2008 Campus-Community Partnerships

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Concord LA – Building Cross-Cultural Bridges in South Los Angeles

Abstract: South Los Angeles, an area long associated as prone to violence, crime, and urban blight, has recently experienced high-profile incidents of cross-cultural and racial violence. These incidents are partially attributable to shifting demographics, as the area’s historically African-American community has experienced a rapid influx of immigrants from Mexico, Central and South America. At the same time, South Los Angeles has experienced dwindling economic opportunities, declining educational resources, and high rates of unemployment. These tensions and conflicts in the South LA community present UCLA with a unique opportunity to give back to and learn from residents of Los Angeles. Concord LA is an extension  of The Concord Project, an international research and action program whose mission is to promote civil society while recognizing group differences. Concord LA will work with the academic and human resources available through UCLA’s School of Public Affairs, and with the local community to a) increase safety in schools, families and neighborhoods through mediation and dispute resolution, and b) promote sustainable community redevelopment through policy analysis. UCLA School of Public Affairs graduate students, trained and certified as mediators will have the opportunity to work closely with the South LA community.