A Liberty Hill Foundation Newsletter
The Frontline Impact Digest
Fall 2025
Welcome to The Frontline Impact Digest—your source for stories, updates, and highlights from Liberty Hill Foundation.
In this Fall issue, we’re bringing you the latest updates from our Economic & Housing Justice initiatives and spotlighting the work being done at the frontlines of Youth & Transformative Justice. You’ll also get the chance to read insights and reflections from leaders in the field of philanthropy in our Funder Perspectives segment. This and so much more!
We will not rest until society provides justice and equality for all.
This quarterly e-publication will provide you with insight into our work in Los Angeles and bring you behind the scenes of the fights for Youth and Transformative Justice, LGBTQ and Gender Justice, Environmental and Climate Justice, and Economic and Housing Justice here in Los Angeles.
Fall 2025
Hear from the voices of the movement and our partners fighting for justice and equity in Los Angeles.
By Roni Hooper, Senior Director of Foundation & Government Grants
Liberty Hill is not pivoting. We're rising.
While current political forces threaten to erode democracy at every turn, Liberty Hill and our grantee partners forge ahead. On behalf of immigrants, low-wage workers, neighborhoods overburdened by pollution, the LGBTQ+ community, and low-income communities of color, Los Angeles shows up.
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By Mike Dennis, Senior Director of Housing Justice
Want to End Homelessness? Keep People Housed in the First Place
For the second year in a row, homelessness in Los Angeles is down. That’s worth celebrating—not because the crisis is solved, but because we finally have evidence that the right investments are working. You wouldn’t know it from the headlines.
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By Lisa Small, Senior Director of Youth & Transformative Justice
Building Power for Youth Justice and Youth Development in Los Angeles
Since launching our youth justice work in 2017, Liberty Hill has remained grounded in systems change, which has meant focusing on shifting resources, policies, and narratives to create lasting alternatives to incarceration.
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The California Wellness Foundation
Q&A with Alex Johnson
Our Funder Perspectives segment highlights insights from dedicated leaders in the world of philanthropy and spotlight their work to improve Los Angeles. In this issue, we are proud to feature Alex Johnson—Interim Vice President of Programs & Public Affairs at The California Wellness Foundation!
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By Lisa Small, Senior Director of Youth & Transformative Justice
From Punishment to Possibility: Investing in Youth Development in L.A.
What if I told you that for the same cost of incarcerating 22 youth for one year, we could connect 25,000 young people to opportunities that strengthen their futures?
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Liberty Hill in the Headlines
Inside Philanthropy
Seven Women’s Giving Circles and Network to Know (feat. X Fund Giving Circle)
The Intercept
A City Fights Back: How LA Defends Itself From ICE (feat. Union Del Barrio)
Inside Philanthropy
This Philanthropic Partnership Aims to Reduce Youth Incarceration in L.A. How Is It Faring? (feat. Liberty Hill)
Inside Philanthropy
Many Boys and Men of Color Struggle. This California Funder Network Is on the Case (feat. Liberty Hill)
Los Angeles Times
Fast-forward 25 years: Sharing hopes and dreams for a future Los Angeles (feat. Liberty Hill)
Inside Philanthropy
Inside the Black Freedom Fund’s Journey to Independence and Permanence (feat. Black Freedom Fund/Liberty Hill)
Los Angeles Times
Faith Leader Bears Witness as Migrants Make Their Case in Immigration Court (feat. PICO CA)
The Engage Blog
Listening for the Beat of Change: Conversational Grantmaking Where Accountability Demands Listening (feat. Liberty Hill)
Los Angeles Times
The fight to reduce homeless service worker burnout in grueling industry (feat. Little Tokyo Service Center)
CALÓ NEWS
'This is not justice," advocates ask LA County to invest in community aid, not law enforcement (feat. ReImagine LA Coalition)
Living On Earth
The Health Tool of L.A. Oil Wells (feat. Nalleli Cobo)
LAist
Meet the investigators hunting oil well pollution in LA neighborhoods (feat. PSR-LA)
LAist
New E-cargo bike voucher program launches for SGV residents (feat. Active SGV)
LA Progressive
[Op-Ed] Trump Can’t Kill California Values (feat. Jon Christensen)
MSN News
33rd Annual Empowerment Congress Summit at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science
In These Times
LA Activists Put Price-Gouging Landlords on Notice (feat. Strategic Action for a Just Economy)
LA Times
LA fire victims are suddenly thrust into an unforgiving rental housing market (feat. Strategic Action for a Just Economy)
Los Angeles Times
Editorial: Los Angeles can find a fairer way to raise the rent (feat. Keep LA Housed)
Los Angeles Times
L.A. County gears up for Trump with millions in funding for immigrants, transgender residents (feat TransLatin@ Coalition)
Los Angeles Times
These L.A. tenants want to own their buildings. L.A. is collecting millions to help (feat. Liberty Hill)
Los Angeles Times
With Trump vowing deportations, workers in Los Angeles race the clock for a reprieve
Yahoo News
California’s Government and Garment Worker Advocates Gear Up to Take on Trump
Capitol Weekly
Transformation, not retrenchment, is the answer to our youth crisis
LAist
Share This Facebook Twitter Education LA’s Native youths are building power through community
Los Angeles Times
L.A. City Council votes to strengthen law against tenant harassment
Los Angeles Times
Thousands of L.A. tenants face eviction every year without lawyers. The city wants to fix that
Our Weekly Los Angeles
Ready to Rise works to aid formerly incarcerated
Our Weekly Los Angeles
Liberation Fund Prom for incarcerated youth girls
LAist
LA County leaders vote to give renters free eviction attorneys, a first in SoCal
Los Angeles Times
California’s effort to plug abandoned, chemical-spewing oil wells gets $35-million boost
Inside Climate News
Battle to Prioritize Public Health over Oil Company Profits Heats Up (feat. STAND-L.A.)
