The Southern Truth Quiet Leadership, National Impact: How Bettye Griffith’s Work Changed Inglewood—and the Nation

By Dr. Gloria Zuurveen
Publisher & Editor-in-Chief

INGLEWOOD — Sometimes the most powerful leaders are not the loudest voices at the podium, but the steady hands working faithfully in the background—changing lives one home, one family, one neighborhood at a time.

That is the Southern Truth embodied in Bettye Griffith, Director of the City of Inglewood’s Residential Sound Insulation (RSI) Program, whose recent national recognition has quietly but profoundly elevated the City of Inglewood onto a historic stage. Director Griffith is the recipient of the Randy Jones Award for Excellence in Airport Noise Mitigation, Abatement, and Management—a prestigious national honor traditionally reserved for airport sponsors or private consultants.

This year, history was made. For the first time in the nation, the award was given to someone who is neither an airport sponsor nor a consultant, but a city public servant—and notably, a Black woman—whose life’s work has centered not on contracts, but on people.

That distinction matters.

Leadership That Transformed a System

When Bettye Griffith became RSI Program Director in 2012, she inherited a backlog of thousands of homes waiting for treatment. Where others saw a daunting task, she saw a chance to create change at scale. She introduced a multi-consultant model to the RSI Program—a new approach at the time—that spread the workload across competing firms, encouraged cooperation, and allowed the program to move much faster. The results produced a significant impact. From 2013 to 2015 alone, 3,019 homes were insulated and $117.3 million was reinvested into the community. Today, with 10,400 homes completed, Inglewood’s RSI Program is one of the most productive in the country and stands as a national model for efficiency and equity.

As Jacob Haik, LAWA Director of Sustainability & Compliance, stated:
“You need to find the one person who is passionate and is the driving force. For Inglewood, that’s Bettye. The lives she has impacted—the sheer number of homes she’s completed—are a product of her commitment and love for her community.”

Innovation When Barriers Said “No”

Bettye Griffith has earned a reputation as a problem-solver who refuses to accept limitations when communities’ needs are at stake. She views barriers in noise mitigation not as stop signs, but as opportunities for innovation. When zoning restrictions excluded certain homes near sporting facilities, she uncovered a City clause allowing pre-1963 residences to be grandfathered into the program, expanding eligibility to nearly 900 additional families.

She worked with the FAA and City leadership to expand eligibility beyond private homes, successfully advocating for the inclusion of churches containing licensed and certified educational centers. So far, this effort has identified six community facilities, extending the program’s benefits to vital neighborhood gathering places. And during the unprecedented disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic, when nearly all LAWA programs paused, Inglewood’s RSI Program was the only one to continue operating.

Her adaptive leadership safeguarded progress and reinforced trust that the City would not abandon its residents when they needed it most.

Trust Built Door by Door

For Bettye Griffith, noise mitigation is as much about trust as it is about construction. She regularly hosts community forums with LAWA representatives so residents hear directly from decision-makers. She and her team conduct door-to-door knock-and-talk campaigns, meeting residents where they live to answer questions and encourage participation. She orchestrates the opening of treated homes to neighbors so they can see and experience the benefits firsthand, and she empowers her staff to represent the community at airport roundtables, ensuring that those most affected have a voice in decisions shaping their neighborhoods.

These efforts strengthened participation, reduced barriers to entry, and fostered long-term goodwill between the airport and the communities it serves.

Leadership Felt From the Inside

The measure of leadership is often clearest through the eyes of those closest to the work. The significance of this moment was recognized and brought forward by Administrative Operations & Outreach Coordinator for the City of Inglewood – Residential Sound Insulation Marcia   Johnson, a City of Inglewood employee, who joined the RSI Department as recently as September. Though new to City service, Johnson quickly grasped the gravity of Director Griffith’s role and felt compelled to ensure that this achievement was highlighted beyond internal circles—recognizing what it means for a Black woman and a city-run program to be honored on a national stage.

That understanding does not come from orientation manuals. It comes from leadership that models care, precision, and respect for the welfare of the people.

A Model Beyond Inglewood

Bettye Griffith’s influence extends far beyond city limits. She shares her experience at professional forums and with peer programs nationwide, helping others learn from Inglewood’s successes and challenges—and proving that noise mitigation programs are strongest when creativity and compassion guide decision-making.

The Southern Truth

This award was not about ceremony.
It was about substance.

It recognized a woman who worked quietly, faithfully, and relentlessly for the people of Inglewood—long before national eyes were watching. Bettye Griffith did not seek the spotlight. But the light found her anyway.

And in honoring her, the nation honored Inglewood—its people, its homes, and a form of leadership that proves the greatest impact is often made in the background. That is the Southern Truth.