41st Upton Sinclair Celebration Digital Journal

DIGITAL JO U R N A L

ABOUT THE EVENT For more than 40 years, Liberty Hill has been committed to the fight for social justice. Our annual Upton Sinclair Celebration brings the progressive community together to celebrate the victories and visionaries that power change locally and across the country.

We’re looking forward to honoring the contributions of organizers and activists who are paving the way for social justice progress.

The 2024 Upton Sinclair Celebration will be a community-focused event featuring a stunning location at the Skirball Cultural Center, a fun strolling format with interactive exhibits, special surprise guests, and much more.

MEET OUR HONOREES Upton Sinclair Award

Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez Eunisses Hernandez is a community organizer, a daughter of Mexican immigrants, and a lifelong District 1 resident. She has led major policy wins, such as Measure J and Care First, Jails Last, which have begun to drive hundreds of millions of dollars into expanding and creating access to community based services, housing, and support for young people in LA County.

Eunisses witnessed firsthand the suffering wrought by decades of bad policy and negligent leadership in her own neighborhood and across Los Angeles—decision-making that resulted in an unprecedented housing crisis, the nation’s largest jail population, and severely underfunded social services.

MEET OUR HONOREES Founders Award

Celia Bernstein Celia Bernstein is a philanthropist with a three-decade career in nonprofit development. Her introduction to philanthropy came from being raised in a real estate family steeped in the support of civil rights, politics, early childhood and Jewish causes. Her parents, both children of Russian Jewish immigrants, modeled a strong work ethic and a life of service.

Growing up in Washington, DC in the 1960’s against the backdrop of the civil rights and antiwar movements, Celia was sensitized at a young age to racial and economic injustice and inequality. She began to develop her own personal perspective on social change philanthropy first through the NorthStar Fund in New York and then later in Los Angeles, when she began to see wealth as a necessary fuel for activism. In 1988, when she met Michele Prichard, then the executive director at Liberty Hill Foundation, the organization became her primary philanthropic focus. During that time professionally, Celia was a clinical social worker in community mental health.

MEET OUR HONOREES Wally Marks Changemaker Award

Derek Steele

Derek Steele, a proud graduate of Morgan State University, is an experienced problem solver who began his professional career as an electrical engineer at Northrop Grumman. He started his journey with the Social Justice Learning Institute in 2010 figuring out how to re-creating local food access systems to solve health disparities and food insecurity in the Inglewood community and beyond.

Under his leadership as the Health Equity Programs Director, he stewarded a team that has taught over 10,000 families in nutrition, physical activity, and urban agriculture, built 120 gardens in the community, began the Inglewood Certified Farmers’ Market, Inglewood Community Supported Agriculture program (CSA) and the Food for Thought Produce Pick-Ups.

MEET OUR HONOREES Creative Vision Award

Aloe Blacc

Grammy-nominated, singer/songwriter, Aloe Blacc, who is known for major hits such as “I Need A Dollar”, “The Man”, and “Wake Me Up”, pledged early in his career to use his music for positive social transformation.

Aloe refers to his style of music as thematic, calling it “A.I.M.” which stands for affirmation, inspiration, and motivation.

In addition to music, Aloe is the founder of Major Inc, a biotech company focused on preventing future pandemics and infection from disease. With the help of accomplished PhD scientists, the company has conducted promising research to identify medicinal candidates that block viruses from cellular binding, entry, and replication.

Past Honorees 1980s Mike Farrell Larry Janss Win McCormack Anne Mendel Sarah Pillsbury Jackie Goldberg Mark Ridley-Thomas Jilliene F. Schenkel Hannah Weinstein Rodolfo F. Acuna Ed Asner

Davida Coady Betty Warner Sheinbaum Jeff Dietrich Irene Hirano Shirley Magidson Martin Ritt Harry Belafonte Dino Hirsch Linda Wong Edward James Olmos Lynda Palevsky

Anthony Thigpenn Mary Jo Von Mach Mae Churchill Joie Davidow Jay Levin Ben Margolis & John Mcternan Fr. Luis Olivares Ginger Varney Michael Ventura

Past Honorees 1990s Jim Becker Maria Elena Durazo Claudia Moore Oliver Stone Clark Branson Jane Fonda Dave Johnson Rev. James M. Lawson, Jr. Lillibeth Navarro Robin Cannon David Clennon Sara Martinez Bonnie Raitt Karen Bass

