◈ Homepage — http://www.innercitystruggle.org/Donate Take Action Get Trained Our Impact About Us Firekeepers of Justice Join the Eastside Movement Take Action We Must Love & Protect One Another A thriving Eastside of Los Angeles cannot exist without the immigrant communities that breathe life into our neighborhoods. As our beloved city and people face cruel and inhumane attacks, we must hold dear the constitutional rights of every person residing in the United States. Please remember: DO NOT OPEN THE DOOR if an immigration or law enforcement agent is knocking on the door. DO NOT ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS from an immigration agent if they try to talk to you. You have the right to remain silent. DO NOT SIGN ANYTHING without first speaking to a lawyer. You have the right to speak with a lawyer. If you are outside of your home, ask the agent if you are free to leave, and if they say yes, leave calmly.   Important Contacts to Keep On Hand LA Rapid Response: 888-624-4752 Boyle Heights Immigrant Rapid Response Network: 323-805-1049 People’s Struggle Rapid Response: 562-977-8118 (San Fernando Valley) Orale's Community Defense Network: 562-245-9575 (Long Beach)  Rapid Response Legal Resource Hotline: 213-833-8283 Jail Support Number: 424-610-3020   CHIRLA Deportation Defense Support Know Your Rights Resources ACLU SoCal: Injuries at Raids and Protests Survey In The News Follow @innercitystruggle Stay Connected InnerCity Struggle InnerCity Struggle is a 501(c)(3) organization and does not support or oppose political parties or candidates for public office. TAKE ACTION   GET TRAINED   OUR LEADERS   OUR IMPACT   ABOUT US 3467 Whittier Boulevard., Los Angeles, CA 90023 (323) 780-7605 [email protected] In honor of Elizabeth "Betita" Martinez. © 2019 InnerCity Struggle  - Login Created with NationBuilder ◈ Interior Pages — 24 pages crawledBuilding Permanence in the Eastside - InnerCity Struggle Donate Toggle navigation Take Action Events Current Campaigns Issues Resources Careers Get Trained United Students Familias Unidas Civic Engagement Brothers Sons Selves (BSS) Our Impact Victories In the News Publications Press Releases About Us Our Story Purpose & Vision Partners Building Permanence in the Eastside Contact Us Firekeepers of Justice Building Permanence in the Eastside New InnerCity Struggle Youth & Community Center For twenty-five years, InnerCity Struggle has served as a powerful voice for Eastside residents. We’ve developed hundreds of leaders, redirected millions of dollars toward greater public investment in the Eastside and have helped undo policies that criminalized immigrant and Latinx families. Until now, InnerCity Struggle has operated out of a leased facility which has presented practical barriers to further building the momentum of the organization’s work. These barriers included constricted administrative and programmatic space, unreliable interior conditions and aging building systems, and of course, the impermanence of leasing versus owning. A PERMANENT INSTITUTION Ownership of a permanent and fully resourced headquarters is essential to advancing InnerCity Struggle’s mission to improve the quality of life in the Eastside. In July 2016, with the committed involvement of the organization’s Board of Directors, InnerCity Struggle successfully closed escrow on a commercial property at the heart of the Eastside in Boyle Heights. Initial design explorations determined that the aged standing structure should be replaced rather than renovated to meet organizational needs for the next 20 years. On May 28, 2019, nearly 300 community leaders and residents gathered for the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Center. Click for more photos from the Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony A Vehicle for People Power The 6,000 square foot, two-story building will serve as a vehicle for community organizing in the Eastside of Los Angeles. The Center will be a place where residents are able to work together to find solutions to issues impacting their community. The Center will also be a place where youth can find their voice and be prepared for college. The new facility will amply accommodate youth and community programming on the first level and administrative operations and meetings on a second level. The Center will not only increase civic participation amongst Eastside residents but will inspire current leaders to take their campaigns and leadership development to the next level for decades to come. NEW FEATURES Youth Technology Center - A state of the art work-space for youth and adult leaders will include computers and tablets for research, homework and college applications. Community Room - A common space with a kitchenette which will offer healthy meals and snacks for youth to 'hang out.' This room also doubles as a space for child care during parent meetings and events. Assembly Hall - A gathering space to host town hall meetings, press events, trainings and much more. Academic Services Room - An academic space to cultivate a college-going culture for youth leaders. Contribute to the Capital Campaign OUR TEAM We’re proud to work with the following partners: Barrio Planners Incorporated Red Hook Capital Partners H.C. Olsen Construction Ava Moncrieffe Since 2016, the critical support provided by mission-aligned foundations, donors and investors ensured the opening of InnerCity Struggle’s permanent headquarters. Thank you to our supporters: City of Los Angeles, Council District 14 Los Angeles County Supervisor, Hilda L. Solis LAUSD School Board Member, Mónica García Thank you to our generous donors: Los Angeles Housing + Community Investment Department U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Los Angeles County, First Supervisorial District Weingart Foundation The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation The Ahmanson Foundation W.M. Keck Foundation The Smidt Foundation The California Endowment Ballmer Group The Rose Hills Foundation The James Irvine Foundation Marguerite Casey Foundation Vernon CommUNITY Fund The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation The Wallace Foundation U.S. Senator Kamala Harris Women Helping Youth The Whitman Institute Thank you to our generous lenders: Genesis LA Hill-Snowdon Foundation Weingart Foundation InnerCity Struggle InnerCity Struggle is a 501(c)(3) organization and does not support or oppose political parties or candidates for public office. TAKE ACTION GET TRAINED OUR LEADERS OUR IMPACT ABOUT US 3467 Whittier Boulevard., Los Angeles, CA 90023 (323) 780-7605 [email protected] In honor of Elizabeth "Betita" Martinez. © 2019 InnerCity Struggle  - Login Created with NationBuilder In the News - InnerCity Struggle Donate Toggle navigation Take Action Events Current Campaigns Issues Resources Careers Get Trained United Students Familias Unidas Civic Engagement Brothers Sons Selves (BSS) Our Impact Victories In the News Publications Press Releases About Us Our Story Purpose & Vision Partners Building Permanence in the Eastside Contact Us Firekeepers of Justice Housing Crisis: “We are ready for the fight and the fight begins now. It’s L.A.’s opportunity to do things right”, Henry Perez By Reynaldo Mena · May 07, 2024 Henry Perez began his political activism during his university years, but his social consciousness awakened since he was a child. “I used to help my dad, Manuel Perez, distribute carrots in the wealthy areas of Southern California, where I clearly saw the difference between the rich and the poor. Those big mansions contrasted with the hardworking people who worked on those properties,” says the Executive Director of InnerCity Struggle , an organization that educates and takes action on various social causes. His activism at UCLA was sparked during the times of Proposition 187 and later with Proposition 209, which targeted Affirmative Action. “The movement to defend Affirmative Action also highlighted for Henry the significance of higher education for low-income communities of color and the barriers that these communities face in reaching that goal,” he shares in his biography on his website. Perez was very sensitive to the immigration issue. His mother had been undocumented, and the immigration raids had affected her. “I was very close to those issues. My mother worked in downtown Los Angeles, where she packed the carrots that my dad would later pick up. That’s where they met. My dad would come with boxes of sweet bread as a gift for the workers, flirt with them, but in the end, he noticed my mom,” Henry Perez says. His mother, Gloria, would tell him about the fear they worked under there; many times Immigration would arrive, and the danger of deportation was imminent. Henry says that when he arrived at UCLA, he did so filled with courage and anger at all the inequalities; he had to do something. “The good thing was that I put all those feelings into practice, positively, I got involved against those propositions. UCLA was a hotbed of political activity, and I arrived at the right time,” he adds. Read more Share InnerCity Struggle and Legacy LA awarded funding for work on the Eastside By Alex Medina · March 20, 2024 On Tuesday, MacKenzie Scott’s Yield Giving organization announced it was donating a total of $640 million to 361 nonprofits across the country. Amongst those who received grants are InnerCity