2022 Upton Sinclair Homecoming Digital Journal

DI G I TAL J O U R NAL

Dear Liberty Hill Supporters, Welcome Home!

I couldn’t be more excited to welcome you to our 2022 Upton Sinclair Homecoming event. After two years apart, we’re so happy to be together with you all again, and grateful to have your continued support during these challenging times.

Our theme this year is “The Fight for Home” and it resonates with me in so many ways. I experienced my own fight for home as a youth who faced the horrible uncertainty of housing insecurity. I understand the fight for housing as a human right and why we wholeheartedly support the organizers fighting to make this a reality here in Los Angeles.

At Liberty Hill the fight for home means we fight for a roof over every head by stopping evictions and organizing renters.

We fight for an end to neighborhood drilling in the nation’s largest urban oil field, where 7000 wells pump poison into children’s lungs.

We fight for an end to youth incarceration because children and youth shouldn’t be in prison.

We fight for the rights of adults returning home from system involvement and the chance to make a new start.

Keeping people housed. Bringing hope to youth. Ending big oil. We will always support these fights for home.

SHANE MURPHY GOLDSMITH President & CEO

Liberty Hill Foundation

We are so grateful to the entire Liberty Hill community for your support, which has ensured we can continue to fuel the critical organizing and activism changing lives in communities across Los Angeles. It also ensures we can keep advancing, transforming, supporting and demanding justice for all as we chart the course to a more just and equitable future.

I want to extend a huge thank you to our 2022 Upton Sinclair Homecoming honorees for their steadfast commitment to this work—Founders Award Honoree, The Meltzer Sieroty Family, Visionary Award Honoree, The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation, and Upton Sinclair Award Honoree, Assemblyman Isaac Bryan. I also thank our generous event sponsors who made tonight possible, as well as all of our dedicated supporters who stand beside us in the fight for justice.

Thank you all for your continued support and commitment to the mission and work of Liberty Hill.

STAY CONNECTED

#LHFHomecoming

FEATURING

ASSEMBLYMEMBER ISAAC BRYAN

Upton Sinclair Award

THE MELTZER SIEROTY FAMILY Founders Award

LOS ANGELES DODGERS FOUNDATION Visionary Award

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Mary Ann Braubach Jon Christensen Marta Ferro Veronica Flores Shimica Gaskins Julie Hermelin Paul Hernandez Jennifer Ito Sarah Pillsbury Board Emeritus

Paula Litt Jared Rivera Angel Roberson-Daniels Tim Silard Mitchell Singer Mark Smith Amelia Williamson Belen Vargas Shane Murphy Goldsmith President & CEO

SPONSORS PREMIER

SPONSORS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Win McCormack Julia Meltzer & David Thorne

SPONSORS EDITOR

Kafi D. Blumenfield & City Councilmember Bob Blumenfield

Katie McGrath & J.J. Abrams Family Foundation

Stephanie & Harold Bronson

The Shout Factory

The California Endowment

Allison Thomas

Roberta Conroy

Weingart Foundation

Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson

Shana Weiss & John Silva

Paula & Barry Litt

Jamie Wolf & Nancy Stephens, Rosenthal Family Foundation

SPONSORS REPORTER

Angell Foundation Annenberg Foundation Attias Family Foundation Brotherhood Crusade The Philip and Muriel Berman Foundation California Community Foundation California Wellness Foundation Wendy Chang & Cause Communications Jon Christensen & Ursula K. Heise Barbara Cohn Starfish Impact/Marta Ferro The David Geffen Foundation Whitney Green Martha Hackett

Jemmott Rollins Group Martha Hackett JK Irwin Foundation Diane & Jules Kabat LeadersUp Los Angeles Department of Water and Power John Manulis & Liz Heller Carol & Wally Marks, III and Suzy Marks Supervisor Holly Mitchell SEIU Local 2015 Abby Sher United Way LA Lauren White & Alex Gansa Elizabeth & Steve Zaillian

SPONSORS ORGANIZER 11th Hour Project BLACC Giving Circle Liz Levitt Hirsch Los Angeles Chargers Heather Joy Rosenberg & Joshua Joy Kamensky

Pamela & Evan Kaizer Los Angeles Rams Sarah Pillsbury SoCal Grantmakers United Airlines

