LA Commons

01/20/2023

Thank you Sakul Creative for being a partner and collaborator for our We ARe Here artmaking event this past November!

We were able to uplift the history of Biddy Mason, a powerful woman and leader who came to L.A. after successfully petitioning for her freedom from slavery. She eventually purchased land in what is now known as downtown LA, then organizing First A.M.E. church, the oldest African American church in the city. We are truly honored to keep these stories alive- thank you Sakul Creative for being a part of the process.

01/19/2023

Don’t forget to apply! Deadlines for several of our recent artist calls for work throughout Los Angeles have been extended.

Visit our opportunities page now:
https://www.lacommons.org/opportunities

01/19/2023

We’re looking waaaay back this Wednesday! You can’t talk about our history without talking about Leimert Park, our longtime home.

In June 2011, we started our first year of collaboration with the KAOS Network and Leimert Park Art Walk to produce the Festival of Masks! We collected stories about ancestors and cultural traditions honoring ancestors to produce an incredible festival, which has now been in existence for over 10 years!

The Mask Festival holds a very special place in our hearts, as we are able to activate our community members and demonstrate how they have a part in documenting our histories and shaping the future.

We look forward to sharing more LA Commons history like this in coming weeks!

01/16/2023

Happy MLK day! Don’t forget to remember Dr. King’s powerful words, which live on in the Metro new MLK station of the K Line, right near our home, Leimert Park. Our team recently visited artist Shinique Smith’s wonderful mural, which further fueled our desire to pursue justice and systemic change through our work. Don’t forget to visit this beautiful artwork!

01/13/2023

Big shout out to the Getty’s Conservation Institute! In 2021, the Conservation Institute launched a project to identify, protect, and celebrate LA sites associated with African American heritage throughout the city. Our very own Executive Director, Karen Mack, will be working with the Institute to document and preserve a key facet of Black history in the city: LA Commons!

Don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter and look out for blog posts for updates on Karen’s fellowship!

01/12/2023

Have you been to Cafe Calle on Central Ave in South LA? We love that this coffee house boasts the hashtag ! Located in the heart of , Cafe Calle started as street vendors (En La Calle) serving specialty coffee to the underserved community. They work directly with producers and importers from El Salvador & Guatemala and make their own delicious syrups, as well as offer a menu of healthy offerings from sandwiches, burritos, pastries to acai bowls. Drop in next time you’re in the area they’re located at 3310 S. Central Ave, Los Angeles.

Do you have a favorite cafe, restaurant or locally owned business you’d like to nominate as a South LA Cultural Treasure? We invite you to take the survey on our website southlaculture.org or 🔗 in bio.

01/11/2023

Artist Feature - Meet Anthony Lee Pittman our lead artist for our Safe Passage Project sited at Willowbrook!

Anthony is a Black Latino artist, born and raised in Compton, CA. He is the creative mind behind our Willowbrook Safe Passage Mural, which reflects the importance of youth, community, and, most importantly, JOY.

We recently unveiled the design for the mural, which will be premiering in Willowbrook soon. Keep a lookout!

01/10/2023

We’re partnering with Willowbrook Inclusion Network, USC Architecture, and LA Walks to contribute to designs for a series of memorials in Willowbrook! In November, we took local youth on a tour of Mona Park to scope out the landscape, further inspiring young artists to gather stories from the community, participate in artmaking workshops, and contribute to designs for Willowbrook memorials.

Stay tuned for updates!

01/07/2023

Happy New Year from PZA Cultural Treasures of South LA

Happy New Year! As this year kicks off we invite you to join our new year goal to continue to identify, uplift and recognize the South LA Promise Zone Art’s cultural treasures! These are the individual people, groups/organizations, events, and landmarks that make your neighborhood special. Visit southlaculture.org and click on the survey to nominate your cultural treasures today!

The federally designated South Los Angeles Promise Zone encompasses Leimert Park, Vermont Square, Baldwin Hills/Crenshaw, and connected neighborhoods. The project will result in a database, interactive map and video story bank of the Community-identified Cultural Treasures in 2023! The South LA Promise Zone Art’s cultural treasures initiative is produced by DCA in collaboration with LA Commons and project partners, such as Community Coalition, the South Los Angeles Transit Empowerment Zone (SLATE-Z), and the USC Price Center for Social Innovation.

01/06/2023

We did it! Thank you for participating in our fundraising campaign! We raised $20,950, which will further our collective healing and community building as we provide opportunities across Los Angeles for us to engage in arts and culture together!