Struggle (ICS) and Legacy LA, both Boyle Heights-based organizations. The philanthropic organization launched an Open Call in March of last year for community-led and -focused organizations to apply for 250 available awards of $1 million each. Later in the Fall, an evaluation panel reviewing the 6,353 applications that were received decided to expand the total awardees and grant amounts: the 279 ranked highest would get $2 million, and the next 82 would receive the original amount planned. ICS received $2 million, and Legacy LA received $1 million. “After 8 months of awaiting a decision, we were recently notified that we have been selected to receive the award. Especially as this year marks our 30th anniversary, I am beyond excited for this special opportunity that ICS has been blessed with,” said Henry Perez, Executive Director of InnerCity Struggle. “I look forward to working with our staff and Board to ensure that we maximize this opportunity and invest this award in a manner that will make the strongest impact for the organization and the Eastside.” Read more Share Column: The Eastside, cradle of Latino politics, is squabbling once again By Gustavo Arellano · February 27, 2024 PART I: THE EASTSIDE’S PERPETUAL DESMADRE Sipping on an iced cappuccino, Antonio Villaraigosa beamed as he described the pinnacle of his career. His late-1990s stint as speaker of the California Assembly ? Nah. Serving as the first Latino mayor of Los Angeles in 133 years ? Important, but that wasn’t it. Continuing to advise political hopefuls across Los Angeles County? Nope. No, what prompted Villaraigosa to happily reminisce for a good hour was his success as a peacemaker in the eternal civil war that’s politics on the Eastside. Rivalries are part of any region’s politics, but in the cradle of Latino power in Los Angeles, they are biblical. Here, friends turn into enemies, and enemies become friends, as a parade of politicians jump over, around and on one another like a game of “Frogger.” Villaraigosa was in the middle of what was long the Eastside’s defining feud: pioneering politicos Richard Alatorre and Art Torres versus their former associate Gloria Molina . Through the 1980s and 1990s, they and their followers brawled from Sacramento to City Hall to the county Board of Supervisors, in skirmishes that The Times once politely described as “downright mean.” The two sides even went by nicknames — the Torristas and Molinistas — and claimed restaurants facing each other on Olvera Street (El Paseo Inn and La Golondrina Cafe, respectively) as hangouts. When Villaraigosa won his Assembly seat in 1994 , he represented something different. A rabble-rousing activist with roots in L.A.’s labor movement, he had entered Eastside politics as Molina’s representative on what later became the Metropolitan Transportation Authority board. He frequently found himself on the losing side of votes orchestrated by Alatorre, then a council member and the board’s chair . In Los Angeles, “Latinos were quickly becoming the dominant ethnic group,” Villaraigosa said. “All that infighting undermined the power that could come with being that dominant.” After years of jostling with Alatorre and his protege, Richard Polanco , Villaraigosa won over the former and checkmated the latter in his successful run for mayor in 2005 . A Pax Chicano took hold on the Eastside for 15 years — something not seen in decades. Villaraigosa’s favored candidates rose, with only token opposition. “I knew there was no way to get to the mountaintop with us warring between one another,” he said, stopping from time to time to take phone calls for his consulting business as we sat outside a coffee shop near downtown. “What are we going to do? Like the Hatfields and McCoys?” Yet that’s what’s happening again on the Eastside. The battlefield is the forever battlefield : the 14th City Council District. It’s a land of contrasts — downtown and Skid Row, heavily Latino Boyle Heights and El Sereno, gentrified Highland Park and suburbanesque Eagle Rock — represented by a Latino since the mid-1980s. Among those who have occupied the seat are the most iconic and, in some cases, the most infamous of L.A. politicians: Alatorre, Villaraigosa, Jose Huizar , who was sentenced in January to 13 years in federal prison for racketeering and tax evasion. And, of course, the sitting council member, Kevin de León, who has remained in power despite calls by Villaraigosa and others to resign after he was captured on a recording with other politicians in a conversation that belittled Black people, Oaxacans and Jews, among others . Seven people are challenging De León for his seat, including two former fellow travelers, Assemblymembers Wendy Carrillo and Miguel Santiago. The splintering echoes a comment De León made on the tape, bemoaning the lack of Latino political unity in Los Angeles compared with Black power. “They shout like they’re 250,” he said, “when there’s 100 of us, and it sounds like it’s 10 of us.” The 14th’s state of being has longtime observers asking a question that sounds like a joke but isn’t: Why do politics on the Eastside always devolve into desmadre — chaos? The Eastside is the axle from which the rest of L.A.’s Latino power wheel springs. The struggles for representation and Partners Donate Toggle navigation Take Action Events Current Campaigns Issues Resources Careers Get Trained United Students Familias Unidas Civic Engagement Brothers Sons Selves (BSS) Our Impact Victories In the News Publications Press Releases About Us Our Story Purpose & Vision Partners Building Permanence in the Eastside Contact Us Firekeepers of Justice Partners Organizational Donors Advancement Project AEG Community Foundation California Calls California Community Foundation Californians for Justice College Futures Foundation Common Counsel Foundation Community Partners (First 5 LA) Conrad N. Hilton Foundation Edward W. Hazen Foundation Funders Collaborative on Youth Organizing Hill-Snowdon Foundation LAC + USC Medical Center Foundation Great Public Schools Now Grifols Biologicals LLC Latino Community Foundation Liberty Hill Foundation- Fund for Change Little Tokyo Service Center (LTSC) Community Development Corporation Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture Marguerite Casey Foundation McMaster-Carr Supply Company Movement Strategy Center Nation Youth Alliance on Boys and Men of Color NIKE Partnership for Los Angeles Schools Power California Roy and Patricia Disney Family Foundation Schott Foundation for Public Education Sheila,Dave and Sherry Gold Foundation Sobrato Family Foundation Stuart Foundation The Ahmanson Foundation The Ballmer Group The Barry and Wendy Meyer Foundation The California Endowment The Center at Sierra Health Foundation The Cynthia & George Mitchell Foundation The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation The Kaiser Permanente National Community Benefit Fund at The East Bay Community Foundation The Smidt Foundation United Way of Greater Los Angeles Vera R. Campbell Foundation Weingart Foundation (Movement Fellowship) William & Flora Hewlett Foundation ALLIANCES AND COALITIONS We're proud to collaborate and work alongside organizations in Los Angeles and across the state to build a social justice movement. Together, we work to achieve a progressive agenda for safer, healthier and stronger communities. Alliance for Boys and Men of Color Building Healthy Communities, Boyle Heights Brothers, Sons, Selves CA Calls Communities for Los Angeles Student Success Early Childhood Alliance Eastside LEADS Equity Alliance for LA's Kids Los Angeles Regional Coalition for Linked Learning Power California Promesa Boyle Heights Southern California College Access Network (SoCal CAN) YO! California InnerCity Struggle InnerCity Struggle is a 501(c)(3) organization and does not support or oppose political parties or candidates for public office. TAKE ACTION GET TRAINED OUR LEADERS OUR IMPACT ABOUT US 3467 Whittier Boulevard., Los Angeles, CA 90023 (323) 780-7605 [email protected] In honor of Elizabeth "Betita" Martinez. © 2019 InnerCity Struggle  - Login Created with NationBuilder Contact Us - InnerCity Struggle v2 Donate Toggle navigation Take Action Events Current Campaigns Issues Resources Careers Get Trained United Students Familias Unidas Civic Engagement Brothers Sons Selves (BSS) Our Impact Victories In the News Publications Press Releases About Us Our Story Purpose & Vision Partners Building Permanence in the Eastside Contact Us Firekeepers of Justice Contact Us InnerCity Struggle 3467 Whittier Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90023 Phone: (323) 780 - 7605 Fax (323) 780 - 7608 [email protected] InnerCity Struggle InnerCity Struggle is a 501(c)(3) organization and does not support or oppose political parties or candidates for public office. TAKE ACTION GET TRAINED OUR LEADERS OUR IMPACT ABOUT US 3467 Whittier Boulevard., Los Angeles, CA 90023 (323) 780-7605 [email protected] In honor of Elizabeth "Betita" Martinez. © 2019 InnerCity Struggle  - Login Created with NationBuilder Log in | InnerCity Struggle InnerCity Struggle Log in to continue Email address * Please enter an email address Password * Show password Hide password Password is required The password is too weak Forgot password? Continue Don't have an account? Sign up Or Continue with Microsoft Account Continue with Google Current Campaigns - InnerCity Struggle Donate Toggle navigation Take Action Events Current Campaigns Issues Resources Careers Get Trained United Students Familias Unidas Civic Engagement Brothers Sons Selves (BSS) Our Impact Victories In the News Publications Press Releases About Us Our Story Purpose & Vision Partners Building Permanence in the Eastside Contact Us Firekeepers of Justice Current Campaigns At InnerCity Struggle, we listen to the most urgent and pressing issues raised by our students, parents, and residents. Community organizing isn’t about one action. We take on concrete campaigns that we believe will bring an immediate positive change in our schools and communities. Our leaders organize their classmates and neighbors in service of a vision for a more powerful community. Your participation is critical to building stronger schools, safer communities and a more powerful voice for the Eastside. Learn more about our current efforts to make a positive change in your neighborhood and get involved. Schools & Communities First Funding Act Student Equity Need Index 2.0 Roosevelt High School Modernization Linked Learning Student Equity Need Index 2.0 LAUSD’s longstanding definition of high and highest need schools didn’t go far enough. We know that access to equitable school funding is a critical factor to advancing our progress in closing the achievement gap for Eastside students. That’s why we built on our 2014 landmark “Equity is Justice” victory, and pushed the district to adopt a new formula for defining the schools most in need of critical resources. An equity-based student need index can effectively address the achievement gap. A STRONGER FORMULA. A STRONGER COMMUNITY. As a member of the Equity Alliance for LA’s Kids , InnerCity Struggle has pushed the district to take into consideration environmental factors, community conditions and additional student achievement indicators when ranking school need. We believe this new formula will begin to address the decades of disinvestment to help put our students on an even playing field. When we help the students most in need, everyone wins. LA Times: "School Board approves a new formula for funding high-need schools" L.A. schools will soon get more money if they are located in neighborhoods with such problems as high levels of gun violence and asthma. Join the Conversation "LAUSD just decided to use shooting, asthma rates to decide which schools ge t more money" Source: KPCC "As Gov. Brown allocates more education funding, LAUSD moves to make sure its neediest schools benefit the most" Source: LA School Report "'Student need index' identifies highest need L.A. schools" Source: EdSource Roosevelt High School Modernization KPCC / KYLE STOKES Separate But Not Equal After decades of disinvestment, outdated technology and worn facilities at Roosevelt High School, we have organized to bring to life a multi-million dollar project to modernize school facilities. As we commemorate the 50th anniversary of the East LA walkouts, we’re proud to continue campaigns for equitable school resources and facilities for all students. LA School Report: "Honor yesterday's Roosevelt High School heroes by giving today's students the modern high school they deserve." An Op-Ed by Maria Brenes, InnerCity Struggle Executive Director Comprehensive Wellness Center InnerCity Struggle has successfully advanced an LAUSD Comprehensive Modernization Plan to bring to fruition quality school facilities to the Roosevelt community. A significant component of the victory includes a 5,000 square foot wellness center. Eastside students and parents were among the initial advocates that identified the link between physical, social and emotional health with academic success. We believe school-based comprehensive wellness centers are critical to moving forward student success and a thriving community. From 1968 to 2018 - No More Delays Recently, InnerCity Struggle parents and students have experienced opposition to the Modernization Plan from outside conversationist forces. Our students, parents and community members have been waiting more than 50 years to have access to equitable and quality facilities. We won’t give up now. Our campaign will continue to push the district to advance the Roosevelt Modernization project until it is fully realized. Join the Conversation "LAUSD will rebuild Roosevelt High -- and tear down buildings linked to its historic pa st" Source: KPCC “ Roosevelt High Slated for $137 million in Facility Funds” Source: Eastern Group Publications "Roosevelt High School Upgrades ‘Must’ Include Wellness Center” Source: Eastern Group Publications Schools & Communities First Our schools and communities are in desperate need of funding now. In partnership with California Calls , we’re mobilizing voters across the state to pass the “California Schools and Local Communities Funding Act.” If passed, the act will restore $12 billion in funding for schools and community colleges. Los Angeles county will reclaim $3.7 Billion if proposition 15 passes this November. Closing the Corporate Loophole For decades, corporations haven’t been paying their fair share. This act will close the millionaire, billionaire, and big corporation tax loophole by requiring all commercial and industrial properties to be assessed at fair market value, putting California on par with how the vast majority of the country assesses similar properties. It's time for corporations to pay their fair share. Join the Conversation Felix Adamo “Fight to Close State’s Commercial Property Tax Loophole” An Op-Ed by Dolores Huerta Source: Bakersfield.com Associated Press/Lennox McLendon “After tax cuts derailed the ‘California Dream,’ is the state getting back on track.” An Op-Ed by Manuel Pastor Source: The Conversation Associated Press "Bid to hike commercial property taxes in California could raise $6 billion to $10 billion a year, analysis finds." Source: LA Times Linked Learning Years ago, a high school diploma used to be enough. You could graduate from high school, get a living wage job with benefits and support a family. However, in today's competitive economy and job market, Eastside students are ill-prepared to compete in today’s job market. Linked Learning is an important solution to this problem. Linked Learning upgrades outdated high school curriculum by connecting students to real-life work experiences in health care, engineering, art, law, the performing arts, and more. This innovative new program has been proven to have high results for low-income, Latinx students. Linked Learning students are more likely to attend school, pass college prep classes, improve their reading and math, and build their overall self-confidence. Equitable Access The Los Angeles Unified School District already believes Linked Learning is an outstanding program to improve student achievement. InnerCity Struggle campaign's goal is to ensure equitable access to Linked Learning programs across LAUSD, including the Eastside. After the successful victory securing the adoption of the Student Equity Needs Index to provide added funding to the highest need schools, we are urging the Los Angeles Unified School District to direct the targeted schools to implement Linked Learning expansion with the new funds. We are also proud members of the Linked Learning Equity Council , where we work alongside education advocates to ensure school districts are implementing career pathways for the highest need students. Back to the top InnerCity Struggle InnerCity Struggle is a 501(c)(3) organization and does not support or oppose political parties or candidates for public office. TAKE ACTION GET TRAINED OUR LEADERS OUR IMPACT ABOUT US 3467 Whittier Boulevard., Los Angeles, CA 90023 (323) 780-7605 [email protected] In honor of Elizabeth "Betita" Martinez. © 2019 InnerCity Struggle  - Login Created with NationBuilder Purpose & Vision - InnerCity Struggle Donate Toggle navigation Take Action Events Current Campaigns Issues Resources Careers Get Trained United Students Familias Unidas Civic Engagement Brothers Sons Selves (BSS) Our Impact Victories In the News Publications Press Releases About Us Our Story Purpose & Vision Partners Building Permanence in the Eastside Contact Us Firekeepers of Justice We organize to build a safer, healthier and thriving Eastside for all. Vision The Eastside of Los Angeles is a thriving, multigenerational, and civically engaged community that ensures racial justice, a quality education, an equitable economy, and a healthy built environment for residents most impacted by systemic injustices. The Eastside is comprised of the communities of Boyle Heights, unincorporated East Los Angeles, El Sereno, and Lincoln Heights Core Purpose InnerCity Struggle is a transformational and intergenerational movement that builds community power to advance justice, life opportunities, and dignity in the Eastside of Los Angeles . OUR APPROACH PEOPLE POWER We believe Eastside residents should be at the forefront of change. You’ll work alongside your classmates, fellow parents, and neighbors to build a progressive, social movement. TRAINING You’re already the expert of your experience living in the Eastside. We provide you with the tools and skills to identify solutions and win them. DIRECT ACTION CAMPAIGNS The time to act is now. We take on campaigns to change public policy and reallocate resources to improve the