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Watching Out for the Neighborhood Little Tokyo providing meals to hospitality, service workers Page 2

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Nickel Diner Paying it forward

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Little Tokyo watches out for the neighborhood

By Andrew Checchia s businesses partially reopen and the vaccine rollout mounts under the new presidential administration, community leaders around Los Angeles are reflecting on their efforts to provide pandemic relief and support around the city.

In Little Tokyo, the conclusion of a few landmark projects has shown the power of those efforts to maintain the neighborhood spirit that binds workers, residents, businesses and institutions through these isolating times.

Two Little Tokyo leaders in particular, Nancy Yap and James Choi, spearheaded the successful Community Feeding Community Program, which provides meals to in-need hospitality and service workers.

“When we started our program, we thought we were maybe going to run it for three weeks, raise a few thousand dollars, and call it a day,” said Yap, a community organizer who has worked with the Little Tokyo Community Council (LTCC) and is the executive director at the Center for Asian Americans United for Self Empowerment (CAUSE).

The program started as a simple idea.

Yap’s brother, who is also involved in the Little Tokyo community, offered to buy lunch for her team at a previous employer.

But instead of just focusing on businesses with falling revenues, she started thinking about the hospitality workers who suddenly had their entire income pulled out from under them.

“When James (Choi) and I started the program, we were just going back and forth. My brother had just called and said, ‘I’m nervous for the businesses.’ He had already bought lunch for other nonprofits in the neighborhood,” said Yap of the start of Community Feeding Community. “(I said,)

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‘I’ll figure out who to feed.’”

Struggling workers needed meals. Struggling restaurants needed customers. So, through generous donations and contributions from the community, a team of people like Yap and Choi coordinated with 84 local businesses to buy meals which they then distributed for free among local hospitality and service workers. “(With) these closures, the hospitality workers in our neighborhood aren’t going to have jobs. There are people in the neighborhood who know how I like my meals done, how I like my favorite drinks,” Yap said. “It helped me see what our neighborhood was really made up of. Generosity really shone through throughout the program. It has a lot to do also with how we treat people.”

Now after nearly $200,000 raised and over 10,000 meals distributed, the program reinvigorated legacy businesses and fed hungry workers. The second holiday wave after its initial efforts in April only hammered home the programs popularity and success. Run throughout November and December, it helped thousands as the second full lockdown put increased financial strain on workers.

“If someone just gives me a check for $1,000, I’m like, ‘This doesn’t feel right.’ But if you buy meals, you’re giving people purpose. What’s amazing to see is how many people are supporting the community. It’s because people understand we’re doing this for Little Tokyo,” said Choi, who runs Cafe Dulce, the successful chain of coffee shops/bakeries that started in Little Tokyo almost 10 years ago. “The pandemic’s been really difficult obviously, but it’s been incredible to see people out there helping.”

Executed through LTCC, Choi lauded the nonprofit’s ability to coordinate these CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

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Community Feeding Community is a program created by Little Tokyo leaders, left to right, James Choi, owner of Café Dulce and Little Tokyo Community Council board member; Kristin Fukushima, managing director of Little Tokyo Community Council; and Nancy Yap, vice president of development at Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics (LEAP).

Photo courtesy of Little Tokyo Community Council

EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Christina Fuoco-Karasinski STAFF WRITERS: Andrew Checchia, Andres De Ocampo, Julia Shapero CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Sara Edwards, Kamala Kirk ART DIRECTORS: Arman Olivares, Stephanie Torres STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER: Luis Chavez CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS: Myriam Santos ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES: Catherine Holloway, Michael Lamb Meals are purchased from small businesses in Little Tokyo and the Arts District and distributed on FOUNDER EMERITUS: Sue Laris

Wednesdays and Saturdays at 5 pm. Each week, CFC supports 13 local businesses and provides 470 meals to those in need.

EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Christina Fuoco-Karasinski STAFF WRITERS: Zakkary Brog, Annika Tomlin, Jim Walsh CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Andrew Checchia, Doyoon Kim, Frier McCollister, Ellen Snortland ART DIRECTORS: Arman Olivares, Stephanie Torres STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER: Luis Chavez CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER: Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES: Catherine Holloway, Michael Lamb FOUNDER EMERITUS: Sue Laris

Photo courtesy of Little Tokyo Community Council

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LITTLE TOKYO WATCHES OUT FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD, 2 kinds of large-scale charity projects.

“LTCC is like the Batman of Little Tokyo. Basically, what LTCC does is go to bat against developers,” he said. “All the work LTCC does is invisible. Community Feeding Community brought LTCC to the forefront.

They’re mobilizing people. They’re marketing for the neighborhood. It’s galvanized their position as community leaders.”

LTCC also worked closely with legacy business owners, who often had difficulty navigating the confusing layers of bureaucracy to access governmental COVID-19 relief. LTCC’s coordination became even more important with the additional language barriers. That multilingual challenge also presented itself intensely during Little Tokyo Eats, a separate initiative in partnership with the Little Tokyo Service Center that provided subsidized meals to seniors in the neighborhood.

“As we talk about equity and inclusivity more, language was a challenge,” Yap said.

“We found we needed to translate into Spanish and Chinese. Minimum we needed to send out information in five different languages. It was a lot of excess labor.”

But as the Community Feeding Community sunsets and Yap and Choi look to partially step back from their roles at the forefront of this community work, they look

forward to sponsoring other initiatives and plan to share their wealth of knowledge and community connections.

“We have all this data, we know our neighborhood, we know who’s falling through the cracks,” Yap said. “When you think about transfer of advocacy, we’ve built a track record in the community. We cannot keep running this Band-Aid program that isn’t going to solve the bigger issues, like unemployment or hunger. I in no way am saying (the community is) not doing enough; I’m asking what they need.”

Choi and Yap look forward to collaborating on the annual Haunting Little Tokyo festival in October. While the event is usually a celebration meant to draw visitors from around the city during the traditionally slow fall season, it grew into a wonderful moment for the neighborhood to show off its cultural heritage and became a good excuse for a scavenger hunt. They, of course, can’t plan for the unpredictable course of the pandemic, but they hope by Halloween season Haunting Little Tokyo can mark the grand reopening of the neighborhood and financially put businesses back on track to stay successful pillars of the community.

“I knew the two of us had built a trusted network in Little Tokyo. We talk about passing things on. It’s a really great ex-

Meals are purchased from small businesses in Little Tokyo and the Arts District and distributed on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 5 pm. Each week, CFC supports 13 local businesses and provides 470 meals to those in need.

