History
In 1989 addiction to and trafficking of crack cocaine transformed the character of many South Los Angeles neighborhoods. Neighborhood problems that arose with the crack epidemic were specific types of crime and violence related to trafficking and addiction, e.g., prostitution, crack houses, etc. As poor individuals sought employment in the drug industry, the accompanying violence regularly affected innocent bystanders, and mass police sweeps was the response from city officials. Local progressive activists lacked the power and influence to challenge this repressive response to drug related community problems.
In 1990, several activists with histories of involvement in a number of issues affecting South Los Angeles formed the Community Coalition after a two-day conference called “Crack: Crisis in the African American Community.” While the activists recognized numerous community problems needed attention, the depth of the problems caused by drugs could no longer be ignored. However, to truly break the myriad of inner city problems the reversal of numerous national policies is required. A large-scale movement similar to the civil rights movement is needed to bring about the type of pressure needed to reverse national policy. Coalition members and staff look to the ten-year period before the civil right movement for lessons, examples, and models of the type organizing needed to build such a movement. The Community Coalition works to be a stable progressive institution capable of contributing trained leaders to help build the next large movement for social and economic justice.
A beginning goal of the Coalition was to shift the local drug policy agenda away from law enforcement toward a comprehensive approach that included addressing social and economic inequity. Coalition members and staff believe the primary reasons’ individuals succumb to addiction is to medicate themselves from pain resulting from psychological, emotional, economic or other social problems. Racism and poverty are examples of social and economic problems that contribute to the hopelessness sometimes medicated with drugs and alcohol. The original mission called for organizing neighborhoods, youth and social service agencies to address the sense of hopelessness and disenfranchisement widely felt in South Los Angeles.
Historically, decisions have been made about South LA by the public and private sectors with little or no participation by the people most effected. When policy and decisions are considered regarding South LA the balance of power has to be shifted in the direction of the people residing in the area. To systematically build the power needed for this type of shift, Coalition members develop strategies and time limited action campaigns. The purpose of action campaign is to win implementation of specific policy goals, recruit new members and provide leadership training and experience for existing members. Succeeding in winning immediate change is a concrete method of combating the hopelessness that often overwhelms people in South LA and contributes toward sustaining involvement.
In addition to affecting immediate change utilizing a community organizing approach provides a vehicle from which to prepare large numbers of people to participate in further social change efforts. All of the Coalition’s projects utilize this method of action oriented community problem solving. Building an institution capable of recruiting, involving, training, and sustaining a large number of people is a method of preparing South LA to participate in a future mass movement for social change.
In 1989 addiction to and trafficking of crack cocaine transformed the character of many South Los Angeles neighborhoods. Neighborhood problems that arose with the crack epidemic were specific types of crime and violence related to trafficking and addiction, e.g., prostitution, crack houses, etc. As poor individuals sought employment in the drug industry, the accompanying violence regularly affected innocent bystanders, and mass police sweeps was the response from city officials. Local progressive activists lacked the power and influence to challenge this repressive response to drug related community problems.
In 1990, several activists with histories of involvement in a number of issues affecting South Los Angeles formed the Community Coalition after a two-day conference called “Crack: Crisis in the African American Community.” While the activists recognized numerous community problems needed attention, the depth of the problems caused by drugs could no longer be ignored. However, to truly break the myriad of inner city problems the reversal of numerous national policies is required. A large-scale movement similar to the civil rights movement is needed to bring about the type of pressure needed to reverse national policy. Coalition members and staff look to the ten-year period before the civil right movement for lessons, examples, and models of the type organizing needed to build such a movement. The Community Coalition works to be a stable progressive institution capable of contributing trained leaders to help build the next large movement for social and economic justice.
A beginning goal of the Coalition was to shift the local drug policy agenda away from law enforcement toward a comprehensive approach that included addressing social and economic inequity. Coalition members and staff believe the primary reasons’ individuals succumb to addiction is to medicate themselves from pain resulting from psychological, emotional, economic or other social problems. Racism and poverty are examples of social and economic problems that contribute to the hopelessness sometimes medicated with drugs and alcohol. The original mission called for organizing neighborhoods, youth and social service agencies to address the sense of hopelessness and disenfranchisement widely felt in South Los Angeles.
Historically, decisions have been made about South LA by the public and private sectors with little or no participation by the people most effected. When policy and decisions are considered regarding South LA the balance of power has to be shifted in the direction of the people residing in the area. To systematically build the power needed for this type of shift, Coalition members develop strategies and time limited action campaigns. The purpose of action campaign is to win implementation of specific policy goals, recruit new members and provide leadership training and experience for existing members. Succeeding in winning immediate change is a concrete method of combating the hopelessness that often overwhelms people in South LA and contributes toward sustaining involvement.
In addition to affecting immediate change utilizing a community organizing approach provides a vehicle from which to prepare large numbers of people to participate in further social change efforts. All of the Coalition’s projects utilize this method of action oriented community problem solving. Building an institution capable of recruiting, involving, training, and sustaining a large number of people is a method of preparing South LA to participate in a future mass movement for social change.
