Courtesy photo
By Cynthia Gibson
Contributing Writer
LOS ANGELES — Capri Maddox’s journey from an unstable childhood to becoming the first executive director of the Los Angeles Civil + Human Rights and Equity Department is a testament to resilience, perseverance and a profound commitment to social justice. Her life story is one of overcoming adversity and using her experiences to drive systemic change for marginalized communities.
Born here, her early years were marked by instability and uncertainty. Throughout her childhood, she experienced multiple unstable living situations and narrowly avoided entering the foster care system. Despite those challenges, Maddox emerged with an unwavering sense of resilience and an ability to navigate adversity.
Her family’s commitment to education and hard work laid the foundation for her future success. Maddox’s mother, a teacher, instilled in her a deep appreciation for learning, while her father’s work in heating and air conditioning for movie studios provided a unique connection to the city’s vibrant entertainment industry. The supportive environment helped Maddox believe in her ability to achieve more, even when life seemed uncertain.
Although Los Angeles was home, Maddox’s upbringing was shaped by time spent in various cities, including Philadelphia, New Jersey and North Carolina. Experiencing diverse communities firsthand broadened her worldview and equipped her with a unique understanding of the challenges faced by different populations — a perspective that would later inform her work in public service.
Maddox’s professional journey began early. At just 16 years old, she took her first job as a hostess at LA Pasta and Pizza in the Beverly Center. The experience in a fast-paced restaurant environment taught her the value of customer service, adaptability and hard work — lessons that would stay with her throughout her career.
While in high school, a classmate recognized her potential and applied to Cal State Los Angeles on her behalf. In a twist of fate, Maddox never received her acceptance letter because it was sent to a post office box she didn’t have access to. It wasn’t until the third day of classes that she received a call from the university informing her of her acceptance.
This unexpected opportunity set her on the path toward higher education and public service.
Maddox earned a bachelor of science in criminal justice and a master’s of science in public administration. She later pursued a law degree from Pepperdine University School of Law and completed the USC Lusk Center Minorities in Real Estate Development Program — an impressive academic portfolio that would pave the way for her career in city leadership.
Maddox’s career with the city of Los Angeles began in 1992 as a student professional worker under Romero Malveaux in the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment. What started as a part-time position paying $9.08 an hour soon became the launching point for a lifelong commitment to public service.
Malveaux became a pivotal mentor, encouraging Maddox to diversify her skill set and take on a variety of projects. She also instilled in Maddox the importance of consistently proving her value in the face of budget cuts and changing political landscapes.
“Every six months, we had to justify my position,” Maddox said. “So, figuring out early in my career how to have the most added value for any position was a lesson I learned. I just always operated like every six months the world could change.”
Her ability to adapt and demonstrate value became a defining characteristic of Maddox’s career. Over the years, she held a range of roles, including serving as senior advisor to City Attorney Michael Feuer. In this position, Maddox led special projects and established the Foster Care Diversion Program and Business Support Unit. Her work in this capacity reflected her lifelong commitment to uplifting vulnerable populations.
“When you’re in foster care, you’re more likely to be impoverished, unhoused or incarcerated,” Maddox said. “We wanted to be a disruptor in that space to create an opportunity for the transitional age youth to have an extra pair of eyes on their cases.”
Maddox’s career continued to ascend as she took on leadership roles across various city departments. She was appointed as executive director of partnerships at the Los Angeles Unified School District by former Superintendent Austin Beutner and later served as president of the Los Angeles Board of Public Works under Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. In the latter role, she oversaw a $1.8 billion annual budget and managed more than 5,000 employees, delivering essential infrastructure services to city residents.
Her most historic appointment came in February 2020, when Mayor Eric Garcetti named Maddox the first executive director of the new Los Angeles Civil + Human Rights and Equity Department. Reflecting on her childhood in South Los Angeles during the 1980s, Maddox remarked, “I didn’t think that there would be a need to create a Civil Rights Department in the city of Los Angeles in 2020.”
However, in a time marked by heightened awareness of systemic racism and civil unrest, Maddox understood the critical need for such a department. With decades of government experience, she felt compelled to lead the effort to ensure that future generations had an institutional framework to combat hate, inequity, and structural racism.
Under her leadership, the L.A. Civil Rights Department became a beacon of progress. Maddox spearheaded efforts to consolidate multiple commissions, including the Human Relations Commission, the Commission on the Status of Women, the Transgender Advisory Council, and the Office of Race and Equity, to streamline services for marginalized communities. This collaborative structure strengthened the department’s ability to address civil rights violations across private-sector commerce, education, employment, and housing.
In just five years, the L.A. Civil Rights Department has launched groundbreaking initiatives under Maddox’s leadership. Notably, the award-winning LA For All campaign, an anti-hate public service announcement program available in 21 languages, reached 10,000 locations across the city. Additionally, the Office of Race and Equity implemented $10 million in community-driven programming and published equity reports on critical issues like violence against Black and Latina women.
One of the most transformative programs is the Los Angeles Reforms for Equity and Public Acknowledgment of Institutional Racism (L.A. REPAIR) initiative. Through this participatory budget pilot, approximately $8.5 million was distributed directly to nine city communities, known as repair zones, to address the lingering effects of systemic racism.
“Because our L.A. Civil Rights Department has a local presence, it can respond to discriminatory cases filed within our city, enabling workers who experience discrimination to have their claims reviewed in a timelier manner,” said state Sen. Lola Smallwood-Cuevas. “Capri Maddox has demonstrated a deep commitment to equity and justice and built a department that better protects the civil rights of our most vulnerable communities.”
Maddox’s trailblazing work has earned her praise from city leaders, including Mayor Karen Bass, Los Angeles’ first female mayor.
“Capri Maddox is a dedicated champion for civil rights and equity, leading with an unwavering commitment,” Bass said. “She developed and shaped this department into a leading voice in this movement. Her work continues to inspire and uplift communities.”
Looking to the future, Maddox remains dedicated to mentoring the next generation of civic leaders. She continues to engage with higher education institutions and advocates for creating opportunities for underrepresented youth.
“Leading the Civil Rights Department was something I was asked to do at a time when it felt like the world was falling down,” Maddox said. “I knew that I had the capacity to stand up for our community and stand up for Los Angeles. It has been the honor of a lifetime to be able to do this work.”
Cynthia Gibson is a freelance reporter for Wave Newspapers. She can be reached at ckgcommunications@gmail.com.
