The Commission is partnering with LAUSD, several other county departments, and community based non-profit organizations on the federally-funded “Safe Schools and Healthy Students” program at WIN schools, Washington Preparatory High School (WP) and its feeder schools, now in its third year. The Commission’s “no haters here! ” school-based program at WIN schools is intended to promote healthy intergroup and intragroup relations in the school communities and the surrounding neighborhoods.

Commission staff members have worked with Commission staff members have worked with school wellness facilitators, administrators, parents, teachers, and students to implement activities, classes, and presentations that promote peace and unity. During WPHS’s inaugural “no haters here! Week”, there was a marked increase in positive student interactions. WIN schools also have held activities such as celebrations of students who acted as “allies” of those targeted by harassment and special days to promote better human relations within their school communities. These continuing activities are designed specifically to improve human relations at WIN school campuses and in the surrounding neighborhoods, thus preventing hate, hate incidents, and hate crimes while providing a structure to address any incidents that do occur.

The Commission conducted a countywide search for musically talented youth to create a band that would communicate about critical societal issues to teens using the universal language of music. Eight LA County “at-risk” youth, ages 16-19, were chosen to participate in this innovative program and they formed the band, “The Bricks.” This project is a component of the Commission’s “no haters here!“ youth initiative in collaboration with the non-profit organization, Oneness.

 The Bricks are engaged in the “Respect 101: Empathy, Empowerment and Integrity” tour in which entertainers and mentors tour Los Angeles county’s juvenile halls, probation camps, and high schools, bringing an empowering message of hope, resilience and inspiration to youth. At each of these events approximately 200 youth engage in a meaningful dialogue with entertainers, mentors, and band members who share stories and information to help these youth make better choices and reduce violence in their lives and communities. This powerful program is designed to reduce hate and hate incidents among these youth.

The Network Against Hate Crime (NAHC) is a county-wide coalition that brings together representatives of law enforcement agencies, civil and human rights organizations, schools, faith communities, and social service groups to coordinate efforts to combat intolerance and hate crime. The Network meets quarterly for professional development, to share resources, and hear updates about legislation.

NAHC also holds educational presentations on a number of topics, including the impact of the economic recession on human relations organizations, the passage of the Matthew Sheppard and James Byrd Hate Crimes Prevention Act, a neo-Nazi rally and counter-protest at L.A. City Hall that turned violent, the most recent statistics on hate crime in L.A. County, and a report on efforts by the L.A. Sheriff’s Department to eradicate hate crime.

The Hate Violence Prevention Practitioners Network is made up of organizations throughout LA County working to reduce and end hate violence. The network provides opportunities for practitioners to share best practices for education and prevention and exchange relevant and timely information about hate violence in LA County.

While the homeless are not considered a protected class under California hate crime legislation, hate-based crimes directed against homeless individuals regularly occur in Los Angeles County. The homeless are particularly vulnerable, and often avoid contact with law enforcement. So, it is likely that many more crimes against homeless individuals occur than are reported. Thorough identification and reporting of such incidents will provide the data necessary to establish best practices in prevention. The Commission has collaborated with the Countywide Criminal Justice Coordination Committee (CCJCC), the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, and the police departments of Los Angeles, Long Beach, Pasadena, and Santa Monica Police Departments to coordinate data collection of all crimes involving homeless individuals. This partnership effort will build a comprehensive data collection system that will ultimately provide the detailed information necessary to better understand and address crimes against homeless individuals.

The Commission has reported and responded to the incidence of gang-related hate violence since the 1990’s. In 2007 the Commission began a coordinated effort to develop new models to reduce interethnic tensions, address root causes of community violence, and support gang violence reduction in general. The RGVPI utilizes a multi-strategy public health approach that includes:

1. Civic organizing for collaborative engagement of community organizations, residents, government, and other local stakeholders;
2. Intergroup community-building across ethnic/cultural lines;
3. Liaison with community-based gang intervention practitioners; and,
4. Youth/young adult development, mentoring and employment.

The RGVPI team has helped launch two place-based projects which have produced significant and sustainable outcomes: Pasadena-Altadena Vision 20/20 (with Pasadena City Councilmember Jacquie Robinson and the Flintridge Center), and Harbor Gateway GRACE/Gang Reduction and Community Engagement (with Toberman Neighborhood Center and Boys & Girls Club of South Bay). Team members provide technical assistance and strategic support for local initiatives in Pacoima, Monrovia-Duarte, Santa Clarita and South Los Angeles. The team also provides planning, training, and technical support to the County Chief Executive Office’s Regional Gang Violence Reduction Initiative, the Community and Senior Services Department’s countywide Youth/Young Adult Re-entry planning, and the Probation Department’s Adult Re-entry efforts for the AB 109 State Parole Realignment.

Gang Reduction and Community Engagement Project (GRACE Project)—The intent of the GRACE Project is to improve human relations and reduce gang violence in the 204th Street neighborhood of Los Angeles’ Harbor Gateway community and the Tortilla Flats community of unincorporated Carson. GRACE staff members also work directly with community residents to support their efforts to improve their neighborhoods and quality of life. Gang interventionists and a community organizer are on daily “Safe Passages” patrol to make sure students of all ages can travel safely between school bus stops and their homes. The interventionists also engage known gang members to keep the peace on the streets and often respond to acts of violence, thus preventing retaliation and other hate action. The GRACE Project is a partnership between the Los Angeles County Human Relations Commission, Toberman Neighborhood Center, and the Boys and Girls Club of the South Bay.

Community Re-Entry from Incarceration—In 1999 the Commission first began addressing what has commonly become known as “the Cradle to Prison Pipeline” in the county with its work on the SB 1095 initiative. L.A. County was one of five counties in the state to pilot coordinated systems of support for youth transitioning from probation camps back into their communities. Commission staff members have added their expertise to Community and Senior Services’ WIA Branch to develop strategies, conduct research, and produce reentry stakeholder summits throughout the County resulting in the U.S. Department of Labor funded Youth & Young Adult Re-Entry Blueprint. The Commission continues its reentry efforts to support the development of a permanent government/ community partnership and a countywide infrastructure to deliver a coordinated, collaborative and leveraged system of support to youth and young adults coming home from incarceration to their families, schools and communities.