As communities and municipalities recover, setting infrastructure for the arts is an important consideration within the context of a creative economy.

Stan Washington, president & CEO of Pantheon Business Consulting LLC is the developer and project executive for overall property management, pre-development, programming, development and construction of the Stocker Street Creative Redevelopment Project (SSC)

Also in the conversation is Ayuko Babu, Founder and President of the Pan African Film Festival, along with Gil Robertson, President of the African American Film Critics Association

Once completed, the SSC is going to change the Crenshaw Corridor and more importantly give Black creatives another seat at the table.

Originally streamed in Black History Month, we did not post to the podcast library until now. Dr. Daniel Walker examines Black Hisptory Month and why it matters. This is a great conversation!!!

The Rent is too high! Should I buy? Or Rent? how do I buy? Are there programs to help me purchase a home. In this day and age, these aer essential questions. Tunua Thrash-Ntuk is the Managing Director of the Long Beach Center for Economic Inclusion. She is here to share vital information and to invite SOuthern Californians to a homebuyers education seminar .....

On the heels of the annual "State of the Port" report, We spoke with Steven Neal for a check in on how the Port of Long Beach is handling it's mission to keep the supply chain moving and relieve the backlog of cargo ships in the Long Beach Harbor... Big Job. Great conversation...

Industry vets choppin it up. Thornell Jones is our guest today as we talk about the "Slap heard 'round the world" We're talking Grammy Awards... We're talking about his quest to run for Governor within the Florida Chapter of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. He has been a leader in Entertainment Marketing for over 20 years learning the business from the ground floor first as an intern and then as a Financial Analyst for Capitol Records. He launched his career in Marketing with several labels beginning at Mercury, then Giant, Motown, A&M, MJJ Music and Hidden Beach where he generated nearly $60 Million in revenues launching the company along with developing the careers of Kindred the Family Soul, Mike Phillips, BeBe Winans, and Jill Scott. An innovative marketing mind, Jones has furthered the careers of a broad range of artists with household names including Darius Rucker, Tatyana Ali, and Diana Ross. A 18 year voting member of the Recording Academy, he holds 12 Grammy certificates for his marketing with Jill Scott, Ann Nesby, Calvin Richardson, Anthony David, India.Arie, Vikter Duplaix, and most recently, Angie Fisher. Recent client projects include Chance The Rapper (ESPY and Grammy performances), Siedah Garrett’s 30th Anniversary of “Man In The Mirror”, Two Beats;One Soul, and the roster of Isotopia Records including Miss Velvet and the Blue Wolf, Baby Raptors, and label founder Constance Hauman.

Thornell has worked closely with Greg J to host a number of global cultural exchanges with artists, broadcasters, music awards producers and influencers from South Africa. Representatives from the South African Broadcasting Corporation and Ukhozi FM

In addition to producing dozens of music videos, he was Executive Producer for The Original Jill Scott: A Documentary which aired on the CENTRIC Network. Currently developing a documentary on the multi-generational influence of George Clinton, Jones also helped to develop a new live music television series with NFocus Entertainment, Real Music Live. Jones has also developed Reality TV sizzle reels for Canada’s R&B Juno award winner Divine Brown, and R&B/funk duo Kandy Apple Redd.

As the nation recovers from a season of pandemic dangers, social justicige reckoning and electoral uncertainties, one thing is sure, a vibrant arts sector is essential. And so we begin our deep dive look at the Creative Economy from an African Americab=n Perspective, Starting with this first of a four part series: African Americans in Classical Music. We talk with George Davis former Executive Director of the California African American Museum, and Professor Janisse White, Classical music scholar, historian and advocate.

Brave New World of NFT'sL Rhonda Love, Founder Blockchain Camp
Reflections of the Supermint NFT Conference. It was one of the first of its kind. two days of NFT, Crypto Blockchain interspersed with food, hiphop and lifestyle.
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When we heard Whoopi Goldberg was suspended from "The View" because she made remarks considered anti Semitic in nature, we began to contemplate the decision. Was she wrong? Why? What don't we know? What are our Jewish Brothers and Sisters feeling in this day and time?. What is the Holocaust? Is this hidden history? Are Jewish people a race? Where is the disconnect? So we reached out to Rabbi Scott Fox of the Temple Israel in Long Beach, CA to sip coffee and discover culture, religion and perspectives,,,, right here on Coffee Conversations with Greg J

In my time serving on the Board of Directors of the Arts Council for Long Beach, one of the most interesting cultural destinations I have been to is the Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA). This arts and culture institution is celebrating 25 years in Long Beach and so we are sipping coffee with @Solimar Salas, Vice President of Museum Content & Programming

The Black CHurch has always been a haven of hope for the community and in these strenuous days and time, the church needs to step into its hertiage of serving our community. We talk with Bishop Todd Ervin Sr as he describes how his church is serving the community, providing free COVID testing, job development services, food giveaways and so much more. All in the name of uplifting our people in such a time as this.