Patrick Lippert Warren Olney John Singleton Jay N. Gordon M.D. & Meyera Robbins Miya Iwataki Comite Pro Paz En El Barrio Haskell Wexler Nancy Smyth Cervantes Richard Foos Constance Rice Alfre Woodard Theresa Allison Rabbi Leonard Beerman Mary Steenbergen & Ted Danson

Nikki Brown & Ted Gardner Gilda Haas Gary Phillips Stanley K. Steinbaum Wally Marks Linda Marquez Rage Against the Machine Harry Shearer Daniel and Diana Attias Sylvia Castillo Dan Pallotta Howard Zinn

Past Honorees 2000s Culture Clash Madeline Janis-Aparicio Norman Jewison Katrina vanden Heuvel Judith Baca Michael Kieschnick Stewart Kwoh Tim Robbins Susan Sarandon Anna Deavere Smith Marqueece Harris-Dawson Betsy and Paul Mazursky

Bill Melamed Jr. Eve Ensler Arianna Huffington Rob McKay Rev. Eugene Williams Tom Hayden Dr. Bernice Johnson Reagon Antonio Manning Angelica Salas Geri Silva & Gail Blackwell Robert Greenwald Bill Resnick, M.D.

Sarah Pillsbury Lisa Powell Kent & Jai Lee Wong Barry and Paula Litt Rev. Alexia Salvatierra Eric Schlosser Ed Burns & David Simon Richard D. Jacobs Pacoima Beautiful Bill Gallegos Dean Hansell & Jason Murakawa Sheila Kuehl

Past Honorees 2010 to 2023 Liz Heller & John Manulis Walter Mosley InnerCity Struggle Tim Gill Margarita Ramirez Gary Stewart Paris Barclay Wendy Chang Dr. Manual Pastor Alex Gansa & Howard Gordon Charles Floyd Johnson Alison Morgan & Parke Skelton

Ron Yerxa and Albert Berger Kafi Blumenfield Scott Budnick Veronica Gutierrez Dr Frank Gilliam Michele Prichard Robbie Conal Benjamin Goldhirsth Fran Jemmott Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering Susan Genco and Mitch Kamin Ana Ortiz

Elizabeth Levitt Hirsch Congressman John Lewis Senator Holly J. Mitchell Torie Osborn Jared Rivera Isaac Bryan The Dodgers Foundation Meltzer Sieroty Family Robert K. Ross, M.D. Weston Milliken Chloe & Maud Arnold STAND-L.A. Coalition

Stay Connected #UptonSinclairCelebration libertyhill.org facebook.com/libertyhill twitter.com/libertyhill instagram.com/libertyhillfoundation info@libertyhill.org

Powering Social Change L.A.’s social justice foundation for over 45 years.

Our Mission Liberty Hill is a laboratory for social change philanthropy. We leverage the power of community organizers, donor activists and allies to advance social justice through strategic investment in grants, leadership training and campaigns.

Our North Star Support community organizing that is building power in communities most impacted by system oppression to achieve justice and equity.

Our Focus Area Liberty Hill’s work is focused on Los Angeles County, however we understand that what happens in L.A. influences the nation. In this historical moment, we believe it is especially important for Los Angeles to be a beacon of social justice nationwide.

Home for Progressive Philanthropy We give donor-activists opportunities to engage beyond their financial commitment.

We train the next generation of leaders to represent their communities within movement campaigns and government.

We help organizations build capacity for future success.

We are a convener and facilitator that brings unusual allies together to affect change.

We fund and support grassroots

organizations leading social justice campaigns.

Our Priorities

Liberty Hill is an accelerator of community organizing in Los Angeles and a national leader in social justice.

Racial Justice

Youth & Transformative Justice

LGBTQ & Gender Justice

Environmental & Climate Justice

Economic & Housing Justice

Electoral Power Building

Progress in Action $7.4M

$8.9M DAF Grant Total

Government Subcontracts Distributed

221

688

$2.5M

Program Grant Total

Program Grants Awarded

DAF Grants Awarded

$3.8M

Raised in Individual Contributions

Ways to Give Liberty Hill is your partner in social justice philanthropy. There are many ways to make an impact in Los Angeles. One donation to Liberty Hill supports dozens of grassroots organizing groups. We offer innovative giving solutions such as Donor-Advised Funds, Giving Circles, Planned Gifts and other options.

