The 19 Leaders Poised to Change LA’s Homeless Services Sector

The Racial Equity Initiative (REI) Fellowship gathers BIPOC leaders poised to step into executive leadership positions in LA’s homeless services sector. SJPLA is proud to introduce you to our second REI Fellowship cohort, 19 up-and-coming leaders preparing to solve homelessness with solutions grounded in racial justice.

This year’s cohort welcomes 19 leaders from across LA. These leaders are providing direct service, building systems of care, and leveraging their lived experience and their experience on the frontlines of the homelessness crisis.

The cohort will work closely with each other over nine months meeting monthly to:

• Work in collaboration with peers to examine the root causes of homelessness and identify gaps and contradictions within the system.   

• Create a framework for centering racial equity and justice in their leadership approach.

• Access development opportunities including executive coaching, healing and wellness practices, and sessions on crafting a leadership narrative.

• Expand and deepen the sector’s BIPOC leadership network, creating a support system for accountability, resource sharing, and continued learning.

This year’s cohort follows our inaugural cohort, who completed their fellowship journey with us in February. Fellows strengthened professional networks, gained higher visibility in the sector, and many fellows moved into C-suite and executive-level positions during their time with us. We’re lucky to have them continue as a part of the SJPLA community, including serving on the selection committee to help us choose this year’s cohort.

The cohort meets for the first time on September 15th for a joint program launch with the 2022-23 Systems Change Accelerator.