Rising Communities is a South Los Angeles nonprofit focused on the root causes of the Social Determinants of Health, such as advancing health, food justice, and economic resiliency. Born out of the 1992 LA uprisings, we work in partnership with community members to drive policy change, eliminate disparities, and build equitable systems that reflect the voices and leadership of those most impacted.
Our work spans disinvested communities across Los Angeles County, from Pomona to South Los Angeles and the Valleys.
In South Los Angeles, families live near the Inglewood Oil Field—the largest urban oil field in the U.S.—where toxic emissions impact air quality, health, and safety. Studies show residents face asthma rates nearly 20% higher than the county average, with children especially vulnerable. Rising Communities, Black Women for Wellness and SCOPE LA, engaged neighbors through workshops, outreach, and advocacy to demand shutdown and remediation of the field. This environmental injustice affects daily life—from children missing school due to respiratory illness to small businesses struggling in polluted neighborhoods—underscoring the urgent need for community-driven change.
Rising Communities’ EJ Ready project addresses the health and environmental harms of the Inglewood Oil Field by centering community leadership. In partnership with Black Women for Wellness, SCOPE, and Liberty Hill, we implemented a multi-pronged approach that combined canvassing, resident education, and coalition building to ensure inclusive community voice. In 2023, partners canvassed 12,000 homes within two miles of the oil field, reaching 22,000 residents and engaging nearly 2,500 in direct conversations about health impacts, regulatory changes, and community visioning. Residents overwhelmingly called for the site’s closure and remediation, with nearly 900 submitting letters to County officials. To sustain engagement, we hosted community dinners and built a resident-led delegation to shape advocacy strategies. This year, we are equipping community leaders with resources to access public funding and amplify their voices in policymaking spaces—advancing environmental justice and racial equity in South Los Angeles.
Through our EJ Ready project, Rising Communities and partners directly reached 22,000 residents living near the Inglewood Oil Field, speaking with nearly 2,500 community members. As a result, 882 residents submitted letters demanding urgent action—an unprecedented show of collective voice. Residents reported health challenges such as asthma and headaches, underscoring the urgency of change needed for living near a toxic environment. One neighbor shared, “We just want clean air so our kids can play outside without getting sick.” These efforts transformed community concern into organized advocacy, ensuring residents’ voices shaped policy decisions and pushed County leaders toward accountability.
We need partners to amplify community voices, advocate for strong policy action, and hold oil companies accountable for cleanup. Your support—through funding, policy advocacy, and sharing our message—will ensure frontline residents have the resources and power to demand a healthier, more just future.