Photo courtesy of Little Tokyo Community Council

People whose jobs have been impacted by COVID-19 line up in Little Tokyo to receive a meal through the Community Feeding Community Program. Nearly 500 meals are distributed weekly using funds donated by the community to support small businesses.

Photo courtesy of Little Tokyo Community Council

ample that relationships don’t have to be transactional, but that you can pivot quickly when something needs to be done,” Yap said. “Because we had all this experience, we were able to get a lot of people into the neighborhood and see it as more than an exotic, kitschy place to get sushi.”

While a particularly incredible example, Yap stressed that she was just one among many community leaders across LA who wanted to do the best for their neighborhoods, citing efforts like the Feed the Frontliners program by Park’s Finest BBQ for helping health care as well as service workers. The pandemic just put stress on existing systems, so when a neighborhood

already had such powerful bonds, they tensed up to hold the community together as best they could.

“There are these historic places about the neighborhood that are unique. There’s a history we’ve embedded ourselves in.

Some of the restaurants have things that you can’t have anywhere else. I’m hopeful because there’s a large community rallying around those places, but it’s hard to tell what’s going to happen next,” said Yap of Little Tokyo’s future. “The neighborhood does look out for itself. I think it was nice to be reminded that community matters. I forget that it can be like that. And I don’t think every neighborhood is like that.”

LTCC Community Feed Community info: littletokyola.org

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Covered will help NEWS - California COVID COUNT

Reported cases in DTLA and surrounding areas as of Feb. 7 Chinatown: 672; Little Tokyo: 361; Los Feliz: 950; Silverlake: 2,906; South Park: 6,935; Wilshire Center: 5,138 Total confirmed cases in DTLA: 3,585 Total deaths in DTLA: 41 Total confirmed cases in LA County: 1,143,422 Total deaths in LA County: 17,955 Los Angeles County has reported a total of 1,143,422 cases and 17,955 total fatalities; 4,607 patients are in county hospitals with 28% in ICUs. Los Angeles is starting to see relief from the virus. The seven-day average of new COVID-19 cases has dropped from 15,100 to 5,600 cases per day. Hospitalization rates are steadily dropping.

Officials have also reported additional cases of MIS-C (multisystem inflamma-

tory syndrome in children), bringing the total number of infected children to 75 in the county along with one death. All infected children are currently hospitalized with 44% in the ICU. Los Angeles County is starting to shift its focus from first-dose vaccinations to people who need a second dose. California is struggling to get more doses, as supplies are still very limited. Local health officials are hoping to start administrating the Johnson & Johnson one-dose vaccine after emergency authorization from the FDA. Recent figures suggest that little over a million vaccine doses have been administered in Los Angeles County, including more than 104,000 second doses. Progress has been made on vaccinations, but less than 3% of the population is fully vaccinated. Appoint-

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ments for first-dose vaccinations will be difficult to come by because of limited supply, as the majority of vaccines will be reserved for second-dose appointments.

With debates over how to ramp up vaccine administration, California has launched a high-level task force to sort out logistics on how residents with disabilities and underlying health conditions will receive the vaccine. The committee is considering individuals

ages 16 to 64 with underlying conditions or disabilities to be the next eligible group for the vaccine. Pediatricians are also pushing for the reopening of schools, arguing the harm of keeping children out of school outweighs the risk of safely reopening classrooms.

However, teacher unions are pushing back, wanting to be vaccinated first before returning to in-person instruction.

—Information compiled by Doyoon Kim

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Arizona State adds LA center to Poitier film school

By Annika Tomlin and Jim Walsh he historic Herald Examiner building is making a comeback.

Arizona State University’s satellite film school, The Sidney Poitier New American Film School, will move into the building, as announced by the school during a recent Zoom press conference.

“Throughout its history, the Herald Examiner has seen a lot,” said LA Mayor Eric Garcetti. Within its walls, Harry Houdini performed, and several films and TV shows were filmed.

“Now, it will house a film school whose core mission is to expand access so our creative narrative matches the amazing diversity found here in Los Angeles and in Arizona and frankly across our nation,” Garcetti said. “The Sidney Poitier New American Film School will transform who gets to tell the American story and in turn change the story itself.”

Opening its doors in the summer, the ASU LA Center will team with the new, state-of-

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the-art ASU at Mesa City Center in Downtown Mesa, Arizona, which will debut the first quarter of 2022. ASU spokeswoman Annie DeGraw said both buildings will have signage identifying The Sidney Poitier New American Film School.

The Los Angeles center will provide students with hands-on experience and further bolster reputation of ASU Film Spark.

Students will also have opportunities to use Hollywood technology through partnerships with the likes of the John Hughes Institute and Dreamscape Immersive, the world’s leading virtual reality company.

“More than anything we want our students to have the ability to successfully transition to jobs in the entertainment industry,” said Steven Tepper, dean and director, foundation professor, Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts.

“By covering a wide range of practice areas within our curriculum, our programs are able to model real-world jobs, giving students hands-on experience in a variety of

The Sidney Poitier New American Film School within the Herald Examiner building will feature an event space.

Photo courtesy Arizona State University, Gensler and k18

industry roles.

“In doing so we are committing to the entire creative practice and ensuring our graduating students leave ASU ready to contribute to productions with a thorough understanding of film and media production.”

ASU named its schools after actor Sidney Poitier, the first Black man and Afro-Bahamian actor to win the Academy Award.

He’s the oldest living recipient of that Oscar.

The school will be tied to the ASU Mesa and Tempe campuses.

A trailblazing actor who starred in sever-

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al films highlighting the evils of racism, the 93-year-old Poitier starred in “Raisin in the Sun” (1961), “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” and “In the Heat of the Night” (both 1967).

“Sidney Poitier is a national hero and international icon whose talents and character have defined ethical and inclusive filmmaking,” Tepper said.

“His legacy will serve as a guide and inspiration for our school and the thousands of film students we educate. The Sidney Poitier New American Film School will be a welcoming space for individuals from across the country and world to hone their craft

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The ASU LA Center is being renovated, and the improvements include a third-floor skylight work area.

Photo courtesy Arizona State University, Gensler and k18

and bring their unique and diverse voices to the entertainment industries and audiences everywhere.”

Tepper hosted the press conference and event with ASU President Michael Crow; Mesa Mayor John Giles; Lionsgate Entertainment Vice Chairman Michael Burns; LA Mayor Eric Garcetti and three of Poitier’s six daughters, Anika Poitier, Beverly Poitier-Henderson and Sydney Poitier Heartsong.

ASU alumnus Burns has a close working relationship with Crow and helped connect Poitier and his family with the university to negotiate the naming rights deal.