quality of life for you and your family. UNITED WE STAND We believe it takes more than one organization to transform our communities. We’re proud to work alongside organizations and participate in alliance and coalition building to contribute to the formation of our generation’s social justice movement. Learn more about our partners. InnerCity Struggle InnerCity Struggle is a 501(c)(3) organization and does not support or oppose political parties or candidates for public office. TAKE ACTION GET TRAINED OUR LEADERS OUR IMPACT ABOUT US 3467 Whittier Boulevard., Los Angeles, CA 90023 (323) 780-7605 [email protected] In honor of Elizabeth "Betita" Martinez. © 2019 InnerCity Struggle  - Login Created with NationBuilder Familias Unidas - InnerCity Struggle Donate Toggle navigation Take Action Events Current Campaigns Issues Resources Careers Get Trained United Students Familias Unidas Civic Engagement Brothers Sons Selves (BSS) Our Impact Victories In the News Publications Press Releases About Us Our Story Purpose & Vision Partners Building Permanence in the Eastside Contact Us Firekeepers of Justice EMPOWERED PARENTS, EMPOWER SCHOOLS One parent can make a difference. An organized group of parents can transform a community. At Familias Unidas, our parents are the well-respected authorities on education, neighborhood and civic issues for the Eastside. You’ll be trained to: Advocate on behalf of the needs of your children and community. Voice your solutions to the most powerful decisions makers. Win resources and policy changes that make concrete improvements in you and your child’s life. ADVOCATE FOR EVERY CHILD GAIN A COMMUNITY OF PARENT ADVOCATES We understand it can be difficult to navigate the public school system. You’re not alone. Meet other parents fighting on behalf of their children. Share stories. Learn from other parents. Get connected to resources. Join a community of parents. BUILD A PARENT MOVEMENT We believe building a parent movement is a critical strategy to making a positive change in our schools and communities. And we can’t do it without you. We need your leadership to recruit, activate and train your fellow parent leaders. BECOME AN AUTHORITY WITH OUR PARENT LEADERSHIP ACADEMY For more than twenty years, we’ve been training parents and families to advocate for resources and fair policies. We’ll introduce you to the tools and lessons of the civil rights movement and community organizing so that you can be a part of making long lasting change. Parent voices are critical to transforming our schools and neighborhoods. SUPPORT YOUR CHILD’S DREAMS Parent Prep for College Prep Want to help your child plan for college? We provide workshops to help you find out how to help your child prepare for college including qualifying for college, the application process, and financial planning. Know Your Rights Do you want to raise your voice as a parent, but not sure how? We understand that it can be overwhelming to navigate the school system on your own. There’s a lot of misconception about the rights that parents do and do not have on school campuses. That’s why we provide trainings to families so that they can best advocate for their child’s education. Navigating Schools for Immigrant Children and Families Due to the efforts of past parent advocates, immigrant students in the Eastside may have access to additional supports and resources. If your child is an English Language Learner, we provide trainings to help you understand the process and supports they deserve. We also will introduce you to the reclassification process. Additional trainings include details about AB540 and how to support undocumented families’ path to college. BEST START EAST LA PARENTING SKILLS 101 ACCESS TO EARLY CHILDHOOD RESOURCES ADVOCATE FOR OUR MOST VULNERABLE CHILDREN Do you have a child aged 0 to 5 years old? It's critical to start early. That's why at InnerCity Struggle, we have a program specifically for parents of children ages 0 to 5. At Best Start East LA, we bring families together to advocate for access to quality early childhood programs and resources in unincorporated East Los Angeles. From housing assistance to childcare to access to healthy food - we'll connect you to the best resources you need to help your child succeed. InnerCity Struggle InnerCity Struggle is a 501(c)(3) organization and does not support or oppose political parties or candidates for public office. TAKE ACTION GET TRAINED OUR LEADERS OUR IMPACT ABOUT US 3467 Whittier Boulevard., Los Angeles, CA 90023 (323) 780-7605 [email protected] In honor of Elizabeth "Betita" Martinez. © 2019 InnerCity Struggle  - Login Created with NationBuilder Take Action - InnerCity Struggle Donate Toggle navigation Take Action Events Current Campaigns Issues Resources Careers Get Trained United Students Familias Unidas Civic Engagement Brothers Sons Selves (BSS) Our Impact Victories In the News Publications Press Releases About Us Our Story Purpose & Vision Partners Building Permanence in the Eastside Contact Us Firekeepers of Justice InnerCity Struggle InnerCity Struggle is a 501(c)(3) organization and does not support or oppose political parties or candidates for public office. TAKE ACTION GET TRAINED OUR LEADERS OUR IMPACT ABOUT US 3467 Whittier Boulevard., Los Angeles, CA 90023 (323) 780-7605 [email protected] In honor of Elizabeth "Betita" Martinez. © 2019 InnerCity Struggle  - Login Created with NationBuilder Firekeepers of Justice-sustainer program Sustain the fire for justice in the Eastside! By becoming a sustainer today and contributing monthly, you are playing a crucial role in advancing the Eastside's Lucha for racial justice and equity. Your support is the fuel that keeps the fire of this movement burning. With your monthly contribution, you can help kindle the movement's fire to build a thriving and more prosperous Eastside. Optional email code 1. Amount $25 $50 $100 Other $ Donation frequency One-time Monthly 2. 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Payment information Credit Card Don't publish my donation on the website. $ 100.00 InnerCity Struggle InnerCity Struggle is a 501(c)(3) organization and does not support or oppose political parties or candidates for public office. TAKE ACTION GET TRAINED OUR LEADERS OUR IMPACT ABOUT US 3467 Whittier Boulevard., Los Angeles, CA 90023 (323) 780-7605 [email protected] In honor of Elizabeth "Betita" Martinez. © 2019 InnerCity Struggle  - Login Created with NationBuilder United Students - InnerCity Struggle Donate Toggle navigation Take Action Events Current Campaigns Issues Resources Careers Get Trained United Students Familias Unidas Civic Engagement Brothers Sons Selves (BSS) Our Impact Victories In the News Publications Press Releases About Us Our Story Purpose & Vision Partners Building Permanence in the Eastside Contact Us Firekeepers of Justice ALL POWER TO THE STUDENTS It’s time to take action. Are you a high school student living in Boyle Heights, unincorporated East Los Angeles, El Sereno or Lincoln Heights? Do you want to make a difference in your school and community? United Students is our flagship leadership program. We train high school students to become expert community organizers through education and training, community building, and participation in direct action campaigns. At United Students, you’ll join a community of Eastside students, working together to make a positive change in their schools and community. YOUTH AT THE FOREFRONT OF CHANGE MAKE A POWERFUL CHANGE Change starts with you. Do you see a problem at your school and want to do something about it? We'll work with you to identify solutions, and develop campaigns that will result in real change at your school and community. JOIN THE YOUTH MOVEMENT Hundreds of youth across Los Angeles are rising up, uniting and organizing for their future. When you join United Students, you join a movement that's greater and bigger than ourselves. LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD Talk to your peers. Meet with your principal. Speak at a press conference. Draw a poster for a rally. Write an article for your local newspaper. Get interviewed by reporters. Youth organizing is all about putting your solutions at the forefront of the public debate. BUILD COMMUNITY We’re more than just a student club or an after-school program. When you join United Students, you’ll gain a community that has your back, supports one another and fights together. LEARN EASTSIDE HISTORY As part of our training program, we’ll go back in time and study the legendary lessons of the civil rights leaders who came before us. From national to local movements, we’ll teach you the history of community organizing. ATTEND STATE & NATIONAL YOUTH CONFERENCES Our leaders are recognized for their leadership and campaign victories. Our dedicated and most talented leaders get the opportunity to travel and share community organizing stories with fellow youth leaders. If chosen, you’ll become an ambassador for all of your peers in the Eastside. UNITED STUDENTS OPPORTUNITIES Academic Services: A Pathway to College We believe every youth deserves to go to college regardless of their immigration status, skin color, gender or zip code. That’s why we provide personalized mentoring, one-on-one counseling, college tours and step-by-step college application workshops to our most dedicated youth leaders. Job Training