SJLI - Social Justice Learning Institute

SJLI - Social Justice Learning Institute Social Justice Learning Institute is advancing communities to achieve health and educational equity.

A Focus on Equity:

Educational Equity
We know that a quality education is foundational to a prosperous future, and for that reason, education is at our core. Under the banner of Urban Scholars, SJLI specializes in culturally relevant learning, teaching, and curriculum development, which supports positive identity development, increases academic achievement, and expands opportunities for civic par

ticipation. Health Equity
We believe that all communities should have access to fresh whole foods, clean and safe open spaces, and quality medical care. SJLI is committed to addressing health disparities through community development that is not only culturally relevant, but also builds the capacity of individuals to make healthy decisions in their personal lives. SJLI’s flagship health equity initiative is 100 Seeds of Change, which seeks to create a local food system.

Understanding the ballot starts with understanding the power behind your voice. 🗳️Join us for this month’s Lunch & Learn...
05/28/2026

Understanding the ballot starts with understanding the power behind your voice. 🗳️

Join us for this month’s Lunch & Learn as Derek Steele and Gary Hardie Jr. break down the election cycle, voting information, and the issues shaping this year’s ballot. This conversation is about more than politics, it’s about access, education, and empowering our communities to make informed decisions.

📅 May 29, 2026
⏰ 12PM PST
📍 Streaming live on here:

Tap in, bring your questions, and be part of the conversation. The community needs informed voters.

Primary elections are one way our communities protect our voice and our power.These elections help decide who moves forw...
05/21/2026

Primary elections are one way our communities protect our voice and our power.

These elections help decide who moves forward, whose priorities are heard, and what issues get carried into the next phase. In Los Angeles, those choices shape real parts of daily life, from housing and schools to public safety, transportation, health, and the resources our neighborhoods receive.

Our communities deserve to be part of the decision-making from the very beginning.
Check your registration. Make your plan. Vote in the primary.

The Fellowship Initiative (TFI) Program is celebrating the graduation of 40 students this year, with all 40 continuing o...
05/20/2026

The Fellowship Initiative (TFI) Program is celebrating the graduation of 40 students this year, with all 40 continuing on to four-year universities a 100% college going rate.

This achievement reflects years of hard work from the students, dedication from families, and the support of mentors and community partners who helped make this success possible.

Outcomes like this are a reminder of what’s possible when young people are given consistent access to guidance, resources, and opportunity. Continued support and donations directly help programs like TFI expand that access and ensure even more students are able to reach and thrive in higher education. For more information on how to support, click the link in our bio.

05/15/2026

This campaign has always been about more than scholarships.
It’s about investing in young people who have shown up, done the work, and are preparing to take their next steps into college, career pathways, and new opportunities.

SJLI is raising $100K in scholarships to help remove financial barriers and support students as they step into the futures they’ve been working toward.

Donate. Fundraise. Spread the word.

✨Student Highlight✨Justin Martinez is a senior at Augustus F. Hawkins High School and will attend Princeton University, ...
05/14/2026

✨Student Highlight✨

Justin Martinez is a senior at Augustus F. Hawkins High School and will attend Princeton University, where he plans to study Computer Science with a minor in Statistics and Machine Learning.

As a QuestBridge Scholar, Justin’s journey reflects hard work, resilience, and a growing belief in what’s possible. Before joining TFI, he often struggled with self-doubt. Through Outward Bound, college tours, and programs like ADW at Cal Poly Pomona, he began building confidence, taking risks, and seeing himself in spaces he once questioned.

TFI helped Justin grow as a leader, strengthen his voice, and understand the power of community and self-advocacy. Now, he hopes to become a Data Scientist using data to address real-world issues in public health and environmental equity.

At SJLI, we believe students like Justin deserve every opportunity to succeed.
We are raising $100K in scholarships this year to support students as they take their next steps.

Donate. Fundraise. Spread the Word.

✨Student Highlight✨Lucero Hernandez is a senior at Hawkins High School and will attend UC Riverside, where she plans to ...
05/13/2026

✨Student Highlight✨

Lucero Hernandez is a senior at Hawkins High School and will attend UC Riverside, where she plans to major in Pre-Law. She is also a recipient of the Jordan Wings Scholar award, recognizing her dedication, growth, and commitment to her future.

Through the Young Women’s Program, Lucero began to reflect more deeply on her identity, her voice, and the woman she is becoming. The program helped her build teamwork and communication skills while showing her the power of community, shared experience, and collective growth.

