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We empower individuals to rise up, create change and help their communities thrive.

We empower individuals to rise up, create change and help their communities thrive.

Empowering Through Education

We use education as a tool to empower communities of color to unlock their ability to change their lives and the world around them.

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Creating Thriving Communities

We work to transform neighborhood conditions by improving the built environment and expanding access to resources that enable residents to be healthy and thrive.

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Changing Systems

We build power within our communities to mobilize residents so that they can identify and challenge systems of injustice and to advance policies that directly impact their lives.

“When I started, I didn’t know anything about plants. After learning in the garden, I now grow basil and tomatoes at my house, and I have mini compost collector.”

Nnedinma, Garden Volunteer & CSA Subscriber

Every week we harvest fresh produce for the local community from our network of 7 gardens in Inglewood and South LA.

 

“I'm proud of making it through high school, and having the opportunity to travel to Sacramento to advocate for bills that address problems impacting my community."

Ahmir Bates, Urban Scholars Alumnus ’18

 

Graduates from our Urban Scholars program have pursued further education at 32 campuses throughout the nation.

 

"I've learned that I have the power to mobilize my neighbors to advocate for policies that address the needs of our community."

Sara Santos, Member of the Uplift Inglewood Coalition

We anchor a growing coalition of residents, businesses, community and faith-based organizations working to advance housing justice in Inglewood.

 

News & Stories

Learn More
Learn more about how our organization began
Click to play video.

Our Mission

At the Social Justice Learning Institute, we are dedicated to improving the education, health, and well being of youth and communities of color by empowering them to enact social change through research, training, and community mobilization.

Core Values

  1. We privilege the ideas, voice, and leadership of our youth and community members.
  2. Everyone must be afforded equal opportunity in order to achieve equitable treatment.
  3. We do all things in love.
  4. No one is hopeless.

Our Vision

We envision communities where education empowers individuals to use their agency for the purpose of improving each other’s lives.

Our Goals

Our goals are simple. We work to:

  • Educate and empower youth and community members to identify and rectify injustice
  • Build capacity for individuals and communities to advocate for their needs.
  • Deliver effective programs, resources and support that help advance our mission
  • Train and build leaders.

Our Impact

1619 Total # of youth served through Urban Scholars:

312 Total # of Healthy Lifestyle Classes:

449 Total # of college campuses our graduates have enrolled in:

Policy Successes

103 Total # of Gardens Built:

103 Total lbs. of produce distributed:

Launched Inglewood’s 1st and only farmers’ market

Ending the school-to-prison pipeline

    • – Increased Restorative Justice funding in LAUSD

 

    • – Passed Prop 47 to reduce non-violent drug-related felonies to misdemeanors

 

    – Led a $90 million bond campaign to improve Inglewood schools

Promoting healthy food and beverage consumption

    • – Advocating for statewide sugar-sweetened beverage fee

 

    – Led Community Town Halls with Assm. Burke and Sen. Mitchell to bring over 12,000 residents to dialogue around diabetes prevention.

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Where We've Served

With a core focus on South Los Angeles, we’re growing our national impact. Click to see the interactive map location.

List of CFC program sites (addresses)

  • ○ Edward Vincent Park : 700 Warren Lane, Inglewood, CA 90302
    ○ Roger’s Park : 400 W. Beach Ave., Inglewood, CA 90302
    ○ Good Shepherd Center : 1640 Rockwood St., Los Angeles, CA 90026
    ○ Great Beginnings for Black Babies : 301 N. Prairie Ave., #515, Inglewood, CA 90301
    ○ Mission City Community Network : 301 N. Prairie Ave., Suite 311, Inglewood, CA 90301
    ○ Hyde Park Miriam Matthews Library : 2205 W. Florence Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90043
    ○ Inglewood Library : 101 W. Manchester Blvd., Inglewood, CA 90301
    ○ Moffett Elementary School : 11060 Larch Ave., Lennox, CA 90304
    ○ Jim Gilliam Recreation Center : 4000 S. La Brea Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90008
    ○ Buford Elementary School : 4919 W. 109th St., Inglewood, CA 90304

● List of gardens (Repeat addresses mean two different people received boxed apartment gardens)

    1. ○ 10500 Yukon Ave. 90303

 

    1. ○ 9330 S 8th Ave 90305

 

    1. ○ 882 Victor Ave, Inglewood, CA 90302

 

    1. ○ 2902 W 94th St, Inglewood, CA 90305

 

    1. ○ 60th St and Eileen Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90043

 

    1. ○ 3543 119th Ct 90303

 

