Los Angeles Urban League
The Los Angeles Urban League, in existence since 1921 and an affiliate of the larger national civil rights organization, brings to the Crenshaw Education Partnership a rich history of advocacy, leadership and neighborhood change. The Los Angeles Urban League earned a reputation as an advocate for civil rights under the astute leadership of John Mack who headed the Los Angeles affiliate of the national organization for more than 30 years. The organization’s recently launched initiative is one of advocacy, leadership and neighborhood change in a 70-block urban area that includes the community’s schools. The organization has assembled an impressive team who are deeply engaged with community partners in a comprehensive endeavor focused on education, health, housing, employment and safety, recognizing the interdependence of these core contributors to the overall quality of life for all citizens of a community. The Los Angeles Urban League has a significant record in fundraising and establishing partnerships for positively impacting urban life. Partners include the United Way, the Weingart Foundation, the Ahmanson Foundation, and multiple corporate partners. Dr. Winston Doby, former vice-president of the University of California system, has joined the League to forge deeper partnerships between universities and K-12 schools. Recognizing the role of safety in the stability of a community and in restoring faith in neighborhood schools, the Los Angeles Urban League’s strong working relationship with the Los Angeles Police Department has had an impact on reducing the levels of crime in the Greater Crenshaw area. Similarly, it continues to operate the Milken Youth Center that prepares ex-offenders and high school drop-outs to enter the meaningful employment. The Los Angeles Urban League’s (LAUL) 80+ year history of eradicating barriers to educational, economic, and social equity provides a resource for understanding and eradicating the barriers that school districts alone cannot eradicate. The Los Angeles Urban League brings to the partnership a strong organizational structure and a diverse board of directors with significant influence throughout the city and state. The underlying principle of the LAUL’s work is that schools cannot be separated from the socio-economic, political, and cultural influences that surround them. As part of the Neighborhood@Work initiative, the Los Angeles Urban League will provide in-kind services to the partnership. The scope of the LAUL’s Deputy Neighborhood Education Officer includes funding and support for services to ninth grade students and their families for mentoring, counseling and support to parents. The Deputy Neighborhood Officer for Safety will continue work for before- and after-school safe passage in the area immediately surrounding Crenshaw High School.
In addition to the commitment of staff time and programmatic support, as a GCEP founding member and lead partner, the Los Angeles Urban League will commit to $1 million (over a five-year period) to directly fund the infrastructure, operations and staffing of the Greater Crenshaw Educational Partnership Organization. The Los Angeles Urban League will also join the University of Southern California and the Ethel and Thomas Bradley in seeking grants for enriching the learning experience for the students of Crenshaw High School and other schools in the community.
