CivitasLA

In a report from Main Street America, "Streets as Places," it notes "Streets are our most fundamental public places. They often represent the largest area of public space in a community and provide the overarching framework by which our cities physically expand and develop over time." In advancing the concept of "Streets as Places" everyone is challenged to view streets not just providing the function of transporting people, but to also acknowledge the "vital role they play in energizing social and economic life in communities" and "positions communities as the owners of their streets, with a right and a responsibility to directly impact how their public spaces look, function and feel."

As the second largest city in the U.S., Los Angeles is home to nearly 4 million residents living in a land area of roughly 470 square miles with over 7,500 miles of streets!!! Join us as we discuss the importance of streets to a community; efforts by City of LA leadership to re-imagine and reclaim its streets (in a city notoriously known for its automobile culture); and lessons learned from the frontline, with Kevin James, most recently the President of the Board of Public Works Commission for the City of LA. (https://dpw.lacity.org/about-kevin-james)

For seven years, James served as President of the Board, the longest consecutively serving board president in history, overseeing the Department of Public Works, with over 5,000 employees responsible for "the design construction, renovation, and operation of public projects….and the maintenance of streets, sidewalks, sewers, streetlights and street trees." During that time, the City, under Mayor Eric Garcetti, launched the "Great Streets initiative"(https://ladot.lacity.org/sites/default/files/documents/diy-great-streets-manual-lrg-1.pdf) aimed at targeting resources to communities to strengthen key corridors.

And, since the COVID 19 pandemic, the City has undertaken a number of initiatives – whether the LA Al Fresco Initiative (https://corona-virus.la/laalfresco) or the Slow Streets Initiative (https://ladot.lacity.org/coronavirus/apply-slow-street-your-neighborhood) – which seeks to reimage and repurpose streets in a way that prioritizes pedestrians over cars, while supporting businesses, creating more space for outdoor recreation, and providing new ways for citizens to come together

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).

As noted by activist, author, and journalist Marty Rubin, "Parks and playgrounds are the soul of a city." With 87 regional and local parks, 344 miles of horse and hiking trails, 19 golf courses and 31 public swimming pools --- and, the beach, Angelenos have myriad opportunities to "get out" and enjoy the Southern California climate.

Hear from our CivitasLA civic leaders about their favorite parks and open spaces in our region. In this episode, we take a listen back to some of the favorite parks – 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).

As stated by noted author Fran Lebowitz "Los Angeles is a large city-like area surrounding the Beverly Hills Hotel." Well, we do love the Beverly Hills Hotel, but the greater Los Angeles region is fortunate to possess a wide range of communities, attractions, and things to appeal to the 50+ million visitors who come to our region annually.

Hear from our CivitasLA civic leaders about their favorite places to take a visitor to our region. In this episode we take a listen back to some of the favorite places – 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).

As is said "a person's gotta eat." So, when our CivitasLA civic leaders take a rest from creating, building, and serving community, where do they go to dine? Well, Los Angeles offers an abundance of restaurants, possessing over 29,000 options (Bogota possesses over 34,000, while New York City comes in at around 27,000!).

Hear from our CivitasLA civic leaders about their favorite restaurants in our region. In this episode we take a listen back and hear from these leaders – 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).

In California, the Arts contribute an exceptional amount to not only the cultural and creative capital of the state, but to its overall economic activity and well-being. With $650.3 billion in annual output in California and over $200 billion in annual output in the Greater Los Angeles area, creativity is a massive engine for economic activity and growth.

However, like many large cities, the creative community is increasingly squeezed by high costs for workspace and housing, and insufficient numbers of affordable units being produced. Meeting this challenge, we look forward to a conversation with Michael Bohn, AIA, of the design firm Studio One Eleven, which – through a collaborative effort – spearheaded the first adaptive re-use project of its kind in Orange County, California resulting in the Santa Ana Arts Collective.