During the event, Garcetti thanked Tepper for his “leadership in shepherding the development of this school” as well as his “friend Michael Crow, whose vision for a university of the future has changed the landscape of public education in Los Angeles and throughout our nation and world.”

“Sidney Poitier battled hatred and bigotry at another time of great strife in our country when people cried out for justice,” Garcetti added. “He brought unforgettable characters onto the screen and into our collective American conscious.

“This school is a fitting honor for a man who opened so many doors and broke down so many barriers. For far too long, Hollywood has bypassed these stories of people who didn’t fit a narrow mold. But those days are over, and this film school is a clear physical manifestation of that change.”

The renamed film school can take advantage of innovative graduate programs in media making and creative industry leadership in cooperation with ASU’s Walter

Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication and Thunderbird School of Global Management.

Among the Sidney Poitier Film School’s goals is to improve diversity in the film industry — not only in front of the camera but behind it.

“Our society has been moved forward by film and television,” said Poitier-Henderson, a writer, producer and jewelry designer.

Heartsong and Anika Poitier described how their father is honored to have his name attached to the film school, combining his passions for advancing education and civil rights.

“It’s really important to have diversity in the stories that we tell, and they need to be told by the people who are living these stories,” said Anika Poitier.

“It’s absolutely imperative that we open up these conversations and we open up schools like (The Sidney Poitier New American Film School), which will hopefully encourage people to come and learn and be able to tell their stories and have a platform in which to share those stories as well. Because I think it’s what the world needs desperately right now.”

Poitier himself did not appear and turned down interview requests, but such stars as singer Harry Belafonte and actor John Lithgow made cameo appearances praising him.

“You see a lot more interracial couples and gay people. It’s not fun and games. You are shaping the world,” Poitier-Henderson said.

To learn more about The Sidney Poitier New American Film School, go to film.asu.edu.

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he Michelson Found Animals Foundation recently hosted a drive-thru pet pantry to provide free dog and cat food for pet owners in need. In partnership with Supervisor Hilda L. Solis, Anti-Recidivism Coalition and Homeboy Industries, the event was conducted in the safest way possible. The pet

food was distributed through a no-contact drive-thru system at Homeboy Industries. Additionally, Homeboy Industry and ARC members with scheduled appointments received needed wellness services for their pets, including microchips, vaccinations, flea/tick treatment, hygiene services and other pet supplies.

Pet owners wait in line in their cars to receive food and supplies from volunteers of the Michelson Found Animals Foundation.

Photo by Luis Chavez

Karry Armstrong from Home Dog LA, Christy Schilling from Bark Avenue Foundation and Mechi Lakatos from Bark Avenue Foundation provide information for pet wellness services.

Photo by Luis Chavez

Miguel Lugo from Homeboy Industries and his wife, Marina Cadena, with their two dogs, Max and Ruby.

Photo by Luis Chavez

Christopher Jackson is a pet groomer from The Pawlor.

Photo by Luis Chavez

Veterinarian Paulina Alcaraz Flores and veterinary technician Wendy Castellanos administer medical care to Barker.

Photo by Luis Chavez

Brandon Washington and Mocha wait in line for veterinary services.

Pet owners visit booths at the Michelson Found Animals Better Neighbor Project event.

Photo by Luis Chavez

Photo by Luis Chavez

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OPINION

February is for all of us

Hey you! Speak up!

Downtown News wants to hear from people in the community. If you like or dislike a story, let us know, or weigh in on something you feel is important to the community.

Participation is easy. Go to downtownnews.com, scroll to the bottom of the page and click the “Letter to the Editor” link. For guest opinion proposals, please email christina@timespublications.com.

ting comeback to “We don’t have a white history month, so why do you get a Black History Month?” She’s a sublime meld of silly and deep, and has one of the best answers ever, posted on YouTube, on why whites need

Black History Month.

Ellen Snortland has written “Consider This…” for a heckuva long time, and she also coaches first-time book authors. Contact her at Ellen@ beautybitesbeast.com

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words, they were individuals.

In our society, the only group that so far has been able to be regarded as individuals, and not representatives of the entire group, are white cis men. Why? Because they are generally in charge of what stories are told in history books, film, TV and the news. All our storytelling venues spew out the same ol’ stereotypes, decade after decade. Those stereotypes impact all of us, whether it’s the stereotype of the ghetto thug, the ditzy arm-candy blonde or the gang-banger Mexican.

After Barack Obama was elected president, I noticed an uptick in the depiction of diverse Black men on screen. Suddenly there were Black male computer nerds, scientists, intellectuals and artists. That was the Obama effect, showing U.S. viewers a Black character could be all sorts of ways. Diverse Black female characters followed, although many years later.

Native Americans generally continue to endure stereotypical problems. If aliens landed and watched our news or “entertainment,” they wouldn’t know we had an Indigenous people at all, as they are rarely featured in any capacity. Shame on American storytellers.

If you’re intelligent and curious, it’s almost impossible to overlook greatness in “the other” once you’ve seen it. You can’t acknowledge the horror of events like the Tulsa massacre of 1921 without also “grokking” how deeply white people were terrified of Black success. Seeing Blacks at that time excel via the “Black Wall Street” of Tulsa, it’s difficult to keep promulgating lies that Blacks are inferior to whites. It doesn’t feel as bad to be vicious to people when you’ve grown up being told that not only are they “the other,” but they are also “less than.”

I’ve always been thrilled that Black History Month is a celebration of the stories and histories of African Americans. However, I also want white people to focus on it… just as I want not only women and girls but men and boys to focus on March, Women’s History Month as well. In truth, all of our American history needs to be a remedial course in asking, “Who’s missing from this picture?” As in, where are the women? Where are the African Americans? Where are the Native Americans?

Scratch the surface and you will find them.

Finally, the funny and talented Amber Ruffin has a glorious new late-night show of her own. One of her latest bits is a hard-hit-

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lack History Month is very important — especially for white people with a history like mine. Growing up in Colorado and South Dakota, I barely knew that Black people existed. The first Black person I met was an African man who brought slides of his country. He was the product of a missionary education… and he was gorgeous.

For a 10-year-old, my first exposure to a person with dark melanin was romantic.

I like to quip that there were no Black people in South Dakota because they had the common sense not to be there. We all knew that the people who were systemically oppressed in the Dakotas were on the reservations. My parents were always super progressive and educated me early that what had befallen the Lakota was our fault as white people and not some inherent flaw in the Native Americans.

