Community Services Unlimited is a non-profit organization based in South Los Angeles. Our goal/mission is to foster the creation of communities actively working to address the inequalities and systemic barriers that make sustainable communities and self-reliant life-styles unattainable.

We are committed to supporting and creating justice-driven community-based programs and educational initiatives, which seek to foster dialogue, and create awareness and critical consciousness.  We envision equitable, healthful and sustainable communities that are self-reliant, inter-relating and where every individual has the support and resources needed to develop to their fullest capacity.

Our biggest tool for community engagement is food. Growing food, distributing food, being advocates for food and food justice, are ways in which we do community outreach, enhance critical thinking about social issues in the community, and promote sustainable ways of living. We see food as a bridge to unite the communities of South LA and to use the blend of these different cultures to make our mission a reality.

Our biggest focus in community engagement is working with youth. Youth are, as a matter of fact, the biggest contributors to the future and the world of tomorrow, and are also the primary victims of social problems in the community. Youth suffer the most from obesity and health issues and poor education and are therefore the best advocates for change. We at CSU believe that youth are the key for dealing with the issues of tomorrow.

It is essential to be a part of the Rooted In Community network and to promote RIC’s mission to connect youth all over the country. It is the best place for youth to learn from each other and to know that there are many other youth like them who are doing the same work and fighting for the same things that other communities are fighting for. It is a great opportunity for our organization and our youth to connect to different organizations and communities to have a bigger national impact on social justice issues.

Lawrence DeFreitis