After two years since the flagship event was last held, Liberty Hill Foundation and its supporters gathered on the evening of Thursday, April 28th to celebrate the Upton Sinclair Homecoming Celebration at Skirball Cultural Center, with JJLA by their side as their new production agency.
Liberty Hill wanted to showcase their event in a new way, welcoming back their donors and community leaders. Instead of the traditional seated dinner, the organization wanted to highlight its history and pay homage to the continued battle for social justice and equity in Los Angeles. Above all else, they wanted to give their audience an opportunity to see one another, catch-up, and inspire change.
Guests began the evening with by strolling through a mixed-media art walk which celebrated Liberty Hill’s 45 years of change. Images and videos along the art walk captured key turning points for Liberty Hill in each decade. A hedgewall photo opportunity featured oversized ‘LA’ letters with images from a variety of historical victories and moments showing the transformation of Protest to Power.
Additional activations included a live art piece titled the ‘Justice 4 All Wall’, from local non-profit Arts Bridging the Gap. Guests added their vision for a just future to the art piece by coloring in the gaps or writing a message. Meanwhile, painter Amani Holbert, created a stunning live mural which was later auctioned off to benefit the organization. Live entertainment included DJ and musician, Spencer Ludwig.
At the end of the dinner reception, guests entered the Guerin Pavilion. The show program kicked off with a live performance by local legends, Ozomatli, who later returned to closeout the program with two more hits. Along with the premier of their Justice United: The Fight for Home video, the program honored the Liberty Hill founding family, The Meltzer- Sieroty’s, the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation, and ended with an impactful keynote speech by Assembly Member Isaac Bryan after an introduction by Senator Holly Mitchell.
Bryan reminded audiences that gathering together again was cause to celebrate – a true homecoming – but that the fight for social justice was far from over. The impact of the evening’s program truly resonated with the audience and many stayed after the show to mingle with friends and colleagues. JJLA was proud to have helped design and execute an important evening such as this – one that benefitted and spotlighted the amazing work being done in our own backyard.