Income Equality Reimagined: A Community Self-Reliant LA

Income inequality

County of Los Angeles (select only if your project has a countywide benefit) San Fernando Valley San Gabriel Valley South LA East LA Long Beach

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

Empty grocery store shelves during COVID showed us that when systems break down, the people with the least suffer the most. Our deep dependence on the larger economy leaves under-resourced and economically disadvantaged communities unable to access food, medicine, or shelter in times of crisis. Economists now warn that new tariffs and budget cuts could create similar effects—again hitting low-income residents the hardest. The LA wildfires also showed how quickly lives can be uprooted, with families losing not just homes, but schools, support networks, and stability. This constant instability creates deep stress and makes it almost impossible to focus on building connection, joy, or community. Income inequality isn’t just about money, it’s about whose basic human needs go unmet when emergencies arise or systems we rely on collapse. Fixing it now before new economic policies further exacerbate it can turn inevitable disruptions into opportunities to build stronger, healthier communities.

Imagine if, in the face of another inevitable economic disruption, the most historically overlooked and economically disadvantaged Angelenos were able to thrive—not because they earned more money, but because they built local, sustainable ways to meet their material and nonmaterial needs together. Instead of relying solely on global supply chains, they would meet these needs through community-based projects like urban gardens, upcycling, exchange markets, renewable energy microgrids, and timebanks. At VOL, we call this practice Community Self-Reliance. CSR addresses income inequality by reducing people’s dependence on income and increasing our collective capacity to meet needs in our communities. We dream of conducting CSR Schools throughout LA County. These Schools are spaces where Angelenos will build the skills needed to become less income-reliant by creating projects with their neighbors. Participants come to see their efforts not as stop-gap measures, but as the foundation for healthy, thriving communities. This grant will support CSR Schools across the county. Each School runs for nine months, in three trimesters: one for developing a vision, plan of action, and learning key skills like the components of Visionary Organizing; one for coached implementation and civic engagement; and one for connecting with CSR participants from across LA to build community, reflect, and grow. CSR Schools offer not only practical tools, but also hope, imagination, and real alternatives.

Now imagine LA County neighborhoods where people not only know each other’s names, but have grown food, sewn clothes, repaired homes, and installed solar panels together as a community. These people all have an expanded sense of their capabilities, and are acutely aware of their creative capacity to shape reality. With less stress tied to their income, they have more space to dream, build stronger relationships, and prioritize other needs and desires. After seeing this possibility, others will be inspired to create their own CSR projects. These long-term impacts will grow from a first year that builds skills and confidence, supports visions and plans for CSR projects, launches initial implementation, and cultivates a countywide network of communities practicing CSR and committed to sharing, learning, and mutual support. We will seek funding to continue supporting these projects for 2 more years after the LA2050 grant season.