and Experience Paid internships are available to youth leaders who go above and beyond the call of duty. As a paid intern, you’ll receive professional training and mentoring, plus you'll recruit, train and mobilize your peers, and serve as an ambassador for Eastside students. Community Service Credit Do you need community service hours? Looking for a way to make your college application stand out? Your participation in United Students counts toward community service hours. Get started with your service hours by investing in your school, your community and your future. BROTHERS, SONS, SELVES COALITION As a leader for United Students, you can join a city-wide collective that trains young boys of color to become the leaders of tomorrow. We’ll train you to take on campaigns to improve the quality of life of boys and men of color in Los Angeles and across the state. Learn more about the Brothers, Sons, Selves Coalition. FIND YOUR HIGH SCHOOL CHAPTER Modeled after the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), we host General Member (GM) chapters at your local Eastside high school. We meet weekly to recruit new students, identify solutions to improve your school and uplift your voice. Join us. Mendez High School Afterschool meetings - room M110 Contact Site Organizer: Steven Roosevelt High School Lunchtime meetings - room A203 Contact Site Organizer: Steven Lincoln High School Afterschool meetings - room 703 Contact Site Organizer: Nathan Carbajal Wilson High School Lunchtime meetings - room F9 Contact Site Organizer: Nathan Carbajal Esteban Torres High School Afterschool meetings - ELAPA room F208 Contact Site Organizer: Michelle Aranda Garfield High School Lunchtime meetings - room 728 Contact Site Organizer: Alejandro Juarez-Ugalde InnerCity Struggle InnerCity Struggle is a 501(c)(3) organization and does not support or oppose political parties or candidates for public office. TAKE ACTION GET TRAINED OUR LEADERS OUR IMPACT ABOUT US 3467 Whittier Boulevard., Los Angeles, CA 90023 (323) 780-7605 [email protected] In honor of Elizabeth "Betita" Martinez. © 2019 InnerCity Struggle  - Login Created with NationBuilder Careers - InnerCity Struggle Donate Toggle navigation Take Action Events Current Campaigns Issues Resources Careers Get Trained United Students Familias Unidas Civic Engagement Brothers Sons Selves (BSS) Our Impact Victories In the News Publications Press Releases About Us Our Story Purpose & Vision Partners Building Permanence in the Eastside Contact Us Firekeepers of Justice Careers ABOUT US: InnerCity Struggle (ICS) is a transformational and intergenerational movement that builds community power to advance justice, life opportunities, and dignity in the Eastside of Los Angeles. Our vision is for the Eastside of Los Angeles to be a thriving, multigenerational, and civically engaged community that ensures racial justice, a quality education, an equitable economy, and a healthy built environment for residents most impacted by systemic injustices. ICS organizes youth and families in Boyle Heights, unincorporated East Los Angeles, City Terrace, El Sereno, and Lincoln Heights. InnerCity Struggle is proud to be an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate based on race, religion, disability, gender, nationality, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. We strongly encourage women, people of color, LGBTQIA+ people, veterans, and people with disabilities to apply. InnerCity Struggle InnerCity Struggle is a 501(c)(3) organization and does not support or oppose political parties or candidates for public office. TAKE ACTION GET TRAINED OUR LEADERS OUR IMPACT ABOUT US 3467 Whittier Boulevard., Los Angeles, CA 90023 (323) 780-7605 [email protected] In honor of Elizabeth "Betita" Martinez. © 2019 InnerCity Struggle  - Login Created with NationBuilder Donate - InnerCity Struggle Donate Make a donation to InnerCity Struggle today. Optional email code 1. Amount $15 $35 $50 $100 $250 $500 $1,000 Other $ Donation frequency One-time Monthly 2. Your information Email First Name Last Name Country Afghanistan Albania Algeria American Samoa Andorra Angola Anguilla Antarctica Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Aruba Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Bouvet Island Brazil British Indian Ocean Territory Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cape Verde Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia Comoros Congo Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Cook Islands Costa Rica Croatia Cuba Curaçao Cyprus Czech Republic Côte d'Ivoire Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Gibraltar Greece Greenland Grenada Guadeloupe Guam Guatemala Guernsey Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Haiti Heard Island and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras Hong Kong Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq Ireland Isle of Man Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jersey Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macao Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania Mauritius Mayotte Mexico Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Niue Norfolk Island North Korea North Macedonia, Republic of Northern Mariana Islands Norway Oman Pakistan Palau Palestine, State of Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Pitcairn Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Romania Russian Federation Rwanda Réunion Saint Barthélemy Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Martin (French part) Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Sint Maarten (Dutch part) Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands South Korea South Sudan Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Svalbard and Jan Mayen Swaziland Sweden Switzerland Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand Timor-Leste Togo Tokelau Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States United States Minor Outlying Islands Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands, U.S. Wallis and Futuna Western Sahara Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe Åland Islands Address City State Alabama Alaska American Samoa Arizona Arkansas Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Europe Armed Forces Pacific California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Federated States of Micronesia Florida Georgia Guam Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Marshall Islands Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Palau Pennsylvania Puerto Rico Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virgin Island Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming State Postal code Phone Send email updates Notes Contributions are tax-deductible. 3. Payment information Credit Card Don't publish my donation on the website. $ Please select an amount InnerCity Struggle InnerCity Struggle is a 501(c)(3) organization and does not support or oppose political parties or candidates for public office. TAKE ACTION GET TRAINED OUR LEADERS OUR IMPACT ABOUT US 3467 Whittier Boulevard., Los Angeles, CA 90023 (323) 780-7605 [email protected] In honor of Elizabeth "Betita" Martinez. © 2019 InnerCity Struggle  - Login Created with NationBuilder Events - InnerCity Struggle Donate Toggle navigation Take Action Events Current Campaigns Issues Resources Careers Get Trained United Students Familias Unidas Civic Engagement Brothers Sons Selves (BSS) Our Impact Victories In the News Publications Press Releases About Us Our Story Purpose & Vision Partners Building Permanence in the Eastside Contact Us Firekeepers of Justice Upcoming Events No events yet. InnerCity Struggle InnerCity Struggle is a 501(c)(3) organization and does not support or oppose political parties or candidates for public office. TAKE ACTION GET TRAINED OUR LEADERS OUR IMPACT ABOUT US 3467 Whittier Boulevard., Los Angeles, CA 90023 (323) 780-7605 [email protected] In honor of Elizabeth "Betita" Martinez. © 2019 InnerCity Struggle  - Login Created with NationBuilder Publications - InnerCity Struggle Donate Toggle navigation Take Action Events Current Campaigns Issues Resources Careers Get Trained United Students Familias Unidas Civic Engagement Brothers Sons Selves (BSS) Our Impact Victories In the News Publications Press Releases About Us Our Story Purpose & Vision Partners Building Permanence in the Eastside Contact Us Firekeepers of Justice Publications The results are in. Researchers agree: Our strategies make a difference. Community organizations effectively reduce structural barriers and positively impact, on an individual level, the participants on the frontlines of that change. We’ve participated in numerous studies that look at the impact of our organizing on creating systems change, improving the quality of life indicators and building movement leadership. Don’t take our word on it. Read the findings from the experts. Gentrification & Displacement Narrative Change Project March 30, 2018 This report is designed to offer lessons from the activities, outcomes, and process of the TCE Gentrification/Displacement Communications Strategy Project in 2017. Our goal is to move the needle of popular support for anti-gentrification, anti-displacement efforts and solutions. Click here for the PDF. Building Leadership for Social Change in Boyle Heights Leap & Associates February 2018 This brief