angeles.

Keep the faith and keep the fight,

- Capri Maddox

LA FOR ALL DAY is HERE! Don't miss our one-year celebration of the #LAForAll campaign with live music, food, community resources, and more on September 22 at 5:00 PM in Lincoln Park. RSVP HERE!

The LA For All campaign has become the largest anti-hate PSA campaign in city government history, with assets in more than 18 languages on over 5,000 ad spaces across Greater Los Angeles. LA For All isn't just a PSA campaign - it's a movement. As hate rises around the nation, we are rising as well with solidarity, strength, and love for an inclusive LA.

Our first-ever LA For All Day is co-hosted by our City of LA Human Relations Commission, Mayor Eric Garcetti, along with City Councilmembers Kevin de León, Marqueece Harris-Dawson, John Lee, Paul Krekorian, and Mitch O'Farrell.

Join us: bit.ly/LAForAllDay

Big news for Boyle Heights, Southeast LA, and Mission Hills - Panorama City - North Hills: Online hubs are now open to take your ideas on how $3 million in public funds should be spent!

L.A. REPAIR Participatory Budgeting program gives real people real power over real money. Anyone who lives, works, studies, or worships in these three communities, known as L.A. REPAIR Zones, is invited to submit their ideas.

Ideas will be vetted and presented to community-based organizations, which will then offer suggestions on how to implement those ideas. The community will be invited to vote for their favorite idea in early 2023, and ideas with the most votes will be funded and implemented. The next six REPAIR Zones will then begin the process in 2023. Click here to learn more about the participatory budgeting timeline.

This Wednesday, our Transgender Advisory Council is hosting a free Career Clinic for trans, non-binary, and gender nonconforming job seekers. Join us on Zoom this September 7th at 10:00 AM to learn about resume prep, interview skills, and ways to land your dream job! Our experts will guide you to resources to support you throughout your employment journey.

Jump-start your career at bit.ly/LATransCareerClinic.

The following week, don't miss our Trans & Non-Binary Job Fair, happening on September 14th! The virtual job fair will connect job seekers to LA-based employers. Employers should join at 10:00 AM for a training and job seekers should join at 12:00 PM for the two-hour job fair. RSVP at bit.ly/LATransJobs.

Our Chief Operating Officer Nicole Bryant recently completed the eight-week Women's Management Academy, created by Council President Nury Martinez!

As Nicole puts it, "Programs like the Women's Management Academy not only celebrate a strong work ethic and provide mentorship, but they also aid in professional development, build confidence, create space for inter-departmental networking, and encourage upward mobility for ambitious professionals, which I hope one day will close the gender gap within City management and the wealth gap to improve outcomes for historically marginalized groups."

Programs like these are crucial to building an equitable and empowered workforce. We are so proud of Nicole and grateful to Council President Martinez for her steadfast leadership for working women!