LA County’s $8.6M Accenture Contract Violates Care First Policy & Measure J

CFCI / Measure J Funding is intended for independent pretrial services and treatment – not expensive consultant contracts FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 13, 2023  LOS ANGELES – La Defensa co-founded the ReimagineLA Coalition with the explicit intent of moving LA County dollars to community-based services outside of law enforcement, including pretrial services. With the support of over 2 million … Read more

RMJ Court Outreach Team Member

→ APPLY HERE Now Recruiting Court Outreach Team Members! LA DEFENSA MISSION La Defensa is leading the movement to decarcerate the largest jail population in the United States–the LA County jail system. We’re working to reduce the power and scope of the judiciary, law enforcement, and the legal injustice system. We’re also fighting for a … Read more

La Defensa’s 5 Days of Year in Review

2022 Year in Review

A look back at the work we did in 2022 This post was originally an email series with additional content. You can read the individual emails here. REIMAGINE LA  THE DEFENDERS OF JUSTICE RATE MY JUDGE LEADERSHIP TRANSITION OPERATIONS & COMMS Some of our favorite moments from the past year From left to right, starting at … Read more

Digital Media Specialist

We're Hiring: Digital Media Specialist

CLICK HERE TO APPLY  (This link will take you offsite to a Google application form) POSITION SUMMARY: The Digital Media Specialist is a mid-level, permanent, full-time, position that primarily handles the creation of social media and other digital media content related to the needs of the organization in collaboration with the Media and Communications team. … Read more

The Roundup: November 17, 2022

» Full newsletter here  It’s been almost two weeks since Election Day, And while we’re still waiting for every ballot to be tallied, we now have a pretty good idea of how many of the races will shake out, though we’ll be glued to the election results until the final votes are counted in the … Read more

Early Post-Election Analysis

A pink and orange background with palm trees and water color splotches with the text “EARLY ELECTION ANALYSIS - Midterms 2022” and the La Defensa logo

🗳 While it’s still too early to call many of yesterday’s election races, early results show that California voters are ready to stand in solidarity and vote for #progressive #CareFirst policies, accountability, and candidates who work for our communities instead of perpetuating harmful systems of oppression. 💥 We are so proud of the showing all … Read more

The Roundup: November 6, 2022

» Full newsletter here  ELECTION DAY IS NIGH! It’s been quite a journey to this election. We’ve given you the resources, a voter guide, and our insights, and now the rest is up to YOU! We know there are some community members who are unable to vote, and that’s why it’s extra important that, if … Read more

The Roundup: October 21, 2022

» Full newsletter here  Dear La Defensa Community, Our team has some phenomenal news to share with you all: We have new leadership! We are thrilled to introduce you to our new Executive Director Ivette Alé-Ferlito. Ivette, one of the co-founders of La Defensa, has officially taken the helm of the organization, as our other … Read more

Meet Our New Executive Director: Ivette Alé-Ferlito

Ivette & Eunisses

We are thrilled to introduce you to our new Executive Director Ivette Alé-Ferlito. Ivette, one of the co-founders of La Defensa, has officially taken the helm of the organization, as our other co-founder, Eunisses, steps into her new role as Los Angeles City Council Member of the First District. Ivette transitions to La Defensa from … Read more

The Roundup: October 14, 2022

» Full newsletter here  Sending solidarity and care after a heavy week. We know that all of our communities have been impacted by the news that broke last weekend around the leaked audio of LA City Council. This recording exposed their Anti-Black and Anti-Indigenous racism, as well as the harmful views they hold towards people … Read more

Statement: LA City Council Leaked Audio

Download the PDF of this statement Today, the anti-Black statements of LA City Council President Nury Martinez, Councilmembers Gil Cedillo, Kevin de Leon, and LA Labor Federation President Ron Herrera were exposed. This confirms what we have long understood about Los Angeles’ Latino old guard – they may represent some of our identities but not … Read more

The Roundup: October 7, 2022

» Full newsletter here  Hey ghoul, hey! It’s officially SPOOKY SEASON! Are you howling with delight at the prospect of jumping into this weekend with Politics & Pints at the Defenders of Justice postcard party? Polishing your magnificent fangs in preparation for upcoming community actions next week? Is your wand at the ready to help … Read more

Demystifying the Ballot

Demystifying the ballot

Understanding the Duties & Responsibilities of Our Elected Officials We’ve all been there…hovering uncertainly over an unfamiliar ballot item. No one you’ve heard of, running for a job you don’t really understand. Sometimes, online research doesn’t really dig up enough info that you’re confident you’re making a well-informed decision. Hey, we get it. That’s why … Read more

The Roundup – Sept 23, 2022

» Full Newsletter Here  Happy weekend to you, friends, Across our coalition spaces, we have been waiting for LA County’s $39 billion budget to be finalized and we now have a first look at the changes – it’s not good! This supplemental budget, which is the finalized budget, incorporates any updates and changes to the … Read more

The Roundup – Sept. 9, 2022

→ Full newsletter here Happy weekend! The LD team is in action, as we get ready for the County’s supplemental budget to drop and gear up for the November election. The Defenders of Justice are in the final stretch of campaigning to win their seats in this election after progressing in the primaries, and we’ll … Read more

The Roundup – August 19, 2022

→ Full newsletter here drumroll, please 🥁  Join in the relaunch campaign kickoff for The Defenders of Justice this Saturday in Long Beach! We’ll be knocking doors to connect with voters about the four judicial candidates who are about to make history in LA County, when they WIN their judicial races this November. It’s going to … Read more

Roe v. Wade Overturned in SCOTUS Decision

Stand with us to uplift and elect local judges who reflect our values and who will protect human rights

Conservative judges on the Supreme Court of the US finally realized their decades-long, devastating goal of overturning Roe, which puts all marginalized and impacted communities at risk. See our statement below, and check out our social media posts for resources and information about what it all means. Now, more than ever, it is clear that … Read more

The Roundup Midsummer Victories – July 29, 2022

→ Full newsletter here Hello, friends: Last week, our team had the pleasure of meeting in-person for a La Defensa Strategy Retreat at the beautiful Robinson Space. We talked about what we’ve accomplished and where we’re going. We envisioned ways to continue to build on our work, and build our team in a way that … Read more