Community Coalition

Community Coalition is a non-profit social justice organization working towards changing the social and economic conditions that foster addiction, crime and violence in South LA. For nearly 20 years, the Coalition has been bringing African American and Latino residents together to improve the quality of life in South LA.

Community leaders, including current California Assembly Speaker, Karen Bass, founded Community Coalition as a non-profit organization in 1990 in response to the 1980's crack cocaine epidemic that devastated South LA. The goal was to provide preventative community-centered solutions to the drug problem.

Community Coalition works with African American and Latino residents to build a prosperous and healthy South LA with safe neighborhoods, quality schools, a strong social safety net and positive economic development in order to reduce crime, poverty and substance abuse in our community.

How We Have Made A Difference:

* 2008--won City support to pass the Nuisance Abatement Ordinance that will give residents more power over irresponsible businesses.
* 2008--developed the innovative ACE Academy at Locke High School where, starting in the fall of 2009, students will be prepared for high-skilled, high-wage jobs in Architecture, Construction and Engineering.
* 2007--won over $350 million for South LA schools to reduce overcrowding and bring in more counselors.
* 2006--won over $82 million in state money for foster care reform, including $36 million for relative caregivers to keep families together.
* 2005--won the A-G resolution that brought college opportunities to thousands of South LA students.
* Won over $153 million to repair neglected schools in South LA.
* Closed down over 200 liquor stores, motels and other nuisance businesses that foster crime and violence in South LA and converted several dozen others into positive businesses and non-profits.