01/05/2023

You can’t talk about the underground hip hop scene in Los Angeles without crediting the role that Project Blowed, a South LA Cultural Treasure, has played in bringing many talented voices into prominence. “The Blowed,” a Cultural Treasure in the community, was a weekly event that featured open-mic practice, performance and networking tradition for primarily emcees; along with other elements of hip hop represented like DJs, dancers, graffiti writers and other cultural gems.

Founded in 1994 and located inside of Kaos Network (often spilling out into the sidewalk), a large roster of influential rappers and groups came out of including, Freestyle Fellowship, Swim Team, Customer Service, Abstract Rude, Medusa, 2-Mex, Ras G, Olmeca, Busdriver, DVS, Ellay Khule, Verbz and many more. Let us know if you used to frequent the Blowed and share some of your favorite rappers, artists or historical moments from the scene that you consider to be Cultural Treasures in South LA in the comments below!

Are you a South LA stakeholder? Participate in nominating your South LA Cultural Treasure through a brief survey at southlaculture.org. Cultural Treasures may include people, culture bearing orgs, events and locations.

01/05/2023

CALLING LA ARTISTS! Are you passionate about designing accessible green spaces?

LA Commons seeks 1 lead artist and 1 associate artist to create an art project about wellness, Local Strategies to address climate change and food security displayed at the Expo Center.

From February - May 2023, PAID artists will:
🔸Participate in the story/image gathering process with the community arts team.
🔸Mentor the Core Youth Arts Team to further youth in the development of skills in image making and design.
🔸Complete the design approval process and the final artwork with the youth artists.
🔸Attend the Opening Celebration

01/03/2023

Did you know that the corner of 41st and Central Ave in was once the location of a prominent African-American newspaper in Los Angeles? The paper was founded originally as The Owl in 1879, and renamed to the California Eagle in 1912 by its new owner, Carlotta Bass, an educator, publisher and civil rights advocate.

The paper was an important source for employment and housing opportunities as well as news stories geared towards the newly arrived migrant population during the Great Migration. By 1925, the newspaper had a circulation of 60,000, the largest of any African-American newspaper in California. Its staff was comprised of civil rights advocates, and spearheaded campaigns for equitable hiring, patronage of black businesses, and an end to segregated facilities and housing. In 1964, the California Eagle ceased publication after 85 years, but its legacy lives on in contemporary newspapers like the Los Angeles Sentinel.

Drive by on your next cruise down Central Ave. and read the signs posted on that corner to learn more history about this Cultural Treasure of South LA. What other landmarks do you consider to be Cultural Treasures in your community? Share them with us by taking the Promise Zone Arts initiative survey at southlaculture.org

01/01/2023

New Year = New opportunities! We on the LA Commons team are incredibly excited about new projects coming down the pipeline and look forward to your involvement with us to lift up diverse cultural expression so that all Angelenos' voices ring out loud!

12/31/2022

Today's the last day! We only have $1,500 to raise by the end of the year. Close this gap by adding your tax deductible donation before midnight! Remember, every donation counts!

Donate here: tinyurl.com/donateLAC

12/31/2022

As the year comes to a close and we celebrate the cultural contributions in the Promise Zone Arts community of South LA, let’s recognize and its place in our community! Jazz, rhythm and blues, and music in general, is the perfect Cultural Treasure to help us bid farewell to the past and welcome in all the gifts to come in 2023.
Whether it be the place that jazz has in the history of the 1900s to the 1950s when Central Avenue was the epicenter of the Los Angeles music scene, or in the present with the annual Central Avenue Jazz Festival founded in 1996 and has regularly featured a number of prominent jazz, blues, and Latin Jazz musicians who got their start in the area, jazz is a cultural treasure of Los Angeles we celebrate, elevate and appreciate!
Enjoy this clip of The Dean Family performing as part of the Festival, and let’s use the spirit of jazz to groove into the new year! Learn more about the Cultural Treasures of South LA and fill out the survey to share your own at at southlaculture.org. 🔗 in bio.

12/29/2022

Central Avenue is filled with Cultural Treasures that link South LA to its powerful history and remind us of where we’ve been and where we’re going. The corner of Central Ave and Jefferson is one of those places, once the location of a theater named after the late Florence Mills, a Black vaudeville singer, dancer, and actress in the 1920s who frequently traveled from Harlem to perform in Los Angeles. The theater was part of a vibrant jazz and rhythm and blues scene along Central Ave that had its heyday between the 1920s - 1950s.

