Urban Partners Los Angeles (UPLA) began in 1992, initially in response to LA’s famous Rodney King riots, which brought civil disturbance throughout Los Angeles, including to the Koreatown and Westlake neighborhoods, which became Urban Partners’ service territory. The goal and mission of UPLA has always been to work within and through these communities, some of the most densely populated areas in t
he state of California. The population of this area is 219,000 (demographic data from The Los Angeles Times), and it is home to low-income immigrants from Korea, Mexico, Central America, and other areas worldwide. According to the 2010 census, more than half the residents in these areas are foreign-born. The longevity of UPLA’s math / study, food distribution, and exercise programs has established them in the community, making UPLA the “go-to” place in the area to get help. But more people are now asking for services than we can accommodate, and we know the demand will rise. In part, the demand is increasing because federal (and other) funding for food and education programs has been cut back. In part, the demand is increasing because our constituents are asking for more help. They’re asking because they know we can help, and they know we can help because we’ve been helping them for years. Originally called the Urban Ministry of Los Angeles, the name Urban Partners Los Angeles was adopted in 2012 when UPLA established itself as a 501(c) 3 in the state of California.
