Our Mission
EVERY PERSON NEEDS COMMUNITY
Urbano Strategies exists to empower Los Angeles communities by turning residents into leaders of their own neighborhoods. We hire and train locals to organize, design, and advocate for the public projects transforming our streets—ensuring development is shaped by those who know it best.
vision
GOALS
Picture 1 MILLION Angelenos—parents, youth, elders—not just watching cranes rise, but shaping the plans. We envision LA streets shaped by those who walk them, where economic opportunities start at home, where development no longer means displacement and priced out, but homecoming, and where progress is measured not just in buildings, but in belonging. This is the Los Angeles we’re fighting for: a city that grows with its people, not over them.
WHO WE ARE
FOR THE COMMUNITY, FROM THE COMMUNITY
We are organizers, changemakers, neighbors dedicated to revitalizing the areas we call home. We don’t just consult communities – we are the community, designing inclusive spaces that serve all—from our youngest members to our seniors. We are Urbano Strategies – architects of change, champions of community, and the people’s voice of Los Angeles.
FOUNDER AND CEO
JESSE DE LA CRUZ
Jesse De La Cruz is South LA raised and understands the frustrations of empty promises, the fight to be heard, the struggle for green spaces, and what it means when your neighborhood gets overlooked. For over 10 years, he’s turned that lived experience into community power: transforming vacant lots into playgrounds and urban farms, speaking up for community that led to direct actions for policy, and garnering public and private investment into our communities. Jesse works the blocks and the bureaucracy so South LA’s voice isn’t just considered – it’s non-negotiable. Jesse ensures neighborhood expertise drives every decision—because no outsider knows these streets like the people who live them.