CivitasLA

Originally called "Glenwood", Larchmont Boulevard received its current name around 1912. In 1921, the Los Angeles Times announced a new business district on Larchmont consisting of 30 stores, developed by Julius LaBonte and Charles Ramson. At that time, there was an explosion in population occurring in the area – and in Los Angeles in general – and this noted commercial corridor would support the needs of adjacent residential developments. In fact, Larchmont was planned as the first neighborhood shopping center in Los Angeles. The late LA City Councilmember, Tom LaBonge, prioritized preserving the "village atmosphere" of the Boulevard (in 1992) as he recognized it as the "physical and social, as well as retail, center for the surrounding neighborhoods of Larchmont, Hancock Park and Windsor Square.

Celebrating 100 years serving as the center of this vibrant community, CivitasLA is joined by Larchmont civic leaders, and local stakeholders – Patty Lombard, Co-Publisher of the Larchmont Buzz; Joanna Vernetti of Vernetti Restaurant; and Todd Warner of Tailwaggers as we discuss the evolution of the boulevard (and community); the changing nature of retail and its impact on maintaining the "village atmosphere" that it's been known for. For more information, please visit: Larchmont Buzz at https://www.larchmontbuzz.com; Vernetti Restaurant at https://vernetti.la; and Tailwaggers at https://www.tailwaggerspets.com.

And, for more information about CivitasLA, please visit www.CivitasLA.com and we hope you'll rate and review our show; and connect with us on Facebook (@CivitasLA), Instagram (@Civitas_LA) and Twitter (@Civitas_LA).

American Novelist, Christopher Isherwood wrote "An afternoon drive from Los Angeles will take you up into the high mountains, where eagles circle above the forests and the cold blue lakes, or out over the Mojave Desert, with its weird vegetation and immense vistas. Not very far away are Death Valley, and Yosemite, and Sequoia Forest with its giant trees which were growing long before the Parthenon was built."

Amidst such soaring natural beauty, join our CivitasLA guests for this mini episode as they recap a few of our region's "hidden gems," in their words. Whether you're local or visiting the region, we hope you find time to explore these hidden treasures of the region.

For more information, please visit www.CivitasLA.com and we hope you'll rate and review our show; and connect with us on Facebook (@CivitasLA), Instagram (@Civitas_LA) and Twitter (@Civitas_LA).

A recent study by U.S. News rated "The 30 Most Fun Places to Live in the U.S." According to their study, Los Angeles ranks as the No. 7 Most Fun Place to Live, placing the City of Angels ahead of other metropolises like New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Las Vegas and Chicago. The region welcomes more than 25 million people from flights alone each year; is home to more than 30,500 restaurants; and ranked tops for sports enthusiasts, being home to the Rams and Chargers football teams; Dodgers and Angels baseball teams; Lakers and Clippers basketball teams; the Kings and Ducks hockey teams, and so much more.

So, if you're planning a visit, where would OUR civic leaders take you. Hear from our CivitasLA guests as they share a few of their favorite places to take a visitor to our region – in their words.

For more information, please visit www.CivitasLA.com and we hope you'll rate and review our show; and connect with us on Facebook (@CivitasLA), Instagram (@Civitas_LA) and Twitter (@Civitas_LA).

At the beginning of 2020 (pre-pandemic), Restaurant Critic Bill Addison wrote in the Los Angeles Times "It has been a radical decade in dining for Los Angeles — a time when once-quiet neighborhoods became restaurant destinations, when voices at every tier of the industry diversified, when culinary spaces decentralized, when a sense of ownership and pride in L.A.'s uniqueness settled into the city's marrow".

In this mini episode, hear our region's civic leaders share a few of their favorite restaurants in their words. So, whether

you're local or visiting, we hope you'll be inspired to check out one of these LA favorites.

For more information, please visit www.CivitasLA.com and we hope you'll rate and review our show; and connect with us on Facebook (@CivitasLA), Instagram (@Civitas_LA) and Twitter (@Civitas_LA).