    1. ○ 3626 w 108th st 90303

 

    1. ○ 100 N Hillcrest Blvd 90301

 

    1. ○ 7027 Ramsgate Place, Los Angeles, CA 90045

 

    1. ○ 100 N Hillcrest Blvd 90301

 

    1. ○ 9100 A 4th Ave. 90305

 

    1. ○ 966 S Ash Ave. 90301

 

    1. ○ 3512 W 79th St. 90305

 

    1. ○ 409 W Ellis Ave. 90302

 

    1. ○ 3438 W 82nd St. 90305

 

    1. ○ 301 E Hyde Park Blvd. 90302

 

    1. ○ 11804 Lemoli Ave. 90303

 

    1. ○ 9001 S 3rd Ave. 90305

 

    1. ○ 229 N Hillcrest. 90305

 

    1. ○ 8301 West Blvd.

 

    1. ○ 3644 w 117th St 90303

 

    1. ○ 5555 S Verdun Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90043

 

    1. ○ 1440 La Tijera Blvd 90302

 

    1. ○ 654 E Fairview Blvd 90302

 

    1. ○ 3851 W 113th St. 90303

 

    1. ○ 827 E 67th St 90302

 

    1. ○ 655 E Fairview Blvd 90302

 

    1. ○ 8617 3rd Ave 90305

 

    1. ○ 330 E Hillsdale Ave 90302

 

    1. ○ 2525 W 81st St 90305

 

    1. ○ 420 E Ellis Ave 90302

 

    1. ○ 2709 W 101st St 90303

 

    1. ○ 509 W Hillsdale St 90302

 

    1. ○ 1134 Rosewood Ave 90301

 

    1. ○ 116 S Market St, Inglewood, CA 90301

 

    1. ○ 4125 W 105th St, Lennox, CA 90403

 

    1. ○ 337 W Fairview Blvd.

 

    1. ○ 10519 8th Ave 90303

 

    1. ○ 3608 W 118th St 90303

 

    1. ○ 10208 S 8th Ave

 

    1. ○ 579 E. Brett St.

 

    1. ○ 942 rosewood ave

 

    1. ○ 549 Hill St. 90302

 

    1. ○ 652 E Queen St 90301

 

    1. ○ 535 w hillcrest blvd.

 

    1. ○ 105 S Prairie Ave. 90301

 

    1. ○ 11050 Larch Ave, Lennox, CA 90304

 

    1. ○ 4141 W El Segundo Blvd, Hawthorne, CA 90250

 

    1. ○ 600 Centinela Ave, Inglewood, CA 90302

 

    1. ○ 11033 Buford Ave, Lennox, CA 90304

 

    1. ○ 4919 W 109th St, Lennox, CA 90304

 

    1. ○ 10417 Felton Ave, Lennox, CA 90304

 

    1. ○ 9440 S 3rd Ave, Inglewood, CA 90305

 

    1. ○ 8698 Harvard Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90047

 

    1. ○ 9017 S 8th Ave, Inglewood, CA 90305

 

    1. ○ 1415 N. La Tijera Boulevard 90301

 

    1. ○ 4361 S. Western Ave. 90062

 

    1. ○ 5100 Dresidio Drive, Los Angeles Ca. 90043

 

    1. ○ P.O.Box 866 Inglewood, Ca. 90307

 

    1. ○ 512 Centinela Ave #206 Inglewood, Ca. 90302

 

    1. ○ 512 Centinela Ave #206 Inglewood, Ca. 90302

 

    1. ○ 2205 Euclid Ave Long Beach, Ca. 90815

 

    1. ○ 233 E. Spruce Ave #D Inglewood, Ca. 90301

 

    1. ○ 10248 S. 5th Ave Inglewood, Ca. 90303

 

    1. ○ 8635 Elm St. Los Angeles, Ca. 90002

 

    1. ○ 1821 Crenshaw Blvd. #201 Los Angeles, Ca. 90019

 

    1. ○ 9201 S. 2nd Ave Inglewood, Ca. 90305

 

    1. ○ 1430 Lemmoli #B Hawthorne, Ca. 90205

 

    1. ○ 610 W Regent St #8 Inglewood, CA 90301

 

    1. ○ 3520 W 84th Pl. 90305

 

    1. ○ 1976 S La Cienega Blvd. 90034

 

    1. ○ 206 S Market St. 90301

 

    1. ○ 10248 S. 5th Ave Inglewood, Ca. 90303

 

    1. ○ 159 E Spruce Ave 90301 #4

 

