T.R.U.S.T. South LA

Location: Los Angeles, CA

Website: www.trustsouthla.org

T.R.U.S.T South LA is a Community Land Trust established in November 2005 as a democratic and permanent steward of land, to challenge the role that speculators, absentee owners and corporations have played in deciding the neighborhoods’ future.

With grant and loan funds raised from public and private sources, the Land Trust acquires land to be held in perpetuity by the community-controlled Land Trust. The land will be leased for the development of affordable family housing and other community-serving uses.

Permanent control over the assets of the Land Trust is ensured by its legal structure as a membership organization, with Regular Members restricted to low-income people who live or work in the land trust area.

Our principles guide how we engage our community:

- Educate and develop our consciousness, skills, and experience individually and collectively. We take responsibility to understand the context of the community, and our environment and together create a strategic plan.

- Develop a new generation of leadership through sharing tools, knowledge and creating opportunities for youth. Intentionally take a step back to allow for youth and young adults to step in and take ownership of their learning and participation.

- Work together to create a local economy and a community that has control over the use of the land,

- Take responsibility to take care of the earth, minimize what we take from her, and help heal what has been harmed.

- Take responsibility to delegate work in an ethical and responsible manner. Share knowledge and skills with others.

- Maintain our minds and hearts open and have flexibility to adapt to changes. Be curious and experiment with new ideas.

- Maintain credibility through transparent structures of communication and access to information such as: decision making processes, resources, and funding.