Meanwhile, I had the great fortune to attend an open-minded and experimental Lutheran high school in Canton, South Dakota. The experimental aspect of the boarding school was the dreamchild of Pastor Bob Nervig, who was convinced, as am I, that a primary way to solve racism is to have us all live together, learn about one another and to get out of the mindset of “the other” and that “different” people are scary.

I had fabulous relationships with kids from all over the world, all backgrounds and all colors. Robin Morgan, feminist leader and author, says, “Hate is general; love is specific.” At Augustana Academy I had specific relationships with Black and other hued teens, and it changed my life. Because February is Black History Month, I’ll focus on my experiences during that time with my Black friends and acquaintances.

Like everything in my life, it started with books. When I was 14, I read “Black Like Me,” “The Autobiography of Malcolm X,” “Manchild in the Promised Land,” “The Fire Next Time” and “Confessions of Nat Turner” (plus several more) in my social studies class. I would wager that we were the only kids reading Black Liberation books in South Dakota.

When you’re with a smorgasbord of people who are commonly thought of as “the other,” you get very clear that stereotypes are created and perpetuated to keep them that way. I had Black friends, both boys and girls, who were geeky, intellectual, artsy fartsy, athletic, shy, gentle, silly, brave, bold and every combination of those attributes. In other

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By Ellen Snortland

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EDUCATION & ENRICHMENT ISSUE

FEBRUARY 15, 2021

Each school year, ease into education

By Family Features f there’s one constant this year, it’s change. You can help your family make a smooth transition with some planning and preparation.

Allow time for adjustments: After months of later bedtimes and laidback schedules, kids and parents alike need a little time to adjust to a new mindset. Start gradually dialing back bedtime and scheduling time for educational activities and lunchtime a few weeks before school begins. This gives you plenty of time to work out any glitches while avoiding the resistance and disruption that more abrupt changes can bring.

Map out a visual guide: Especially after spending more time at home, having everyone headed in different directions may feel a bit overwhelming.

This may be particularly true if your school model requires nontraditional scheduling or if you’re making a return to a more rigorous extracurricular activity schedule. For younger kids and those who learn better by seeing than hearing, a visual representation can help illustrate how schedules will be changing. Color coding by person or activity can help everyone understand who should be where and when.

Make evenings easier: A house hold with school-age kids is seemingly bustling all the time, but evenings are often especially busy with activities, homework and other commitments competing for attention. Gathering everyone around the table for a meal may be a challenge, so when you do succeed, give yourself permission to shave time where you can. For example, keeping disposable tableware on-hand lets you skip the cleanup on nights you don’t want to do dishes and spend more time assisting with science projects and cheering on athletic teams. Premium options like Chinet Classic White plates are strong enough for the heaviest, messiest meals so you don’t have to worry about spills and leaks.

Set a positive tone: Transitions hap-

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University offers first hospitality, wellness and leisure services degree to meet industry bounce-back window

By Cal State LA Downtown About 20 years ago, the hospitality industry broadened its scope to include wellness and leisure services. Now with the advent of COVID-19, the industry is working at warp speed to ensure that consumers and employees can embrace the technological advances available to provide safe and touchless interactions as well.

For the first time in the city of Los Angeles, Cal State LA Downtown is addressing the needs of hospitality and tourism employers, and their workforce, by offering the Bachelor of Science in hospitality, wellness and leisure services program beginning this fall.

According to Curtiss Bawden, principal of Curtiss’ Hospitality Industry Professional Services and special adviser of Cal State LA’s new program, “wellnessfication” has now entered industry vocabulary.

Bawden says not only have hotels added gyms and personal trainers, healthier menus and mindfulness spaces such as gardens, they also now emphasize employee wellness and leisure by offering similar atwork benefits.

Currently, most universities offer a typical bachelor’s degree in hospitality management that introduces students to the world of travel, tourism and event planning. Cal State LA Downtown’s new program stands apart by providing additional curriculum centered around

hospitality technology to students so that they are better prepared to help both hotel and related industry operators improve the performance of their businesses.

“Frankly, the hospitality industry has been behind the times when it comes to technology,” Bawden said. “Going forward, the norm will be that anything touchless will be embraced by the consumer — contactless payments, voice search and voice control, chat bots, virtual reality tours, mobile check-in, among others. In turn, hospitality careers will shift toward technology management of robots vs. people.”

COVID-19’s impact has had a devastating effect on the hospitality, wellness and leisure services industry. However, according to the Los Angeles Tourism Board, LA tourism/ hospitality is one of the first industries to bounce back after a recession. With over 50 million visitors staying in Los Angeles in 2018 (110 million visitors per year, combined with Anaheim and San Diego), tourism is predicted to return to pre-pandemic levels sometime in 2024.

“This is the perfect time for someone to earn their hospitality degree at Cal State LA Downtown,” Bawden said. “By the time they graduate, there will be an upswing in hospitality jobs like we have never seen before.”

Cal State LA Downtown’s Bachelor of Science in hospitality, wellness and leisure services program will also provide students with a cultural understanding of the entire

Cal State LA Downtown campus, located at Eighth and Grand in Downtown Los Angeles.

(Photo courtesy Cal State LA Downtown)

Cal State LA Downtown’s degree program in hospitality, wellness and leisure services addresses future needs of a post-pandemic hospitality industry.

(Photo courtesy Cal State LA Downtown)

globe. “Courses include topics such as intercultural communications in civic contexts for travel, tourism and leisure services so that they can better serve and understand diverse populations,” Bawden said. “Also, an understanding of financials will be key to a successful career so that students have proper financial management understanding of how to make a profit.

“What makes this program even more relevant and exciting is that it is conveniently offered within minutes of top employers. Our best-in-class education will provide them with graduates that have the proper tools to excel in the decades to come.”

Applications for the Bachelor of Science in hospitality, wellness and leisure services are being accepted through March 15. The inaugural

ADVERTORIAL

program begins in fall 2021. For additional program and financial assistance information, including a prerecorded program webinar, visit calstatela.edu/dtla/hospitality.

Curtiss Bawden, principal of Curtiss’ Hospitality Industry Professional Services and special adviser of Cal State LA’s hospitality, wellness and leisure services.

(Photo courtesy Cal State LA Downtown)

Cal State LA Downtown 801 S. Grand Avenue, Sixth Floor, Los Angeles calstatela.edu/dtla/hospitality PaGEPrograms@calstatela.edu

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A student shoots on the Chaplin Green Screen Stage. The Los Angeles Film School on Sunset Avenue in (Photos courtesy LA Film School) Hollywood.

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Dub stage; 720-square-foot, 64-fader Icon D-Control ES video screen, lecture seating.

