Issues

OneLA is a multi-issue organization.  Our agenda of issues emerges out of conversations in member institutions and it varies based on the communities in which the organizing takes place.  Each OneLA institution and its leaders help shape the agenda of the organization.

During the early months of 2012, OneLA leaders and organizers will meet to craft the strategy and white papers in each of the key areas we are focusing on.  They will be posted on this page when they become available.

Housing and Banking

In 2011, OneLA organized and created the Los Angeles Mortgage Modification Program at the Los Angeles Housing Department.  The program, the only such one in the nation, was an expansion of a successful pilot created by OneLA and Neighborhood Legal Services and funded by Councilmembers Richard Alarcón and Tony Cárdenas.  It will use up to $10 million in funds from the California Housing Finance Agency Mortgage Assistance Corporation to make loans to families who could continue owning their homes except for the fact that they owe much more than their property is worth.  Over the last four years, OneLA and NLS-LA have developed some of the most innovative analyses and solutions in foreclosure prevention and principal reduction.  Read the White paper.

Health Care

Growing out of hundreds of small group and individual meetings, OneLA organized a series of public assemblies and created a partnership with the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services and its H. Claude Hudson Clinic to improve access to care and patient services in order to create a model clinic within the county system.  OneLA also worked with State Assemblymember Mike Feuer to advance and pass Assembly Bill 52.  The bill, if passed, would grant the authority to reject excessive increases in health insurance premiums to the State Insurance Commissioner.  The OneLA Small Business Task Force was launched in September, 2011 and secured the commitment of the newly constituted California Health Benefit Exchange and the support of the Regional Office of the Department of Health and Human Services to collaborate in shaping the federal guidelines and state implementation of the "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act".

The Next Health Care Strategy Meeting will be January 31, 2012.

Education

Working to keep quality public education truly accountable and driven by the public, OneLA leaders addressed parental involvement in district governance, student transitions from elementary and middle schools, safety and transportation, and food services.  Specifically, OneLA trained around 65 teachers, parents and community leaders who helped formulate the strategy that led to the LAUSD “Stabilization and Empowerment Initiative”, shifting decision making authority from the highly centralized bureaucracy directly to local schools.  OneLA has also expanded the pioneering Algebra Project to 4 high schools, successfully providing quality math education to the lowest performing students, breaking through a major barrier to graduation and success in college.

The Next Education Strategy Meeting will be January 28, 2012

Training and Leadership Development

OneLA is constantly training leaders in every community where we work.  We serve as both the “university” and “laboratories” for public life.  Training and learning happens in a variety of settings -periodic evening and weekend training series for newer leaders, and training focused on organizational growth and development.  In addition, more focused and specialized trainings during local 3-day and 5-day trainings and the IAF national training throughout the year are also offered to key professional and lay religious leaders, educators and parents involved in public education, executives and staff of nonprofits, labor organizers and leaders who are involved or interested in working with OneLA.