Supporting the City of Santa Ana's mission to develop Main Street into an emerging arts corridor, the project is designed to integrate residential living, arts programming, and transportation improvements to elevate the Main Street Cultural Corridor. The Santa Ana Arts Collective represents the culmination of an innovative effort to transform a 1960's office building into a thriving new community featuring a 58-unit affordable housing complex, including 10 new affordable townhomes that replaced a former surface parking lot. The office building itself was transformed into studios and one-, two-, and three-bedrooms live-work lofts, with additional amenities including a ground-floor art gallery, studios, and music rooms.

Recently recognized by the Southern California Development Forum's annual "Design and Philanthropy Awards" as the winner in the category of Adaptive Reuse/Renovation/Historic Preservation which highlights efforts to "re-imagine our older sites and existing structures" join Michael in this conversation as we discuss how the project came into being; the role its playing in creating a new community of affordable housing for creatives; and discuss the prospects for additional adaptive re-use projects. To learn more, please visit https://studio-111.com/portfolio/detail/santa-ana-arts-collective/ and www.Studio-111.com

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).

While the 12th largest city within Los Angeles County (with 88 separate jurisdictions), with a population of approximately 110,000, Inglewood has experienced unprecedented development. In 2016, the NFL's Rams and Chargers announced a move to Inglewood. Subsequently, the landmark Forum was sold, renovated, and returned as live concert venue. And now talks are underway for the development of a new home for the NBA Los Angeles Clippers franchise. Additionally, the LA Metro's new Crenshaw/LAX (Los Angeles International Airport) line, designed to provide LAX with a connection to the regional rail system, will consist of eight new stations that will serve Inglewood and its environs.

Looking to capitalize on the economic development taking place, but also responding to the lack of outlets for local talent and the creative community to find space for expansive expression and collaboration in the Black community, Amanda-Jane Thomas and Shanita Nicholas, two lawyers by training and profession, joined forces to create Sip & Sonder. With a goal to provide the start-up and creative communities with access to a space where business and networks could be forged while drinking coffee, Amanda-Jane and Shanita established Sip & Sonder in 2017 in Downtown Inglewood, the city's first specialty coffee house.

Join us as we discuss the role of coffee shops in creating and building community; their journey as Black female entrepreneurs; and the impact of Inglewood's surge of investment on the city and small businesses. To learn more and get involved, please visit www.sipandsonder.com

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).

It has been stated that "community media, and in particular radio, can provide the platform for the public dialogue through which people can define who they are, what they want, and how to get it, at the same time building long-term capacity to solve problems in ways that lead to sustainable social change and development."

For more than 50 years, KJLH Radio (102.3 FM) has provided that crucial platform for the African- American community and is one of just two Black-owned and operated commercial radio stations in all of California, a state with a population of 40 million people. Independently owned and operated since 1965, the station was sold, in 1979, to music legend Stevie Wonder. And, having operated from studios in the Crenshaw District of South Los Angeles, the station moved to the City of Inglewood, where it operates today.

Join us as we hear from Karen Slade, Vice President and General Manager of KJLH Radio as we discuss their work being actively engaged in community service and standing unapologetically as a vanguard for the people and frontline voice of social change. Additionally, we discuss the importance of community radio during a time of a rapidly changing media landscape; how they're meeting the needs of a new generation of listeners; and how this work is being carried out with the backdrop of a changing Inglewood.

Despite revolutions in technology, media consumption trends and media availability, local radio listenership has held steady over the past decade. And, for KJLH under Karen's leadership, the station has more than doubled its signal, expanding its audience reach, and has competed to earn a greater percentage of listener market share. To learn more, please visit www.kjlhradio.com and you can find KJLH on the FM dial at 102.3.

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).

Formed in 2008 "to empower individuals to stand up, create change, and help their communities thrive," the Social Justice Learning Institute (SJLI) works to serve youth of color through educational programs in the City of Inglewood and across South Los Angeles; seeks to transform neighborhoods and improve the built environment; and aims to foster systems change through collaboration and cultivation of a new generation of leaders.

