Events

We had a great time and appreciated the engaging conversation touching on issues of coalition building, aligning with organized Labor, policy implementation, direct democracy, social housing and more. And even if you couldn’t make it, we’ve got you covered! The recording of the briefing, the slide deck and background materials are linked here.

Special thanks to our dynamic speakers who set the tone for the evening and reminded everyone of the critical nature of the work to free girls and GE youth from ineffective and damaging systems—Lateefah Simon, President of the Meadow Fund, Los Angeles City Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez of District 1, Nichol Whiteman, of the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation, and Lisa Small, Senior Director of Youth Justice at Liberty Hill Foundation.

It was a night full of community and celebration as nearly 600 guests gathered at the beautiful Skirball Cultural Center. The night had it all! From our immersive exhibits highlighting LA’s organizing movements to original artwork from our partners at Spirit Awakening Foundation to our Justice For All lenticular wall which came to life as guests walked past it, this year’s 41st Annual Upton Sinclair Celebration was an event to remember.

Our guest speakers—including Dani Kim (Co-Founder, Organizing Roots), Tia Martinez (Managing Director, Organizing Roots), Ka’Lee Matthews (Liberation Fund Fellow, Young Women’s Freedom Center), Jessica Nowlan (President, Reimagine Freedom), and Abigail Richards (Co-Executive Director, Young Women’s Freedom Center)—shared profound data, lived experiences, and solutions that inextricably connect housing, economic instability, and gender violence to juvenile justice outcomes.

An engaging conversation with frontline organizers on the work happening locally to engage, educate, and empower LA voters this election cycle and into the future.

This year, we heard from frontline organizers and advocates working towards the liberation of girls and gender-expansive (GGE) youth and learned about the work Liberty Hill partners are doing through our newly launched Liberation Fund—a groundbreaking initiative that centers the unique experiences of GGE youth impacted by mass incarceration.

A conversation with frontline organizers on the dangers of exposure to environmental hazards and how they are severe for disadvantaged communities of color that live near warehouses, railyards and freeways.

Moderated by Liberty Hill President and CEO Shane Murphy Goldsmith and featured a dynamic panel of housing justice specialists including Almas Sayeed (Vice President of Public Partnerships, Liberty Hill), Joel John Roberts (Chief Executive Officer, PATH Ventures), Mary Lee (Affordable Housing Policy Consultant), and Peter Dreier (E.P. Clapp Distinguished Professor of Politics, Occidental College).

Our signature Upton Sinclair Event brings nearly a thousand organizers and donor-activists together to celebrate the progressive victories that help us power social change throughout Los Angeles County. Last year’s Homecoming Celebration was an interactive celebration that set a new bar for community engagement. The 2023 Upton Sinclair Event will bring that spirit of fellowship, camaraderie, and fun back to the Skirball Cultural Center to celebrate our 40th anniversary of hosting this amazing event to honor local organizers and leaders fighting for a more just future.

Liberty Hill Foundation’s Annual Leadership Appreciation Brunch has become LA’s favorite Fall gathering, where we recognize the outstanding impact of our Donor Activist community and discuss ways to achieve transformative change in Los Angeles.

For the final event in the inaugural Climate Equity LA Series, we are honored to feature a panel with Assemblymember Isaac G. Bryan, City of LA Civil + Human Rights & Equity Department Executive Director & General Manager Capri Maddox, Esq., and CEMO Director Marta A. Segura, moderated by City of LA Board of Public Works President Pro Tempore, Dr. Mike Davis, as well as a discussion with Policy Director for Strategic Concepts in Organizing and Policy Education (SCOPE), Agustin Cabrera, and Campaign Director for the RePower LA coalition, Estuardo Mazariegos.

This year’s Upton Sinclair Homecoming Celebration will be an event unlike any other in the history of Liberty Hill! Featuring a stunning new location at the Skirball Cultural Center, exciting new format, special surprise guests, and much more, the Liberty Hill Community will come together like never before to celebrate the progressive victories and visionaries that power change locally and across the country.

The Climate Emergency Mobilization Office (CEMO) and Liberty Hill invite you to watch Part II of our Climate Equity LA Series on Community-Driven Climate Resilience. The climate crisis is a very real threat and a public health emergency that has especially harmed those in frontline communities. Let’s work together to co-create resilient, thriving communities for all.

The Climate Emergency Mobilization Office (CEMO) and Liberty Hill invite you to watch Part II of our Climate Equity LA Series on Community-Driven Climate Resilience. The climate crisis is a very real threat and a public health emergency that has especially harmed those in frontline communities. Let’s work together to co-create resilient, thriving communities for all.

The Climate Emergency Mobilization Office (CEMO) and Liberty Hill invite you to watch Part II of our Climate Equity LA Series on Community-Driven Climate Resilience. The climate crisis is a very real threat and a public health emergency that has especially harmed those in frontline communities. Let’s work together to co-create resilient, thriving communities for all.

