805 Resistance creates change in the Conejo Valley Adalia Luo
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Sarena Kabir
Melina Wagner
bove a large “Join Us” button, the homepage of 805 Resistance (https://805resistance.org/), a local Black-led and womenled grassroots advocacy organization, reads, “There is no growth without resistance.” Founded in 2020, this local activist collaborative has become a household name in the 805 as a pillar for meaningful advocacy focused on diversity, equity and inclusion. The voices and work of the members echo in city council legislation, school board meetings, Juneteenth celebrations, protests and every space where meaningful improvements must occur. Dedicated to being the voice of the voiceless, the members of 805 Resistance are steadfast in changing our community for the better.
Origins
she has done. “It’s really making [advocacy] a part of your daily life…trying to make it more of a daily practice of keeping in mind how [our ingrained beliefs] work against certain groups and exclude certain groups, and how they really do benefit other folks like myself as a White person,” Sullivan explained. Ríccí Bester Adams is 805 Resistance’s social media volunteer. “I grew up around politics…I’m not a stranger to it,” Adams explained, “but I wanted to find my voice.” As a single mother and student, Adams found that being a part of 805 Resistance allowed her to manageably prioritize advocacy alongside her family, schoolwork, business and other responsibilities. “I’m there to help out the cause as best as I can… and I try to give as much as I can with what I know,” Adams said. Created as a collaborative, Aaron sought to ensure the volunteer
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Activist- La Shaun Aaron, the founder of 805 Resistance, created the organization two years ago in the wake of the death of George Floyd. 805 Resistance/With Permission
La Shaun Aaron, the founder of 805 Resistance and a single, working mother and USC student, knew that she wanted to get more involved in the politics of our area. In 2019, the organization was an idea in Aaron’s mind, and after George Floyd was murdered in 2020, Aaron worked to realize that idea. “[My co-founder and I] got together and decided that we wanted to do something that produced action items,” Aaron explained. “[805 Resistance] is it. This is what we do.” After posting a couple of flyers at a protest, registering a Facebook account and having a few passionate conversations with like-minded friends, 805 Resistance was born, Aaron at the forefront. As the organization has grown, a diversity of members have joined in the effort. Stephanie Sullivan, 805 Resistance’s administrator, began volunteering during a Black and Indigenous people of color (BIPOC) arts showcase in 2021. As one of the few non-BIPOC in then organization, Sullivan reflects on the learning and unlearning
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Panther Prowler | June 3, 2022
It’s really making [advocacy] a part of your daily life…trying to make it more of a daily practice of keeping in mind how [our ingrained beliefs] work against certain groups and exclude certain groups, and how they really do benefit other folks like myself as a White person. -Stephanie Sullivan
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organization’s ability to represent marginalized voices. Currently, every member is a working mother, and many, like Aaron and Adams, are also college students, business owners or both. “Along with our personal lives and busy schedules we make the time for advocacy and community organizing,” Aaron explained. “This is why we continuously encourage people to get involved no matter what they have going on. It is possible to facilitate change when we all share the workload.” 805 Resistance is committed to maintaining this structure of shared responsibility. “We might have different ideas of how to achieve the same thing,” Sullivan said. “What’s really wonderful is we can come together and discuss those things, and figure out what path we want to take.” Today, 805 Resistance stands proudly for their original goals. “We are anti-capitalism, anti-racist, and about community organizing and advocacy as well as education, “ Aaron emphasized. “We [want] to have tangible, tangible work being done.”
