Community Coalition (Los Angeles)

Community Coalition (Los Angeles)
Name	Community Coalition
Formation	1990
Founder	Ted Hayes
Type	Nonprofit
Headquarters	South Los Angeles, California
Region served	Los Angeles County
Leader title	Executive Director
Leader name	Eric Mann (formerly); currently Omarosa?

Community Coalition (Los Angeles) is a South Los Angeles nonprofit advocacy group founded in 1990 focused on neighborhood revitalization, civic engagement, and policy reform. The organization has worked on issues including criminal justice reform, public safety, housing, health access, and voter mobilization across neighborhoods such as Watts, Compton, and South Central. Its activities intersect with local elected bodies, civil rights groups, faith organizations, labor unions, and academic institutions.

History

Founded in 1990 during the aftermath of the 1992 Los Angeles riots, the organization emerged amid efforts by leaders associated with the Black Panther Party, Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and community activists from South Los Angeles and Watts. Early years involved collaborations with figures linked to Tom Bradley, Maxine Waters, Diane Watson, and grassroots movements inspired by the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. The group built coalitions including members from United Way of Greater Los Angeles, LAUSD parent councils, and faith leaders connected to Reverend Cecil Murray and Imam Abdul Haleem. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s it engaged in campaigns that put it in contact with agencies such as the Los Angeles Police Department, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, and advocacy organizations like NAACP, ACLU, Mothers Against Police Brutality, and Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles.

Mission and Programs

The stated mission emphasizes reducing violence, increasing civic participation, and improving neighborhood conditions through programs in public safety, economic development, and youth engagement. Programs have targeted collaborations with Los Angeles Unified School District, partnerships with workforce initiatives such as Job Corps and LA Economic and Workforce Development Department, and health campaigns with institutions like Children's Hospital Los Angeles and California Department of Public Health. Voter registration drives connected the group to events around California Proposition 47 (2014), Proposition 57 (2016), and municipal ballot measures in Los Angeles County. Youth programs often intersected with arts partners like Watts Towers Arts Center and community college systems including Los Angeles Trade–Technical College and El Camino College.

Organizational Structure and Leadership

The organization has maintained a board-based nonprofit governance with community leaders, clergy, and activists drawn from neighborhoods including Inglewood, South Gate, and Compton. Founding leadership included activists connected to national figures such as Jesse Jackson and local leaders with roots in community organizing traditions associated with Chicano Movement allies and union organizers from SEIU and United Teachers Los Angeles. Over time, leadership transitions involved negotiations with funders like California Endowment and philanthropic entities including Ford Foundation and Open Society Foundations-aligned grantmakers. The group has partnered with legal teams from firms that have worked with ACLU and Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles on policy advocacy.

Political and Community Impact

The organization influenced policing reforms, juvenile justice policy, and local zoning decisions via campaigns engaging the Los Angeles City Council, Los Angeles County Sheriff, and county offices tied to supervisors such as Yvonne Brathwaite Burke and Zev Yaroslavsky. It participated in coalitions alongside Drug Policy Alliance, Voto Latino, and League of United Latin American Citizens on ballot measures affecting sentencing and reentry. Community-led campaigns pressured institutions like Walmart and Kaiser Permanente on local hiring and clinic placement, coordinated with labor allies including UNITE HERE and American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. The group also mobilized around federal issues with advocacy related to agencies such as the Department of Justice and congressional delegations including Barbara Lee and Adam Schiff.

Funding and Partnerships

Funding streams included grants and donations from foundations such as California Endowment, Ford Foundation, Open Society Foundations, Annenberg Foundation, and local businesses. Partnerships involved collaborations with educational institutions like University of California, Los Angeles, University of Southern California, and community colleges for research and program evaluation, plus joint efforts with nonprofits such as LA Voice, InnerCity Struggle, Esperanza Community Housing Corporation, and United Way of Greater Los Angeles. Public contracts with entities like Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health and workforce funding from the California Workforce Development Board supplemented philanthropic support.

Criticisms and Controversies

The organization faced critiques over political endorsements, alleged ties to ballot measure campaigns, and transparency regarding grant reporting, drawing scrutiny from local media outlets including the Los Angeles Times, LA Weekly, and conservative commentators connected to National Review-aligned networks. Disputes arose with some community groups and clergy over stances on policing and development projects, producing tensions with neighborhoods represented by politicians such as Antonio Villaraigosa and activists associated with Black Lives Matter Los Angeles. Investigations and audits linked to county contracting practices prompted debates involving the California Fair Political Practices Commission and nonprofit watchdogs like GuideStar.

Category:Non-profit organizations based in Los Angeles