Our Mission - To seek equity for the Latino Community and its stakeholders by unifying the community and political leaders through advocacy, intentional action, and implementation of the Latino Equity Five-point Plan.
How we got here...
Background:
In July of 2020, Mayor Garcetti convened a group of Latino City Commissioners so that he could provide them with updates on his work for the Latino Community. The group shared a passion for advancing policy that is critical to the well-being of the Latino Community and established a steering committee which evolved into the Los Angeles Latino Equity and Diversity Initiative (LALEADI)
Latinos must hold positions at the City’s highest levels to advocate for our community strategically and effectively. This initiative intends to ensure that the City of Los Angeles provides the Latino community with fair and equitable services.
We have come together to develop a Latino Equity Five-Point Plan based on the city's infrastructure to advocate around principles that will seek proportional representation:
· Work towards equitable distribution of public investments
· Accountability and Measurable Impact
· Acknowledgement of the history of Latino people (US-born and immigrant)
· Coalition-building with the intention of collective action
· Identify and highlight the challenges Latinos face every day and often are ignored
What we found
Rec & Parks, Libraries & Fire/Polic
The following chart identifies the city budget and its designations. As the City comes out of the pandemic and starts to generate more tax base, you can see from the pie chart that 70% of the city’s budget is for Fire/Police, leaving public resource slim for Rec & Parks, Libraries and Public Works all of which benefit the 4 million constituents living in Los Angeles. More needs to be done to change the paradigm.
Budget
Police 53.8 %
Fire 16.5 %
Public Works 7.7 %
Other 8.2 %
Recreation and Parks 6.1 %
Library 4.6%
City Attorney 3.1 %
Unrestricted Revenues are 51.07 % of the City Budget. Restricted Revenues (48.93 %) include those from grants, fee supported and reimbursed programs, and special funds
What we do
Equitable Equity
Our core initiatives encompass the following:
- Advocacy: We strive to be a strong voice for the Latino community by actively advocating for policies and reforms that advance equity and opportunity. We collaborate with legislators, organizations, and community members to ensure that the needs and concerns of Latinos are effectively addressed.
- Voter Education: We firmly believe that informed voters drive positive change. Thus, we conduct extensive voter education campaigns to empower Latinos with the knowledge and resources necessary to participate actively in the democratic process. Through workshops, informational materials, and community events, we aim to increase voter turnout and political engagement within the Latino community.
- Closing the Latino Pay Gap: LEI is dedicated to exposing and rectifying the disparities in wages and employment faced by Latinos. We work to raise awareness of the Latino pay gap through research, outreach, and public awareness campaigns. By advocating for fair and equal compensation practices, we aim to promote economic stability and upward mobility for Latino individuals and families.
- Contract Opportunities for Latinos: We recognize the lack of contract opportunities available to Latinos and actively promote equitable access to procurement processes. We collaborate with businesses, government agencies, and community organizations to advocate for fair contracting practices that increase opportunities for Latino-owned enterprises. Our goal is to foster economic growth and entrepreneurship within the Latino community.
- Latino Decision-Making Positions and Student Retention Programs: We emphasize the importance of Latino representation in decision-making positions across various sectors, including politics, education, and corporate leadership. LEI advocates for policies and programs that promote diversity and inclusion, aiming to create environments where Latinos can thrive and contribute their unique perspectives. Additionally, we support initiatives that focus on retaining and empowering Latino students, ensuring they have access to quality education and opportunities for personal and professional growth.
Through our collective efforts, we envision a future where Latinos have equal rights, access to opportunities, and are fully represented at all levels of society.
