
Chaya Crowder, assistant professor in the LMU Department of Political Science and International Relations, has been awarded a $500,000 contract to lead the annual State of Black Los Angeles report, a publication of L.A. County’s Anti-Racism, Diversity, and Inclusion Initiative. The report and the ARDI Initiative were established in response to the George Floyd uprisings of 2020 to address “generational inequality and systemic anti-Black racism.”
“My goal in this study is to develop a deeper understanding of the policies and strategies that are working well when it comes to improving the conditions of Black Angelenos, as well as understanding where existing policies fall short,” said Crowder.
The study is underway, and Crowder has begun interviewing elected officials, activists, and community leaders. The plan is also to conduct listening sessions with Black Angelenos to ensure their voices are heard, and their experiences are reflected in the report.
The most recent State of Black Los Angeles report underscores the reality that due to restrictive covenants, redlining, predatory lending, and other discriminatory practices, Black people continue to have one of the lowest homeownership rates in Los Angeles County. Additionally, despite making up 10 percent of the population, Black people comprise 30 percent of the homeless population. Historical and discriminatory practices also exacerbate inequality in education and health outcomes for Black Angelenos.

Crowder’s research focuses on the intersection of racial and gender politics, emphasizing Black politics and Black women. Driven by a desire to deepen her understanding of race relations in Los Angeles, Crowder connected with D’Artagnan Scorza, Ph.D., executive director of racial equity for Los Angeles County, to learn more about the ARDI Initiative and to see how her work as a researcher could help advance and enhance their strategy.
The Thomas and Dorothy Leavey Center for the Study of Los Angeles, also known as StudyLA, is playing an essential role in helping Crowder collect pertinent data for the study by adding questions to their annual public opinion survey. “We are thrilled to be collaborating with Professor Crowder on the largest annual public opinion survey of Black Angelenos,” said Bri Gilbert, managing director of StudyLA.
Rishan Ephrem ’23, a political science major, will serve as a research assistant for the study, helping move the day-to-day work forward, from scheduling and transcribing interviews to reviewing past State of Black Los Angeles reports.
Crowder will provide the county with actionable policy recommendations at the culmination of the yearlong study. “Los Angeles is a key site for Black political engagement,” said Crowder. “With the election of the first African American woman as mayor, Los Angeles also serves as an example of how descriptive representation can influence substantive representation.”