Contribute Annually to Liberty Hill Take the guesswork out of giving by making an annual donation in support of Liberty Hill’s organizing and activism. With a deep understanding of the issues facing our communities, and of the leaders on the frontlines of change, Liberty Hill will direct your annual gift where it’s needed most. One-time or monthly giving options are available. Liberty Hill offers several membership benefits at each level.

Join A Giving Circle A Giving Circle is a self-directed group of individuals and philanthropic partners who pool their donations and vote on the organizations the circle will fund with its grants. By joining together, Giving Circle members make larger grants and stronger impacts on the issues and organizations they care about.

Liberty Hill advises our Giving Circles and provides management and grantmaking advice.

Join our Community Liberty Hill donor-activists are the backbone of our support and help fuel our mission to create a more just L.A!

Changemakers Our community of donor activists, who give between $1,200 - $4,999, receive recognition in our annual report, invitations to several of our annual events and access to a personal advancement representative to assist with your giving needs and help you stay connected to our work.

Advocates Our community of donor activists, who give between $5,000 - $9,999, have access to additional special events with Liberty Hill and our community partners throughout the year.

Champions Our community of donor activists, who give $10,000+, have opportunities to deepen their connection to Liberty Hill and our community partners, with top donor events throughout the year, including an exclusive invitation to Champions Brunch with Liberty Hill CEO as well as access to our social justice philanthropy advisors.

Donor Advised Fund (DAF)

Manage all of your philanthropy in one place, while magnifying the impact of your life at L.A.’s exemplary social justice foundation.

In just a few days, you may set up your Donor Advised Fund with zero start-up costs, which will give you an immediate tax deduction, with flexibility to give grants over time.

Advantages of opening a DAF • Expert advice to ensure your contributions are making a difference.

• Get a foundation-like structure without administrative complications and costs.

• Reduce email, mail and phone solicitations from organizations.

• Join a community of donor activists rooted in a strong sense of shared mission.

• No taxes on capital growth, with just a 1.25% and lower annual operating cost • LHF handles tax filing, auditing and accounting.

• Donors are able to remain anonymous if they choose.

• Tax deductibility is 60% of AGI for cash and 30% of AGI for securities.

City of Angels Society Honors individuals who have recognized Liberty Hill Foundation in their estate plans or other planned giving arrangements.

Making a bequest donation to Liberty Hill Foundation ensures a better, more just Los Angeles for generations to come.

Keep the values of democracy and justice alive through your gift.

Guarantee a steady stream of resources for future generations of community organizers committed to building a fair and just society.

Vehicles to Give

Ways to Give

Bequest through a Will Living Trust or other Non-Charitable Trusts Charitable Remainder Trust Charitable Lead Trust Beneficiary Designation through Retirement Plans or Insurance Policies

Cash Stock Bonds Mutual Fund Shares Real Estate

In Memoriam

Liberty Hill honors the memories of our dear friends and supporters:

Suzanne Biegel Ann C. Genco

Lee Frances Lainer Alan Sieroty

THANK YOU TO

Our Founders

We are so grateful to our dedicated and committed Founders for your visionary leadership in creating Liberty Hill Foundation. You embody the principles upon which you founded this groundbreaking organization and your support for our mission to make Los Angeles a more just and equitable place has fueled progress across the region for nearly a half century. Thanks to you the fight continues.

Sponsors EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Win McCormack ServiconCares

Sponsors EDITOR Annenberg Foundation

Paula & Barry Litt

Celia Bernstein & Brad Kesden

Shout! Factory

Lisa & Joshua Bernstein

Social Environmental Entrepreneurs

Kafi D. Blumenfield & City Councilmember Bob Blumenfield

Julia Meltzer & David Thorne

Roberta Conroy

Weingart Foundation

L.A. Care Health Plan

Allison Thomas Shana Weiss & John Silva

Sponsors REPORTER Angell Foundation Diana & Dan Attias Yuval Bar-Zemer Harold & Stephanie Bronson Brotherhood Crusade Wendy Chang & Cause Communications Jon Christensen & Ursula Heise Janet Levin & Frank Gruber Marta Ferro & Starfish Impact Fran Jemmott Josh & Heather Joy Kamensky and Ocean & Mountain Communications Liz Levitt Hirsch

Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation Los Angeles Rams John Manulis & Liz Heller Carol & Wally Marks III / Suzy Marks Weston Milliken Elizabeth Norton Connie & Keith Rohman SEIU Local 2015 Abby Sher Social Justice Learning Institute The California Wellness Foundation The Impact Group, RBC Capital Markets, LLC Lauren White & Alex Gansa

