A BETTER LA, founded by football head coach Pete Carroll, is a 501(c)(3) that unites local leaders from the private, non-profit, social service, faith-based, education and law enforcement sectors. We are committed to supporting Los Angeles communities in their goal to reduce violence by empowering change from within.
By mobilizing the knowledge and skills from within a community to inspire its individuals to dream, work and play without fear, we believe it is possible to build a better Los Angeles, one community at a time.
“We are here to make a better Los Angeles one neighborhood at a time. Are you IN?” - Pete Carroll, Founder, A BETTER LA
OUR STORY
Pete Carroll had just heard another story about a kid from Los Angeles becoming a victim of gang violence.
Pete called his friend Lou Tice, respected educator and founder of The Pacific Institute, with a simple message: “We’ve got to do something about this.”
In April 2003, Pete and Lou, along with Lou’s wife Diane, gathered LA community leaders together to envision a new concept of peace and prosperity for the inner city. They hoped to build “A BETTER LA.”
Since then, thousands of people from all walks of life have completed a 32-hour training class contributed by The Pacific Institute. These courses teach skills that support individual and collective achievement of visions, goals and objectives. The special curriculum addresses issues related to gangs, drugs, self-esteem, isolation, depression and suicide, lack of motivation, and perceived inability to prepare for the future. Carroll and the Tice’s believed this was the first step to sustainable change: create a common language of hope.
Since then A BETTER LA has evolved into a non-profit that focuses on saving lives and transforming communities. To succeed in this difficult line of work there has to be a strategy in place. A BETTER LA provides financial support, capacity and life skills training, oversite, accountability and resources to men and women who have the experience of being from the streets but have now turned their lives around to become community outreach workers. We believe that communities must change from within and these people are the best suited to lead the transformation.
This comprehensive strategy is saving lives on a daily basis, reducing and preventing violence and most important creating safe and healthy environments for kids and families to thrive.