Today a new affordable housing development sits on that corner, and a mural commemorates Florence Mills and her legacy in South LA. Local artist Myisha Arellano was chosen through a community process to paint this mural of Florence Mills on the outside of the building with the intention to celebrate music and community in LA. Next time you pass this corner, now transformed, take time to consider the history and memory embodied in the streets of South LA, you’ll be amazed!
Learn more about the upcoming Cultural Treasures of South LA story bank at southlaculture.org and nominate your cultural treasure!

12/28/2022

Two weeks ago, Carver Park was filled with excitement as the community came together to celebrate our new mural design, co-created by youth in Willowbrook and lead artist Anthony Lee Pitman! Youth and parents participated in a visual art activity, weighed in on LA Walks’ safety plan, and were given free school supplies by Willowbrook Inclusion Network. Community members who attended also provided feedback on the mural design and location. We’re excited to share this project. Stay tuned for future updates!

12/28/2022

Call for Artists - We are looking for a visual artist who can work with youth and community in South LA!

LA Commons is partnering with local organizations and students from Fremont High School to raise the community visibility and activation of a local wellness center, community garden and community members’ work. Lead artist will direct a team of youth (ages 15-25 years) to collect stories from the community, and design impactful art that will be painted and installed on the fence or in a garden space.

From Jan - May 2023, The lead artist will:
* Participate in the story/image gathering process with the community and community arts team.
* Mentor Core Youth Arts Team to further youth in the development of skills in image making and design through weekly workshops
* Complete art approvals process and create final artworks based on youth designs and community images gathered
* Attend the Opening Celebration

🔗Learn more and apply now here:
https://forms.gle/BwoYC6RUq3sF1hmo9

Questions? Reach out to our Community Arts Program Director, Beth at [email protected]

12/26/2022

Happy Kwanzaa! Did you know South Los Angeles is the cultural epicenter and birthplace of Kwanzaa? The seven principles of Kwanzaa, as determined by Karenga, are umoja (unity), kujichagulia (self-determination), ujima (collective work and responsibility), ujamaa (cooperative economics), nia (purpose), kuumba (creativity) and imani (faith).

Maulana Karenga, a Black nationalist who later became a college professor, created Kwanzaa as a way of uniting and empowering the African American community in the aftermath of the Watts Rebellion. Let us know how you celebrate this powerful tradition and we wish you a bright and meaningful Kwanzaa!

The Promise Zone Arts Cultural Treasures of South LA mapping survey uplifts and preserves the cultural artists, activists, organizations and landmarks in South Los Angeles neighborhoods. Learn more at southlaculture.org and take the brief survey to nominate your South LA cultural treasure at http://southlaculture.org/

Hand Painted Kwanzaa art by Leimert Park local artist vendor Raw Vision Brand.

12/24/2022

Nominate Your Cultural Treasure this Winter!

Did you make it to the Winter Solstice celebration at Leimert Park?

LA Commons was there spreading the world about the Promise Zone Arts, Cultural Treasures of South LA initiative, a cultural mapping survey aiming to identify and uplift people, organizations, events or places that YOU consider a neighborhood cultural treasure! Let us know yours by visiting southlaculture.org and click on share your nominee!

It can be a landmark, your favorite taquero, your favorite market, anything or anybody that makes your neighborhood special! Learn more about the Cultural Treasures of South LA, part of the Promise Zone Arts initiative, at southlaculture.org

12/24/2022

We only have $4,065 left to raise! Help us reach our goal of $20k by the end of year. Los Angeles needs LA Commons, and LA Commons needs YOU. Seed change in your community by supporting community storytelling by artists and youth.

Every donation counts!

Donate Here:
tinyurl.com/donateLAC

12/22/2022

Ben Caldwell founder of Kaos Network

This past weekend KAOS Network founder Ben Caldwell teamed up with the UCLA Fowler Museum to present “Kaos Theory”, a pop-up concert in Plaza with a dynamic line up of emcees and musicians from and others, collectives that emerged from Kaos Network, Caldwell’s historic incubator and multi-media arts education venue in South LA.

Ben Caldwell, a long-time resident of Leimert Park, is an influential mentor, independent filmmaker and cultural leader in Los Angeles and is considered a longtime Cultural Treasure in the South LA community. His legacy has shaped a community of artists through his work as a director of KAOS Network, an arts center he founded in 1984 that offers courses in video production, animation, web development and more. Learn more about Cultural Treasure Ben Caldwell and the visionary arts center he created at https://kaosnetworkla.com.