Hands-on experience is important to facility

By The Los Angeles Film School Entertainment is The Los Angeles Film School’s past, present and future. We are proud to be one of Hollywood’s leading film and entertainment colleges. Our goal is to equip aspiring artists with the necessary skills they need to succeed in this industry. Whether our students choose to take classes online or on campus in Hollywood, we train the next generation of creative professionals.

Students thrive in our experiential class environment under the instruction of seasoned faculty members, many of whom are still actively involved in the entertainment industry.

Each discipline offers curricula designed to provide students with the knowledge, hands-on experience, and industry connections necessary to succeed in the rapidly changing landscape of the entertainment business. We offer entertainment-focused Bachelor of Science degrees in animation, audio production, digital filmmaking, entertainment business, film production, graphic design, media communications and writing for film and TV, as well as Associate of Science degrees in audio production, music production and film.

The L.A. Film School has been an academic leader in the entertainment community since 1999.

Explore our degree programs: Bachelor of Science in film production is a 36-month program rooted in visual storytelling.

The curriculum allows students to focus on an elected concentration of study in the following disciplines: cinematography, directing, production and producing.

Bachelor of Science in digital filmmaking online is a 36-month film program that’s delivered 100% online and prepares students for a career in producing, screenwriting, directing, cinematography and editing.

Bachelor of Science in animation is a 36-month program designed to teach students the art, techniques, processes and technology that animators use in professional environments.

Students may also choose between a concentration in visual effects or game art.

Bachelor of Science in animation online is a 36-month animation program that begins with the fundamentals of computer-generated art and then immerses students in model creation, character animation, digital sculpting and much more. Students may also choose a concentration in visual effects, environment and character design, or character animation.

Bachelor of Science in graphic design online is a 36-month program that teaches students how to create compelling designs through photography, motion graphics, print, website and experience design for the entertainment business.

Bachelor of Science in entertainment business is offered either online or on campus and gives students a behind-the-scenes look at the world of show business. Learn the business side of the entertainment industry with this 36-month program.

Bachelor of Science in audio production is a 36-month program offering advanced training for audio engineering, providing students with technical knowledge of recording and foundational music and production skills.

Bachelor of Science in audio production online is a 36-month program that offers advanced training in digital audio production for film, TV, music, game engines and more. Students work in their own home studio environment while collaborating with peers and instructors online.

Bachelor of Science in music production online is a 38-month program that provides the experience needed to learn on diverse media applications using today’s latest digital music technology.

Students work in their own home studio environment while collaborating with peers and instructors online.

Bachelor of Science in writing for film and TV online prepares students to script well-structured stories with vivid, compelling characters to create scripts for film, TV and immersive media. This immersive screenwriting program is delivered 100% online over a 36-month period.

Bachelor of Science in media communications online is offered for students seeking a program in mass communication, including social media management, digital content production and new media advertising. Students learn how to leverage today’s digital media and apply it to the entertainment industry over a 36-month instruction period.

Associate of Science in audio production is an 18-month program that provides students with training in live-sound production, analog and digital recording, and post-production audio. This program is offered on campus and online.

Associate of Science in music production is an accelerated degree program that offers either online (20 months) or on campus (18 months), preparing students for a career in music composition, production and publishing.

Associate of Science in film allows students an opportunity to learn every stage of production in the following disciplines: cinematography, directing, production and producing. The associate degree is offered on campus over an 18-month period.

Tour our Hollywood campus virtually by visiting lafilm.edu/tour ADVERTORIAL

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pen more easily when the destination is exciting and appealing. Help kids get excited about a return to school by talking about what they’re looking forward to and offering reassurance about their concerns. Allow kids to put a personal touch on supplies they’ll be excited to use, such as a new backpack or headphones for online learning. Put simply, model positivity for students to mirror as they head into a new school year.

Spend family time together: At the end of each day, once everyone is done with school and work, make some time for a physical activity the whole family can participate in.

Whether it’s a walk around the neighborhood to get some fresh air or a game of tag or soccer in the backyard, getting active together can be an easy way to spend time winding down and bonding.

Look for more inspiration to ease your family’s return to learning at MyChinet.com.

Enjoy more convenient mornings: How you begin each day sets the tone for the hours that follow. Put yourself on course for a successful, stress-free day by eliminating hassles CONTINUED ON PAGE 18

WHEN YOU PROVIDE A SAFE, HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT TO LEARN

THE EXTRAORDINARY HAPPENS

Robust academic programs available on-campus and online.

Explore Stratford’s balanced and intentionally designed curriculum.

Join us for a

CAMPUS TOUR! By appointment! Pre-register online.

Preschool THROUGH

Elementary*

StratfordSchools.com/schedule-a-tour

West Los Angeles 2000 Stoner Avenue (424) 293-2783

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Accrediting Commission for Schools

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Our other Southern California campuses Altadena | Mission Viejo

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1200 N. Cahuenga Blvd.

(323) 962-3075

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*Grades offered vary by location. Preschool State License Numbers: 198018875, 197493889.

EDUCATION & ENRICHMENT ISSUE

FEBRUARY 15, 2021

Ánimo Jackie Robinson Charter High School The ‘community’ boasts a college-bound culture By Ánimo Jackie Robinson Charter High School More than 600 students attend Ánimo Jackie Robinson Charter High School with unique aspirations. But they have one shared goal: attend college. Our job is to help them get there. Ánimo Jackie Robinson isn’t just another high school. It’s a tight-knit community with a college-going culture and high-quality instruction.

It’s a launchpad for success where students have access to individualized academic support. Academic coaching, college planning, socialemotional support systems, and career discovery are all part of the Green Dot Model that Ánimo Jackie Robinson offers to all students.

Family workshops, after-school programs and athletics (including our championship football team) are at the heart of our school community.

When we opened Ánimo Jackie Robinson in 2006, it was in response to the academic and socioemotional needs of our community. For starters, all students have access to school psychologists who provide and link students to mental health and psychological support.

Our academic counselors are available to guide students through earning A to G credits to graduate college ready. We connect students with academic opportunities such as dual enrollment: take college classes during high school. We also offer academic coaching, college planning and workshops for all students and families.

Our academic and socioemotional commitment is why Ánimo Jackie Robinson is in the top 25% of the US News & World Report’s Best High Schools Rankings and over 90% of our graduating students attend both two- and four-year colleges and universities.

While our school ranks among the best in the country, every student’s journey is different. We meet students where they are and take them

to where they need to be. Through our interventions, foundational, honors and Advanced Placement (AP) courses, our students have consistently outpaced academic growth across California year over year.

