This Is Altadena

Altadena has had a strong and vibrant coffee culture for years and one of our prized local businesses is Cafe De Leche, on Lake Avenue. Our own Mikayla Arevalo sat down with Matt and Anja, owners of Cafe De Leche, for a chat about their store and how they came to love life here in Altadena. Later Mikayla chats with Altadena Library District Assistant Library Director Viktor Sjoberg about Read Local Shop Local, a new initiative to bring together library patrons with local businesses, where they can receive discounts and deals simply by presenting their library card.For more information about Cafe De Leche, visit their website:https://www.cafedeleche.net

Summer is almost upon us, and in this episode of TIA, we will learn more about our brand-new plans for summer services through interviews with our Youth & Family Services Manager Mylinh Hamlington and our Teen Librarian Isabelle Briggs.

Much of this work is influenced by the Altadena Library District’s participation in bi-weekly co-design sessions with the California State Library and the California Library Association. Together, we are designing a new, more equitable, framework for summer programs in California libraries. We will start our episode by learning more about this co-design process of making summer services more equitable through an interview with the State Library staff and consultants behind the project.

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Spring has sprung here in Altadena, and nature's bounty is on full display at our local beloved Farmer's Market. Altadena Library staffer Chloe Cavelier sits down for an instructive and delightful chat with chef, master gardener and owner/operator of the Altadena Farmer's Market, Stacey Whitney. Later Chloe catches up with Jessica Yarger and Su Falcon of the Altadena Seed Library, who offer training and tips on everything from saving and sowing seeds, composting, foraging, water harvesting and even backyard chicken raising. We hope you'll be inspired to stretch out your green thumb and take in the spirit of the season.

Find out more about the Altadena Farmer's Market at their website:

http://altadenafarmersmarket.com

Get more info on upcoming Seed Library events and everything else happening at the Altadena Public Library by visiting our event page:

https://www.altadenalibrary.org/programs/

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In episode 3 of This is Altadena, Altadena Library staffer Chloé Cavelier talks with Steven Sneed, a local filmmaker, musician, designer, and overall mover and shaker in our communities, doing important work around gang violence prevention and creating new opportunities for at-risk youth. Throughout the early 2000s, Steve worked as a Behavior and Youth Specialist in the Pasadena Unified School District with students in elementary to high school. In 2016, he became the district-wide Intervention Specialist, creating support plans for at-risk students and developing mentorship opportunities for students, conflict resolution training for District staff, and gang prevention education to middle and high school students. In 2017 when he was laid off due to budget cuts, Steve continued his journey to give back to his community by joining the Violence Prevention Planning Committee for the City of Pasadena, which ultimately inspired him to direct a film about gang violence in Pasadena. Published in 2020, the purpose of his film was to create awareness, bring people together, spark an open dialog, hear different perspectives, and explore solutions to reduce gang violence. During the conception of the documentary, Mr. Sneed collaborated with childhood friend Jason Hardin in the expansion of the Pasadena-based apparel company "Made In Dena," the fruits of which can be seen on sweatshirts and apparel across our communities.

For more on all the cool things that Steven is up to, visit his website:

https://www.sclaz.com

Steven's film "Pasadena: Exploring Solutions To Reduce Gang Violence" can be streamed in its entirety on YouTube here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPc7Uv2WhL4

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What is a zine? The name "zine" is a shortened version of "fanzine" which is a portmanteau of the word "fan" and "magazine". Most people that think of zines think of punk rock and the punk community, where the DIY (do-it-yourself) ethos is more than just a slogan, it's a way of life. In truth, "zines" have been around for centuries, going back to Thomas Paine's famous pamphlet "Common Sense". These homemade publications can be about anything their creators desire - music, art, politics, or something personal. Chloe Cavelier sits down for a conversation with library staffer and resident zine expert Alice Wynne to discuss the past, present and future of zines and Altadena Public Library's very own zine collection. Later Chloe speaks with Bob Lucas Branch manager Diana Wong to discuss Bob's new and improved demonstration garden.

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Welcome to This Is Altadena, a podcast hosted by the Altadena Libraries, celebrating people’s life experiences and stories, and the hidden histories of Altadena, California. In our inaugural episode, we look at the life and times of Altadena legend, artist Charles White. Library staffer Chloe Cavelier sat down with community members Veronica Jones, Keni Arts, and Eugene Hutchins for 3 in-depth conversations about Charles White, his art and legacy, and his ties to our thriving local art community. Then later, our own Aaron Kimbrell chats with resident Teen Librarian Isabelle Briggs about the amazing programs and services offered in the teen department here at the Altadena Library District.

For more about Charles White, don't hesitate to reach out to the Altadena Library:

https://www.altadenalibrary.org

For more about Keni Arts, visit his website:

https://keniarts.com