News from the Frontlines
Hear from the voices of the movement and our partners fighting for justice and equity in Los Angeles.
September 2025
In this month’s issue of News from the Frontlines, we share breaking news, inspiring insights, and take you behind-the-scenes of local movements for social change. Read on to learn about the recent launch of our Youth Development Incubation Academy, find out how to take action to Protect Progress & Power Change in LA, and help us bid farewell to our remarkable fellows from the Luskin Fellowship Summer Program! This and so much more in this month’s issue!
Agenda for a Just Future: Protecting Progress, Powering Change
Liberty Hill’s Agenda for a Just Future—housing, youth, and environmental justice—is our roadmap to dismantle inequity in Los Angeles. Together with grassroots partners, we’ve defended renters, advanced youth justice reforms, and fought to phase out neighborhood oil drilling. But these hard-won victories are under attack from federal rollbacks and industry pushback. As we close our fiscal year, your support ensures progress is not undone and powers the next 50 years of justice in L.A.
Investing in the Future of Youth Justice
Liberty Hill's Youth Development Incubation Academy is an initiative funded by the Los Angeles County Department of Youth Development that will invest in the development, empowerment, and growth of rising activists and emerging community-based organizations dedicated to youth justice. Read on to learn about the recent inaugural convening that welcomed newly selected grantees to connect and build community!
LHF President & CEO Recognized as a 2025 Leader of Influence
A big congratulations to Liberty Hill Foundation President & CEO Shane Murphy Goldsmith for being named one of the 2025 Leaders of Influence in Nonprofit & Philanthropy! This prestigious recognition by the Los Angeles Business Journal highlights the remarkable leaders behind some of the region’s most impactful organizations driving positive change in Los Aneles. Congrats, Shane, for joining this amazing lineup of local leaders who are doing such important work for our LA community!
Luskin Fellows Ready to Lead, Inspire, and Create Change
Earlier this month, Liberty Hill team members and donor activists gathered to celebrate the remarkable contributions of this year’s Luskin Fellowship participants—Isabelle Aguirre, MSW. ’26, and Sooji Yang, MPP ’26. Read on to learn about the recent Luskin Fellows Celebration and the long-standing program introducing future planners and policymakers to lasting social justice movements for change.
Bigger Than Baseball: Standing up for LA’s Youth
Big news! Liberty Hill is proud to announce a new $100,000 grant from the Dodgers Foundation to support our California Funders for Boys and Men of Color initiative. With their support, we’re moving closer to a future where every young person in L.A.—especially boys and men of color—has the resources, care, and opportunity to thrive.
We Stand with Immigrant Communities
In a devastating ruling this month, the Supreme Court issued a decision that puts immigrant families and workers across Los Angeles in even greater danger. At Liberty Hill, we refuse to accept this as normal. Immigrants are the heartbeat of Los Angeles. They have always built and sustained this county—and they deserve to live free from harassment and persecution.
Behind the Mic: Inside Our Latest Episodes
This season on Liberty Hill’s award-winning podcast, Conversations from the Frontlines, we’re giving folks a front row seat to exciting insights and genuine conversations about what it takes to move justice AND democracy forward in our region!
Welcome Our Newest Hiller, Juontel White!
Please join us in welcoming our newest Hiller, Junotel White! Get to know our newest Hiller and learn more about their passion for social justice, what they’re looking forward to the most at Liberty Hill, and more in this short video!
Puppets vs. Puppeteers: How L.A. organizers are turning fury into power
An undocumented aunt walks into a direct action—eyes open. Amy Schur (ACCE) tried to warn her: there’s real risk in a civil-disobedience sit-in at Peter Thiel’s offices over Palantir’s ICE contract. The woman’s nephew had just been swept up. She looked back at Amy: “They’re coming for all of us. I need to be there.” That’s the line between fear and power—and this episode lives on it.