Who We Are

LA CAUSA is a youth leadership and community development organization for youth living in East Los Angeles.

LA CAUSA is dedicated to coaching youth through the process of their own self-empowerment while helping them address issues that are of most importance to them including:

• Earning their GED or High School Diploma
• Getting a well paid job
• Preparing for a college education
• Participating in meaningful leadership activities within their communities
• Nurturing a critical conciseness of the challenges faced by their community
• Developing the skills to take action in transforming these conditions

Mission Statement

LA CAUSA is a comprehensive youth leadership and community development organization for disenfranchised youth living in East Los Angeles and their families. LA CAUSA is dedicated to coaching youth through the process of their own self-empowerment while helping them address issues that are of most importance to them. These may include, but are not limited to, creating an inclusive and supportive community where youth can earn their GED or high school diploma, participate meaningfully in leadership activities within their communities, nurture a Critical Multi-dimensional Consciousness of the challenges faced by their community, and develop the skills to take action in transforming these conditions. LA CAUSA provides out of school and unemployed youth ages 16-24 vocational training in the areas of media literacy, computer technology, and residential construction by providing hands on opportunities to impact their communities.

Values Statement

• LA CAUSA believes that young people are key actors in the struggle to create a more just and equitable society.
• LA CAUSA practices an asset-based approach to leadership and community development as the central feature of all of its programming.
• LA CAUSA activities operate under the tenet of direct action, community organizing and experiential learning.
• LA CAUSA believes the act of learning is fundamentally liberating and empowering.
• LA CAUSA ascribes to collective leadership and decision making that involves all members of the community.
• LA CAUSA considers itself part of the larger social justice movement and practices inclusiveness (race, ethnicity, sexual preference) in all its programs and activities.