Our Mission and Programs
For 60 years, Confluence Rising (formerly the California Conference for Equality and Justice or CCEJ) has been building a world where people live free of oppression and thrive. Our mission is to educate and empower youth and adults to lead change for equity and justice in our communities.
At Confluence Rising, we lead people of all backgrounds in deep examinations of power and privilege at the personal and societal levels, inspiring them to build community across differences and work together to advance equity, inclusion and justice. We create brave spaces for participants to discuss vulnerable topics like the harmful impacts of racism and discrimination, and to create plans for action and change. Our programs incorporate Restorative Justice practices to support youth and adults to increase their resiliency and ability to address conflict.
We believe that everyone has a role to play in transforming our schools, workplaces and communities to be more just and equitable. We provide experiential, interactive training and coaching on inclusion, equity and Restorative Justice for more than 3,000 adults annually. Each year, we support more than 1,500 youth and young adults to develop self-awareness and leadership skills through programs such as Building Bridges Camp (a descendant of NCCJ’s Brotherhood Sisterhood Camp), Conscious Classrooms, and Restorative Youth Diversion.
We are based in Long Beach and serve communities all across Southern California, including the Counties of Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, Riverside and San Diego. We travel to serve partners outside of our immediate region, and offer many services online.
Where We Work (a sample list):
Los Angeles County - Avalon, Carson, Chatsworth, Hollywood, Long Beach, City of Los Angeles (East LA, Koreatown/Mid-City, South LA), Lennox, North Hollywood, Palmdale, San Gabriel Valley (Azusa, Huntington Park, Pomona, San Gabriel), Santa Monica
Orange County - Anaheim, Cypress, Fountain Valley, Fullerton, Santa Ana
San Bernardino County - Oak Glen, Phelan, Yucaipa
Riverside County - Thermal
Other California Counties & Cities: San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Rosa/Sonoma County
Our History
Confluence Rising was originally established in 1963 as the Long Beach chapter of the National Conference for Christians and Jews (NCCJ). NCCJ was a national organization founded in 1927 by a group of leaders and activists to address and prevent anti-semitism and anti-Catholic sentiment in the United States. NCCJ later evolved into the National Conference for Community and Justice to reflect its broader mission to eliminate bias, bigotry and racism.
In 2005, when NCCJ’s national office closed, we became an independent nonprofit, combining the Long Beach, Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego chapters of the NCCJ, then known as the California Conference for Equality and Justice (CCEJ). In 2025, we proudly launched our new name, Confluence Rising. We serve thousands of people annually throughout Southern California and across the United States.
CARE | We invest time and energy in the wellness of individuals and the community. We lean on one another for strength and hope.
IMAGINATION | We believe that another world is possible. We create possibilities for more equity and justice in our own lives, workplaces, and communities.
INTERDEPENDENCE | We believe by connecting our individual strengths, we intentionally build a collective whole to deepen our impact.
CURIOSITY | We ask questions and seek different perspectives. We recognize our own assumptions and biases.
ACCOUNTABILITY | We take responsibility for the impact we have on others. We respond to conflict in ways that build trust.
RELATIONSHIPS | We center connections and work to build trust, understanding, and honesty. We have a mutual responsibility and interest in each other’s wellbeing.