During this unprecedented shift to distance learning, we focused on maintaining our high-quality academic and socioemotional support and service to our community.

We’ve adapted in many ways: every student can take home a laptop and hotspot, teachers hold daily office hours online, all students have access to free tutoring services, and students continue to have access to their regular school counselors. At Green Dot, we meet students where they are and take them to where they need to be in order to succeed in college, leadership, and life.

Our school is co-located on the campus of William J. Clinton Middle School, a Los Angeles Unified school. We have been able to establish a positive, cohesive relationship with the staff and students at Clinton, primarily due to our collaboration, consistency, and partnership.

We also offer a comprehensive special education program and a substantial intervention program for struggling learners. We pride ourselves on the fact that we have established a safe, nurturing yet challenging, academic environment for all students, especially our students with special needs, who have been able to succeed academically throughout our history, including being accepted at and enrolling in universities and colleges.

Our goal is to provide an education for our community that will equip our resilient, self-reliant, and compassionate students with the skills necessary for success in college, leadership and life. We are proud and humbled by our students’ and teachers’ accomplishments.

We encourage anyone to come and visit our school, get to know our community and join the family. As all our alumni state with pride: “Once a Monarch, always a Monarch!”

Your future starts here.

At Ánimo Jackie Robinson Charter High School, our

students graduate prepared to tackle college, leadership, and life. We’re a tight-knit learning community with big goals, high quality teachers, and Advanced Placement (AP) classes.

That’s why our high school ranks among the top best performing schools in the nation.

• Chromebook and Wireless Hotspots for School -- Free • We’re Publicly Funded, Open to All, and Free to Attend • After school and athletics • Virtual, 24/7 Tutoring at No Cost ca.greendot.org/jackierobinson (323) 846-5800

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COLLEGE READINESS OPPORTUNITIES: • College Tours • Senior Bridge Summer Support • Earn Free College Credits Through Dual Enrollment

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USC Roski School of Art and Design University offers unique, supportive atmosphere

By USC Gayle Garner Roski School of Art and Design As one of the oldest art schools in Southern California, the USC Gayle Garner Roski School of Art and Design has a noteworthy history, illustrious alumni, internationally renowned faculty, and intelligent and talented students.

Located in the heart of Los Angeles’ vital art and design scene, the school offers a unique, supportive environment for creativity, experimentation and collaboration in the visual arts and design.

Rather than declaring a specific concentration, USC Roski School students are encouraged to explore, focusing on what’s relevant to their own interests.

Although the school offers courses in all media — painting, photography, design, sculpture, digital media, installation, performance and more — this open approach allows for the integration and overlap of a number of artistic fields, as well as opportunities for cross-disciplinary research and collaboration at 19 professional schools at USC, one of the world’s leading research institutions.

At USC, Roski artists and design-

USC Roski School Graduate Open Studios.

(Photo by Ryan Miller/Capture Imaging)

ers interact with students who are pursuing diverse careers including musicians, actors, architects, journalists, biologists and dancers; providing the extraordinary ability to seek myriad paths and to customize creative practices as individual as the students themselves.

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Sacred Heart Elementary School New English-Spanish program addresses 21st century needs

By Sacred Heart Elementary School

Sacred Heart Elementary School, just a few miles east of Downtown Los Angeles, will welcome its first TK and kindergarten classes into its English-Spanish dual-language immersion program for the upcoming 2021-2022 academic year.

Students in these grades will spend half of their day learning in English and the other half learning in Spanish.

The benefits are many for native English and Spanish speakers. Dual-language students have a competitive edge with improved brain power for cognitive and critical thinking and outperform English-only learners. Sacred Heart combines a bilingual education in an intimate private school setting, with a holistic values-based education.

Discover why a dual-language immersion education is a good option for your child by visiting the school’s website at sacredheartla.org or calling 323-225-4177.

Top 10 reasons to choose a Catholic dual-language immersion school Personalized attention in a small classroom environment Diverse and family-oriented community Enrichment opportunities such as music, art and physical education in two languages A pathway for advanced second language studies in high school Focus on the whole child, academically, morally and spiritually Integrated learning and technology on iPads, ChromeBooks, MacBooks and Apple TVs Students celebrate a world view of diversity in language and culture Students learn and practice their faith in multiple languages Students develop as global citizens, to appreciate and communicate interculturally Students develop an increased connection to family history and values

2109 Sichel Street, Los Angeles ● www.SacredHeartLA.org

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Larchmont Charter School Smaller class sizes, rich programming goes beyond public schools

By Larchmont Charter School Larchmont Charter School has become a national leader in progressive education, offering rich programming no longer offered by most local public schools. Smaller class sizes, an enriched curriculum with the arts, movement, gardening, college preparation and counseling, a diverse by design student body, field trips, a high technology-to-student ratio, a fantastic community of families, and much more make us one of the most highly sought-after TK to 12th schools in Los Angeles.

Larchmont Charter was founded in 2004 by a group of parents who wanted more for their children. At the time, their existing local elementary school lacked diversity, was overcrowded, and was under-performing. The group wanted a school to reflect the racial and socioeconomic diversity of their neighborhood and Los Angeles at large. They wanted a more progressive, constructivist curriculum and academic rigor. And they wanted to harness the energy of families, educators, and the surrounding community by making volunteerism a pillar of the school.

Today, we serve a diverse student body of 1,500 students, over 45% qualifying for the Federal Free and Reduced Lunch Program. Our graduates have gone on to top schools across the nation such as Columbia, Brandeis, Middlebury, Skidmore, Vassar, Smith, Stanford, NYU, UCLA, USC, multiple UC and Cal State schools, and many more. Our college acceptance rate is over 90%. Our school’s diversity

Larchmont Charter, we believe, reflects what great public education can and should be.

We offer all students in CA a free education with rich programming, including:

makes for a culturally rich learning environment for students in the heart of Los Angeles; our school reflects our home and celebrates the beauty of our mixed cultures.

Our mission is to provide a socioeconomically, culturally and racially diverse community of students with an exceptional public education. We foster creativity and academic excellence; our students learn with and from each other in an experience-centered, inquiry-based learning environment. With participation from our entire community, we strive to instill in each student a dedication to improving the world we inhabit.

To this end, we focus on achieving excellence in three interrelated strands: Diversity, Community and Academic Excellence.

Our approach includes personalized, project-based, inquiry-based learning along with arts education, athletics, wellness, robust extracurricular offerings, an Edible Schoolyard program, and college counseling in support of a progressive, rigorous curriculum.

