Today we’d like to introduce you to Leslie Cooper Johnson.
Hi Leslie, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I was born and raised in Inglewood, CA – still live there now with my husband and two children. But South LA holds a special place in my heart. The church I grew up in is in South LA, and I’ve worked in this community for nearly 20 years. The values I learned at church and at home – community, empathy, service – drove me to a career in social work. While in graduate school pursuing an MSW, I did an internship at Community Coalition and never left! I am grateful every day that I get to work at a social justice organization that centers everyday people and empowers them to fight for improved community conditions.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The road hasn’t always been smooth. My life has been impacted by addiction, domestic violence, and police violence. But I have always been supported by my faith, family, friends, and community – these are the places I find strength and hope to keep moving forward, even in the face of adversity.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
Community Coalition exists to ensure Black, Brown, and historically oppressed people are free to live joyful, powerful, and prosperous lives in South Los Angeles and beyond. We work with Black and Brown youth, adults, and families, as well as BIPOC-led organizations, to win public policies that improve our quality of life and shift the public narrative to uplift our perspectives and issues. We embrace community organizing and leadership development as core strategies for change. When I was placed at Community Coalition as an intern, learning about community organizing blew my mind! As I became more involved in the work, I knew that CoCo was a special and unique place where I could put down roots and serve my community. I feel extremely blessed to be a part of the space!
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
What I love best about LA is the weather and the diversity of environments – you can get to the beaches, the mountains, the desert, the city – whatever suits your mood, you can get there pretty easily. Unless there is too much traffic, which is what I like least about our city.
Contact Info:
- Website: cocosouthla.org
- Instagram: @cooperkid78
- Twitter: @LeslieCoop
