Community Newsletter – September 2020

A project by LACE’s Getty Marrow Interns.

Welcome to our monthly community newsletter! One of the ways that LACE is committing to actively supporting efforts to uproot white supremacy and empower our communities is by sending out monthly community newsletters that intend to:

Boost ongoing grassroots community efforts from micro-organizations throughout the LA area.
Collaborate and engage with our community through arts and activism.
Share important information and dialogue on anti-racism, abolition, and transformative justice.

Since 1978, LACE has been an advocate of social and political movements within Los Angeles and the rest of the world. We have not been idle to these movements and histories. Given our core values and consistent nurturing of social change, we felt that it is imperative to use our platform to share resources and information as well as continue and begin conversations about the current social, political, and environmental climate we are living in.

This month’s keyword: Mutual Aid

Mutual Aid is a voluntary reciprocal exchange of resources and services for mutual benefit. Mutual aid projects are a form of political participation in which people take responsibility for caring for one another and changing political conditions.

What is currently impacting our communities?

Heatwaves / Fires

Following the triple digit temperatures of the scorching summer heat, fires have engulfed the west coast, resulting in toxic and unbreathable air quality levels. As we have seen from our windows over the past month, climate change is directly impacting our daily lives, and is severely damaging to the health of farmworkers across California who package the food on our tables. Temperatures and conditions for our houseless neighbors are dangerous, not to mention the huge increase in houseless individuals and families since last year. It is important to stay informed about the current reality of climate change and how it is related to settler colonialism. Every degree of global warming matters. The action we take over the next decade will be crucial in mitigating the worst impacts of climate change. (Read more)

Food Insecurity

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the most vulnerable in our communities. Initial responses to the spread of COVID-19 has included panic buying to stock up on food staples and other supplies, including toilet paper, hand sanitizer, and cleaning supplies. Low income individuals are disadvantaged in such an environment: many struggle to afford what they need for the immediate future, much less large shopping purchases to prepare for a quarantine. (Read more)

Police Violence

Over the last few days, peaceful protests in Los Angeles that are continuing to demand justice for Black lives and Black communities against white supremacy and state-sanctioned violence have been met with violent and excessive uses of force from our city’s police department (pepper balls, stinger grenades, rubber bullets, tear gas). Multiple non-violent protesters, reporters and street medics have been arrested. Black Unity encampments that were created for the sake of hosting open forums, training sessions, and community gardens across from LA City Hall since June 2020 have been raided and destroyed by police officers. (Read more)

What can we do?

Follow Mutual Aid Initiatives

Mutual Aid Hub – An online directory that highlight the work of mutual aid organizers around the country, and to facilitate connections and shared strategies in this growing movement of community support.
Mutual Aid Network LA – A grassroots community initiative organizing mutual aid in the LA community in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Free Free LA – LA community member initiative of distributing essential items to 8 encampments throughout LA, provided clothing to families and individuals in transition into housing, and distribute direct financial relief to houseless people and others in need.

Support Smaller Grassroots Organizations

SB Community Care: South Bay community care collective
WhittierFor: Black & Brown led social justice committed to grassroots community support and social action.
Valley of Change: Organization dedicated to defending and liberating BIPOC communities through advocating for policy solutions, community representation, and widespread education
Lynwood4RadicalChange: Youth led organization for radical change & fighting to bring justice through an anti-capitalist framework for Lynwood residents.
Downey Resistance: Youth led abolitionist organization seeking radical change in the city of Downey and throughout South East Los Angeles

Maintain Community Fridges

In the past month, community fridges have been popping up in several communities in the Greater Los Angeles Area. These locations include:

Arlington Heights
Boyle Heights
Eagle Rock
East Hollywood
Exposition Park
Hawthorne
Leimert Park
Lincoln Heights
Mid City (2)
Orange County
South Arts District
South Central (2)
Valley
West Covina
Westlake
Westwood
Whittier