The Museum of Social Justice will use California Arts Council grant funds to retain key staff, provide leadership training integrated into operations, exhibitions, research, and education, both in person and online. About 50% of funds will go to staff retention and leadership development, starting in the first quarter and continuing throughout the year. Approximately 25% will upgrade exhibition media equipment for two major exhibitions in the second quarter. About 15% will establish or strengthen at least 5 partnerships with local artists, organizations, and activists, starting in the first quarter and ongoing. The remaining 10% will support outreach and evaluation activities. These efforts will help mount two exhibitions showcasing Los Angeles’ diverse communities, expected to reach 5,000-8,000 visitors each, with improved engagement and visibility. Clear resource allocation and timeline will foster positive change and expand impact.
As part of its permanent collection, the Museum showcases the work of women missionaries who established schools, medical clinics, and other services for refugees of the Mexican revolution in the early 1900’s, including the first integrated drinking fountain in Los Angeles from circa 1917. Through a collaboration with the Bradley Center at Cal State University, Northridge the museum was able to digitize over 2,000 photographs documenting life in Los Angeles for poor Latinos beginning in 1899. The museum has worked with a variety of curators to plan exhibitions on diverse social justice themes, including the Civil Rights Movement, immigration, and East L.A. student activism. In 2017, the Museum began partnering with artists from under-served communities to produce artistic responses to our major exhibitions. The museum invests in young adult leadership to act as docents, support our media needs, research our archives, develop educational components for upcoming exhibitions, etc.