What Commitment to Excellence Means in South LA

The Motto

Commitment to Excellence has been the Raiders motto since Al Davis made it one. It is easy to stitch onto a hat. It is harder to live up to. At RNSLA, we have tried to translate it into something concrete — something that means more than a slogan on a banner at a bar.

Excellence is showing up. Not just on Sundays. On the Tuesday you are packing backpacks. On the Saturday you are at a fundraiser when you would rather be anywhere else. On the Thursday night a scholar needs a recommendation letter by morning.

What It Looks Like Here

Excellence is keeping your word. We said we would fund six scholarships this year, so we funded six scholarships this year. We said we would fill 500 backpacks, so we filled 500 backpacks. Say the number. Hit the number. Or say a smaller number and be honest about it.

Excellence is raising the floor. It is easy to throw money at the highlight-reel kid. The harder and more lasting work is making sure every kid has a shot — the quiet ones, the late bloomers, the ones nobody is calling with offers yet.

Excellence is the neighborhood coming home better. If we do this right, in twenty years there will be scholars running businesses, teaching classrooms, and coaching teams across South LA. That is the whole point. The trophy is the neighborhood.

The Standard

South LA has always been excellent. Our job is just to keep that tradition loud.