Fighting for Justice but 
Forgetting the Poor

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Together with the L.A. Community Action Network, the Library presented a dynamic community dialogue, “Fighting for Justice but Forgetting the Poor,” on Wednesday, May 25, 2005, as part of our “Generations” South L.A. community history project. Community storytellers shared their experiences about working to improve conditions in the community while experiencing poverty and homelessness. Those attending had the opportunity to participate in a discussion afterwards.

About 45–50 people attended, including local residents and members of community-based organizations. The event previewed on KPFK’s Uprising morning show with Library Director Yusef Omowale and representatives from L.A. CAN beginning the dialogue about how issues of class and poverty are often overlooked in the progressive agenda for change. The event brought up issues of people being displaced from South L.A. to downtown and pushed back again by gentrification and explored the broader question of how to include the poorest in long-term strategies for change.

Presented by the Southern California Library and the L.A. Community Action Network with support from the California Council for the Humanities, the California Community Foundation, and the Diane Middleton Foundation.

Download a flyer or read the press release.