Get Started

Understanding LA Beyond the Skyline

Highlighting the stories and experiences often overlooked in Los Angeles. Our goal is to shed light on social, environmental, and economic disparities through thoughtful analysis and reporting. Gain deeper insights into the social, economic, and environmental issues shaping Los Angeles today.

Browse Stories

Recent Stories

View All

Offering 1

This section will highlight specific details about a particular service you offer. We will write about what this offering is and how your company uses it to help clients or users achieve their desired goals.

Learn More

Offering 2

Learn More

Offering 3

Learn More

los angeles, city hall, buildings, skyline, architecture, building, historic, california, downtown, blue angel, los angeles, los angeles, los angeles, los angeles, los angeles

Our Mission: A deeper look at the city beyond its shining skyline.

Understanding LA is an independent research-driven platform dedicated to unpacking the systems and narratives that shape life in Los Angeles. Our mission is to look beyond Los Angeles’ skyline and uncover the systems, histories, and everyday realities that truly shape the region.

Learn More

Why This Work Matters

Most residents never see the systems behind these outcomes

Because the policies, agencies, and legal histories involved are fragmented and often inaccessible.

Commitment to a more transparent and equitable legal system

Guided by critical analysis, public insight, and civic responsibility.

Los Angeles is a legal ecosystem

Where land use, environmental regulation, labor rights, policing, and governance intersect in ways that directly shape daily life.

A vibrant crowd gathers for a protest rally in Los Angeles, showing activism and unity.

Voices Matter

Los Angeles is shaped by the people who live in it, and many important perspectives go unheard. This project welcomes insights, experiences, and ideas from across the region.
If you have a story to share, a topic to suggest, or feedback on our work, please get in touch through the contact form below. Thoughtful dialogue is essential to understanding Los Angeles beyond the skyline.

Contact