Bridging Histories: Lessons from the Bradley Coalition

In 2024 & 2025, a Black/Jewish/Black & Jewish cohort called "Bridging Histories" gathered monthly at the Skirball Center to break bread together and grapple with the state of our coalition.
One of the richest discoveries that was made during our time together was the importance of The Bradley Coalition in our local history - the strong Black/Jewish alliance that voted Bradley in as mayor, and how that coalition ultimately dissolved. In a time where the Middle East continues to drive a wedge through vital alliance spaces, we see the study of this coalition as a way for us to identify and alchemize the learnings of the solidarity spaces that came before us. Our goal is to find new ways into the question: How do we continue to work in coalition, even when we are in disagreement?

Join us for an engaging in-person event to hear stories and insights from Dr. Mark Ridley-Thomas and Raphael Sonenshein about the Jewish and Black alliance created to elect Los Angeles' first Black mayor, Tom Bradley.

Dr. Mark Ridley-Thomas is a visionary leader and public servant who founded the Empowerment Congress to advance participatory democracy and has dedicated his career to advocating for transformative community change in Los Angeles.

Raphe Sonenshein Ph.D. serves as Executive Director of the Haynes Foundation, where his renowned research on Los Angeles government, charter reform, and interracial coalitions informs the foundation's mission to advance good governance and broader democratic participation.

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