The Community Action League reveals plan to master community issues
Aid for the disadvantaged
LANCASTER, Calif. —The Community Action League (TCAL) on March 18 unveiled its master plan to resolve issues involving low-income individuals in the Antelope Valley, as well as community ailments.
Made up of seven major programs and components, the master plan is designed to aid disadvantaged families and individuals throughout the Valley to become economically independent, educationally sound and stronger partners in community relations.
“There aren’t many effective programs out there, but our programs are geared to help our youth grow financially and spiritually,” explained Pharaoh Mitchell, one of TCAL’s founders. “We also have parenting classes and we want to focus on relationships.”
He added that economic empowerment and independence are high priorities in TCAL’s plan.
Creating Inspirational Treasures in Youth (CITY), one of several programs, is geared toward enabling youth to begin their own businesses, build bridges between parents, schools and job training.
Elevating Leadership Impact on the Economy (ELITE) is focused on the economic development with youth, families and community.
Mitchell revealed at the event that through cooperative economics TCAL believes poverty and low-income issues can be eradicated throughout the region.
“ELITE is about getting businesses started in our community, because small business is what creates most of the jobs in our community,” the activist said. “If one family can come together and create a business, that’s five jobs it can create in our community. We want to teach families how to have an effective business and teach financial planning.”
Along with a strong economic element, the master plan also includes mentorship for youth who will be partnered with adult men and women, as well as senior citizens.
“Senior citizens are our greatest treasure,” Mitchell commented. “If we can match them with young people, they can teach the youth about relationships and businesses. It would save them years of life lessons they wouldn’t have to go through.”
Community members who would like to be a part of instituting the plan are welcome to join TCAL. Mitchell says they are looking for qualified people to bring the master plan to life and later expand it beyond the A.V.
TCAL is a grassroots movement focused on establishing bonds between community members and empowering individuals to make a difference. The group has been integral in helping families in Section 8, those with legal issues, mentoring troubled teens and advocating for community issues at the local government level.
Visit TCAL.info for more information and to learn about meetings.
PALMDALE, Calif.—The Community Action League, a civil rights organization native to the Antelope Valley, has been hard on the issue of Section 8 for the past year or so. Last week, the organization held a forum, helping outraged residents share stories of what they felt was discrimination in their publicly funded homes.
Since TCAL, along with the NAACP, filed a lawsuit against the cities of Lancaster and Palmdale, more people have come forward with stories that include police brutality and civil rights violations.
PALMDALE—An agreement reached in a discrimination lawsuit between city officials and representatives of Antelope Valley residents who are part of the Section 8 Choice Voucher program is now in the hands of the federal judge overseeing the suit.
The agreement was reached last week, a week after the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a similar agreement.
The judge will now have an opportunity to vet the settlements, and when approved, they will go into effect immediately.
African Americans are the third largest ethnic group in the city of Lancaster. At 19.2 percent of the population (29,263 people), they trail Whites (56.5 percent) and Hispanics (36.5 percent).
Like Black communities around the nation, Lancaster residents experience highs that they applaud and challenges they feel need addressing. As the April 10 elections draw closer, some key community leaders spoke out about what they want from the candidates.
The Antelope Valley has been battered by negative press regarding complaints of discrimination and abuse of power on part of authorities in Section 8 housing. A lawsuit was filed by a local organization, The Community Action League (TCAL) in conjunction with the local chapter of the NAACP brought the concerns to light.
Since the issue was made public, the Los Angeles Board of Supervisors decided to suspend funding for Section 8 investigators for both Palmdale and Lancaster until a thorough investigation was completed.
LANCASTER, Calif.—The Community Action League (TCAL) will host the Community Justice Forum on Saturday, May 14, at the Palmdale Moose Lodge from 12-4 p.m.
The forum and civil rights seminar will educate citizens about their Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Amendment rights, as well as address police harassment and criminal records.
V. Jesse Smith, co-founder of the organization, says the AV is in need of this workshop, especially due to the high volume of complaints and issues individuals have shared with TCAL.