Sponsors ORGANIZER

11th Hour Project Martha Hackett Robert & Gail Israel California Community Foundation Diane and Jules Kabat Cathy Hession Southern California Grantmakers Garson Foos Vision y Compromiso GYL

Our Sponsors CHANGEMAKER Amalgamated Bank Michele Asselin Linda Baum Nancy Bernstein Susan Bernstein Mary Ann Braubach Z. Clark Branson David Bohnett Foundation Barbara Cohn First 5 LA Kay Gallin Cristina Garcia & Mark Stanley Susan Genco & Mitch Kamin

Whitney Green Jennifer Ito Anne & Charles F. Johnson Jan Kern Sherry & Dennis Kesden Katharine King Kesa Kivel Trice Koopman & Mark Freund Zuzana Riemer Landres & Shawn Landres LIFT Mary Lassen & Martin Liebowitz Anand Pandya Janina & Jared Rivera

Deborah Rothman Cathy Salser Robyn Samuels & Bruce Shragg Tim Silard Mitchell Singer Mark Smith Social Good Solutions Dominique Tan United Way LA Amelia & Derrick Williamson David Zebker

Congratulations to tonight’s honorees.

And our best wishes to Liberty Hill.

Best wishes to Liberty Hill and all of tonight’s honorees.

AMERICA’S PARKING ADDICTION MAX HOLLERAN

May 2023

THE HUMAN PRICE OF BIDEN’S ICE MARÍA INÉS TARACENA

IT’S OVER THIS IS THE DEK FOR THE COVER THAT WILL ENTICE THE READER TO READ MORETHE

REPUBLICAN PARTY CANNOT BE SAVED A ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION WITH MAX BOOT JULEANNA GLOVER MICHAEL STEELE NICOLLE WALLACE

THE RIGHT’S WAR ON STUDENT DEBTORS RYANN LIEBENTHAL

KATIE PORTER KNOWS ONE SPEED GRACE SEGERS

Wallis Annenberg IS PROUD TO SUPPORT

Liberty Hill Foundation ON THE OCCASION OF THE

Upton Sinclair Homecoming Celebration AND CONGRATULATES THE HONOREES

Much love and gratitude to our Liberty Hill family.

Love, Celia, Brad, Lena and Nicole

“I’m convinced of this: Good done anywhere is good done everywhere.

For a change, start by speaking to people rather than walking by them like they’re stones that don’t matter.

As long as you are breathing, it’s never too late to do some good.”

Maya Angelou

We’re so proud of our dear sister Celia Bernstein for her leadership and lifetime dedication to the community.

With so much love from Marianne, Nancy, Susan, Josh, and Liz

Congratulations to all the Upton Sinclair honorees who make the world a better place every day.

Celia -- As Marge Piercy says, ‘...a strong woman is a woman determined to do something others are determined not to be done..”

Thank you for being one of those strong women, and for always persisting to get shit done.

You are a generous, loyal and dear friend.

Paula & Barry Litt

Celia, We honor your passionate vision and commitment to justice.

Celia, You inspire us with your big heart and your huge commitment to making the world a better place.

With love and appreciation, Shari, Richard, Nicole, and Garson Foos

It is a privilege to be in your orbit.

“Without community, there is no liberation…”

Audre Lorde

Eunisses, Celia, Derek and Aloe We are proud to honor and celebrate each of you tonight, and congratulate you on this well-deserved honor.

Julia Meltzer & David Thorne

We are proud to stand alongside Libe partners in philanthropy, and fellow ch change, as we march forward toward The Weingart Foundation congratulates the 2024 The Weingart Foundation congratulates the 2024 Upton Sinclair distinguished honorees: Eunisses and economic justice for al Upton Sinclair distinguished honorees: Eunisses Hernandez, Celia Bernstein, Aloe Blacc, and our Hernandez, Celia Bernstein, Aloe Blacc, and our dedicated partner, Derek Steele. dedicated partner, Derek Steele.

We are proud to stand alongside Liberty Hill, our partners philanthropy, and fellow champions of We are proud to standinalongside Liberty Hill, our change, as we march forward toward racial, social, partners in philanthropy, and fellow champions of and economic justice for all.

weingartfnd.org change, as we march forward toward racial, social, linkedin.com/company/weingart-foundation/ and economic justice for all. facebook.com/weingartfoundation @weingart_fnd

The Liberty Hill, Thank you for seeding a more just and equitable Los Angeles.

