CivitasLA

Founded during a time of crisis, in response to the HIV/AIDS pandemic in the late 1980's, Project Angel Food has served as a reliable lifeline to thousands of community members diagnosed with critical life- threatening illness.

Envisioning a world where every sick person is fed, nourished, and loved, Project Angel Food prepares and delivers over one million meals a year, free of charge to people who face hunger, isolation, and critical illness. Since its founding in 1989, Project Angel Food has delivered over 13 million free medically tailored meals across 4000+ square miles of Los Angeles County, from the Antelope Valley to the South Bay.

In addition to serving the nutrition needs of critically ill people, the COVID 19 pandemic has brought forth new challenges – including economic, housing and food insecurity – which has made food banks and other food programs more essential than ever. Join Project Angel Food's Executive Director, Richard Ayoub, as we discuss the remarkable journey of the organization, its evolution, and how it's risen – yet again – to the challenges brought on by another pandemic, and how they are meeting this COVID 19 moment to be of service to community members facing critical illness as well as food insecurity. To learn more and get involved, please visit www.angelfood.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).

Building bridges between Los Angeles and the world, the International Visitors Council of Los Angeles (IVCLA) plays a crucial role in creating international connections; cultivating local innovation; and activating global potential.

Celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, IVCLA develops leadership exchanges and advances a range of cross border programs that addresses critical issues, including: alleviating chronic poverty and hunger, creating sustainable communities, promoting tolerance through the arts, empowering women in leadership, controlling infectious diseases, eliminating human trafficking, and promoting civic engagement, amongst others. Many of the international visitors that have participated in IVCLA programs have become leaders in and of their respective governments.

While COVID-19 has made cross-cultural and international collaboration and connection more challenging than ever, the work of IVCLA has become more vital to the health and well-being of our international state system and the success of our world post-pandemic.

Join us for our conversation with Janet Elliott, President & CEO, International Visitors Council of Los Angeles, as we discuss the work of IVCLA; how IVCLA has adapted to facilitate connections and foster citizen diplomacy in new and innovative ways; and the important role IVCLA plays in the civic fabric of Los Angeles and connecting Los Angeles to the world. To learn more and get involved, please visit www.IVCLA.org.

For more information, please visit www.CivitasLA.com

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As Southern California celebrates World Trade Week (WTW), which for more than 90 years has brought focus to the important role international commerce has played in shaping our region, we're joined by Stephen Cheung, President of the World Trade Center Los Angeles, to discuss LA's place in the global commercial community; the economic impact of trade and investment on the region; and the role WTCLA plays in fostering critical cross border connections.

The McKinsey Global Institute, in a report entitled "Urban America: US cities in the global economy," projected Los Angeles to become the fourth-largest city in the world ranked by GDP (with Tokyo being #1 and New York City #2). Key to this success, for LA and others, is building connections to other US cities and global cities which is seen as "a source of strength and new ideas."

With a mission to make Los Angeles the nation's leading center for international trade, the WTCLA is dedicated to attracting foreign direct investment to the Los Angeles region and facilitating business opportunities for the region's business community and their counterparts globally. In carrying out that mission, WTCLA offers several important programs and services that seek to educate, inform, and foster cross border collaboration and connections that can result in mutually beneficial and sustainable economic opportunity. To learn more and get involved, please visit www.wtcla.org

For more information, please visit www.CivitasLA.com.

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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, the fifth largest economy in the world, and $203.2 billion in annual output in Los Angeles, the largest county (by population) in the United States, creativity is a massive engine for economic activity and growth.

Heavily impacted by the global pandemic and the economic crisis that has ensued, a May report issued by the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC), noted the "Arts and Entertainment" industry was among the highest risk industries for job loss related to COVID-19. In that report, the LAEDC projected that initial job loss related to Stay At Home orders for "Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media" in the Los Angeles region could reach as high as 52.5% (year-over-year change).

Navigating these challenges and advocating for the interests and needs of the region's creative community is Arts for LA. Join us for our conversation with Gustavo Herrera, Executive Director of Arts for LA as we discuss their critical role as a leading voice for the arts in the Greater Los Angeles region. Learn about their efforts to inform, engage, and mobilize individuals and organizations to advocate for access to the arts across all communities; arts education for every student; robust investment in the arts; and inclusion of diverse and underrepresented voices. Arts for LA invests in leadership development; growing networks of civically engaged advocates; building deep relationships with elected officials; and working in partnership across sectors to make LA a vibrant, prosperous, creative, and healthy society.

Gustavo will share his insights on the current state of the creative economy, initiatives underway to support the creative community, and share the work underway to develop a recovery strategy through a series of Community Strategy Sessions that will culminate in their upcoming 'State of the Arts Summit', taking place October 16th. To learn more and get involved, please visit www.artsforla.org. And for information about the State of the Arts Summit, please visit www.artsforla.org/sota2020.

