Building youth power to prevent and end youth homelessness
About Our Home Page Video:
This clip is from the documentary Close to Home. Executive produced by Patrisse Cullors (@osopepatrisse) with filmmaker Whitney Gauge (@whitneyskauge).
This project was developed and filmed during Patrisse’s time as Creative Strategist for the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture (@lacountyarts)
alongside the Los Angeles County Homeless Initiative.
LA Emissary is changing how
Los Angeles responds to
youth homelessness.
We position young people
with lived experience as
decision-makers, supporting and empowering them to shape funding, policy, and systems that directly impact their lives.
As a project of Community Initiatives, LA Emissary builds youth leadership across Los Angeles County, equips young people with advocacy and systems knowledge, and brings funders, providers, and government partners into shared decision-making with youth.
Our work is rooted in the belief that solutions are strongest when the people most impacted lead
the way.
About
60+
young leaders
$4.8M
Youth Directed Funds
8
SPA Teams
Our Team
LA Emissary is a collective of young Angelenos rewriting how Los Angeles responds to youth homelessness. We’re dismantling old systems, redistributing power, and building a culture of collaboration where youth, providers, funders, and policymakers share the table as equals.
Detrell
La’Toya Cooper
Taneil Franklin
Travis Crown
Dashayna Heath
Whimzi Ha
Alexandro Zambrano-Tamayo
Leanndra Martinez
SPA Teams
From Antelope Valley to South Bay, youth are leading change locally.