Los Angeles Times
New law promises retail workers in unincorporated L.A. County ‘fair workweek’ (feat. LA Alliance for New Economy)
Los Angeles Times
Renters across L.A. are under strain and many fear becoming homeless, survey finds (feat. Strategic Actions for a Just Economy)
Los Angeles Daily News
LA’s Garment Worker Center highlights new effort to support industry and its employees (feat. Garment Worker Center)
Los Angeles Times
Call them super progressives: L.A.’s political left looks to expand its power at City Hall (feat. Julio Marcial)
LAist
Report: Some Nail Salon Workers Are Among The Worst Paid Californians. Now They Want Change
Health & Environmental Funders Network
The Exit Interview With Michele Prichard: A Grantmaker’s Reflections On Philanthropy And Community Building
Nonprofit Quarterly
Helping Movements Meet the Moment: What Philanthropy Can and Must Do
m/OppenheimTV
Liberty Hill Foundation: Transformative Justice | Nonprofit Report
NBC News
NBC News NOW’s National Day of Racial Healing Special feat. Liberty Hill
Los Angeles Times
L.A. eviction cases rose significantly this year. But it’s not all bad news for renters
Los Angeles Times
Wealthy L.A. philanthropists loosen grip on donations, shifting money toward social justice
Los Angeles Times
L.A. backs 4% cap on rent increases for stabilized units starting in February
Los Angeles Times
Proposed USC research facility revives worries of gentrification on L.A.’s Eastside
LAist
Years Of Putrid Odors, Scores Of Complaints. The Fight Over A Facility That Recycles Dead Animals In Southeast LA
Spectrum News
Future of DACA program and impacts of the waiting game
Candid
Cal Wellness announces $18.2 million in grants, impact investments
Los Angeles Times
Over 40,000 eviction notices have gone out in L.A. this year, many to upscale apartments
Santa Clarita Valley News
Supes Pass Motion to Codify Right to Council for Eviction Defense
The Center for Effective Philanthropy
Funders Can Do More: 5 Next Best Practices
Los Angeles Times
Editorial: Among the L.A. Probation Department’s many offenses: Hoarding millions in prevention funds
Los Angeles TImes
Editorial: L.A.’s key justice reform survives court challenge. Time to pick up the pace
Spectrum News
Community land trusts gain traction as tool to preserve affordable housing
Nonprofit Quarterly
Getting Federal Dollars to Communities: An Action Agenda
City of Los Angeles
Mayor Bass Announces Key Staff Appointments
Los Angeles Times
San Pedro. Exterior. Dusk. Upton Sinclair arrested for reading the 1st Amendment
Los Angeles Times
Opinion: I grew up next to an L.A. oil well. California can protect others from what I went through.
The White House
President Biden Takes Action to Build Healthy Communities and Advance Environmental Justice
KCRW
Community land trusts turn LA tenants into owners
Next City
Our Corporate Landlord Tried To Push Us Out. We Saved Our Homes Through A Community Land Trust.
Los Angeles Times
L.A. City Council Votes to dramatically expand tenant protections ahead of deadline
Candid
The theory of giving: The ‘why’ behind philanthropy
Inside Philanthropy
11 Major Foundation Racial Justice Pledges and Progress to Date
Press-Telegram
Liberty Hill Fights for a More Just L.A.
Inside Philanthropy
How We Increased Grantmaking, Took Risks, and Found Powerful New Models for Change
Los Angeles Daily News
Criminal justice reform groups say LA County budget shortchanges jail alternatives
Inside Philanthropy
Who's Behind the Liberty Hill Foundation, and How Does It Support Social Justice in L.A.?
Inside Philanthropy
How a Public-Private Collaboration in L.A.is Looking Beyond Punishment to Curb Youth Incarceration
Common Dreams
Criminal Justice Reform Isn't Failing, It's Just Unfinished
The Imprint
L.A.’s Mis-Investment in Youth Incarceration
Stanford Social Innovation Review (SSIR)