‘This is not a moment to retrench. It’s a moment to be bold.’

During a sunlit yet crisp autumn week in Los Angeles, the hum of inspiration and determination filled the air as Rise Economy hosted its inaugural Action and Advocacy Conference and its annual Equitable Futures Awards (EFAs) celebration. The events, marked by thoughtful ceremonies and spirited discussions, brought together a dynamic mix of community organizers, nonprofit leaders, elected officials and changemakers committed to building an equitable future.

The events began Wednesday, Nov. 13 with the Equitable Futures Awards, an annual celebration that for 20 years has honored those who have made transformative impacts in their communities.

Among the honorees, Rudy Ortega Jr., Tribal President of the Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians, received the Alan Fisher Economic Justice Award, named after Rise Economy’s founding executive director. Ortega Jr. invited Resilience Fund alumnus and Native First Lending Executive Director Raymond Salas, on stage to deliver remarks about the collective work required to ensure justice and opportunity for generations to come. “The work we’re doing now is to set the stage for future generations,” Salas said. “And I believe that’s why we’re all here, in some way, shape or form.”

The spotlight also shone on Inland Equity Community Land Trust (IECLT) and Neighborhood Partnership Housing Services (NPHS), recipients of Equitable Futures Awards. In a heartwarming moment, staff members of both organizations were invited to join the stage, emphasizing the communal spirit at the heart of their work.

The momentum carried into the next day at the California Endowment, where the conference officially began with opening remarks from Rise Economy Chief Executive Officer Paulina Gonzalez-Brito and with an address from author and housing advocate Leah Rothstein. Her words served as both a history lesson and a call to action: “When we reckon with the history…when our government breaks its own laws, we as citizens have an obligation to not only fix those laws but to remedy their ongoing impacts,” she told the crowd.

Breakout sessions throughout the day explored pressing topics, from the role of Black- and Indigenous-led Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) to empowering tenants in the fight for building decarbonization.

Attendees were treated to a second, special keynote as Julián Castro, former U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and current Executive Director of the Latino Community Foundation, took the stage. In a stirring address, Castro urged attendees to resist complacency in the face of challenges.

“This is not a moment to retrench,” Castro said. “It’s a moment to be bold. To push back. To stand up.” His words resonated deeply, as he reminded attendees of the collective power they hold to shape a more just future: “The question for all of us here is, what can we do to ensure our democracy works for those who don’t have a voice or the resources to make it work for them?”

In one of the conference’s most anticipated moments, Gonzalez-Brito moderated the Elected Officials Plenary, featuring DFPI Commissioner Chloe Hewlett, Assemblymember Isaac Bryan, and Los Angeles City Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martinez. The discussion centered on the future of California communities, particularly in light of recent national political developments. Assemblymember Bryan reflected on the state’s challenges, including what he called an “identity crisis” after the passage of Prop 6, while recommitting to creating systems rooted in health and opportunity.

Lunchtime brought a welcome pause, complete with a lively set from Long Beach-based DJ duo Las Chicas Tristes, who performed in a courtyard shaded by trees.

As the day drew to a close, attendees left with a renewed sense of purpose, buoyed by the ideas and connections fostered throughout the conference. Sponsored by partners like Clearinghouse CDFI, T.R.U.S.T. South LA, East West Bank, and others, the 2024 Equitable Futures Awards and Action and Advocacy Conference was not just an event but a launchpad for meaningful change.