As a native of Mississippi, I often think of the famous words of Ms. Fannie Lou Hamer: “I am sick and tired of being sick and tired.” Twenty-five years ago, a predominantly white jury acquitted the California Highway Patrol officers involved in the brutal beating of Rodney King─an act of police violence that was caught…
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A Grassroots-Led Vision for Equitable Climate Investments in South Los Angeles
In September 2016, SCOPE celebrated the passage of three key climate policy wins that extended California’s climate change goals, increased transparency at the agency overseeing air quality, and increased targeted climate investments for low-income communities, including the creation of the new Transformative Climate Communities Program (TCC). These wins demonstrate the power of environmental justice communities…
Continue ReadingCivic Engagement
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT For more than 20 years, SCOPE has fought for new job creation models in Los Angeles. However, there’s a critical need for everyone to pay their fair share of taxes so that those programs can become a reality, and government can do its job to meet our community’s needs. Providing quality education, public…
Continue ReadingYouth Voter Engagement in South Los Angeles
Youth Voter Engagement in South Los Angeles At SCOPE, our members’ experiences attest to the power of a peer-to-peer civic engagement model and to the importance of sustaining those relationships beyond election cycles. We know that daily engagement with friends, family, neighbors and elected officials builds community power to win campaigns that benefit South Los…
Continue ReadingSCOPE Members Share Personal Journeys Toward Political Activism
What makes someone get involved in their community? To fight that feeling that it doesn’t matter? Not just during election season, but every day, how do communities come together to solve problems? SCOPE members Patricia and Sirenia share their personal journeys towards political activism and what keeps them motivated to continue their work on…
Continue ReadingThe State of Oral Healthcare in South Los Angeles
Over our history, SCOPE has built workforce training pipelines into growing industries or sectors, including film, in-home care, and energy efficiency and green jobs. While expanding access to oral health care has been a part of SCOPE’s health and wellness work, it has not yet been a part of our workforce campaigns. When SCOPE decided…
Continue ReadingPassage of State Climate Bills, A Win for Equity and Justice
In the final hours of the last day of the California legislative session, lawmakers sent multiple pieces of climate and environmental justice legislation to the Governor’s desk, creating a new center of gravity around communities most impacted by pollution and poverty. These hard fought wins are a direct result of the leadership, power and organized…
Continue ReadingA Message to our Volunteers
During the month of May and early June, we reached out to you, our supporters and membership, asking for your support and time to engage South LA voters. That’s why we’re excited to share the results from our first AGENDA Action voter engagement program. While it’s a critical presidential election year, a lot is at…
Continue ReadingVolunteer to Door Knock with SCOPE
This year, SCOPE has a goal of contacting more than 50,000 voters–but we can’t achieve this without the help of SCOPE members, community residents, students, and our allies. That is why we are reaching out to ask that you volunteer this Saturday morning with us to help Get Out The Vote in South Los Angeles.…
Continue ReadingProp 47 Savings Undermined by Miscalculations
As state budget negotiations approach the June 15 deadline, community groups across California are mobilizing to make their voices heard. On Thursday, April 7, SCOPE members Taqwa Bowie, Carolyn Riley, Deborah Holt Bell, and I accompanied Californians United for a Responsible Budget (CURB) to Sacramento to participate in a lobby day and hearing for Budget…
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