introduces three remarkable residents of Boyle Heights who were already on a path to make a significant difference in the community but, who upon encountering BHC, were able to have an even greater impact. They represent the many heroes in Boyle Heights fighting for a more equitable and healthy community for all. Click here for the PDF. Roosevelt High School Success Brief Jorja Leap, PhD, Susana Bonis, M. Ed., PhD Candidate, Stephanie Benson, MSW, PhD Candidate, and Karrah Lompa, MSW, MNPL July 2017 This brief presents the changes in both policy and practice that have occurred at Roosevelt High School since the initiation of Building Healthy Communities (BHC) in 2010. Click here for the PDF. From Criminalization To Education: A Community Vision for Safe Schools in LAUSD Jung Hee Choi, Sr. Advisor, Narrative and Strategic Initiatives, Power California/Million Voters Project Nikki Kalra, Director, ORS Impact 2024 In 2023, MVP and Power California launched an initiative to build the narrative infrastructure our movements need to advance our vision for CA’s multiracial democracy. In this first-of-its-kind research led by power-building practitioners, movement leaders share essential recommendations and priorities for boosting our ability to challenge dominant narratives that fuel inequality and advance new ones that center multiracial democracy, interdependence and fairness for all. Click here for the PDF. From Criminalization To Education: A Community Vision for Safe Schools in LAUSD David C. Turner III, Ph.D, Police-Free LAUSD Coalition 2022 This report represents a community-led vision for transforming LAUSD's schools into culturally relevant, holistically supportive spaces where all youth can thrive. Specifically, the report demands that LAUSD dismantle all of its oppressive and white supremacist structures-including the Los Angeles School Police Department-and that the district train and invest in evidence-based practices that support, rather than criminalize, Black and Brown youth. Click here for the PDF. InnerCity Struggle’s United Students: Supporting the leadership and healthy development of Eastside youth. Veronica Terriquez, PhD and Gabriela Dominguez February 2016 This report provides a brief overview of United Students’ youth membership and outlines some of the ways young people have been involved in and benefited from this group. It also provides insights for other programs and initiatives seeking to build the leadership capacity of low-income and diverse youth. Click here for the PDF. Cultures of engagement: The organizational foundations of advancing Irene Bloemraad, University of California, Berkeley Veronica Terriquez, University of California, Santa Cruz 2016 This article draws on theory and research in sociology, political science and psychology, and illustrates the utility of a community-based organization (CBO) approach by examining participants in youth civic groups in 13 low-income, predominantly immigrant communities in California. The article demonstrates that CBOs can generate individual-level well-being effects, and reduce structural barriers to good health through changes in the broader environment. Click here for the PDF. Learning to Lead: The Impact of Youth Organizing on the Educational and Civic Trajectories of Low-Income Youth John Rogers, University of California, Los Angeles Veronica Terriquez, University of Southern California 2013 This report examines the impact of youth organizing on the life outcomes of alumni from youth programs, including United Students. The report finds that youth organizing alumni are more likely to enroll in four-year universities and be civically involved in early adulthood. Click here for the PDF. Building a Parent Movement in the Los Angeles Eastside Veronica Terriquez, Raquel Armenta, John Rogers, and Miguel Carvente. English Español This research report demonstrates that members of Familias Unidas foster high levels of civic participation among the types of parents who typically encounter barriers to parental school engagement. InnerCity Struggle InnerCity Struggle is a 501(c)(3) organization and does not support or oppose political parties or candidates for public office. TAKE ACTION GET TRAINED OUR LEADERS OUR IMPACT ABOUT US 3467 Whittier Boulevard., Los Angeles, CA 90023 (323) 780-7605 [email protected] In honor of Elizabeth "Betita" Martinez. © 2019 InnerCity Struggle  - Login Created with NationBuilder Our Story Donate Toggle navigation Take Action Events Current Campaigns Issues Resources Careers Get Trained United Students Familias Unidas Civic Engagement Brothers Sons Selves (BSS) Our Impact Victories In the News Publications Press Releases About Us Our Story Purpose & Vision Partners Building Permanence in the Eastside Contact Us Firekeepers of Justice Our Story 30 Years of Eastside Movement Building In 1994, a small group of parents, youth, and residents in Boyle Heights joined together to find solutions to a crisis in their community. Neighborhood violence and crime were at an all time high. Across the state, reactionary forces blamed immigrants and youth for the rise in drugs and gangs. At the same time, funds to public schools were severed and new state laws criminalizing immigrants and young people were passed. The future success of Eastside families was being undermined. But we refused to stand by. Our founders decided to form an organization in the spirit of the civil rights movement. One that would seek to organize everyday residents in service of their own vision for a stronger Eastside. We sought alternative solutions to reducing crime and violence that wouldn’t involve criminalizing our communities. Instead, we invested in developing grassroots leadership that could serve as a progressive and powerful voice for the Eastside. Deeply concerned with the role public education played as a pipeline to prison and poverty, our parents, youth, and residents began organizing in schools. Our first campaigns successfully challenged Los Angeles Unified School District’s overcrowding and push-out crisis. In 2004, the efforts resulted in success with the school district’s approval of three new Eastside high schools, a new elementary school, and a new adult school – the first new schools approved for construction in over 85 years. We’ve since become a multi-issue organization to build stronger schools, grow our civic engagement, and prevent housing displacement for a stronger and more powerful Eastside. InnerCity Struggle InnerCity Struggle is a 501(c)(3) organization and does not support or oppose political parties or candidates for public office. TAKE ACTION GET TRAINED OUR LEADERS OUR IMPACT ABOUT US 3467 Whittier Boulevard., Los Angeles, CA 90023 (323) 780-7605 [email protected] In honor of Elizabeth "Betita" Martinez. © 2019 InnerCity Struggle  - Login Created with NationBuilder Civic Engagement - InnerCity Struggle Donate Toggle navigation Take Action Events Current Campaigns Issues Resources Careers Get Trained United Students Familias Unidas Civic Engagement Brothers Sons Selves (BSS) Our Impact Victories In the News Publications Press Releases About Us Our Story Purpose & Vision Partners Building Permanence in the Eastside Contact Us Firekeepers of Justice Civic Engagement OUR DEMOCRACY IS IN YOUR HANDS Our democracy is at a crossroads. The stakes have never been higher. Local and statewide elections matter more than ever for Eastside residents. Unfortunately, low voter turnout is a significant factor threatening our communities’ ability to advance opportunities and resources. InnerCity Struggle’s Civic Engagement program trains all residents from youth to elders to educate, empower and mobilize Eastside voters. As a participant, you’ll build an empowered electorate that can positively influence election outcomes that best represents the Eastside. InnerCity Struggle is proud to be an anchor organization with California Calls . You’ll join a statewide network of California leaders focused on addressing real solutions to our public schools, public safety, health system and social safety net. We seek volunteers to engage Eastside residents to register to vote, increase voter turnout and educate them about the key issues at the ballot box. When we encourage our neighbors to engage in our democracy, we build civic power. POWER AT THE BALLOT BOX VOTER EDUCATION We’ll train you to educate and empower your neighbors on the key issues that have the most impact on you and your family in local and statewide elections. We publish voter guides, like this one from Fall 2018 to ensure Eastside residents are informed. VOTER REGISTRATION There’s power in numbers. Every election there’s a new generation of voters eligible to vote. Learn how to motivate and encourage your peers and neighbors to get involved in deciding the future of their neighborhoods. VOTER MOBILIZATION It’s not enough to only engage voters during election cycles. In order to build a new electorate, we must engage voters in between elections in an ongoing effort to empower their participation in our democracy. REGISTER TO VOTE YOUNGER VOTERS ARE THE FUTURE Young voters ages 18-35 are our most powerful untapped electoral base. Young voters care about their communities, but have low voter participation in election cycles and are the hardest demographic to reach. If we can effectively mobilize the youth vote in California, we