I don't know about you but this has been the strangest summer of my life, living with a new routine and a complex welter of emotions. Anger at the utter failure of our elected officials at the top to prevent the deadly spread of covid and to take care of people financially. Deep frustration at the failure of our local and state officials to rise to the challenge left by federal failures and do everything in their power to keep people housed and fed. Inspired by the surge of activism in the streets. Motivated by the flood of new people joining LA Forward and so many organizations like ours. Cautiously hopeful we'll be able to shift the terrain of our fight for this justice on this November's ballot. Amid it all, I'm focusing on what is within my power. Not narrowly either. But my ability — our community's ability — to organize collective action on a scale like we've never seen before. Over the last month we've been a little quieter than before. Behind the scenes, our new Neighborhood Organizing groups have been ramping up and I'm excited to share just a taste of the results soon. For right now, I want to invite you to some fantastic programs our community has put together. There'll be a lot more to come as we organize for victory in this fall's election and beyond.
UPCOMING EVENTS
* Wednesday, August 12 at 12 PM: Stop Local Gerrymandering - RSVP
Learn about LA County's new Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission and how you can apply to be on it (and prevent gerrymandering!) in a webinar with co-hosting with Common Cause.
You can now watch the workshop we hosted with Common Cause. Applications due August 31.
* Sunday, August 16 at 3 PM: The Path to Housing Stability and Justice - RSVP
We're using this month's general meeting to focus on the solutions to the impending flood of evictions and foreclosure, plus a discussion of comprehensive, long-term approach to achieving housing justice could look like from tenants rights to social housing to the end of exclusionary zoning and predatory finance and much more. Plus updates on everything LA Forward members are working on!
* Saturday, August 22 at 3 PM: Climate and the 2020 Election, a panel discussion - RSVP
This panel discussion is for anyone who cares deeply about climate change and climate justice and wants to know how they can best make a difference in the upcoming election. Featuring Loraine Lundquist and Aura Vasquez who ran for office as climate champions; a representative from an environmental justice advocacy group; and Sarah Jakle, the Outreach Director for Field Team 6.
* Thursday, August 27 at 8 PM - Book Discussion: How to Be An Anti-Racist - RSVP
Earlier this summer, we read Ibram X. Kendi's history of white supremacism's embeddedness in U.S. society, Stamped From the Beginning. Now we're doing a follow up discussion of Kendi's How to Be An Antiracist. This one really builds on the history laid out in the first book, so it's nice to have the historical background, but it can also be read completely on its own. It's more personal and less academic than Stamped.
GOOD NEWS
We're excited to be part of the Reimagine L.A. coalition which worked with LA County's Board of Supervisors to put a remarkable proposition on the November ballot.
Reimagine L.A. will push the County to divest from incarceration and invest in the health and economic wellness of marginalized people in L.A. , especially Black and brown communities. Details on how you can get involved coming soon.
One last thing and it's a good one! Thanks to your votes, we placed in the top 3 in the LA 2050 competition! We're getting $25,000 to produce the LA 101 guide to local government and host dozens of workshops on how to understand local issues and effectively make change. Stay tuned for all of that and more...
In solidarity,
David Levitus
Executive Director
LA Forward