Dear LA Civil Rights Family,

Today, the City of Los Angeles is closed in recognition of César Chávez' birthday (March 31), and we celebrate César Chávez, along with his long-time partner and collaborator, Dolores Huerta. Their civil rights activism and resiliency changed the lives of migrant workers in the US, while they exemplified the fight for better wages and protections for working families everywhere. Together, they created United Farm Workers of America, and fought for better pay and safer working conditions through consumer boycotts, marches, community organization, and nonviolent resistance. 

It isn't often that one gets to meet a personal hero. Last year, Dolores Huerta visited our Civil Rights Offices and signed our wall with her famous catchphrase, “Sí se puede!” Her signature on our "Heroes Wanted" wall was a gift to the LA Civil Rights Department and remains a poignant reminder of her inspiring work being directly tied to our vision of a better LA through grassroots activism, community organizing, and justice.  At LA Civil Rights, the legacy of César Chávez reminds us that everything was impossible until someone did it.

César Chávez and Delores Huerta are models of the kind of grit and determination I see in our partners, volunteers, and organizers throughout Los Angeles. Let's honor their legacy by continuing to advocate for justice and equality for all.

Keep the faith and keep the fight,

- Capri Maddox

Executive Director

LA Civil Rights Department

Tomorrow! Women in Government Webinar

Join us tomorrow, Tuesday, March 26, 2024 at 10:00 AM for a virtual webinar, Women in Government: Creating Pathways to Leadership. Women leaders will share their stories, experiences, and journeys through a career in government. Panelists include: Mayor Karen Bass' Chief of Staff Carolyn Webb de Macias; Honorable Judge Linda Sun and Honorable Maria Lucy Armendariz from the LA County Superior Court; Lisa Salazar, General Manager of the Youth Development Department, Aura Garcia, President of the Board of Public Works, and Commissioner Simona Grace.

L.A. REPAIR Voting Open Until April 7!

Arleta-Pacoima, Harbor-Gateway-Wilmington- Harbor City, Westlake, West Adams - Baldwin Village - Leimert Park, South LA, Skid Row

Make your voice heard in the allocation of $5.4 million of the $8.5 million allocated to the community through the L.A. REPAIR Participatory Budgeting Program! Voting is happening RIGHT NOW. If you're 15 years or older and live, work, study, or are a parent or guardian of a student in one of our REPAIR Zones, you are eligible to vote to make your voice heard. It's YOUR VOICE, YOUR VOTE!

L.A. REPAIR is the City's first participatory budgeting program and this program gives power to the people! As a voter, you have the opportunity to decide what programs you want to see in your own neighborhood. Visit  repair.lacity.gov/vote to view the voter guides for the proposed projects and submit your ballot online or in-person at a community voting event. Learn more about L.A. REPAIR Proposer Fairs from Spectrum News’ story on the program. 

To learn more about our $8.5 million Participatory Budgeting Program visit our website or email questions to repair@lacity.org.

Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martinez and LA Civil Rights Announce Issuance of Civil Rights Notice of Violations

On Monday, March 11, 2024, LA City Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martinez (CD13) and LA Civil Rights Executive Director Capri Maddox announced the first Civil Rights Notice of Violation to Smart & Final, LLC and its security service vendor. The Notice of Violation follows an investigation into a discrimination claim made by an African-American shopper. Upon filing the complaint, the LA Civil Rights Department's investigation concluded that the two private entities violated the City's Civil and Human Rights Law. News of this action spread not only through Los Angeles and California, but, across the nation, and internationally. Read more about the historical press conference here.

The Civil Rights Enforcement Unit is a division within LA Civil Rights that enforces the City's discrimination policy against private sector areas of commerce, education, employment, and housing using the City’s Civil and Human Rights Law. If you or someone you know was discriminated against in any areas listed above, file a complaint online at LACivilRightsClaim.com, by clicking here, or by calling 213-978-1845.

LA Civil Rights Upward Mobility Program Teaches Students How to Pay for College

Last Saturday, LA Civil Rights helped dozens of students learn about the available options to pay for college. Credit Abuse Resistance Education (CARE) provided insightful information on student loans, scholarships, grants, and more, and advised students on accessing information through their CARE programs.

We are grateful to work with CARE as part of our Upward Mobility Programming.

LA Civil Rights Roundtable with Faith Leaders

LA Civil Rights Department hosted a roundtable to combat hate crimes and share resources on how to make Los Angeles a safer place for all. We are grateful to partner with faith leaders, along with local and state leaders, including Councilmember Katy Yaroslavsky (CD5), the U.S. Attorney's Office, and the California Civil Rights Department, for an open dialogue working under the shared principles that hate has no place in Los Angeles.

In the past, we held multiple Know Your Rights & Bystander Trainings to share resources and tools on how to help each other during times of need and we continue to work with faith leaders and elected officials to eliminate hate in Los Angeles. We encourage everyone to speak up and report hate incidents by calling 3-1-1 or LAPD's Online Reporting System.