Kaos Network and Caldwell are part of the Promise Zone Arts Cultural Treasures of South LA, a mapping survey created to uplift and preserve the cultural artists, activists, organizations and landmarks in South Los Angeles neighborhoods. Learn more and nominate your local treasure at at http://southlaculture.org/

12/21/2022

From LA Commons to you - HAPPY HOLIDAYS.

We’re so grateful for the love and support our community has shown us not only in 2022 but also the last 20+ years. You inspire us and we wish you an excellent 2023!

12/17/2022

Meet Adé E. Neff, owner of Ride On Bike Shop Co-Op a full-service bicycle shop, offering repairs, sales and rentals located in the heart of Leimert Park. The Co-Op is a member-run bicycle collective that aims to provide a space where community members can gather, receive bike services, learn basic bike repair knowledge and more easily connect with the cycling community in a fun and safe environment. Ride On! also hosts workshops on bike safety and skills training and has partnered with Metro’s Bicycle Education Safety Training (BEST) Program.
Adé E. Neff and the space he has created at Ride On! Bike Shop/ Co-Op was nominated by South LA community members as a cultural treasure by the The City of Los Angeles’ Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) Promise Zone Arts initiative which is surveying the South LA community to identify local artists, landmarks, cultural practices, and tradition bearers that the community highlights as significant; illuminating the rich cultural tapestry of the people and places that help local neighborhoods thrive.
Cruise on by Ride On! Bike Shop/Co-Op located at 4319 Degnan Bl., Los Angeles, CA, 90008 and learn more about South LA Cultural Treasures at http://southlaculture.org

12/16/2022

- We’re partnering with the Getty!
LA Commons is searching for a Lead Artist/ Photographer to work with 6 Youth Arts artists (Age 15-25) and 6 adult community members to collect community stories and design a photography project that serves as the basis for intergenerational dialogue. This project is a community engagement project in partnership with the Getty, inspired by the upcoming Getty exhibit “Dawoud Bey & Carrie Mae Weems: In Dialogue.” LA Commons will select a photographer for our Leimert Park site and another for our site in the Florence-Graham neighborhood.

The role of each Lead Artist/ Photographer in this project will be:

* To participate in story/ image gathering process and events with the group to inform the designs for the photography series
* To mentor the youth and community team in the development of skills in photography and community engagement
* To creatively direct the photography series

🔗Learn more and apply here: tinyurl.com/SouthLAInDialogue

Applications due Friday, January 13, 2023

12/16/2022

DOUBLE YOUR DONATION! A generous anonymous donor has offered a $1,000 match for our end of year campaign. Double the impact of your gift by donating now -
* $10 honors 1 youth artist with a certificate of recognition
* $25 supplies 1 youth artist with needed art materials
* $50 supplies 2 youth artists with needed art materials
* $100 supports an artist facilitator to gather local stories
* $250 sponsors 1 virtual story circle
* $500 provides 5 youth with guidance from a mentor
* $1000 sponsors 4 virtual story circles across LA

Click here to make your donation: https://lacommons.networkforgood.com/projects/174459-support-los-angeles-strong-vibrant-communities

12/15/2022

Ponchos Talludas

South LA is lucky to have Oaxacan culinary star Alfonso “Poncho” Martinez of Poncho's Tlayudas , serving up a regional delicacy known as tlayudas. If you’ve never had a tlayuda you’re missing out! It’s an oversize, thin, crispy tortilla topped with savory refritos (black beans), quesillo (a stringy Oaxacan cheese), chorizo, and cabbage.

A Zapotec chef and Cultural Treasure in the community Poncho began cooking tlayudas in his backyard after moving to the U.S. in 2010 and eventually came on the scene with his food at Smorgasburg LA, which garnered him attention by food critics, among them from the New York Times. Today makes tlayudas exclusively from his front yard on Main Street in South Central, along with pop ups and catering around the city, bringing this authentic dish to food lovers who travel far and wide to his doorstep to get a taste of Mexico’s most celebrated Southern state. The special tortilla that make tlayudas so special, are only found in Oaxaca, where Poncho sources them from families who have grown corn for generations. Folded in half and served up hot, tlayudas are grilled over charcoal offering layers of delicious flavors and textures. Have you ever tried a tlayuda? Make sure you visit Poncho’s Tlayudas at 4318 S. Main, Los Angeles.

Nominate your culture treasure- the people and places that make up the rich tapestry of South LA- by filling out our survey in our website: http://southlaculture.org/
(link in bio). Produced by DCA in collaboration with LA Commons and project partners: Community Coalition, the South Los Angeles Transit Empowerment Zone (SLATE-Z), and the USC Price Center for Social Innovation.

Photos courtesy of Paul Argumedo of One Goat Media