Peace4Kids Advancing Equity
In honor of the 50th anniversary of the Watts Rebellion, we’ll share stories highlighting community members who are advancing an “equitable” society for our children. Imagine a world where youth in foster care, who are often unseen and unheard, receive all they need to prosper.
If these stories resonate, please consider
Joining our Karisma 100K Matching Campaign
to help raise awareness and support the ongoing development of our community change makers.
The Watts Rebellion
50 years ago, just blocks away from Peace4Kids, a young man was detained. His arrest spurred the community of Watts to a collective rebellion lasting six days. There were 34 deaths, 1,032 injuries, 3,438 arrests, and over $40 million in property damage.
While racism is the obvious discussion, then and today, the root cause is more complex. The rebellion added fuel to the civil rights movement for equality. Many laws were subsequently passed, intended to even the playing field. So how is it, that 50 years later, a Los Angeles foster care system exists, where 25% of foster youth are African-American, yet African-American children make up only 8% of the youth population?
The disparity is a result of missing the mark on our civil rights movements. This is not to disparage our great civil rights leaders, but rather a commentary on the following generations to build on their successes.
Peace4Kids engages in intensive and personal work with current and former foster youth through our LEAD [Leadership through Equity, Advocacy and Development] Program, empowering community members to inform public policy, improve child welfare outcomes and advance an equitable society for all children. Your support directly funds services for our youth - supporting them in, and transitioning out of, foster care.
Donate to our Karisma 100K Matching Campaign
Each dollar contributed will be generously matched by the Karisma Foundation. Because you’re only a child once.