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High up on the 51st floor of the City National Bank tower Mayor Karen Bass received the first-ever City Club Los Angeles Tom Bradley Leadership Award at the City Club Founders Day Luncheon. This annual event in its second year celebrated the heritage and prestige of the club while also honoring the founding members. She was joined on stage with board members and the Family of former Mayor Tom Bradley.
The City Club LA was the first private club I joined when moving to Los Angeles connecting from the Commerce Club, Downtown Atlanta. As soon as you arrive to one of the highest points in the city, the elevator doors swing open to the iconic imagery of Biddy Mason, one of California’s wealthiest and most prominent Black American women who owned land and lived the remainder of her life as a philanthropist during 1860s Los Angeles. Part of the Club Corp collective, City Club LA puts an emphasis on inclusiveness in its membership reflecting the spirit of the city and makes it the friendliest club in Tinseltown.
This year, 2023, marks the 50th anniversary of Mayor Tom Bradley winning his first election to lead the City of Los Angeles and begin his unprecedented career as five-term mayor. He made history as the first elected Black mayor of the then third largest city in the nation. Mayor Bradley created opportunities for women, people of color and people with disabilities at City Hall and throughout the city’s workforce. This included opening doors for women and minorities in executive leadership roles as well. He welcomed international trade, enacted environmental reform, anti-apartheid business practices, and passed ordinances that provided protections for gay, lesbian and AIDS-afflicted communities. During his tenure, he also elevated the city to a global stage as host of the 1984 Olympic Games, the most successful in modern history. His purpose-driven vision for the City of Los Angeles bridged severe racial divides of the time and closed equity gaps across many demographics and communities within Los Angeles. His vision was only exceeded by his popularity among his constituents.
The spirit of his leadership is embodied by his devotion to community, justice, peace and opportunity. The City Club Los Angeles pays tribute to Mayor Bradley’s legacy by awarding its inaugural Tom Bradley Leadership Award this year. This award honors individuals who hold a commitment to service, dedication to diversity and having the courage to persevere in the face of adversity. Mayor Bradley demonstrated time and time again that what may sometimes seem impossible can be achieved by communities and individuals whose sense of purpose is matched by relationships and alliances often underestimated.
The City Club LA opened its doors to Members in 1989. Other private clubs in Downtown Los Angeles had more than a century of history over the City Club LA, upon its opening, Instead of embracing the current culture of discriminatory practices of private clubs, City Club turned the page on history with the help of one of its founding Members, Mayor Tom Bradley. Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley, on May 28, 1987, signed a bill to ban discrimination at large private clubs based on “sex, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin or disability.” In 1988 the U.S Supreme Court ruled that cities may force large private clubs to admit minorities and women. It said that “clubs which serve meals and rent facilities to outsiders are more like business establishments than intimate social groups and therefore have no right to escape anti-discrimination laws. A few months after its opening, a Los Angeles Times writer described the City Club LA as a place that “touts itself as a little United Nations among private clubs.” About 17% of City Club LA’s members were women that first year, according to the piece, which pegged other clubs at 3% or
Born in reaction to other private clubs, the City-Club LA recruited women and minorities upon its opening. Today, we are proud to continue the 33-year heritage of zero discrimination as our core tenet, City Club LA continues to enjoy a rich and diverse make-up of heritages, genders and generations that are a true reflection of our beautiful city of Los Angeles. Our Club has endeavored to bring value to the lives of its Members through enriching programs, meaningful connections, entertainment and social events. Many Members consider City Club LA their “home away from home.” It is a place to enjoy the familiarity of smiling faces of people who know your name. It is a place to find solace during times of uncertainty. It is a place to relax and be your true self. It is a place you can be proud of to be called a Member.