    1. ○ 159 E Spruce Ave 90301 #4

 

    1. ○ 3520 W 84th Pl. 90305

 

    1. ○ 1837 S Marvin Ave 90019

 

    1. ○ 10173 Raymond Ave 90804

 

    1. ○ 6821 10th Ave 90043

 

    1. ○ 2605 W 101st St 90303

 

    1. ○ 11565 Haas Ave 90250

 

    1. ○ 822 Myrtle Ave #1 90301

 

    1. ○ 359 S Cursor Ave 90019

 

    1. ○ 1208 Field Ave 90302

 

    1. ○ 159 E Spruce Ave 90301 #5

 

    1. ○ 4038 W 129th St #9 90250

 

    1. ○ 819 W Beach Ave #1 90302

 

    1. ○ 5300 W Adams Blvd 90016

 

    1. ○ 2854 S Mansfield Ave 90016

 

    1. ○ 1622 w 24th St 90007

 

    1. ○ 5545 Norwalk Blvd. G 90601

 

    1. ○ 882 Victor Ave, Inglewood, CA 90302

 

    ○ 1513 W 84t St. #5 90047

● List of US program sites

    1. ○ Augustus Hawkins High School – 825 W. 60th St., Los Angeles, CA 90044

 

    1. ○ Cesar Chavez Continuation High School – 2606 N Central Ave, Compton, CA 90222

 

    1. ○ Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall – 7285 Quill Drive, Downey, CA 90242

 

    ○ JPMorgan Chase The Fellowship Initiative – 300 South Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90071

Our Board

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Board of Directors

D’Artagnan Scorza, Ph.D.

D’Artagnan Scorza, Ph.D.

Founder

View Bio
Ashley Loville

Ashley Loville

Health Equity Programs Manager

View Bio

Board of Advisors

D’Artagnan Scorza, Ph.D.

D’Artagnan Scorza, Ph.D.

Founder

View Bio
Ashley Loville

Ashley Loville

Health Equity Programs Manager

View Bio

Our Staff

D’Artagnan Scorza, Ph.D.

D’Artagnan Scorza, Ph.D.

Founder

dscorza@sjli.org

View Bio
Derek Steele

Derek Steele

Executive Director

323.952.7363 x700

dsteele@sjli.org

View Bio
Ashley Loville

Ashley Loville

Health Equity Programs Manager

aloville@sjli.org

View Bio
Angela Johnson Peters

Angela Johnson Peters

National Director of Programs

323.952.7363 x701

ajohnsonpeters@sjli.org

View Bio

Funders + Partners

To meet our goals, we work alongside youth, residents, local schools, school districts, government entities, foundations and corporations. The following partnerships allow us to develop and manage programs that advance academic, food, environmental, and housing justice.
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What We Do

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SJLI will put you on the right track. The Urban Scholars program saved my life. I would not be here if it wasn’t for this program and the guidance I received from SJLI.

Author Name

Empowering Through Education

Creating Thriving Communities

Changing Systems

Empowering Through Education
Volunteers Revitalize La Tijera School Garden Volunteers Revitalize La Tijera School Garden
Urban Scholars Alumni Attend 2018 Big Bear Winter Retreat Urban Scholars Alumni Attend 2018 Big Bear Winter Retreat
SJLI’s Urban Scholars program expands to Houston, TX SJLI’s Urban Scholars program expands to Houston, TX
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Creating Thriving Communities
We work to transform neighborhood conditions by improving the built environment and expanding access to resources that enable residents to be healthy and thrive.
Volunteers Revitalize La Tijera School Garden Volunteers Revitalize La Tijera School Garden
Urban Scholars Alumni Attend 2018 Big Bear Winter Retreat Urban Scholars Alumni Attend 2018 Big Bear Winter Retreat
SJLI’s Urban Scholars program expands to Houston, TX SJLI’s Urban Scholars program expands to Houston, TX
Close
Changing Systems
We build power within our communities to identify and rectify systems of injustice and to advance policies that directly impact their lives. We privilege the voice of community members, who inform and lead our advocacy efforts.
Volunteers Revitalize La Tijera School Garden Volunteers Revitalize La Tijera School Garden
Urban Scholars Alumni Attend 2018 Big Bear Winter Retreat Urban Scholars Alumni Attend 2018 Big Bear Winter Retreat
SJLI’s Urban Scholars program expands to Houston, TX SJLI’s Urban Scholars program expands to Houston, TX
Close
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Graduation is Coming!

Help us raise $100K in scholarships for our Class of 2024 Urban Scholars.

Donate or Fundraise Now!