Labor/Community Strategy Center

Labor/Community Strategy Center is a Los Angeles-based non-profit organization that focuses on social justice and community organizing, working closely with African American and Latino communities, as well as labor unions such as the Service Employees International Union and the United Teachers Los Angeles. The organization was founded in 1989 by Eric Mann, a long-time civil rights activist and former member of the Students for a Democratic Society and the Congress of Racial Equality. The Labor/Community Strategy Center has collaborated with various organizations, including the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the American Civil Liberties Union, and the Sierra Club, to promote environmental justice and human rights.

● Overview

The Labor/Community Strategy Center is a unique organization that combines community organizing and labor union activism to address issues such as police brutality, environmental racism, and economic inequality. The organization works closely with community leaders and activists from various backgrounds, including African American and Latino communities, to develop and implement strategies for social change. The Labor/Community Strategy Center has also partnered with academic institutions such as the University of California, Los Angeles and the University of Southern California to conduct research and policy analysis on issues related to social justice and human rights. Additionally, the organization has collaborated with international organizations such as the United Nations and the International Labor Organization to promote global justice and human rights.

● History

The Labor/Community Strategy Center was founded in 1989 by Eric Mann, a veteran civil rights activist who had previously worked with organizations such as the Congress of Racial Equality and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. In the 1990s, the organization played a key role in the Los Angeles Bus Riders Union campaign, which aimed to improve public transportation in Los Angeles and reduce air pollution in low-income communities. The organization has also been involved in various other campaigns and initiatives over the years, including the Fight for $15 movement and the Black Lives Matter movement, working closely with organizations such as the National Organization for Women and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. The Labor/Community Strategy Center has also partnered with community organizations such as the South Central Farmers and the East Yard Communities for Environmental Justice to promote environmental justice and community development.

● Mission_and_Objectives

The mission of the Labor/Community Strategy Center is to build a social movement that addresses the intersectional issues of race, class, and gender, and promotes social justice and human rights for all communities. The organization's objectives include building community power and labor union strength, promoting environmental justice and sustainable development, and challenging systemic racism and oppression. The Labor/Community Strategy Center also aims to develop and implement policy initiatives that address issues such as affordable housing, healthcare access, and education reform, working closely with organizations such as the National Education Association and the American Medical Association. Additionally, the organization seeks to build coalitions and alliances with other social justice organizations and community groups to promote collective action and social change.

● Programs_and_Initiatives

The Labor/Community Strategy Center has developed a range of programs and initiatives to address issues such as police brutality, environmental racism, and economic inequality. The organization's Bus Riders Union program, for example, works to improve public transportation in Los Angeles and reduce air pollution in low-income communities, partnering with organizations such as the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the California Air Resources Board. The organization's Community Rights program, on the other hand, provides training and technical assistance to community groups and labor unions on issues such as collective bargaining and policy advocacy, working closely with organizations such as the AFL-CIO and the National Labor Relations Board. The Labor/Community Strategy Center has also launched initiatives such as the Strategy Center Press, which publishes books and reports on issues related to social justice and human rights, and the Voices from the Frontlines podcast, which features interviews with community leaders and activists from around the world, including Angela Davis and Cornel West.

● Notable_Campaigns_and_Achievements

The Labor/Community Strategy Center has been involved in a number of notable campaigns and initiatives over the years, including the Los Angeles Bus Riders Union campaign, which resulted in a federal court ruling that the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority must improve public transportation in Los Angeles and reduce air pollution in low-income communities. The organization has also played a key role in the Fight for $15 movement, working closely with organizations such as the Service Employees International Union and the National Employment Law Project. Additionally, the Labor/Community Strategy Center has been involved in various environmental justice campaigns, including the Exxon Valdez oil spill lawsuit and the Standing Rock Dakota Access Pipeline protests, partnering with organizations such as the Sierra Club and the Natural Resources Defense Council. The organization has also received numerous awards and recognition for its work, including the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People's Thurgood Marshall award and the American Civil Liberties Union's Roger Baldwin award.

● Leadership_and_Partnerships

The Labor/Community Strategy Center is led by Eric Mann, a veteran civil rights activist and community organizer. The organization has also partnered with a range of other social justice organizations and community groups, including the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the American Civil Liberties Union, and the Sierra Club. The Labor/Community Strategy Center has also collaborated with academic institutions such as the University of California, Los Angeles and the University of Southern California to conduct research and policy analysis on issues related to social justice and human rights. Additionally, the organization has worked with international organizations such as the United Nations and the International Labor Organization to promote global justice and human rights, partnering with organizations such as the Human Rights Watch and the Amnesty International. The Labor/Community Strategy Center has also received support from foundations such as the Ford Foundation and the Rockefeller Foundation, as well as from individual donors such as George Soros and Warren Buffett.

Category:Social justice organizations