Empowering individuals to advocate for community-centered development has also been a goal of SJLI, while working in concert with others seeking to promote sustainable community investment amidst a rapidly changing landscape underway in Inglewood. While the 12th largest city within Los Angeles County (with 88 separate jurisdictions), with a population of approximately 110,000, Inglewood has experienced unprecedented development. In 2016, the NFL's Rams and Chargers announced a move to Inglewood. Subsequently, the landmark Forum was sold, renovated, and returned as live concert venue. And now talks are underway for the development of a new home for the NBA Los Angeles Clippers franchise. Additionally, the LA Metro's new Crenshaw/LAX (Los Angeles International Airport) line, designed to provide LAX with a connection to the regional rail system, will consist of eight new stations that will serve Inglewood and its environs.

Join us in our conversation with D'Artagnan Scorza, Founder and Executive Director of the Social Justice Learning Institute (SJLI), President of the Board of the Inglewood Unified School District, and named among the 40 Emerging Civic Leaders Under 40 (in 2018) as we discuss their work empowering youth and building leadership and navigating the challenges and opportunities presented by the economic forces being faced by Inglewood. To learn more and get involved, please visit www.sjli.org.

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).

Philanthropy has been called a critical part of a democratic society. Its purpose is to improve wellbeing by preventing and solving social problems. In 1973, four Los Angeles area foundations came together with a common vision to build a community of grant makers. Together, The Ahmanson Foundation, the Cummins Foundation, the Norton Simon Foundation, and the Carrie Estelle Doheny Foundation founded the Los Angeles Inter-Foundation Center (LAIFC). More than 40 years later, their visionary group has become today's diverse Southern California Grantmakers (SCG), a regional association representing 300+ grant makers of all types and reflecting the evolving character of the philanthropic sector in Southern California and addressing the diverse needs of the communities served.

The philanthropic sector has adapted rapidly in the face of unprecedented challenges this year. However, even in this new environment, funders must continue to sharpen their grantmaking abilities and knowledge to keep pace with the new and increasing demands for foundation resources. Join us for our conversation with SoCal Grantmakers' President & CEO, Christine Essel, as we discuss their 40 -year legacy of working to create a stronger and more vibrant philanthropic community.

As 2020 has unfolded, an unprecedented year with the COVID 19 pandemic, the resulting economic crisis, and social unrest, philanthropy, too, has been called to look at its practices and seek bold new solutions to embrace systemic change. In a report by McKinsey & Company, entitled Embracing Complexity, it noted that "current funding practices are often built to support short-term projects …. rather than collaborative evolving approaches to create lasting change."

Join us in our conversation today, as we talk with Christine about her unique perspective on "community" and how SoCal Grantmakers is looking to meet this critical moment and evolve its work to embrace systems change and engage in true partnerships with the diverse communities it serves. To learn more and become involved, please visit www.socalgrantmakers.org.

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).

First popularized in the 1970's, the study of mindfulness has blossomed as an area of academic study and practice. And, as the expansion of the discipline unfolds, many are bringing the practice of mindfulness to communities at large, as opposed to individuals. Many are also aiming to bring this practice to previously underserved communities, as poverty has been linked to decreased functional brain connectivity, anxiety, and depression.

As a young man experiencing the trauma of gun shots outside his bedroom window, Justin Michael Williams shares his journey of healing and transformation. As an author, musician, and transformational speaker, Justin will share with us how he uses music and meditation to wake up the world and aims to fulfill his mission to build community and see that "We Rise Together."

With over a decade of teaching experience, Justin has been described as "a pioneering millennial voice for diversity and inclusion in wellness." Learn how this work has been used in diverse communities to promote healing, growth, and create community connections. Justin's teachings, starting local and building communities of color engaged in the practice of mindfulness, has grown exponentially and now reaches more than 40 countries around the world.

To learn more about Justin's work, hear his podcast "The Kingdom" or you can find his book, "Stay Woke, a Meditation Guide for the Rest of Us" by visiting www.justinmichaelwilliams.com

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).