LA Black Leaders Unite for Policy Change

Get ready, Los Angeles! A powerful new force has emerged with the launch of the Greater Los Angeles Black Leaders Collective (GLABLC). This coalition brings together prominent Black leaders, organizations, and advocates with a singular mission: to drive meaningful policy change and ensure equitable access to resources and economic opportunities for Black communities across the region.

A Unified Front for Systemic Impact

The GLABLC isn’t just another partnership; it’s a unified front focused on long-term, systemic impact. The collective’s governing members include influential figures like Dr. Robert Sausedo of Community Build, Inc.; Angela Gibson-Shaw of the Greater Los Angeles African American Chamber of Commerce; Jason Foster of Destination Crenshaw; Cynthia Mitchell-Heard of the Los Angeles Urban League; and Sarah R. Harris of the Black Business Association, who also chairs the collective.

Cynthia Mitchell-Heard emphasized the collective’s commitment to action, stating, “This is not just about collaboration, this is about bridging capital, access to capital, this is about advocacy, and this is about bringing entities together and not just be about the talk, but be about the action of the community.” Sarah Harris echoed this sentiment, highlighting their intention to serve as a strategic umbrella for the community, leveraging influence, resources, and data to create more opportunities.

Guiding Values and Key Priorities

During its public rollout at Chase Bank’s Community Room on Crenshaw Boulevard, the GLABLC outlined its core values: equity, accountability, cultural integrity, and sustainability. These principles will guide their work as they focus on several key priorities. These include enhancing economic mobility, providing direct relief, advocating for policy change, transforming existing practices, and ensuring measurable community impact.

Jason Foster framed the collective’s formation as a crucial response to the evolving political landscape, particularly concerning diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). He stressed that the community can expect a unifying voice that ensures efforts for systemic change continue, especially in the face of current challenges to DEI initiatives.

Addressing Immediate Needs and Future Events

The GLABLC is already mapping out concrete initiatives. Gibson-Shaw mentioned that their initial focus includes addressing wildfire recovery efforts and preparing neighborhoods for major economic events, such as the upcoming Los Angeles Global Games. Mitchell-Heard pointed out that the gaps in resource access highlighted after recent disasters, particularly in areas like Altadena, underscored the urgent need for unified leadership.

Dr. Robert Sausedo summarized the collective’s vision succinctly: “It means that our leadership has come together to be on a single platform to do greater good.” This unified approach aims to amplify the impact of individual organizations and ensure that resources and support effectively reach those who need them most.