"A change-maker who believes in the power of people, art, and community to shape a more just and resilient future."
Noreen McClendon is a community builder dedicated to transforming lives through leadership, advocacy, healing, and storytelling. Her career spans decades of service, bridging the worlds of grassroots activism, arts, and policy to improve the lives of countless families.
Nonprofit Leadership
As the long-serving Vice President and Executive Director of Concerned Citizens of South Central Los Angeles (CCSCLA), Noreen has led initiatives addressing affordable housing, economic development, environmental justice, community violence prevention, prison reform, and youth development. She is known for bringing residents, policymakers, and partners together to design solutions that center the voices of those most affected by systemic inequities.
Author & Educator
Noreen is the published author of Hurt People Highway — Identifying Unhealthy Elements in Relationships — and its companion Workbook, designed to assist people in finding healing through personal assessment and accountability. She is also author of Living Authentically You — Five Steps to Personal Peace. Both books are used as textbooks in California correctional facilities.
Filmmaker & Storyteller
Under her leadership, CCSCLA launched the Entertainment Industry Training Program (EITP) in 1997, introducing youth and incarcerated individuals to the entertainment industry through workshops and real productions — PSAs, music videos, documentaries, stage productions, and short films. Noreen wrote the short film Something About Mother and served as Executive Producer of Not Without Alonzo: The Origins of West Coast Hip Hop.
Public Speaker & Advocate
As a public speaker, Noreen engages audiences with powerful stories and insights drawn from her work in activism, nonprofit leadership, and the arts. Featured on KCRW, the LA Sentinel, and numerous community platforms throughout Southern California.