COFFEE. COMMUNITY. CONNECTION.
Black-Owned, Family-Owned & Community-Owned. On a mission to provide South Central LA with fresh, affordable, and healthy food options for our neighbors.
WHO WE ARE
Hi! We're Joe and Celia Ward-Wallace.
We are Local Stakeholders. Community Leaders. Impact Entrepreneurs. Culture Preservers. Content Creators. Experience Curators. Most importantly, we're Community Connectors.
We grew up in the nearby area and moved just 10 blocks from the cafe almost 20 years ago, right before we were married. We started South LA Cafe because, after decades of living in a food desert, we wanted fresh, affordable, and healthy food options for ourselves and our neighbors.
Instead of waiting for it to arrive, we decided to take a leap of faith and provide it ourselves. We believed that if we build it, they would come, and we are so grateful that you did! South LA Cafe is a community space to take pride in the history, legacy, and future of South Central.
WHAT WE DO
We're on a mission to fight racial, social, economic, and food inequity through coffee, community, and connection. We are committed to creating equal access to fresh and healthy options for our South LA community that can be found in other neighborhoods, but with pricing that is affordable. We are committed to becoming a central hub in the community where everyone will know your name, and where you will feel a sense of belonging.
SOUTH LA CAFE'S IMPACT
These impact stats showcase the ACTIVISM and VISION South LA Cafe was founded on and was created in partnership with their 501c3 the SLAC Foundation and other community partners.
900
VACCINES
2100
COVID TESTS
33K
GROCERY BAGS
990K
MEALS
200
VOLUNTEERS
40
ORGANIZATIONS
50
BUSINESSES
150
ENTREPRENEURS
50
JOBS
168K
RESIDENTS
Welcome to South Central Los Angeles
WHY SOUTH CENTRAL
South Central LA is a historically Black community which resulted due to redlining and white flight. What was once a thriving family community was systematically broken by the pumping of drugs into the community, mass incarceration, police brutality and intentional disinvestment.
What was once a forgotten and "undesirable" community, is now considered "up-and-coming" and is facing the harsh realities of cultural erasure and displacement due to commercial development and gentrification. South LA Cafe was created as a safe space for local Black & Brown folks where the culture is celebrated, honored, & preserved.
CENTRAL AVENUE
DEEP FAMILY ROOTS
CIVIL RIGHTS
CURRENT DAY
EXPLORE OUR COMMUNITY
The Cafe and Market were built to fight racial, social, economic and food inequity. Learn more below and help us build access and equity within our community.
SOUTH LA CAFE
Located in the heart of South Central, the Cafe was built as an intersection of activism, social good, and entrepreneurship. Our goal is to create a community driven and focused organization that provides a safe space and access to high quality food for our local Black and Brown folks.
SOUTH LA MARKET
South Central LA is a food desert, with only 91 grocery stores serving nearly 500,000 residents. Generations of systemic racism and harm have led to unequal access to healthy food, resulting in higher rates of diseases, poorer quality of life, and shorter life spans as much as 12 years for South Central residents! We aim to be an antidote and deliver equity and access to fresh, healthy, and affordable food.
Coffee is how we bring people. Community & Connection is what is created.
SOUTH LA CAFE PARTNERS
VOLUNTEER WITH US
If you’re passionate and interested in helping, sign up to volunteer with us!
BECOME A MEMBER
Contribute monthly and support one of our many programs that serve the community.
SPONSOR GROCERIES
Help fight food inequity by sponsoring a box of groceries for a family in need.
MAKE A DONATION
You can make a difference. Every donation goes toward supporting the community.
This is a digital gift card. After the purchase, you will receive an email with the gift card and instructions on how to use it. The card can be used as payment for any products we have.