Joe R. Gatlin

Joe R. Gatlin is a proud San Pedro resident and California native. He has resided in the San Pedro area and has been an efficacious community leader, activist, and humanitarian for over sixty years.

Recently, on December 5, 2023, Joe Gatlin was nominated, unanimously approved by the Los Angeles City Council, and appointed by Mayor Karen Bass to the Harbor Area Planning Commission to serve the people of Los Angeles. Joe Gatlin is also the founder, and current vice-president of the NAACP Branch #1069 San Pedro/Wilmington and the Palos Verdes Peninsula.

He serves on the following boards: Behavioral Health Services, LA Harbor Community College, YWCA Harbor Area, Los Angeles Maritime Institute, Champion in Service, LAPD Advisory Board Harbor Division, and the Port of Los Angeles High School. He previously served on the Toberman Board, and Central San Pedro Neighborhood Council.

Joe Gatlin founded the Juneteenth 400 non-profit which partnered and collaborated with the Port of Los Angeles, NAACP Branch #1069, SA Recycling, Economic and Workforce Development Department, Harbor Gateway WorkSource Center, Women on the Waterfront, Pacific Maritime Association, Water Replenishment District, 99cent Only Stores, ICHOR Strategies, Councilman Tim McOster, Port of Long Beach, ILWU Locals 13,63, and 94 as well as the City of Los Angeles to celebrate the emancipation of slavery in American and Freedom. His foundation started hosting a Juneteenth celebration in 2008 and has been doing so for over thirty years.