ABOUT THE LOS ANGELES BLACK WORKER CENTER

We’re building a world where Black workers thrive.

Three people standing outside a building, raising clenched fists. They are dressed in black T-shirts with badges, and have buttons on their shirts. They are smiling and appear to be part of a protest or rally.
A group of six diverse people smiling and taking a selfie outdoors on a sunny day, with trees and a building in the background.
Group of smiling people wearing black T-shirts standing outdoors at a May Day protest, with flags and cars in the background.

The Los Angeles Black Worker Center (LABWC) is building Black Worker Power by expanding access to quality jobs, strengthening worker rights, and advancing economic justice across Los Angeles. Through organizing, workforce development, policy advocacy, and strategic partnerships, we work alongside Black workers and communities to create lasting opportunities.

  • Our Vision

    We envision a future where Black workers thrive in quality careers, exercise collective power, and help shape an equitable economy for generations to come.

  • Our Mission

    Our mission at the Los Angeles Black Worker Center (LABWC) is to increase access to quality jobs, reduce employment discrimination, and improve industries that employ Black workers through organizing, workforce development, and advocacy.

Our Leadership

Our Board of Directors, Team members and community partners bring deep experience, lived expertise, and a shared commitment to advancing Black Worker Power.

Executive Committee

Dr. Regina Freer - Professor and Chair, Politics Department, Occidental College
Board President

Dr. Jasmine Hill - Professor of Public Policy & Sociology, UCLA
Secretary

Khalil Edwards - Development Director, Power California
Treasurer

Members of the Board

Baba Akili - National Field Coordinator, Black Lives Matter Grassroots & Director, Fannie Lou Hammer Institute

Sherri Bell - Deputy Labor Commissioner, Division of Labor Standards and Enforcement, California Labor Commissioner’s Office

La’Tonya Harris, Co-Executive Director of Operations & Finance, LABWC

Herman Jones - Political & Community Organizer, United Teachers Los Angeles

Greg Mann - Senior Attorney Mediator, California Civil Rights Department

Rosemarie Molina - Adjunct Professor, CSUDH & UCLA

Chloe Osmer - Organizing Director, California Labor Federation

Jante’ Pruitt - Development & Communications, Cooperation LA/dba L.A. Co-op Lab

Dr. Kendrick Roberson - Assistant Professor, Pepperdine University & UCLA

Rashina Young - Government Relations Manager, Southern California Edison

Power Black Workers

Join us as we create pathways to quality jobs, strengthen communities, and invest in Black Worker Power.

  • Our Story

    In 2009, the LABWC started as a project at the UCLA Labor Center. We recognized the growing need for robust and centralized spaces where Black workers could connect with each other, build leadership skills, and access resources that help us have greater control over our workplaces. In 2011, we officially opened our doors.

    The LABWC was created to address persistent inequities in employment and economic opportunity affecting Black workers. Since then, the organization has grown into a trusted Black-led nonprofit connecting workers, employers, labor, philanthropy, and community partners to create pathways to family-sustaining careers.

  • Our Impact

    Every year, LABWC equips workers with career readiness skills, supports campaigns that improve workplace conditions, builds partnerships with employers, and advocates for policies that expand opportunity.

Our 15 Year Legacy

Watch our LABWC 15th Anniversary Celebration recap.

Timeline