For more information, please visit www.CivitasLA.com.

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For nearly 40 years, the Downtown Breakfast Club has served to recognize, foster, and encourage the orderly and planned growth of Downtown Los Angeles. The group consists of individual representatives from all major sectors, including real estate, banking, international investment, architects & engineers, urban planners, investment brokers, insurance development organizations and governmental agencies. Meeting on a bi-monthly basis, the group maintains a profile of current business activity through featured guest speakers and works to encourage and support sound principles of developing a better quality of life for Downtown Los Angeles.

Join us as we follow this remarkable evolution of a community in Los Angeles with Hal Bastian, known as "Mr. Downtown," and explore the fits and starts of transforming DTLA and its subsequent rise. And we look at the Downtown Breakfast Club's annual event bringing together hundreds of civic leaders to celebrate the highlights (Roses) and low lights (Lemons) in the DTLA evolution. To know "What's Up?" in DTLA please visit www.HalBastian.com or visit www.majorproperties.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).

Representing just 1% of the land mass of the City of Los Angeles, Downtown LA (DTLA) is emerging, in some sense, as "the Center of It All." Attracting billions of dollars in investment over the past two decades, DTLA's revitalization has been remarkable. Known principally as a business center, which closed after 5 pm, DTLA has become the city's fastest growing community, with 30% of new apartments built in the city, or nearly 50,000 units. The current population of approximately 80,000 people has nearly doubled over the past decade. Continued residential growth for DTLA is projected to reach 250,000 people living in the area by 2040.

As a major employment center, DTLA houses over 68 million square feet of office space, 22 million square feet of retail space, and the surge of new hotel development has resulted in over 9,000 hotels rooms that support 22 million visitors, annually.

Leading the way in this revitalization effort has been the Central City Association (CCA), advocating for policies that enhance the vibrancy of Downtown Los Angeles, increasing investment in the region, and navigating the challenges that face the community. Its diverse membership of businesses, trade associations and nonprofit organizations collectively employ more than 350,000 people.

Join CCA's President & CEO, Jessica Lall, as she discusses the impact of CCA on the Downtown revitalization and their vision for the future of this fast-growing community. To learn more and become involved, please visit: www.ccala.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).

Founded in 1992 in the aftermath of the civil unrest in Los Angeles, which witnessed over $1 Billion in economic damage, Community Build came into being with a purpose to empower people, build platforms for human capital investment, promote economic development and to deliver critical programs and services.

From those difficult days, the South Los Angeles region, comprising over 51 square miles, more than 750,000 residents, and 28 neighborhoods has witnessed a significant increase in public and private investment, with major projects underway. Yet, with rising investment also comes increased community concern over potential displacement and a host of other issues.

Join us as we speak with Robert Sausedo, President & CEO of Community Build, as he shares his firsthand experience at the civil unrest in 1992, the work of Community Build in rebuilding South LA, and discusses the economic potential of the region going forward. To learn more and get involved, please visit: www.communitybuild.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).

With a belief that a child's zip code should never determine her/his destiny; but realizing that the community one grows up in impacts that young person's odds of graduating high school; health outcomes; and lifetime economic opportunities, "Promise Zones" were created by the federal government for the purpose of partnering with local leaders to increase economic activity, improve educational opportunities, and leverage private investment in order to address public health and other priorities identified by the community. Join us in a conversation with Effie Turnbull Sanders, Executive Director of the SLATE-Z promise zone as she discusses their efforts to promote neighborhood revitalization, educational excellence, and economic empowerment in order to realize the promise and potential of South Los Angeles. To learn more and become involved, please visit: www.slatez.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).

Join Mark A. Wilson, President, CEO/Co-Founder of the Coalition for Responsible Community Development, discussing their work focusing on "changing lives and building neighborhoods responsibly." Since 2005, CRCD has focused its efforts on the historic "South Central" community of Vernon Central, with a mission "to better sustain, coordinate and improve local planning, development and community services that address the needs of low-income and working-class residents and small businesses in South Los Angeles." Learn how this community in South LA is evolving; and how CRCD's work – whether in youth empowerment; workforce and economic development; affordable housing; or efforts to preserve its rich cultural history – are having an impact. To learn more and get involved, please visit: https://www.coalitionrcd.org/

For more information, please visit www.CivitasLA.com

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Embracing a bold vision to radically improve the future of LA communities by increasing educational equity and ultimately closing the opportunity gap, the LA Promise Fund is a nonprofit organization with a mission to prepare students for success in college, career, and life. Join us in a conversation with Veronica Melvin, President & CEO of LA Promise fund as she discusses the work of the LA Promise community, the organization's focus on South LA, and it's efforts to address the talent pipeline problem that exists in STEM fields. To learn more and become involved, please visit: www.lapromisefund.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).