HOME DEFENSE: Mama Hill, Los Angeles

A hand-made sign taped on her front gate reads, "Mama Hill's Help Inc.," to welcome the public during designated hours. Under her roof, Mama provides about 150 kids aged 5 to 18 each year a safe-haven from the pervasive gang violence, teen pregnancy, parent incarceration, drug abuse, homelessness, and sometimes, just hopelessness in the neighborhood. The kids receive tutoring, counseling, mentoring and job skills - even piano lessons, if they ask, and a nutritious after-school snack.

Mama's work has earned recognition from the likes of LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Congresswoman Maxine Waters, along with modest funding from the City of Los Angeles. In 2008, due to city funding cuts, Mama Hill needed a loan, but ended up falling victim to a predatory mortgage broker who disappeared after lending her money at a much higher interest rate than promised Before she knew it, her home was on the auction block. That's when she mobilized the community to take action. They organized a press conference with elected officials on her doorstep and brought news camera crews to the courthouse to try and stop the auction. The strategy paid off, and Mama was able to arrange an alternative rent-to-own situation with her bank that will keep her doors open. Mama Hill has since become a community leader on banking issues, helping organize dozens of her neighbors who have also faced foreclosure. In the summer of 2010, she led ACCE's successful effort to pass the LA Foreclosure Registry Ordinance, which requires banks to register properties in foreclosure with the city or face penalties of up to $1,000 per day per property.