Appearing in Public Administration Review, Prof. Evan Berman wrote a piece entitled "Dealing With Cynical Citizens" stating "widespread concern exists about public cynicism toward government." And that "manifestations of public cynicism include pervasive believe that government policies and public officials are corrupt, inept, or out to take advantage of citizens."

Addressing the myriad challenges faced by any city leader, and balancing sometimes conflicting interests of diverse constituencies, CivitasLA is joined for its 50th episode by Los Angeles City Council President Pro Tem Mitch O'Farrell. Representing over 250,000 residents of the 13th District, O'Farrell has engaged citizens across one of the most diverse districts in this region. Distinct communities within the district includes the neighborhoods of Atwater Village, East Hollywood, Echo Park, Elysian Valley, Glassell Park, Historic Filipinotown, Hollywood, Mid-Wilshire/Koreatown, Rampart Village, and Silver Lake.

As shared by one of his former colleagues, "There is no one I can think of who is more committed to his district." Sharing his own perspective on governance and representation, the Councilmember has stated "I am committed to being a resource for any and all without judgment. That's my philosophy on public service and constituent service." To learn more about the work of Councilmember O'Farrell and his team's efforts to improve the quality of life in their district, please visit: https://cd13.lacity.org/about

And for more information about CivitasLA, please visit www.CivitasLA.com and we hope you'll rate and review our show; and connect with us on Facebook (@CivitasLA), Instagram (@Civitas_LA) and Twitter (@Civitas_LA).

In this Thanksgiving episode, we pause to give thanks for our families (some we may not have seen since pre-pandemic) and consider the meaning of "family" and "community" – those we are born into and those we create. In a first of its kind report published in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, Associate Professor of Communication Studies Jeffrey Hall at the University of Kansas has sought to define the amount of time necessary to make a friend as well as how long it typically takes to move through deepening stages of friendship. The study found that it takes roughly 50 hours of time together to move from mere acquaintance to casual friend, 90 hours to go from that stage to simple "friend" status and more than 200 hours before you can consider someone your close friend.

Given how transient society can be these days, the time challenges we all seem to face, and the sheer size of our region, join CivitasLA in conversation with three Angelenos (Timothy Halligan, Rancho Park; Rob Michaelson, Laurel Canyon; and Veronica Perez, Echo Park) as we discuss the challenge of finding one's tribe and we hear their perspectives on the subject and learn about their LA journeys and respective paths to "finding community" in our diverse and vast region.

To learn more about CivitasLA, please visit us at www.CivitasLA.com and we hope you'll connect with us on Facebook (@CivitasLA); on Instagram (@Civitas_LA) or Twitter (@Civitas_LA).

Beginning as a Spanish Rancho in 1798, the City of Glendale incorporated in 1906 and has grown to become the fourth largest city in Los Angeles County with a population just under 200,000. Over time, Glendale has also become home to significant companies in the Greater Los Angeles region. Headquarters to notable companies including International House of Pancakes, Avery Dennison, LegalZoom and Public Storage, Glendale also boasts an impressive array of leading creative companies, including Walt Disney Imagineering, Disney Interactive, Marvel Animation Studios, Walt Disney Animation, and KABC-TV, to name a few.

Since the 1960s, Glendale has also become home to the largest diaspora of Armenians in the U.S., representing roughly 40% of the city's overall population. This, in stark contrast to the historic prevalence of racially restrictive covenants in Glendale, and its status as a "sundown town" well into the mid-20th century. That said, as of late 2020, Glendale was only one of three cities in the United States to acknowledge and apologize for its racially exclusionary past.

Join CivitasLA for our latest "Community Spotlight" with Councilmember Ardy Kassakhian and Elen Asatryan, two noted community leaders, as we discuss the issues and opportunities facing Glendale today and the central role the Armenian community plays within the city, our region, and continues to play internationally. To learn more, please visit: https://www.glendaleca.gov/government/city-council/councilmember-ardy-kassakhian.

