Deep Dive LA

Sometimes one person can spark new educational opportunities that enrich a community and the lives of its families for generations to come. In Los Angeles’ Pico Union area, that spark is Malka Borrego. Enjoy a gourmet meal, and learn how she spearheaded the expansion of school options and helped to transform the Pico Union community…

/ By Tamieka Briscoe / In the city of Los Angeles where the homeless population is in excess of 30,000 – it is impossible to ignore one of the region’s most glaring issues. In 2006, artist Sophie Alpert took a trip to South Africa where she toured a social enterprise that helped train HIV-infected women…

Here’s a cool trick that creative thinkers use to generate great ideas: combine two existing things. That’s it. Sometimes, genius can be found at the nexus of two things that nobody had thought to bring together. For example, in 2000, the Japanese company Sharp combined a wireless phone and a camera for the first time.…

Residents and tourists alike flood the sidewalks and streets of downtown Los Angeles any given day. With world-famous restaurants, museums, galleries, and other thriving businesses—the city’s center serves as a vital part of LA culture. The city of Los Angeles is complex—and so are its challenges. Nonprofits and foundations like The California Endowment, Downtown LA…

While acting immediately comes to mind when one thinks of Los Angeles, few theaters in and around LA feature an all-Latino stage. CASA 0101 is one of a few venues that does. You’ll learn about this unique theater, enjoy delicious Mexican fare, and see a theatrical production – all during the CASA FINA, a Mexican…

/ By Tamieka Briscoe / Finding solutions to protecting the environment will be among the important challenges discussed when changemakers gather November 14 – 16 in Los Angeles for Upswell. And over 700,000 Californians are working to address that issue today – Wednesday, October 3 – by pledging to stand with the California Clean Air…

When ten separate agencies work together to support and empower residents in ten different municipalities and unincorporated areas – big things can happen. You’ll find out how this network of organizations is putting its collective muscle behind uplifting communities in Southeast LA during Southeast Los Angeles Collaborative leverages the expertise and resources of its member…

The city where baseball legend Jackie Robinson grew up, a filming location of popular shows like The Big Bang Theory and Parks and Recreation, and perhaps best known as the home of the famed New Year’s Day Rose Parade and the Rose Bowl—Pasadena—nicknamed “Crown of the Valley,” is rich in history and tradition. Pasadena is…

Leimert Park’s music and cultural legacy is so engrained, the sounds of music legends Ella Fitzgerald and Ray Charles, and insight of comedy genius Richard Pryor may spring to mind as you walk along the community stops of “Today Leimert Park is the African-American cultural hub of the city,” says Karen Mack, Executive Director of…

A bus station. Higher education. Healthier neighborhoods. They’re all connected to a unique effort to create a college-going culture, healthier neighborhoods, and sustainable social change, and you’ll learn how on El Monte Community Building Initiative to invest $10 million dollars over ten years to increase educational standards, resources, and opportunities in the El Monte region.…