Friend, Black History Month begins this week. Each year, NILC invites our communities to honor this important time by supporting Black-led organizations whose work we admire. This year, I’m reaching out to share a way we can come together to support Black communities — and preserve Black history — right here in Los Angeles, the city I proudly call home. As you likely know, Los Angeles is recovering from an unprecedented natural disaster and one of the hardest hit areas is Altadena, a community with a special place in Black history. In the 1960s in Los Angeles and cities across the country, discriminatory redlining practices systematically denied Black families the opportunity to purchase homes. After being pushed out of neighboring areas, Black families found a haven in Altadena — and many have now lived there for generations. As of 2023, 81% of Black residents in Altadena owned their homes – nearly double the national average. With increased opportunity, culture bloomed. Author Octavia Butler, Black Panther party leader Eldrige Cleaver, and actor Sidney Poitier all called Altadena home. Now the Altadena community is reeling from loss and there is uncertainty around how the town will recover. Supporting Altadena is not just about preserving history, but about safeguarding the future. If you’re able, will you please make a donation to support displaced Black families in Los Angeles? This link will take you to a list of GoFundMe fundraisers for these families, ensuring your donation directly helps them rebuild their lives in the aftermath of these devastating wildfires.
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