Changemakers LA

Changemakers LA

By LISC LABusinessNon-Profit
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Changemakers LA episodes

  • Changemakers LA Episode #13: What Move LA Is Doing Around Transit Districts

    For our 13th Changemakers LA episode, we discuss the logistical and financial obstacles facing public transportation services in Los Angeles and the work Move LA has done to address them. We are proud to have Move LA, Senator Ben Allen, and Kosmont Companies join us in exploring the ongoing relationship between public transit and community health.

    Our guests joining us for this episode are:

    • Denny Zane, Executive Director of Move LA
    • Senator Ben Allen, State Senator of the 26th Senate District
    • Larry Kosmont, Chairman and CEO of Kosmont Companies

      • In this episode, you will learn:

      • How Move LA has advanced public infrastructure in LA
      • How the changing landscape of affordable housing has affected public transportation
      • Current/future legislative and business strategies for improving public transit services in Los Angeles and California

        • Interested in learning more about economic development activity in LA County? Join our e-mail list over at www.lisc.org/los-angeles.

        25 min
      • Changemakers LA Episode #12: Opportunity Zones

        For our 12th Changemakers LA episode, we discuss the power and potential of Opportunity Zones, and how they can be utilized to increase business activity in LA County and revitalize traditionally under-invested communities.  We are proud to have the LA Mayor’s Office of Economic Development and Public Private Strategies join us in discussing this exciting new realm of community investment.

        Our guests joining us for this episode are:

        • George Ashton, Managing Director of Strategic Investments at LISC
        • Ron Frierson, Director of Economic Policy at the Los Angeles Mayor’s Office of Economic Development
        • Tammy Halevy, Senior Advisor at the consulting agency, Public Private Strategies

          • In this episode, you will learn:

          • What Opportunity Zones are and how they arose
          • How Opportunity Zones can be used to help cultivate healthy communities
          • What LISC and other nonprofits are doing to leverage strategies in the opportunity zone playbook to help low-income neighborhoods

            • Interested in learning more about Opportunity Zones? Join our e-mail list over at www.lisc.org/los-angeles.

            26 min
          • Changemakers LA Episode #11: The Status of Blacks Experiencing Homelessness

            For our 11th Changemakers LA episode, we discuss the disparity of black people experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles based on an investigative report conducted by the Ad Hoc Committee on Black People Experiencing Homelessness. We are proud to have the St. Joseph Center and the Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH) join us in discussing this important and pressing issue.

            Our guests joining us for this episode are:

            • Va Lecia Adams, President & CEO of St. Joseph Center
            • Saba Mwine, Senior Program Manager at Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH)

              • In this episode, you will learn:

              1. Why underrepresentation of service professionals may be causing the huge disparity of black people experiencing homelessness
              2. The Report’s recommendations on solving the homelessness issue
              3. How to get involved with curbing homelessness in LA

                4. Interested in learning more about our capacity building and financing of affordable housing development? Join our e-mail list over at www.lisc.org/los-angeles. 

                20 min
              4. Changemakers LA Episode #10: Providing the Skills Needed for Quality Jobs

                For our 10th Changemakers LA episode, we explore the work we are doing to address the skills gap in low income communities through our Bridges to Career Opportunities (BCO) program. This program meets the need of supplying skilled workers for local companies who have job openings that are hard to fill due to the advanced skills needed. It also provides a pathway for local residents to seize these high earning job opportunities. We are so proud to have Citi Foundation partner with us and support this work. 

                Our guests joining us for this episode are:

                • Cassie Woods, Manager of Financial Empowerment Programs for Youth Policy Institute (YPI)
                • Daria Sheehan, Senior Program Officer for Citi Foundation

                  • In this episode, you will learn:

                  1. Why the BCO program is a priority for Citi Foundation
                  2. How our partner, YPI, is helping folks obtain living wage jobs in the tech and construction industries
                  3. The tools YPI is utilizing to help people overcome barriers as they move into these lucrative industries

                    4. Interested in learning more about our BCO program? Join our e-mail list over at www.lisc.org/los-angeles.

                    18 min
                  4. Changemakers LA Episode #9: Economic Inclusion In The City Of Long Beach

                    For our 9th Changemakers LA episode, we are excited to have four leaders from various organizations for a conversation about economic inclusion in the City of Long Beach.

                    Our expert guests joining us for this show are:

                    *Jamila Henderson, Senior Associate at Policy Link

                    *John Keisler, Economic Development Director at City of Long Beach

                    *James Alva, Senior Vice President and Market Manager for Citi Bank 

                    *Kim M. Tabari, Project Manager at USC Program for Environmental & Regional Equity


                    In this episode, you will learn:


                    1. What economic inclusion means

                    2. The strengths and challenges Long Beach faces with economic inclusion

                    3. The role that LISC and others are playing in advancing economic inclusion in Long Beach


                    Interested in learning more about how we engage in economic development in a way that puts every resident at the center of our efforts? Click the link here to view the Everyone In Economic Inclusion Initiative Phase 1 Report

                    29 min
                  5. Changemakers LA Episode #8: LISC AmeriCorps Forming Leaders Through Community Development

                    In this episode, LISC LA Assistant Program Officer Jessica Wackenhut, interviews Katherine Aguilar, an alum of the LISC AmeriCorps Program and now a Project Manager at LA Family Housing (LAFH).  


