Dear LA Civil Rights Family,
Team USA joined the world for the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris this week, representing the very best of our nation. Athletes from every corner of our nation and around the globe, representing diverse backgrounds and experiences, are giving their all on the world stage. Their efforts are an inspiration and a reminder of the potential in all of us. Thirty-two members of Team USA come from LA County, and our very own Mayor Karen Bass was in Paris for the Opening Ceremonies to cheer them on. At home, LA Civil Rights welcomed the Australian Consulate and Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies to discuss cultural heritage, healing and unity.
At LA Civil Rights, we believe everyone should have the chance to be the best they can be - and we are going for gold in the fight for equity and empowerment. No one in the world is doing it like LA Civil Rights - enforcing civil rights laws, rolling out new community equity programs and funding, and fighting hate while building solidarity. Just this past week, we helped nearly 100 Angelenos become first-time homebuyers with Los Angeles Partners in Homeownership. Our team - from interns and volunteers to senior staff - puts their sweat and passion into this work, and we’re honored to carry the torch of civil and human rights forward. We are fortunate to do so with our incredible Mayor-appointed commissioners from the Commission on the Status of Women, Commission on Civil Rights, Reparations Advisory Commission, Human Relations Commission and Transgender Advisory Council.
Los Angeles will welcome the world for the 2028 Summer Olympics when we will showcase our city’s unity, diversity and fighting spirit. We hope the games bring equity and opportunity to our communities - and we’ll be working just as hard to ensure the City of Angels is a city of inclusion and justice. Los Angeles isn’t perfect, but we’re not playing, either - and we’ll keep fighting for an LA For All.
Keep the faith and go for the gold!

Capri Maddox, Esq.
Executive Director
LA Civil Rights Department
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Many years from now, when history books are written, our Policy Fellows will know they were not only part of history but also on the right side of it! | |
National Intern Day was celebrated on July 25. Although LA Civil Rights is a relatively new department within the City, interns have played a vital role in shaping who we are and how we work from the very beginning. We refer to our interns as Policy Fellows, and through them, we create force multipliers for our department and foster the next generation of leaders. Since 2020, we have had well over 40 interns at LA Civil Rights—an average of 10 interns a year! | |
Our policy fellows are crucial members of our team and often become full-time employees. Our current Chief Operating Officer, Nicole Bryant, began her journey with the Department as an intern. She played a key role in the inception of LA Civil Rights as an organization and helped grow it into the department it is today. In a full-circle moment, Nicole now oversees all of the department's interns.
Another notable intern, Brooke Helmick, has been with us since 2020. Brooke is now our Chief Policy Fellow and Disability Rights Advocate, focusing on ensuring we meet ADA requirements in all aspects, from social media postings to our website, creating an accessible #LAForAll. Brooke has worked closely with our commission's team, our Civil Rights Enforcement Unit, and our Office of Race and Equity Unit.
LA Civil Rights cherishes the opportunity to nurture and educate the future leaders of our city. We celebrate and express our gratitude to our interns for their outstanding work and unique perspectives!
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Modeling Public Service for Future Leaders | |
Public Service never goes out of style. There is no age too young nor too old to make a difference. Many of our local schools and educational organizations have partnered with LA Civil Rights in various ways. Recently, we spent time with students from UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs and CORO Southern California. We shared our commitment to nurturing future leaders through Upward Mobility Programming and Policy Fellowships. | |
Executive Director Capri Maddox and LA Civil Rights staff were proud to host UCLA Luskin students participating in the UCLA Summer Global Leadership Program for a tour of City Hall.
They asked great questions, which produced robust discussions about the work of the LA Civil Rights Department within the City of LA.
Special thanks to Bruce Gip, our Senior Administrative Clerk, for coordinating this visit.
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Executive Director Capri Maddox met with CORO SoCal LA high school students to share her career journey, the obstacles she has overcome, and the value of unexpected paths.
At LA Civil Rights, we promote leadership across the City, urging future leaders to "lift as you climb" on their career journey and in life.
Special thanks to Natalie Samarjian, Esq., for her inspirational guidance and direction at CORO LA.
