Mama Lila Cabbil

Mama Lila Cabbil, (1944-2019), was a lifelong Detroiter, water warrior, transit advocate, civil rights activist, and anti-racism educator. Among her many life achievements, Mama Lila became a mentee and close friend of Rosa Parks, and served as president of the Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute for Self-Development. Mama Lila co-edited the book Accountability and White Anti-racist Organizing: Stories from Our Work, she co-founded Within Our Lifetime, a national network to eliminate racism. She shared her many gifts, loved hard with each relationship, acted always with integrity, and had cutting analysis that would be delivered with a kind smile and a sparkle in her eye. 

“We need to go from dialogue to action. When we do not take our conversations to action, it is just idle conversation.” – Mama Lila Cabbil