can bring powerful changes to our communities. At InnerCity Struggle, our parents and students are part of a statewide strategy to increase the participation of young Latinx voters in the Eastside. We’re proud to work alongside a movement of youth leaders mobilizing their peers to build a new electorate of California voters with Power California . InnerCity Struggle InnerCity Struggle is a 501(c)(3) organization and does not support or oppose political parties or candidates for public office. TAKE ACTION GET TRAINED OUR LEADERS OUR IMPACT ABOUT US 3467 Whittier Boulevard., Los Angeles, CA 90023 (323) 780-7605 [email protected] In honor of Elizabeth "Betita" Martinez. © 2019 InnerCity Struggle  - Login Created with NationBuilder Resources - InnerCity Struggle Donate Toggle navigation Take Action Events Current Campaigns Issues Resources Careers Get Trained United Students Familias Unidas Civic Engagement Brothers Sons Selves (BSS) Our Impact Victories In the News Publications Press Releases About Us Our Story Purpose & Vision Partners Building Permanence in the Eastside Contact Us Firekeepers of Justice Resources We do our research. As community organizers our goal is to develop grassroots solutions to transform our schools and communities. That’s why with the help of our trained parent and student leaders, we conduct our own community assessments. We develop surveys, conduct observations and interview critical stakeholders to find the best policy solutions. Learn more about the most pressing policy issues and solutions concerning Eastside residents. Health Justice for Eastside Students: Strengthening Access to Health and Wellness for Academic Access By InnerCity Struggle | 2013 In this report, InnerCity Struggle parents and students conducted direct observations and interviews to assess the needs to improve comprehensive wellness services for students at Esteban E. Torres High School. We present key findings regarding the services provided at the Wellness Center, and call on all stakeholders to support the center with immediate and concrete solutions. Click to download the PDF. Food Justice for Eastside Schools By InnerCity Struggle | 2012 InnerCity Struggle’s youth component United Students conducted an analysis to determine the needs for “food justice” at five Eastside schools: Roosevelt, Garfield, Torres, Wilson and Lincoln. In this policy report, we focused on three major areas: access to food, food quality and time. We present three urgent policy recommendations for immediately improving student access and quality of food in Eastside high schools. Click to download the PDF. The Movement Continues: The State of Equity and Access in Eastside Public Schools By InnerCity Struggle | June 2010 English Español Building off of our successful 2007 report that highlighted a student and parent vision and in which we surveyed over 6,000 residents, our parents and students went a step further in 2010 and surveyed more than 8,000 residents to more closely examine the role of A-G course requirements in ensuring graduation and college readiness. In this study, we discuss the role teachers, counselors, access to equitable resources, and family engagement all play in preparing all students to be college ready. A Student and Parent Vision for Educational Justice in the Eastside By InnerCity Struggle | June 2007 English Español In this study conducted by parents and student leaders of InnerCity Struggle, we surveyed more than 6,000 Eastside residents to identify the best policy solutions that could transform public education in the Eastside. We review the most pressing concerns impacting student achievement, and present a call to action for all Eastside stakeholders. Frustrated by 80 Years of Neglect, Students and Parents Ignite a Fight for a New High School in East L.A. By Maria Brenes | Spring 2005 In this publication, Executive Director of InnerCity Struggle Maria Brenes tells the story of how parents and students united in 2003 to demand the construction of new schools, in order to relieve the massive overcrowding and inequitable facilities in Eastside public schools. Click to download the PDF. The Schools We Deserve By Families in Schools with Communities for Educational Equity | Spring 2005 English Español A parent resource guide to prepare families on how to best support their child’s path to attend a four-year university. We debunk the myths about student aspirations, parent support and identify the real barriers to college attainment for public school students in LAUSD. How Permanent Tenant Protections Can Help Communities Prevent Homelessness and Resist Displacement in Los Angeles County By Public Counsel and the UCLA School of Law Community Economic Development Clinic | June 2019 On June 10, 2019 - Public Counsel and the UCLA School of Law Community Economic Development Clinic in partnership with Eastside LEADS and Unincorporated Tenants United published Priced Out, Pushed out, Locked Out , a new report detailing the depth of the housing crisis in Los Angeles County. This report also details many policies that if implemented along with rent control, will ensure that people are not displaced from their homes and would prevent more families from falling into homelessness. Click to download the PDF. Building Successful Students: Creating Disciplinary Policies that Promote College. A Plan for Improving Roosevelt High School By United Students | January 2003 In the spring of 2002, InnerCity Struggle student leaders from United Students began a research process to identify the main problems at Roosevelt High School. Student leaders collected more than 754 surveys, including questions on the effectiveness of the tardy room, culturally relevant curriculum, and access and support for college course requirements. In this report, United Students present their findings for alternative policies to the tardy room. Click to download the PDF. InnerCity Struggle InnerCity Struggle is a 501(c)(3) organization and does not support or oppose political parties or candidates for public office. TAKE ACTION GET TRAINED OUR LEADERS OUR IMPACT ABOUT US 3467 Whittier Boulevard., Los Angeles, CA 90023 (323) 780-7605 [email protected] In honor of Elizabeth "Betita" Martinez. © 2019 InnerCity Struggle  - Login Created with NationBuilder Victories - InnerCity Struggle Donate Toggle navigation Take Action Events Current Campaigns Issues Resources Careers Get Trained United Students Familias Unidas Civic Engagement Brothers Sons Selves (BSS) Our Impact Victories In the News Publications Press Releases About Us Our Story Purpose & Vision Partners Building Permanence in the Eastside Contact Us Firekeepers of Justice Victories We’re proud that after more than twenty-five years of organizing in the Eastside, our parents, youth and residents have achieved positive changes in our schools and community. It’s through the participation of hundreds of leaders and thousands of activists, uniting under one vision and one voice that we’re achieving progress. Reallocation of millions of dollars to Eastside schools. Equity is Justice in 2014 and 2018 : As a member of the Equity Alliance for LA’s Kids , InnerCity Struggle secured the historic Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) “Equity is Justice” resolution , allocating millions of state funds called Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) dollars to the highest need schools in 2014. This landmark victory was the first time the School Board agreed to allocate state funding based on need and acknowledged inequitable schooling, neighborhood and student experiences. We also won a second commitment in 2018 to strengthen the definition of “highest-need” and “high-need” schools through the district’s adoption of the “Equity is Justice 2.0” resolution. Eastside students reach historic college-readiness rates. Equal Access to College Prep Classes in 2005 to 2015 : In 2004, we took the controversial stance that all students should be college-ready. As part of a citywide coalition, InnerCity Struggle won the cornerstone “A-G Life Prep” policy in 2005 which mandates college-prep courses for all LAUSD students as a high school graduation requirement. In response to opposition forces calling for the elimination of the mandate at the ten-year anniversary , InnerCity Struggle successfully reaffirmed the district’s commitment to college-prep for all with the historic “Equity in A-G” resolution. The 2015 policy invested $31 million in academic supports for college prep completion over two years. The culmination of this work is the historic 74% A-G readiness graduation rate for the LAUSD Class of 2016. As for the Eastside specifically, the aggregate LAUSD graduation rate for Eastside high schools in 2005 stood at 44% without A-G college courses required. In 2016, it reached a historic 80% with A-G requirements. Permanent Renter Protections LA County Renters Victory in 2019: With the Unincorporated Tenants United (UTU) Coalition, InnerCity Struggle helped secure a permanent rent stabilization ordinance from the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors that protects more than 400,000 residents from evictions without “just cause” and more than 43,000 from rent increases that exceed 8% in unincorporated Los Angeles County. The victory marks the largest set of permanent rent protections for residents of unincorporated