                    Katherine Aguilar is responsible for LAFH's development activities for selected housing and community development projects. She manages all phases of development, all aspects of financing and the construction process. Katherine is currently managing two new projects;  South Los Angeles and the Valley. 


                    In this episode, you will learn:


                    1. How Katherine got into the Community Development industry


                    2. Her journey to the role of Project Manager at LA Family Housing (LAFH).  


                    3. The role that LISC AmeriCorps Program played. 


                    Inspired by Katherine's story? Interested in a career in community developoment or becoming an AmeriCorps member host? Join our e-mail list over at www.lisc.org/los-angeles so you can be notified of upcoming opportunities. 

                    16 min
                  6. Changemakers LA Episode #7: How to Overcome Nimbyism
                    In this episode, LISC LA Community Development Officer Alexandra Dawson interviews Rochelle Mills, an alum of the Housing Development Training Institute (HDTI) and now President and Chief Executive Officer at Innovative Housing Opportunities (IHO).
                    Rochelle Mills is responsible for IHO’s housing development, new project and program initiatives, business development relations, and oversees legislative, advocacy and policy interests as well as stakeholder relations. Rochelle brings a diverse background in architecture, design, construction administration, community planning, writing, and cultural tourism to her role in affordable housing. She is the former President of the Southern California Association of NonProfit Housing (SCANPH), and serves on several public and nonprofit boards, services committees, and leader groups.
                    Listen to this episode where she shares how HDTI helped her overcome imposter syndrome.
                    In this episode, you will learn:
                    1. How Rochelle got into the affordable housing industry
                    2. Her journey to the role of President and Chief Executive Officer at a nonprofit affordable housing development company
                    3. Why BANANA is an issue and where it comes from (Hint: it's worse than NIMBY)
                    Inspired by Rochelle's story? Interested in a career in affordable housing? Join our e-mail list over at www.lisc.org/los-angeles so you can be notified of upcoming training opportunities.
                    27 min
                  7. Changemakers LA Episode #6: HDTI Helping Folks Fight Housing Insecurity In California
                    In this episode, LISC LA Community Development Officer Alexandra Dawson interviews Daniel Huynh, an alum of the Housing Development Training Institute (HDTI) and now Vice President of Real Estate at LA Family Housing.
                    Daniel has been working within the Los Angeles’ nonprofit affordable housing field for more than a decade and has contributed to the development of more than 590 multifamily residential units yielding $186 million of real estate investment in Los Angeles.
                    Listen to this episode where he shares his advice for those who want to get into the industry and fight housing insecurity.
                    In this episode, you will learn:
                    1. The motivation behind Daniel’s career
                    2. How Daniel went from an intern to Vice President of Real Estate at a local nonprofit
                    3. Why he feels HDTI helped him in his career growth
                    Inspired by Daniel’s story? Join our e-mail list over at www.lisc.org/los-angeles so you can be notified of upcoming training opportunities.
                    16 min
                  8. Changemakers LA Episode #7: How to Overcome Nimbyism

                    In this episode, LISC LA Community Development Officer Alexandra Dawson interviews Rochelle Mills, an alum of the Housing Development Training Institute (HDTI) and now President and Chief Executive Officer at Innovative Housing Opportunities (IHO). 


                    Rochelle Mills is responsible for IHO’s housing development, new project and program initiatives, business development relations, and oversees legislative, advocacy and policy interests as well as stakeholder relations. Rochelle brings a diverse background in architecture, design, construction administration, community planning, writing, and cultural tourism to her role in affordable housing. She is the former President of the Southern California Association of NonProfit Housing (SCANPH), and serves on several public and nonprofit boards, services committees, and leader groups.

                    Listen to this episode where she shares how HDTI helped her overcome imposter syndrome.

                    In this episode, you will learn:

                    1. How Rochelle got into the affordable housing industry

                    2. Her journey to the role of President and Chief Executive Officer at a nonprofit affordable housing development company

                    3. Why BANANA is an issue and where it comes from (Hint: it's worse than NIMBY)

                    Inspired by Rochelle's story? Interested in a career in affordable housing? Join our e-mail list over at www.lisc.org/los-angeles so you can be notified of upcoming training opportunities. 

                    27 min
                  9. Changemakers LA Episode #6: HDTI Helping Folks Fight Housing Insecurity In California
                    In this episode, LISC LA Community Development Officer Alexandra Dawson interviews Daniel Huynh, an alum of the Housing Development Training Institute (HDTI) and now Vice President of Real Estate at LA Family Housing.
                    Daniel has been working within the Los Angeles’ nonprofit affordable housing field for more than a decade and has contributed to the development of more than 590 multifamily residential units yielding $186 million of real estate investment in Los Angeles.
                    Listen to this episode where he shares his advice for those who want to get into the industry and fight housing insecurity.
                    In this episode, you will learn:
                    1. The motivation behind Daniel’s career
                    2. How Daniel went from an intern to Vice President of Real Estate at a local nonprofit
                    3. Why he feels HDTI helped him in his career growth
                    Inspired by Daniel’s story? Join our e-mail list over at http://www.lisc.org/los-angeles so you can be notified of upcoming training opportunities.
                    16 min

                  About Changemakers LA

                  From the publisher's feed

                  "Changemakers LA” is the inaugural podcast series of LISC LA. It is a tribute to the people and the policies that work to make LA neighborhoods good places to live, work, and play. The series is a…