For over thirty years the Liberty Hill Foundation, whose slogan is “Change, Not Charity,” has been diligently working to promote grassroots community organizing in Los Angeles. The foundation was first established in 1976 by Sarah Pillsbury a film producer and heir to the Pillsbury Baking company. Liberty Hill, not only identifies and trains local community leaders who are working to advance issues of social justice, they also put these local leaders in touch with other community groups who are working toward the same goals.

The Foundation recently announced its list of 2013 Leaders to Watch, identifying unsung community leaders who have worked tirelessly to improve their communities. Ariel Bustamante the Southern California Program Coordinator for the Gay Straight Alliance Network is also among the Leaders named by Liberty Hill. Also on the list is Heather Miller, a Liberty Hill Donor and activist – she is also a rabbi with the lesbian and gay synagogue, Beth Chayim Chadashim.

Uprising host Sonali Kolhatkar recently interviewed Ariel Bustamante and Heather Miller about their work and about Liberty Hill.

Watch a video of the interview here.

Bipasha Shom recorded this interview.