Community Spotlight: Southeast Los Angeles with Andy Carrasco, VP, Southern California Gas Co. & Emma Hernandez, CEO, Southeast Community Development Corp.

Consisting of 8 cities (Bell, Bell Gardens, Commerce, Cudahy, Huntington Park, Maywood, South Gate and Vernon), and roughly 440,000 residents (90% identifying as Latinx), stretching along the 710 freeway, Southeast Los Angeles has been one of the hardest hit by COVID-19, as many of its residents being the essential workers of our region. Prior to COVID-19, Southeast LA has long faced environmental challenges, given its location adjacent to a major freeway; has had less access to green space than the rest of the county; and have less access to grocery stores and fresh produce. As South Gate Councilmember Denise Diaz has noted, “We are the doughnut hole of LA County. Funding tends to go to our neighboring cities and not here.”

Founded on the belief that “community problems must be solved by the community itself,” CivitasLA is pleased to be joined by Andy Carrasco, VP, SoCalGas and Emma Hernandez, Chief Executive Officer, of Southeast Community Development Corp. (SCDC) two civic leaders working to elevate the collective voice of the Southeast LA region.  Hear how SCDC has continued to engage local stakeholders and funding sources to invest in the area and transform the region.   To learn more about SCDC, please visit:  https://www.scdcorp.org/about-us/history/.