South LA Café: a livelihood for some, a home for others and welcome to all.  We believe in three things: coffee, community and connection, but 2020 has brought on unprecedented challenges to our family and what we believe in.  We are not just a coffee shop, we are a beacon of hope for many in our community.  We now have had to rethink how our three pillars fit into our community in the midst of so much change, and adjust to the needs of our community.

When COVID-19 struck, South LA was hit hard.  We have all had to adjust to our new normal lives, but that is much more difficult for some than others.  South LA is a strong community of neighbors, but one that has persevered through the racial injustices throughout the last century that has put the community in need.  Food insecurity affects our community disproportionately to the rest of Los Angeles due to a century of segregation, redlining and racism, making the “new normal” for the South LA community incredibly difficult.

COVID-19 has reopened the healing wound of South LA’s rich, yet complicated past.  As social justice took center stage this year, we know our community deserves justice for processes they had no control over, but are now feeling the harmful effects of.  This is why we’ve begun our grocery box delivery services.  Every Wednesday South LA Café puts together grocery boxes for hundreds of food insecure families in our community--funded totally by donations from patrons fortunate enough to give even $10 a month.  

While the pandemic has been a small bump in the road in our battle for social justice in South LA, we are not slowing down.  We want to make sure our patrons are equipped with the resources they need to create change.  This of course includes the food we distribute, but also includes information about our elected officials, local black artists and the legislation that is affecting our lives and members of our community.  We’ve had to get creative with how we disperse this information, but it is now available all online through or weekly newsletter until we can resume our in person events!

We want to thank our community and family for sticking with us through these troubled times, and we assure you that we are doing everything in our power to make your lives easier during this incredibly difficult time.  We hope to see you soon!