About Us
Communities in Schools of Los Angeles (CISLA) is an affiliate of Communities In Schools (CIS), the largest dropout (pushout) prevention nonprofit in the United States.
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CISLA integrates its evidenced-based model in 15 schools across Los Angeles that connects students with caring adults and community resources designed to help them succeed.
In partnership with teachers, principals, school staff, and local organizations, CISLA ensures that students – regardless of external challenges – are provided the tools to graduate high school and establish a path to real world success - college, skills and workforce training.
Our vision is that every student in Los Angeles’ public schools receives the support they need to develop the social and emotional skills required to graduate high school ready for meaningful employment and higher education.
Our Values
Integrity
CISLA demonstrates trust, honesty, commitment, and compassion in decision-making and interactions with colleagues, students, and families. ​
Justice
CISLA commits to action in the face of structures which undermine the inherent dignity & rights of all people.
Empathy
CISLA seeks to break down assumptions, acknowledge the humanity in others, honor differences in thought and experience, and build connections in an authentic and respectful way. ​
Accountability
CISLA holds ourselves accountable to all levels of ownership and responsibility for our behavior, performance, and decisions under clear, transparent, and consistent expectations. ​
Collaboration
CISLA intentionally creates collaborative spaces where everyone is committed to working together towards the same goal.
Community
CISLA recognizes the strength in connections and relationships and fosters these by demonstrating compassion, celebrating successes, and building camaraderie.
DEI Statement
At Communities In Schools of Los Angeles (CISLA), we share a vision to be an organization that actively promotes diversity, equity, and inclusivity (DEI). Diversity, equity, and inclusion are fundamental values to our affiliate, which we believe are critical to the work that we do in our schools and the larger community we serve.
We are aware of the systems of oppression that exist around us and in our work. We also recognize the unconscious bias that can influence decisions and interactions, even with a very diverse staff. We recognize that there are many dimensions of marginalized groups in addition to race, sexual orientation, gender identity, immigration status, persons with disabilities, and that the intersections across these categories deepen marginalization.
In alignment with our mission to surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life, CISLA is officially establishing a DEI Committee. The DEI Committee will play a critical role in building affiliate competence and fluency to serve as a catalyst in dismantling oppressive systems in our work; through centering racial equity and justice in our words, actions, behaviors and decisions.