• Highly qualified teachers with expertise in academic and social emotional development.

• Small class sizes.

• Exceptional academic program rooted in constructivist, project-based learning.

• Weekly enrichment classes including PE, art, music, gardening, cooking and more.

• Nutritious gourmet lunch program at a free and reduced price for students who qualify.

• Students of all backgrounds at Larchmont outperform their peers in surrounding schools.

• Robust offering of AP classes.

• Dynamic arts program.

• CIF sports program in high school.

• First place in the 2020 Get Lit Classic Slam finals, the largest youth classic poetry festival in the nation.

• No. 3 in best charter elementary schools in Los Angeles Area, according to niche.com.

• Top 6% of ranked high schools nationally, according to U.S. News & World Report (2021).

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LOOKING FOR AN OUTSTANDING TK-12 SCHOOL IN LOS ANGELES?

LARCHMONT CHARTER SCHOOL

Larchmont Charter School is a free public charter school serving over 1,500 students in grades TK-12th on four campuses in Los Angeles.

Larchmont has become a national leader in progressive education, fulfilling our mission to provide a socio-economically, culturally and racially diverse community of students with an exceptional public education. Larchmont Charter, we believe, reflects what great public education can and should be:

Free, public charter school open to all students in California Highly qualified teachers - trained in academic and social-emotional development Small class sizes

.

Diverse student body

Students of all backgrounds at Larchmont outperform their peers in surrounding schools Outstanding academic program rooted in constructivist, project-based learning Unique programs like Edible Schoolyard which nurtures healthy eating habits and eco-literacy 97% of our graduates were admitted to college, including 29 of the top 50 colleges in the US #3 Best Charter Elementary Schools in Los Angeles Area of 2021 (Niche.com) Top 6% of ranked high schools nationally in 2021 (U.S. News & World Report)

As a reminder, families that qualify for Free and Reduced Lunch receive preference in the lottery & have a better chance of getting in.

The deadline for the 2021-22 lottery is February 19, 2021. Visit www.larchmontcharter.org/admissions to apply!

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and introducing some tricks to make each morning as convenient as possible.

Find a routine that works: Numerous parenting experts recommend routines for children, but they’re beneficial for grownups, too. A regular routine takes the guesswork out of what comes next so you can go through the motions of getting ready before your brain is fully engaged.

There’s no perfect order for getting things done, just find what works best for your family. With a little trial and error, you can create a system that gives you peace of mind that every box gets checked before the family scatters in different directions each morning.

Wake up prepared: Even the best routines sometimes go awry, so it’s a good idea to plan ahead and minimize the impact. Using the evening to ensure each student has everything he or she needs for the next school day eliminates a lot of commotion in the morning. Designate a place for school items, whether it’s a hook or spot by the door for backpacks or a cubby near the home school space. Use the

same approach to select and lay out clothes for everyone before bed.

Rev up all your senses: Creating positive energy can be a whole-body experience. Add some upbeat music, throw open the blinds and get that coffee brewing. Signaling to your senses that it’s time to take on a new day can help you shake off any lingering drowsiness and shift into a more productive mode. It’s an approach that is both practical and fun, so you’re setting a positive tone for the whole family.

Take your java on the go: It’s not always realistic to sit and savor your first cup of coffee, but that doesn’t mean you should sacrifice your morning energy burst. Many experts suggest avoiding coffee on an empty stomach, so taking it on the go and using your limited time to grab a bite to eat is a better alternative. Brew your cup and go with an option like the Chinet Comfort Cup insulated hot cup, which has double-layer insulation and an easy fit snap-and-go lid to make taking your coffee on the road (or around the block on a morning walk) convenient and comfortable.

Southwestern Academy supports the educational needs of domestic and international students in grades 6-12.

(Photo courtesy Southwestern Academy)

Southwestern Academy Close-knit community fosters learning

By Southwestern Academy Since it was founded in 1924, when the west side of San Marino was orange groves, Southwestern Academy has become a school rich in culture and diversity, supporting the educational needs of domestic and international students in grades 6-12.

Its close-knit community of faculty and staff makes every student feel like part of our family. Southwestern Academy has two campuses with boarding and day classes in San Marino, and at a satellite Ranch Campus in Rimrock, Arizona.

Our unique campuses provide a peaceful, safe and beautiful space for students to thrive. Our small class settings allow students to receive the attention they require while maximiz-

ing their abilities to develop. Academic programs on both campuses include college preparatory courses, ESL (English as a second language), and post graduate curricula. Extracurricular activities include soccer, tennis, volleyball, music, visual/media arts, basketball and baseball along with several clubs suited for a variety of interests.

We invite you to explore our community online and in person with private tours to discover what we offer.

Our students have found a place to belong. Maybe it’s your place, too.

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Para Los Niños students find success (Photos courtesy Para Los Niños)

Para Los Niños support social emotional skills in addition to academics — to help the whole child.

Para Los Niños supports all families with the technology to stay connected and learning.

Students thrive at Para Los Niños with excellent education and wraparound support for the whole family.

By Para Los Niños

tuition is free or low-cost for all qualifying families.

Para Los Niños’ transitional kindergarten through eighth-grade classrooms provide high-quality education — project-based learning that fosters creative problem-solving and innovation while emphasizing literacy and language arts.

There are three charter school locations: Gratts Primary Center serves transitional kindergarten through second grade in MacArthur Park, the PLN Charter Elementary School (CES) in the Arts District reaches transitional kindergarten through fifth grade and just a few blocks from CES, the Charter Middle School continues from sixth through eighth grades.

Admission is free and open to any student who is a California resident. Learn more at paralosninos.org/ enrollnow.

As one Para Los Niños elementary student alumna, Jennifer, shared, “My time with Para Los Niños was like being with family. My teachers, my friends, and the way we all worked together. It made learning

safe and supportive.”

Parents are encouraged to engage and learn too.

In addition to education and supports for students, parents and caregivers too are supported with the tools and resources to thrive: such as parenting workshops, community involvement and leadership development opportunities, early intervention, mental health, and family support services.

Start your enrollment and join the Para Los Niños family today — visit paralosninos.org/enrollnow and follow us on social @paralosninosorg.

Para Los Niños is enrolling students in our infant and toddler classrooms, preschools, and TK to eighth grade charter schools.

For 40 years, Para Los Niños has partnered with families to find their path to success, providing quality education and compassionate wraparound support for children and families across Los Angeles to thrive.

Para Los Niños’ network of schools is located across Downtown Los Angeles and the county. Each school provides safe, nurturing and welcoming environments for students and families.