It also strengthened her belief in women’s empowerment and the importance of investing in young women whose ideas are fresh, bold, and full of potential.

At SJLI, we believe students like Lucero deserve every opportunity to succeed. We are raising $100K in scholarships this year to support students as they take their next steps.

Donate. Fundraise. Spread the Word.

Celebrating Our 2026 Jordan Wings Scholarship Nominees! 🎓We’re proud to celebrate 7 Urban Scholars seniors who have been...
05/11/2026

Celebrating Our 2026 Jordan Wings Scholarship Nominees! 🎓

We’re proud to celebrate 7 Urban Scholars seniors who have been nominated for the prestigious Jordan Wings Scholarship.

These students represent resilience, leadership, academic excellence, and the power of continued support. Through SJLI’s partnership with the Jordan Wings Program, they are now one step closer to scholarship funding, mentorship, and a lifelong network designed to help them thrive in college and beyond.

The Jordan Wings Program, supported by Jordan Brand in partnership with UNCF, helps create access to education for underserved youth across the globe.

More than a scholarship, the program provides students with continued support throughout their college journey so they can focus on their future without the full weight of tuition, books, housing, transportation, and other barriers.

At SJLI, we walk alongside our scholars from application to award and beyond. Once they become part of the Wings and Higher Pathways families, that support continues through college, career, and wellness resources.

Help us celebrate our 2026 Jordan Wings Scholarship nominees:

🎓 Mia Fobi
🎓 Kimora Whitfield
🎓 Lucero Hernandez
🎓 Ronald Abercrombie
🎓 Derek Jackson
🎓 Frenchie Jones
🎓 Jonathan Small

As we celebrate these scholars, we’re also raising $100,000 in scholarships for this year’s graduating class. Every donation helps students cover real costs like tuition, books, housing, and transportation.

Donate. Fundraise. Spread the word.

🔗 Link in bio.

This is about more than data. It’s about people, families, and how our communities are treated every day.Pretextual stop...
05/05/2026

This is about more than data. It’s about people, families, and how our communities are treated every day.

Pretextual stops have caused real harm, and that impact doesn’t stop with one person.

On May 6, LA City Council has the opportunity to take a step toward real change. Show up, or help spread the word.

We move this forward together.

In a 6–3 decision in Louisiana v. Callais, the Supreme Court struck down a map that had finally created fairer represent...
05/04/2026

In a 6–3 decision in Louisiana v. Callais, the Supreme Court struck down a map that had finally created fairer representation for Black voters in Louisiana. This is not just about district lines. It is about access, voice, and the weakening of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, one of the key protections against discrimination at the ballot box.

Decisions like this can make it feel like the system was never built with us in mind. But at SJLI, we stay rooted in something different. We believe power is not just something you are given. It is something you build. Our students are already in that work. They are training to become the organizers, advocates, and policy thinkers who do not just respond to injustice but challenge the systems that create it.

If this moment is sitting heavy with you, you are not alone in that. Stay in the conversation with us. Support the students doing the work on the ground, share this so more people understand what is at stake, and talk about it with your people. These rulings shape real lives, and silence only makes that impact harder to see.

05/01/2026

It’s going to be a different world soon for our rising seniors and graduates.

Navigating their way through high school and the first year of college can be challenging, overwhelming, and downright frightening, as we hear from our students and know from experience.

As they prepare for the next stages of their lives this fall, we understand the crucial support they require to thrive. To better prepare our young adults, SJLI holds an annual three-day summer workshop—called A Different World—at various universities throughout Southern California to give students the skills and tools they need to succeed for the coming year and beyond.

Over 72 hours, our new high school graduates dive into comprehensive academic preparation, college readiness workshops, workforce development activities, and life skills-building sessions.

For our rising seniors, we walk them through A-G requirements versus high school requirements. We also discuss the difference between UCs and CSUs, timelines to apply to colleges and complete high school requirements, when to start college essays, how to apply for scholarships, and what letters of recommendation should contain.

It’s been a success. According to our post-workshop surveys, more than 70 percent of students say they are excited about going to college and feel more prepared to go.

Help us support the Class of 2026 and their journey through college by donating to our 2026 Scholarship Fund.

🔗 LINK IN BIO! 🔗

Address

600 Centinela Avenue
Inglewood, CA
90302

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Website

https://www.pledge.to/sjli-culmination-campaign

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