Our Mission Is To Maintain And Strengthen The City's Diversity, Equity, And Accountability.
LA Civil Rights Executive Director Capri Maddox in a blue dress with a lapel pin that says "LA."
Greetings!

As we dive into 2023, we know there are so many challenges before us.

Gun violence and police brutality continue to ravage our communities. Hate crimes are on the rise. Even the rain has exposed disparities in our infrastructure that put Angelenos of color at risk.

There are great challenges before us that will take time, energy, and the best of our collective efforts to overcome. Even so, the winds of change are blowing. We're hosting our ninth Healing Circle Dialogue this week in South LA. Los Angeles City Council convened its first all-women Committee last week. Our Human Relations Commission is now led by three women of color. The City of Los Angeles will celebrate its first Black History Month with Mayor Karen Bass, its first Black female Mayor.

Change is hard-won and progress can feel uncertain, but change is happening. It’s happening in our communities, where we’re investing millions in Participatory Budgeting and our Peace & Healing Centers, and across Los Angeles where more people are stepping up to stop hate and grow equity.

Much like the winter winds whipping across our region, change is impossible to ignore. Together, we will make that change happen.

Keep the faith and keep the fight,

- Capri Maddox
Executive Director
Civil + Human Rights and Equity Department
Happy Black History Month!
Yellow background. LA Civil Rights logo shown, with the heart showing different figures in Black history. Text reads "Black History Month 2023. Storytellers."
Black History Month is here, and we are excited to commemorate Black history being made to this day with panel discussions, community events, policy reports and more. Stay tuned!

All month long, we will be celebrating on social media with our Storytellers campaign - a celebration of Black storytellers, from journalists to artists to activists and more. From Biddy Mason to Mayor Karen Bass, Los Angeles is home to Black trailblazers who shaped our Los Angeles story. Join us in celebrating Black History online and in person all month long!
THIS WEEK: Peace & Healing Centers Open
Peace & Healing Centers flyer. Illustration of hands holding the globe shown with flowers. City Seal and LA Civil Rights logo shown. Text reads: "Peace & Healing Centers. Grow a Better Los Angeles. civilandhumanrights.lacity.org/peaceandhealing"
This week, we officially launch our Peace & Healing Centers — nine centers in REPAIR Zones across Los Angeles focused on social, environmental and economic healing.

Peace & Healing Centers partner with community-based organizations to offer open-door programming for historically underserved communities. What that looks like depends on the REPAIR Zone, and each Peace & Healing Center is empowered to program for their community’s needs.

Our nine REPAIR Zones are greatly impacted by institutional and structural racism, facing challenges such as high pollution, health disparities, and overcrowding. The Peace & Healing Center program is just one way we are supporting these communities — and building a more equitable Los Angeles.
Prayers for Monterey Park
A group of individuals hold candles at night
Following a series of deadly shootings across California, we want to express our sorrow and solidarity with our neighboring city of Monterey Park, as well as Half Moon Bay, and all affected communities. Though authorities have not labeled this incident a hate crime, it was an attack in an important center of LA’s AAPI community, and our prayers go out to everyone affected by these tragedies.

It’s ok to feel overwhelmed or vulnerable - and it’s ok to reach out. Our friends at Stop AAPI Hate have resources specifically for AAPI communities. The AAPI Equity Alliance has mental health & victim support services in nine languages here. and our LA For All campaign continues to build solidarity and stronger inter-community bonds. Only together will we build a safer and more resilient Los Angeles.
Biking While Black flyer. Documentary Screening and Discussion with Filmmaker and Advocate Yolanda Davis-Overstreet. Tuesday, February 8th from 6:30 to 8:30 PM at the James Bridges Theatre on UCLA's campus.
Biking While Black
On February 7th, join us for BIKING WHILE BLACK, a documentary film by Yolanda Davis-Overstreet, hosted by the UCLA Lewis Center.

This 30-minute documentary interviews cyclists, activists, young people and others as it charts a course to more equitable infrastructure and transportation systems.

Our Director of Racial Equity, David Price, will join the post-film discussion with activists and advocates to discuss the impacts of displacement, gentrification and law enforcement on Black cyclists, as well as possible pathways forward.
LA For All Healing Circles. A Circle is shown with text: Open Dialogues for a Better Los Angeles. Presented by Mayors Fund LA and LA Civil Rights.
More Healing Circles
The LA For All Healing Circles are open dialogues and safe spaces for Angelenos discussing the impacts of racial trauma, identity, systemic racism, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

It's important that we take care of ourselves in community. We’re partnering with Mayor’s Fund LA and community organizations across the city to host Healing Circles in-person and online.

We hope you join our next Healing Circle on February 1st at People’s Independent Church near Slauson & Crenshaw at 5:30 PM. Email healinginthedistrict@yahoo.com to RSVP.
201 N. Los Angeles St., Suite 6
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 978-1845