SPONSORS

CHANGEMAKER Celia Bernstein & Brad Kesden Anne & Charles F. Johnson The Bohnett Foundation Kaufman Legal Group Z. Clark Branson Katharine King Mary Ann Braubach Kesa Kivel The Pat Brown Institute Trice Koopman & Mark Freund for Public Affairs LA Voice Jenny Chartoff Shawn Landres & Zuzana Reimer Kay Gallin Landres Eric Garcetti & Amy Elaine Wakeland Anne Litt Shimica Gaskin & James M. Perez Loraine Lundquist Susan Genco & Mitch Kamin McLane, Bednarski & Litt, LLP Julie Hermelin Weston Milliken Jennifer Ito Joan Ostroy Larry Janss

Janina & Jared Rivera Cathy Salser Robyn Samuels Jesse Shatkin Susan Sheu Mitch Singer Mark Smith Henry Stern Grant Sunderland Jon Wiener Jennifer Williams Amelia & Derrick Williamson David Zebker

Isaac Bryan was elected in May 2021 to represent California’s 54th Assembly District, which consists of Baldwin Hills, Cheviot Hills, the Crenshaw district, Century City, Culver City, Ladera Heights, Mar Vista, Palms, Rancho Park, Westwood and parts of South Los Angeles and Inglewood.

Prior to his election to the Assembly, Isaac served as the founding Director of the UCLA Black Policy Project—a think tank dedicated to advancing racial equity through rigorous policy analysis—served as the first Director of Public Policy at the UCLA Ralph J. Bunche Center, as well as Director of Organizing for the nationally recognized Million Dollar Hoods project—a community-based participatory research project.

ASSEMBLYMEMBER ISAAC BRYAN Upton Sinclair Award

Isaac also co-chaired the successful Measure J campaign in Los Angeles County, a ballot measure that allocated hundreds of millions of dollars a year to address racial injustice and strengthen communities. Measure J sets aside money for investment in youth development, small business support, job training, alternatives to incarceration, affordable housing, community mental health and substance abuse treatment, and other systems of care.

Isaac is a community organizer, highly regarded policy expert, and a published academic. He authored the first holistic report for the City of Los Angeles on the needs of the formerly incarcerated Angelenos, and exposed a gap in youth justice policy – research that was ultimately used by then Senator Holly J. Mitchell to advance SB439. For years, his academic and organizing work has been at the intersection of environmental, economic, education and housing justice.

The intergenerational donor activism of The Meltzer Sieroty Family inspires us. For three — now going on four! — generations they have been a passionate force in progressive philanthropy and activism in Los Angeles.

And each generation of the family has picked up that torch and carried it in their own ways, showing us how donor activism adapts as our movements for social justice change.

Knowing and loving the family as we do, we say to ourselves, “of course she did,” when we hear stories of Jean Sieroty hosting Eleanor Roosevelt, Paul Robeson, and Coretta Scott King in her home as her children were growing up in the 1940s and ‘50s, and we wish we could have been there.

An immigrant from Poland, Jean made herself at home in Los Angeles, and made an early home for progressive philanthropy in the city. Jean opened a path for the next generation of progressive Jewish donor activists in Los Angeles, who would follow her in branching out from traditional charity to making change. Her support for civil liberties and racial justice would have made her right at home in Liberty Hill, and we embrace her as one of our forebearers, a woman who bravely showed the way forward.

THE MELTZER SIEROTY FAMILY

Founders Award

Jean’s son Alan Sieroty was best friends with Wally Marks, who lived across the street when they were growing up. Wally found his own inspiration in the heady, politically charged Sieroty home and spent many hours there absorbing ideas and later putting them into practice. Liberty Hill’s Wally Marks Leadership Institute, a training ground for community organizers and building power, was established in his honor by Wally’s wife Suzy, his sister Marlene Louchheim, Alan, and Alan’s sister Beth Meltzer.

Now a new generation of the Meltzer Sieroty family is stepping up to the challenges of our own time. Julia Meltzer and her husband David Thorne, Julia’s brother Joseph and his wife Michele Asselin, and Julia’s sister Eve and her husband Joseph Thometz are all active members of the Liberty Hill community. Julia is on the steering committee of Liberty Hill’s Environment + Justice Donor Circle and Michele is a member of the circle.

Founded in 1995 by then-Dodgers owner Peter O’Malley, the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF) is the official charity of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Named ESPN’s Sports Humanitarian Team of the Year, the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation is bigger than baseball. Under new leadership they have expanded their mission to include education, health care, homelessness, sports access and youth development.

They have also made a firm commitment to social justice through a partnership with Liberty Hill Foundation.

Since its founding, the LADF has grown by leaps and bounds, expanding the reach of their charitable arm and becoming an example to other sports teams worldwide. Under their new ownership group, they have increased fundraising by 1,000% and invested more than $32 million in programs and grants to nonprofits, including $23 million in the last seven years alone.

