Ubuntu means we rise together.

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Karen credits much of her journey to the powerful village that stood with her. From her mother—her first mentor—to the early relationships built through jobs as a lifeguard and locker room attendant, she learned early on how vital connection is.

Ubuntu in Action: Karen Mack's Story

For Karen Mack, community has always been a canvas. Born and raised in Compton, Karen came of age surrounded by stories—some spoken, others painted across the walls of South LA. Over the years, those stories would shape her life’s work: using art as a strategy for social change.

In 2000, she founded LA Commons, a nonprofit rooted in South Los Angeles that has become a cultural powerhouse across the city. From neighborhood murals to festivals in Leimert Park, LA Commons uplifts local voices through community art, storytelling, and civic engagement. Karen’s vision bridges the arts with health, education, and transportation advocacy, offering young people and elders alike a seat at the table of change.

Karen’s path was far from linear. With an MBA from UCLA and an MPA from Harvard, she first worked in accounting and nonprofit planning. But her calling was louder than spreadsheets. A Public Service Fellowship at Harvard allowed her to dive deep into the question that still guides her work today: how can we use culture to build connection in cities structured to keep us apart?

That question led to community gardens celebrating food justice, massive public art collaborations with institutions like The Getty, and intergenerational projects that weave together migration stories and ancestral dreams. Karen believes that art builds bridges—between generations, between communities, and between policy and people.

“In a city like LA, where people are often disconnected, art helps us see each other again.”

The Village That Shaped Her

Karen credits much of her journey to the powerful village that stood with her. From her mother—her first mentor—to the early relationships built through jobs as a lifeguard and locker room attendant, she learned early on how vital connection is. The encouragement of cultural leaders like Claire Peeps (recently retired from the Durfee Foundation), Peter Sellars, and Maria Rosario Jackson, along with transformative experiences like the In the Heart of the Beast puppet parade in Minneapolis, solidified her belief in the transformative power of art in public space.

But building LA Commons wasn’t easy. In the early days, finding funding for a brand-new organization was a struggle. For a while, the work ran on the fuel of volunteers and faith. Yet there were hidden blessings—those early years allowed Karen to balance new motherhood with launching a vision that would eventually shape the cultural landscape of Los Angeles.

Living Ubuntu: Collective Empowerment Through Creativity

Karen lives Ubuntu. Whether it’s co-chairing the national “Creative Placemaking from the Community Up” initiative or serving on the City of LA’s Planning Commission and Cultural Inclusion Initiative, her leadership consistently centers collective empowerment.

She sees arts and culture as connective tissue—linking residents to their histories, to one another, and to new possibilities for civic participation. Her work proves that when communities are given the tools and platforms to tell their own stories, transformation follows.

How You Can Support Karen and LA Commons

Supporting Karen’s vision goes beyond donating dollars. She invites you to:

• Volunteer at upcoming arts events and workshops

• Join intergenerational storytelling projects in your neighborhood

• Attend cultural events in Leimert Park and throughout South LA

• Partner with LA Commons to uplift youth and community voices
  

Visit lacommons.org to learn more and get involved.