Shana Weiss and John Silva

Congratulations to this Year’s Award Recipients!

Angell Foundation is proud to honor the transformative leadership and commitment to social justice embodied

by Eunisses Hernandez, Celia Bernstein, Derek Steele, and Aloe Blacc.

With our warmest congratulations to Celia Bernstein, and all of tonight’s honorees.

Your commitment to social justice is an inspiration!

Dan and Diana Attias

Congratulations to all the Liberty Hill Honorees.

With Love from Harold, Stephanie, Spencer, and Greer Bronson

Together

Road Change ON THE TO

Celebrating LIBERTY HILL FOUNDATION and the Upton Sinclair 2024 Honorees: Eunisses Hernandez, Celia Bernstein, Derek Steele, and Aloe Blacc Wendy Chang Liberty Hill Foundation Champions Chair

Congratulations to the Liberty Hill Foundation and Honorees of the 41st Annual Upton Sinclair Celebration!

We are proud of the growth, success and meaningful work of the entire Liberty Hill Foundation team and community.

With love, Marta Ferro & Starfish Impact

Consulting on the Cutting Edge

Jemmott Rollins Group celebrates the 2024 Liberty Hill honorees for making philanthropy your life’s work.

Through your steadfast dedication to equity and advocacy, our communities will continue to thrive.

(323) 293-7074

info@jemmottrollinsgroup.net

www.jemmottrollinsgroup.net

It’s an honor to congratulate tonight’s awardees and salute the dedicated team of Liberty Hill.

Courageous and visionary, you are at the forefront of the fight for social justice, aiming your resolve into the roots of problems, digging deep to unearth solutions and empowering people to be change-makers.

Thank you and onwards!

Liz Levitt Hirsch

We are proud to support the

Liberty Hill Foundation and the

41 Annual Upton Sinclair Honorees! st

If Now Now, When?

If Not You, Who? Helping To Light Our Path...

Eunisses Hernandez, Celia Bernstein, Derek Steele, and Aloe Blacc Our heartfelt thanks and admiration to Liberty Hill and its extraordinary supporters, grantees,volunteers, staff and board...

45+ years in the right place and the right time.

A bright light, waging the right fight.

Liz Heller and John Manulis

Congratulations! to this year’s

Liberty Hill Honorees and in loving memory of Wally Marks Jr., O N E O F L I B E R T Y H I L L’ S A R C H A N G E L S

Walter N. Marks, Inc.

THE NATION‘S LARGEST LONG TERM CAREGIVERS UNION

Congratulations to all the Upton Sinclair Award Honorees!

On behalf of the 200,000 SEIU 2015 long term care workers in LA County, we thank you for your ongoing leadership and commitment to fueling social change.

SEIU Local 2015 is the largest union in California, representing nearly 450,000 long-term care workers (home care, skilled nursing facility, and assisted living center workers) throughout the state. Its members are as diverse as the state’s population but united in their commitment to caring for California’s older adults and those with disabilities.

SEIU2015.ORG

The Social Justice Learning Institute congratulates our amazing director Derek Steele on this well deserved honor.

We are so grateful for your leadership, energy, creativity and drive on behalf of our students and the communities we serve.

Omai Garner Nancy Greenstein Karen Blackwell Terri Mosqueda David Crippens Linda Baum

Shamya Ullah & The Impact Group at RBC are proud to support

Dearest Celia, WOW!!!

We are cheering you on With a BURST of LOVE! Kesa, Lisa and Cathy

Congratulations, Celia!

You are a passionate and tireless leader for lifting up all communities!

Thank you for being our North Star!

Cathy Hession

SCG mobilizes philanthropy to learn and take bold actions by fostering an inclusive community of members and partners. socalgrantmakers.org

When we think of Celia ...

Congratulations!

Kristin Aldana-Taday Barbara Cohn Melanie Havelin Paula Litt Torie Osborn Lina Paredes Michele Prichard Margarita Ramirez Amy Sausser Catherine Suitor

On behalf of the American Federation of Teachers AFT 1521 Thank you Liberty Hill Foundation for your partnership.

Congratulations to the honorees!

Congratulations Celia Bernstein!

With much love and admiration, Paul and Paula Reiser

Celebrating Celia, our dear friend & inspiration. We pay tribute to your fierce and unwavering vision of social justice for our world.

Deb, Les, Linda, Gina and Patty