Los Angeles County history. Zero suspensions for ‘willful defiance’ at Eastside schools. School Climate Bill of Rights in 2013: For more than a decade, our student and parents leaders challenged the district’s zero tolerance policies that resulted in school-push out and poor academic performance. As a member of the Brothers, Sons, Selves coalition, we were the first community organizers to successfully ensure the elimination of “willful defiance” as grounds for suspensions in a California school district through the “School Climate Bill of Rights” win. As a result of our resolution, we soon saw dramatic decreases in suspensions, increases in average daily attendance and remarkable improvements in academic achievement. This landmark victory soon became a statewide and national model for breaking the school to prison pipeline. In 2019 with the Brothers, Sons, Selves (BSS) Coalition, InnerCity Struggle helped to win a statewide ban on “willful defiance” suspensions. New comprehensive wellness services for students and families. New Wellness Centers at Roosevelt and Mendez High Schools in 2016-17 : In partnership with School Board Member Monica Garcia, we secured $173 million for the Roosevelt High School modernization plan , integrating a 5,000 square foot wellness center to provide all members of the community with healthcare services. We also won a $7.4 million commitment to build a Wellness Center at Mendez High School, also an envisioned 5,000 square foot facility providing free or low-cost health care services to the community. A new elementary school, a new adult school and two new high schools for Eastside students. In 2002, our youth leaders surveyed more than 3,000 of their classmates to identify the most pressing issues impacting Garfield and Roosevelt high schools. Overwhelmingly, students identified the main problem to be overcrowding. After conducting extensive research, our leaders discovered it had been more than 80 years since the district had built any new schools in the Eastside. In 2004, the LAUSD School Board voted in favor of InnerCity Struggle’s campaign to build three new high schools, one new elementary school and a new adult school. InnerCity Struggle InnerCity Struggle is a 501(c)(3) organization and does not support or oppose political parties or candidates for public office. TAKE ACTION GET TRAINED OUR LEADERS OUR IMPACT ABOUT US 3467 Whittier Boulevard., Los Angeles, CA 90023 (323) 780-7605 [email protected] In honor of Elizabeth "Betita" Martinez. © 2019 InnerCity Struggle  - Login Created with NationBuilder Brothers Sons Selves (BSS) - InnerCity Struggle Donate Toggle navigation Take Action Events Current Campaigns Issues Resources Careers Get Trained United Students Familias Unidas Civic Engagement Brothers Sons Selves (BSS) Our Impact Victories In the News Publications Press Releases About Us Our Story Purpose & Vision Partners Building Permanence in the Eastside Contact Us Firekeepers of Justice Empowering Bois/Boys & Men of Color Too many young bois/boys of color are being pushed out of schools and into prisons. We say, enough is enough. We’re calling on all young bois/boys of color to join us. It’s time to eliminate the school-to-prison pipeline and demand a system that supports all youth to succeed. Our Mission The Brothers, Sons, Selves (BSS) coalition is a group of ten community-based organizations across Los Angeles and Long Beach. Our mission is to end the criminalization of young bois/boys and men of color by creating and influencing public policy that invests in young people and their future. VISIT THE BROTHERS, SONS, SELVES WEBPAGE FOR MORE INFORMATION Social Media Back to the top InnerCity Struggle InnerCity Struggle is a 501(c)(3) organization and does not support or oppose political parties or candidates for public office. TAKE ACTION GET TRAINED OUR LEADERS OUR IMPACT ABOUT US 3467 Whittier Boulevard., Los Angeles, CA 90023 (323) 780-7605 [email protected] In honor of Elizabeth "Betita" Martinez. © 2019 InnerCity Struggle  - Login Created with NationBuilder Issues - InnerCity Struggle Donate Toggle navigation Take Action Events Current Campaigns Issues Resources Careers Get Trained United Students Familias Unidas Civic Engagement Brothers Sons Selves (BSS) Our Impact Victories In the News Publications Press Releases About Us Our Story Purpose & Vision Partners Building Permanence in the Eastside Contact Us Firekeepers of Justice Issues At InnerCity Struggle, we believe everyone deserves to live in a safe, healthy and thriving neighborhood. When we began organizing in 1994, our Eastside residents identified a myriad of urgent concerns affecting their lives: gang violence, under-resourced schools, poor economic prospects and a lack of access to adequate health care. As we began our journey to fight for a stronger Eastside, our residents and youth identified public education as the most pressing issue. After many years on the frontlines of public education reform, significant victories under our belt, our residents knew that if we wanted to transform our neighborhoods, we needed to become a multi-issue organization. Since then, we’ve joined state-wide coalitions to build a stronger democracy, and are beginning our work advancing justice in community development. EDUCATION JUSTICE DEMOCRACY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT InnerCity Struggle InnerCity Struggle is a 501(c)(3) organization and does not support or oppose political parties or candidates for public office. TAKE ACTION GET TRAINED OUR LEADERS OUR IMPACT ABOUT US 3467 Whittier Boulevard., Los Angeles, CA 90023 (323) 780-7605 [email protected] In honor of Elizabeth "Betita" Martinez. © 2019 InnerCity Struggle  - Login Created with NationBuilder Press Releases - InnerCity Struggle v2 Donate Toggle navigation Take Action Events Current Campaigns Issues Resources Careers Get Trained United Students Familias Unidas Civic Engagement Brothers Sons Selves (BSS) Our Impact Victories In the News Publications Press Releases About Us Our Story Purpose & Vision Partners Building Permanence in the Eastside Contact Us Firekeepers of Justice Despite the recall’s failure, community unites for a prosperous CD 14 without KDL By jonathan perez · April 07, 2023 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: Esthefanie Solano - [email protected] Julio Esperias - [email protected] The recall attempt against Councilmember Kevin De Leon failing does not mean his constituents will settle for his self-serving, - opportunistic ways, the work to elect responsible accountable leadership is not over. As Black, Indigenous, Asian, and Latine CD 14 residents and leaders, we remain rooted in the fact that we cannot build a safe and prosperous Eastside, or Los Angeles for ALL as long as Kevin De Leon remains in office. "Kevin de Leon's backroom dealings to diminish the power of Black communities, renters, working-class families, and Indigenous communities as well as his continued refusal to resign despite months of calls from many within his district, the City, and the Country at large shows us that he cannot be trusted to lead, let alone to help our city heal and move forward," said Janette Robinson Flint, Executive Director at Black Women for Wellness. "Angelenos are well past ready for representatives who champion racial justice, and we'll do what's necessary to hold accountable those who don't - namely de Leon." Read more Share InnerCity Struggle InnerCity Struggle is a 501(c)(3) organization and does not support or oppose political parties or candidates for public office. TAKE ACTION GET TRAINED OUR LEADERS OUR IMPACT ABOUT US 3467 Whittier Boulevard., Los Angeles, CA 90023 (323) 780-7605 [email protected] In honor of Elizabeth "Betita" Martinez. © 2019 InnerCity Struggle  - Login Created with NationBuilder Our Impact - InnerCity Struggle Donate Toggle navigation Take Action Events Current Campaigns Issues Resources Careers Get Trained United Students Familias Unidas Civic Engagement Brothers Sons Selves (BSS) Our Impact Victories In the News Publications Press Releases About Us Our Story Purpose & Vision Partners Building Permanence in the Eastside Contact Us Firekeepers of Justice InnerCity Struggle InnerCity Struggle is a 501(c)(3) organization and does not support or oppose political parties or candidates for public office. TAKE ACTION GET TRAINED OUR LEADERS OUR IMPACT ABOUT US 3467 Whittier Boulevard., Los Angeles, CA 90023 (323) 780-7605 [email protected] In honor of Elizabeth "Betita" Martinez. © 2019 InnerCity Struggle  - Login Created with NationBuilder Get Trained - InnerCity Struggle Donate Toggle navigation Take Action Events Current Campaigns Issues Resources Careers Get Trained United Students Familias Unidas Civic Engagement Brothers Sons Selves (BSS) Our Impact Victories In the News Publications Press Releases About Us Our Story Purpose & Vision Partners Building Permanence in the Eastside Contact Us Firekeepers of Justice OUR DEMOCRACY IS IN YOUR HANDS InnerCity Struggle InnerCity Struggle is a 501(c)(3) organization and does not support or oppose political parties or candidates for public office. TAKE ACTION GET TRAINED OUR LEADERS OUR IMPACT ABOUT US 3467 Whittier Boulevard., Los Angeles, CA 90023 (323) 780-7605 [email protected] In honor of Elizabeth "Betita" Martinez. © 2019 InnerCity Struggle  - Login Created with NationBuilder