CEMO wishes to thank the Liberty Hill Foundation, the CEMC Commissioners, and the CELA Design Committee for their contributions and insights in the development of Part I of the Climate Equity LA Series.

CEMO wishes to thank the Liberty Hill Foundation, the CEMC Commissioners, and the CELA Design Committee for their contributions and insights in the development of Part I of the Climate Equity LA Series.

CEMO wishes to thank the Liberty Hill Foundation, the CEMC Commissioners, and the CELA Design Committee for their contributions and insights in the development of Part I of the Climate Equity LA Series.

CEMO wishes to thank the Liberty Hill Foundation, the CEMC Commissioners, and the CELA Design Committee for their contributions and insights in the development of Part I of the Climate Equity LA Series.

We’ll show you how to identify the key indicators of nonprofit financial health and the other vital information to be found in the Form 990.

You don’t have to be wealthy to do it–planned giving can involve many types of assets. Join expert estate attorney Jane Peebles of Karlin & Peebles for an introduction to what types of gift instruments make sense for donors of all types.

In partnership with Kim Tso of Velocity Ink, LLC, this workshop will serve as an introduction to grantwriting to strengthen the capacities of emerging nonprofits seeking to raise funds for community work. While this workshop is intended for small and emerging non-profit organizations, all are welcome.

Learn what that means and the tools to do it, plus how to practice community-developed principles for pursuing Black equity and racial justice in philanthropy.

Don’t miss this two-hour interactive workshop led by special guests Kofo Anifalaje and Jillian White of North Star Fund. You’ll learn how to move from reactive to responsive giving and you’ll work on connecting your vision and values to your criteria.

More than 150 attendees joined Liberty Hill and CCF, the Ready 2 Rise evaluation team of Imoyase Community Support Services and Destiny Coaching and Consulting for a virtual Town Hall to share the results of this multi-year $38 million public private partnership and provide support to our Ready to Rise partners offering culturally responsive community-based services to young people.

Liberty Hill and our co-chair CEOs at The California Endowment, Weingart Foundation, California Wellness Foundation and the Ballmer Group, hosted community organizers and advocates, foundation staff, and Los Angeles County staff and elected officials, including District Attorney George Gascon.

Discussing the future of homelessness and criminal justice in Los Angeles and ways to achieve transformational change.

Join the Black-led giving circles of the Liberty Hill Foundation as we come together to celebrate all the ways we, as Black philanthropists, show up for our communities~and how you can too!

This year's Upton Sinclair Virtual Event will highlight the progress made in the fight for equity and justice and the work on the horizon. Keep the spirit of our live event going with engaging conversations, special guests and more! The March to Progress Continues!

Join us to hear more about the ground-breaking Stay Housed L.A. program and learn more about the innovative efforts to prevent homelessness and address tenant needs throughout Los Angeles County

From Congressman John Lewis to Black Lives Matter founder Alicia Garza, these stories testify to the transcendent power of both individuals and the collective to help society overcome seemingly intractable obstacles. They remind us that activism comes in all forms and from every segment of society—and that the courage and conviction to stand up and speak out resides in each of us.

Justus Jones is a Los Angeles native, teaching artist and aspiring rapper. He graduated from New Earth Youth Build in 2016 and soon after began teaching poetry to formerly incarcerated youth. He has participated and performed at various events throughout the country including Create Justice, the LA County Youth Diversion Summit and the Youth Power Summit where he engaged with legislators and advocated for statewide youth justice bills.

Billboard Magazine Executive Editor and former Liberty Hill Board Member, Melinda Newman, hosted a wonderfully candid conversation with legendary Doors musician John Densmore about his career and the ways music has played a role in fueling social justice.

As we enter this post-election holiday season, I hope you are energized to continue the fight for progress now, and into the new year. Guests had an opportunity to voice their post-election concerns, discuss how to move forward as progressives and as a country, and provide their unique perspectives on where we should focus our energy as a collective

The will be an important space for Black folks and our allies to learn about the series of racial justice measure on the ballot affecting our community as we discuss the implications for all the propositions.

Exploring racial justice propositions and the impact on Black women and families. Hosted by Building Leaders and Cultivation Change Fund in partnership with Liberty Hill Foundation and Angelenos 4 LA.

Take the guesswork out of voting as we dive into this year's critical ballot initiatives. Join us for a fun, lively discussion to learn more about the Propositions that have the power to advance social and racial justice across California!

Discuss recent movements to reduce reliance on policing and commit to transformative changes in the way we look at ensuring the safety and future of our youth and communities. Learn how our grantees are translating the powerful calls for racial justice rising from the streets of America into tangible campaigns for change.