This past August, the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation and Kershaw’s Challenge announced a generous $110,000 grant in support of Liberty Hill’s collective work on social justice and youth development. To date, the Dodgers Foundation and Kershaw’s Challenge have raised more than $415,000 for this critical work.

LOS ANGELES DODGERS FOUNDATION Visionary Award

They have also awarded grants and in-kind donations to 106 other community organizations; distributed more than 478,000 meals; and provided more than $2.2 million in in-kind donations to 6,000 families in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and a continued push for social justice.This growth has enabled them to fund more college scholarships, support more foster youth advocates, provide more eye screenings and glasses, and support more after-school nutrition and play programs.

Liberty Hill is proud to partner with the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation as they continue to solidify their support for our social justice and youth development work across Los Angeles County.

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.

THE 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

2021: PROGRESS IN ACTION

+ $18M

100

922

Grants Awarded

Organizations Trained

Grants Distributed

14%

+ 270

241

Endowment Draw

Community Activists Trained

New Donor Activists

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:

Stephen O. Lesser James Prigoff

T H A N K YO U 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.

“Without community there is no liberation.”

Audre Lorde Thank you, Liberty Hill, for all that you do.

THE MELTZER-SIEROTY FAMILY

“...All this in a country that boasts of being free. It is enough to break one’s heart, and yet one must keep oneself together, for now is the time to do work more energetically than ever.”

Emma Goldman

Julia, Beth and Issac and all the honorees — Thank you for all your energetic work and support for social change — you HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE!

PAULA & BARRY LITT

Mensch (men(t)SH) - it comes down to the same word every time we try to describe Liberty Hill - as if the organization is one shining being integrity, honor, compassion, character it’s all there, through thick and thin you have stood by the most marginalized in our neighborhoods and we thank you from the bottom of our grateful hearts

In gratitude,

HAROLD AND STEPHANIE BRONSON AND FAMILY

“You have to act as if it were possible to radically transform the world. And you have to do it all the time.”

Angela Y. Davis, PhD

ALLISON THOMAS

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

Shana Weiss and John Silva

We are proud to support the Liberty Hill Foundation and congratulate this year’s honorees!

KATIE MCGRATH & J.J. ABRAMS FAMILY FOUNDATION

Wallis Annenberg IS PROUD TO SUPPORT

Liberty Hill Foundation ON THE OCCASION OF THE

Upton Sinclair Homecoming Celebration AND CONGRATULATES THE HONOREES

Assemblymember Isaac Bryan, the Meltzer Sieroty Family, and Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation

ANNENBERG.ORG

Celebrating LIBERTY HILL FOUNDATION & the Upton Sinclair 2022 Honorees: Assemblymember Isaac Bryan, the Meltzer Sieroty Family, and the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation Wendy Chang Liberty Hill Foundation Champions Chair

Jemmott Rollins Group joins our Liberty Hill family in celebrating: California Assemblymember

JK Irwin Foundation is proud to support the righteous pioneering work of Liberty Hill and its mighty community partners.

our dear friend, a leading voice on equity and justice

building thriving communities rooted in good jobs and a healthy environment

champions for youth and families with the dynamic leadership of Nicole Whiteman

Consulting on the Cutting Edge www.jemmottrollinsgroup.net

UPTON SINCLAIR 2022 HOMECOMING CELEBRATION

Congratulations to this year's honorees!

The

Meltzer Sieroty Family Assemblymember Isaac Bryan

Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation

Proud to supporter of the Liberty Hill Foundation

Mitchell.LACounty.Gov

@HollyJMitchell

@Holly4LACounty

LADWP is pleased to sponsor the 2022 Upton Sinclair Homecoming Celebration, and support the Liberty Hill Foundation’s commitment to social justice and equality in Los Angeles and beyond.

ladwp.com

“I am leaving this legacy to all of you to bring peace, justice, equality, love and fulfillment of what our lives should be. Without vision, the people will perish, and without courage and inspiration, dreams will die - the dream of freedom and peace.”

Rosa Parks

I’m thrilled to celebrate our homecoming together, uplifting our shared purpose to continue to fight for justice for all.

With great appreciation for our community leaders and Liberty Hill family!

United Way of Greater Los Angeles is proud to partner with Liberty Hill in creating a more just Los Angeles.

We congratulate each of this year’s awardees and thank you for your perseverance.