And, to learn more about CivitasLA, please visit us as www.CivitasLA.com and we hope you'll connect with us on Facebook (@CivitasLA); on Instagram (@Civitas_LA) or Twitter (@Civitas_LA).

In recent years, thousands of local newspapers have gone out of business, a trend exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. As of late 2019, over 65 million Americans lived in a county with either only one local paper or none. Studies show a connection between a shift away from local news and a decline in the number of candidates that run for local office as well as lower voter participation. Communities that have lost a newspaper are more likely to become politically polarized, which, as a recent Gallup poll notes, has significant negative impacts for our society.

CivitasLA is joined by Jim Newton, former Editorial Page Editor & Columnist of the Los Angeles Times, to discuss the state of local news coverage of our communities and the role newspapers play in informing, educating, and engaging its readers, while alternative forms of news reporting and sharing are on the rise. Over a distinguished 25-year career, Jim served as a reporter, editor, bureau chief, columnist, and editor of the editorial pages. He is the recipient of numerous national and local awards in journalism and participated in two staff efforts, coverage of the 1992 riots and the 1994 Northridge Earthquake, that were awarded the Pulitzer Prize. Jim has also authored four books. In 2015, Newton joined the faculty at UCLA, teaching communications and public policy, and as Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Blueprint, a magazine about Los Angeles and California policy challenges. Learn more about Blueprint here: https://blueprint.ucla.edu/

For more information about CivitasLA, please visit www.CivitasLA.com and we hope you'll rate and review our show; and connect with us on Facebook (@CivitasLA), Instagram (@Civitas_LA) and Twitter (@Civitas_LA).

Consisting of 8 cities (Bell, Bell Gardens, Commerce, Cudahy, Huntington Park, Maywood, South Gate and Vernon), and roughly 440,000 residents (90% identifying as Latinx), stretching along the 710 freeway, Southeast Los Angeles has been one of the hardest hit by COVID-19, as many of its residents being the essential workers of our region. Prior to COVID-19, Southeast LA has long faced environmental challenges, given its location adjacent to a major freeway; has had less access to green space than the rest of the county; and have less access to grocery stores and fresh produce. As South Gate Councilmember Denise Diaz has noted, "We are the doughnut hole of LA County. Funding tends to go to our neighboring cities and not here."

Founded on the belief that "community problems must be solved by the community itself," CivitasLA is pleased to be joined by Andy Carrasco, VP, SoCalGas and Emma Hernandez, Chief Executive Officer, of Southeast Community Development Corp. (SCDC) two civic leaders working to elevate the collective voice of the Southeast LA region. Hear how SCDC has continued to engage local stakeholders and funding sources to invest in the area and transform the region. To learn more about SCDC, please visit: https://www.scdcorp.org/about-us/history/.

And, to learn more about CivitasLA, please visit us as www.CivitasLA.com and we hope you'll connect with us on Facebook (@CivitasLA); on Instagram (@Civitas_LA) or Twitter (@Civitas_LA).

Latino art and artists have played an important role in the history and life of the Los Angeles region, dating back to the 1920's. For nearly 50 years, Self-Help Graphics & Art (SHG) has served as a prominent center for Latino art in printmaking, exhibition, and training, while also serving as a resource for young and emerging artists.

CivitasLA is joined by Betty Avila, Executive Director of SHG, as we discuss the rich history of Chicanx art in our region; the work SHG has undertaken to nurture aspiring artists; and efforts to elevate and expand the voices of Latinx artists and arts organizations through the formation of the Latinx Arts Alliance.

To learn more about SHG and get involved, please visit www.selfhelpgraphics.com and to learn more about the Latinx Arts Alliance, please visit www.latinxartsalliance.org.

And, to learn more about CivitasLA, please visit us as www.CivitasLA.com and we hope you'll connect with us on Facebook (@CivitasLA); on Instagram (@Civitas_LA) or Twitter (@Civitas_LA).