Mainor is a Youth Policy Advocate working to keep Brown and Black youth out of the system at The Arts for Incarcerated Youth Network (AIYN). After navigating his youth without proper guidance or mentorship, he found himself in jail as a teenager. Fast forward to today where he advocates for youth justice and proudly stands in front of lawmakers to share his story and experience to help win real change.

Join us for a lively panel discussion on local and statewide ballot initiatives. Gain on-the-ground insight about the winning electoral strategies. Find out how you can support our efforts to Get Out the Vote in 2020!

Defunding LAUSD School Police and investing in Black student achievement. Re-imaging public safety and reinvesting in community-building resources. Learn how Rapid Response Funds are accelerating the fight for justice and uplifting Black leadership.

More than 200 funders from across the country joined us this past Thursday to find out more about the state of the criminal justice system during the COVID-19 crisis and to learn more about how the philanthropic community can support the work of grassroots organizations and activists doing the critical work of transforming the justice system from the ground up.

Join President & CEO Shane Murphy Goldsmith and Liberty Hill Champion Mitch Kamin for an in-depth conversation with former Attorney General Eric H. Holder on his current work to protect voting rights during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.

Liberty Hill is proud to announce the honorees for our 2020 Upton Sinclair Awards Dinner—a night when we celebrate Los Angeles' commitment to social justice by recognizing the inspiring community leaders and donor-activists who make change possible.

With the theme "Our Movement, Our Moment," the event brought Liberty Hill's family of social justice advocates, donor-activists, elected officials and grassroots leaders together under one roof for a night of celebration. The event featured a rousing performance of Diane Warren's "I'll Fight" by the Compton Kidz Club, along with moving spoken word from John Choe of poetry organization Get Lit - Words Ignite.

Los Angeles' progressive leaders came together for a night of celebration at Liberty Hill's annual gala, hosted at The Beverly Hilton. For over 40 years, the evening has been a convening of the region's changemakers—from the activists fighting on the ground to the donor-activists who help to make community organizing possible.

Are you fighting to protect our democracy, our civil liberties, our values, our fellow Angelenos and our planet? Join more than 700 of the most engaged, visionary and influential people in L.A. to support the critical work of building a just society at Liberty Hill Foundation's 2017 Upton Sinclair Awards Dinner at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

On a fall morning not long ago, Congressmember Karen Bass and philanthropist Fran Jemmott, who have often met over their own kitchen tables, sat down at Liberty Hill's Kitchen Table. Both have been Liberty Hill Board members and have played important roles not only in the Foundation's evolution, but in the maturation of L.A.'s movement for social justice.

Manuel Pastor, USC professor and pioneer environmental justice researcher-advocate sits down in Maywood Riverfront Park to talk with mark! Lopez, executive director of East Yard Communities for Environmental Justice about the generations of environmental insults endured by communities of color in Southeast Los Angeles.

This is the annual Los Angeles event not to be missed… one that stands apart from any other gala in its diversity, camaraderie and social justice spirit… one that sees frontline organizers mixing with philanthropic leaders…one that we hope you will support in honor of Liberty Hill's 40thAnniversary and take your place in this room full of change makers.

To honor our 40th Anniversary, Liberty Hill is asking allies from each of the four decades to sit down at our Kitchen Table and get into the nitty gritty of community organizing, past, present and future. Listen in as Stewart Kwoh, President and Director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice and Alexandra Suh, Executive Director of Koreatown Immigrant Workers Alliance (KIWA) connect the dots between the Civil Rights Movement and present-day immigrants.

To honor our 40th Anniversary, Liberty Hill is asking past Community Funding Board members from every decade to sit down at our Kitchen Table and get into the nitty gritty of social justice past, present and future. Shane Goldsmith interviews Torie Osborn in this fascinating, reflective discussion.

Los Angeles' progressive leaders came together for a night of celebration at Liberty Hill's annual gala, hosted at The Beverly Hilton. The evening has been a convening of the region's changemakers—from the activists fighting on the ground to the donor-activists who help to make community organizing possible.

Los Angeles' progressive leaders came together for a night of celebration at Liberty Hill's annual gala, hosted at The Beverly Hilton. The evening has been a convening of the region's changemakers—from the activists fighting on the ground to the donor-activists who help to make community organizing possible.

Los Angeles' progressive leaders came together for a night of celebration at Liberty Hill's annual gala, hosted at The Beverly Hilton. The evening has been a convening of the region's changemakers—from the activists fighting on the ground to the donor-activists who help to make community organizing possible.

Los Angeles' progressive leaders came together for a night of celebration at Liberty Hill's annual gala, hosted at The Beverly Hilton. The evening has been a convening of the region's changemakers—from the activists fighting on the ground to the donor-activists who help to make community organizing possible.

Los Angeles' progressive leaders came together for a night of celebration at Liberty Hill's annual gala, hosted at The Beverly Hilton. The evening has been a convening of the region's changemakers—from the activists fighting on the ground to the donor-activists who help to make community organizing possible.