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Be the first to find out about news and visits like these, connect with us on LinkedIn! | |
Recap: Homeownership Virtual Seminar | |
Missed it? Read below to find out how you can keep up with us and get notifications about the next Homeownership Seminar! | |
LA Civil Rights' Office of Race and Equity (ORE) Unit's Upward Mobility programming, led by our Angie Aramayo, focuses on building a more equitable and empowered City. This month, ORE partnered with Los Angeles Partners in Homeownership (OWNLA) to present its third Homebuyer Seminar on Saturday, July 20, 2024. Nearly 100 Homebuyer Seminar attendees learned about the homebuying process and how they can achieve their dream of homeownership.
Expert speakers Michelle Ota and Matt Callahan from OWNLA shared invaluable insights on various topics including financing options, navigating the real estate market, and the importance of credit scores.
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The seminar is part of our ongoing effort to support community members in achieving homeownership. Providing accurate and latest information on Los Angeles City & County Programs helps empower attendees to make informed decisions, potentially leading to increased homeownership rates in the city.
Make sure to follow us on all social platforms for updates on upcoming Homebuyer events!
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LA Civil Rights participated in this month's Together in Service volunteer initiative for a regional LA River Community Clean-Up organized by the SELA Collaborative on Saturday, July 27. We are grateful to the members of our staff who gave up their Saturday to roll up their sleeves to help clean the banks of the LA River. Special shoutout to our own Mayra Medel for leading these efforts. As a founding organization of "Together in Service," LA Civil Rights is committed to achieving the ambitious goal of 100 million recorded service hours worldwide over the next five years in honor of Dr. King's 100th birthday. Of these, 25 million volunteer hours will be contributed solely by Los Angeles. | |
"Together in Service" is a partnership between LA Civil Rights, Realize the Dream, and several local ambassador nonprofit organizations. This powerful alliance magnifies our collective impact, enabling us to effectively tackle complex challenges in LA's underserved neighborhoods. Each organization brings its unique capabilities and resources, making our joint efforts more expansive and impactful.
The "Together in Service" initiative invites community members, organizations, and local agencies to pledge to volunteer in year-round social justice projects focused on health, environment, and empowerment in the most impacted areas of LA County and beyond.
To learn more about "Together in Service", click the button below.
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Civil Rights Enforcement Unit | |
LAST CHANCE: Financial Empowerment Workshop  | Mayor Karen Bass' Reentry Program |
LA Civil Rights is proud to support Mayor Karen Bass' Office in hosting its summer Financial Empowerment Series! The six-session series, hosted by the Mayor's Office of Community Safety, offers helpful, in-person workshops on credit-building, credit repair, and money management.
LA Civil Rights looks forward to working with fellow series partners Project Impact and the Department of Recreation and Parks to bring upward mobility programming to individuals who need a hand up, including those who have returned home after incarceration.
The very last Money Management Workshop is taking place Thursday, August 1, 2024 at the Denker Recreation Center from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Workshops are provided in conjunction with Mayor Bass' Summer Night Lights programming.
For more information on Mayor Bass' initiatives, visit mayor.la city.gov.
Register today to attend the remaining Financial Empowerment workshop!
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Bet Tzedek: Equitable Justice For All | Sign up for a FREE Mortgages and Foreclosure Prevention Webinar |
Bet Tzedek has a homelessness prevention team for low-income and elderly homeowners. In addition to addressing legal threats to homeowners financial and housing security, their team also has a broader focus on promoting homeownership and the preservation of intergenerational wealth in low-income communities and/or communities of color in LA. Similar to LA Civil Rights, Bet Tzedek provides direct legal services and representation, counsel and advice on cases, assistance to access pro per legal and administrative agency resources and community education.
On Tuesday, August 6 at 3:00 p.m. Bet Tzedek will be offering free a Mortgage and Foreclosure Prevention webinar, sign up for the webinar online. They will be covering homeowner's legal rights to learn how to stay informed, avoid threats to housing security, and reduce housing costs.
For more information on Homeowner topics watch the videos on the Bet Tzedek online library!
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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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