Marta Ferro

UNITED WAY

greater los angeles

Congratulations to this year’s honorees,

Justice, justice shall you pursue An ancient wisdom for contemporary times Pursued with purpose and compassion

by LIBERTY HILL And by The Meltzer-Sieroty Family

with admiration, Dan and Diana Attias

NANCY BERMAN AND ALAN BLOCH THE PHILIP AND MURIEL BERMAN FOUNDATION

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE HONOREES! And thank you - for your service and advocacy toward a more socially just and equitable Los Angeles

MARTHA HACKETT

Justice and Equity. Justice for All. Racial Justice. Youth & Transformative Justice. LGBTQ & Gender Justice. Environmental & Climate Justice. Economic & Housing Justice. Ballot Box Justice. Social Change. Social Justice.

Here’s to a Just Future.

You Got it Covered.

Thank you, Liberty Hill.

DIANE & JULES KABAT

If Not Now, When?

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

Assemblymember Isaac Bryan The Meltzer Sieroty Family Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation Our heartfelt thanks and admiration to Liberty Hill and its extraordinary supporters, grantees, volunteers, staff and board….

Congratulations! to this year’s Liberty Hill Honorees and in loving memory of Wally Marks Jr., ONE OF

46 years in the right place at the right time.

A bright light, waging the right fight.

Liz Heller and John Manulis

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.

It’s an honor to congratulate awardees It’s antonight’s honor to and salute the dedicated team

congratulate tonight’s awardees of Liberty Hill.

and salute the dedicated team of Liberty Hill.

Courageous and visionary, you are at the forefront Strategic communications advancing social justice “Can you not see that the task is your task — yours to dream, yours to resolve, yours to execute?”

-Upton Sinclair OCEAN & MOUNTAIN IS PROUD TO SUPPORT THE WORK OF LIBERTY HILL AND ITS MANY COMMUNITY PARTNERS WHO SEE THE TASK AS THEIR TASK — AND CALL ON US TO JOIN THEM.

WITH LOVE AND SOLIDARITY FROM OUR ENTIRE TEAM Josh Kamensky • Marie Condron • Jen Wheeler • Anthony Weiss • Katrina Eroen • Prin Mayowa • Anai Ibarra • Rebecca Zweig • Leah Lau

of the fight forand social justice, Courageous visionary,

youaiming are atyour theresolve forefront into the roots of problems,

of the fight for social justice,

digging deep to unearth solutions

aiming your resolve and empowering people

into to the of problems, beroots change-makers. digging deep to unearth solutions Thank you and onwards!

and empowering people Liz Levitt Hirsch

to be change-makers.

Congratulations to Liberty Hill Foundation and this year’s honorees

When we were starting Liberty Hill decades ago, we thought we were the vanguard – here to make real change in Los Angeles. Word got around back then, and we were invited to speak at a meeting of Women For, a progressive women’s organization founded by Jean Sieroty.

As I looked at the women in the room that day, I was humbled, realizing I was just the new kid on the block. But what joy to discover that there was a strong tradition of activist/philanthropists in LA, challenging the status quo and endeavoring to make this city a place where everyone had the opportunity to thrive.

We are proud to walk shoulder-to-shoulder with Alan Sieroty, Beth and Julia Meltzer and thank them for striking out on this path so long ago.

With great fondness and admiration,

Sarah Pillsbury

Congratulations to Liberty Hill Foundation and this year’s honorees

Congratulations to Liberty Hill Foundation and this year’s honorees

Congratulations Honorees Honorable Assemblymember Isaac Bryan The Meltzer Sieroty Family Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation Thank you for your leadership and dedication

#SouthLAParentLove

Congratulations to the Meltzer Sieroty Family on receiving the Founders Award!

Your dedication to building a multi-generational movement for justice is truly transformational!

Alumni of the Young Religious Leaders Fellowship at CLUE

Thank you!

We are thrilled to congratulate all of this year’s Upton Sinclair honorees, and extend gratitude and appreciation to the members of the Meltzer Sieroty Family, champions for progressive power.

Movement Voter Project

As Rabbi Tarfon taught 2000 years ago upon confronting a monumental problem facing the community: “You are not required to finish the work, yet neither are you permitted to desist from it.”

We honor the Meltzer and Sieroty Family.

Their service to our community and beyond has never been intimidated by the size of a problem. They dive in. They create solutions while building community.

We Honor you with Love and Admiration,

Pam & Evan Kaizer

Venice Community Housing CONGRATULATES THE 2022 UPTON SINCLAIR HONOREES!

Thanks to the Liberty Hill Foundation & this year’s honorees for all you do to strengthen leaders & elevate the voices of our community.

Congratulations!

Keep the conversation going at

Held Virtually · May 11-12 · cnmsocal.org/501conference