$30,000 /2012, 2013
Los Angeles, California
Maria Brenes Executive Director
Website: www.innercitystruggle.org
Renewal grants of $30,000 in 2012 and 2013 will support InnerCity Struggle’s ongoing organizing efforts in six critical areas – college access, student dropouts/pushouts, discipline policies, family engagement, food justice, school funding/school redesign – that will move towards high quality, equitable education for students and help to transform the social and economic conditions for the majority Latino residents of East Los Angeles who are disproportionately impacted by lack of resources and quality learning. At the Esteban Torres High school, ICS has secured a space for a wellness center with 9 healthcare professionals and won a commitment toward restorative justice practices at Roosevelt and Mendez High Schools. InnerCity struggle has also collected petitions and increased awareness in support of California Assembly Bill AB420 which would restrict the use of “willful defiance” as an offense eligible for out of school suspension. ICS will continue to focus on full implementation of A-G Life Prep Resolution in Eastside schools, positioning Esteban Torres High School as a model community school, ending the punitive disciplinary procedures in Eastside high schools, achieving a 100% graduation rate at Mendez Learning Center and educating and mobilizing Eastside voters. InnerCity Struggle continues to have strong partnerships with UCLA’s Institute for Democracy, Education and Access, Cal State Los Angeles’ Social Work Program and California Calls for its electoral organizing work.