Starting as young as 6 weeks, the Early Head Start and Head Start classrooms promote school readiness by supporting health, nutrition, mental health, socialemotional, and cognitive development. Applying an integrated approach to educate the whole child within the context of his or her family. Plus,

ADVERTORIAL

For over 40 years, Para Los Niños has been in the Downtown Los Angeles community helping families succeed in school, work, and life.

Today, our urban campuses provide high-quality education for students TK-8th grade with wraparound support: including meals, technology, and social emotional integration to ensure success.

Start your child on the path to success in school, work and life today!

Visit paralosninos.org/enrollnow today for locations and to learn more.

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TWITTER: @ DOWNTOWNNEWS

FEBRUARY 15, 2021

Covered California will help BUSINESS

Business Briefcase

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski ello everybody and welcome to Business Briefcase, the newest addition to LA Downtown News! Here, we’ll cover a plethora of topics, including businesses coming into the community, promotions, new hires and new restaurants. If you have something you’d like to see in a future column, email christina@timespublications.com.

Let’s get into the news, shall we?

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Major achievement Behzad Souferian, founder of the Los Angeles-based real estate development firm The Souferian Group, has reimagined a 606-unit residential project in Downtown Los Angeles into a holistic rental community committed to wellness and fun.

Previously known as The Sofia, one of Los Angeles’ largest multifamily properties — worth more than a quarter of a billion dollars — has been renamed “Be DTLA by The Souferian Group” and is the first apartment building in Southern California to achieve the International WELL Building Institute’s WELL Health-Safety Rating.

“Even prior to COVID, my vision has been to provide a first-of-its-kind wellness apartment community that redefines residential living — a centrally located environment that emphasizes healthy minds, bodies, spirits and fun,” Souferian said.

“The pandemic has only furthered our commitment to establish ourselves as the preeminent wellness-focused community across the industry, and we are thrilled to be the first to successfully achieve the WELL Health-Safety Rating in Southern California showcasing our adherence to evidence-based best practices within 15 criteria that instill confidence in our residents that we support their sustained health.”

The WELL Health-Safety Rating for Facility Operations and Management is an evidence -based, third-par t y verified rating designed to empower property owners to prioritize the health and safety of their residents, visitors and staff. Be DTLA achieved the rating through the execution of 15 criteria across five categories: cleaning and sanitization procedures, emergency preparedness programs, health service resources, air and water qual-

ity management, and stakeholder engagement and communications. “ The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored how critically important it is to prioritize health and safety in the spaces where we live,” said Jessica Cooper, IWBI chief commercial officer.

“By achieving the WELL Health-Safety Rating, The Souferian Group and Be DTLA have demonstrated incredible leadership in directly supporting the health, safety and overall well-being of its residents, visitors and staff.”

In addition to the WELL Health-Safety seal, Be DTLA is undergoing a multimillion-dollar revitalization.

While the former community opened merely two years ago, the Be DTLA brand standards will bring innovation and a new-school aesthetic.

Prior to the pandemic-era shift away from the office, The Souferian Group was already designing Be DTLA with a suite of leading remote work amenities, including a TikTok creative content studio, podcast recording rooms and a variety of work-from-home studios and lounges, now more relevant than ever.

With the introduction of Be DTLA, The Souferian Group is re-envisioning the multifamily industry, raising today’s renter’s expectations with an all-encompassing collection of social, wellness and lifestyle offerings and a highly cohesive design ethos.

Be DTLA residents enjoy two expansive roof tops with 360-degree views of Los Angeles, large apartments with functional floorplans, multiple outdoor cour tyards, a top- of-the -line gym, yoga studio and complimentary classes.

It offers studios and one-, two- and three-bedroom units ranging in size from 489 to 1,385 square feet. Be DTLA residential leasing prices start from $1,775/month.

The community offers contactless self-guided tours, a dedicated concierge staff with convenient no-contact communication and is professionally managed by the country’s’ leading institutional property management company. Be DTLA is on the west end of Downtown at 1120 W. Sixth Street, within close proximity to Los Angeles’ enter tainment hub, comprised of LA Live; Staples Center; The Nokia Theater; and a plethora of world-class dining, shopping and cultural institutions. With a Walk Score of 95 and a

transit score of 100, the centralized location provides easy access to explore Downtown as well as the Greater Los Angeles Area.

Info: bedtla.com Central City Association expands board Central City Association has new executive officers of its board of directors and four new board members.

The board of directors represents diverse industries and uses its expertise to help execute CCA’s mission to enhance the vibrancy of Downtown Los Angeles and increase investment in the region.

I n 2 0 2 0 , t h e exe c u t i ve o f f i ce r s helped guide CCA’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent economic fallout. They played a key role in advising the organization as it engaged on DTLA 2040, the Community Plan that will guide Downtown’s growth and development for the next 20 years.

The 2021 executive officers will continue these efforts and are: • Chair woman: Stephanie Graves, president and chief executive officer, Lee Andrews Group.

• Vice Chairman: Bert Dezzutti, executive vice president, Western region, Brookfield Office Properties.

• Secretary: Cindy Starrett, partner, Latham & Watkins.

• Treasurer: Noel Hyun Minor, president and chief executive officer, The Brooklyn Companies.

• Past Chairman: Tom Gilmore, CEO, Gilmore Associates.

• Board Nomination Committee Chairwoman: Lupita Sanchez Cornejo, regional director, external and legislative affairs, AT&T. • PAC Chairman: Edgar Khalatian, partner, Mayer Brown.

CCA also announced four new board members. Each brings a unique perspective to CCA’s advocacy efforts and will help position CCA as the leading visionary on the future of Downtown and Los Angeles. Joining the board are: • Areen Ibranossian, senior vice president, Southern California, Strategies 360.

• Rachel Moore, president and chief executive officer, The Music Center.

• Chris Pearson, vice president, development planning, Hudson Pacific Properties.

• Carmel Sella, senior vice president, government relations and public policy, Wells Fargo.

“This board reflects Downtown’s diverse stakeholders and industries, and represents CCA’s powerful coalition of member organizations,” Graves said.

“The board has a deep understanding of DTLA — its opportunities and its challenges. The board is ready to help inform CCA’s efforts to support our city’s full economic recovery from the pandemic, continue to advance proactive housing and homelessness advocacy, further our engagement on the DTLA 2040 Community Plan and much more.”

CCA President and CEO Jessica Lall added, “Our board’s guidance is critical as we continue to navigate tough challenges including the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on the region and the homelessness and housing crises.

“We are grateful to our board members for their collaborative approach and commitment to tackling our city’s most pressing issues. We look forward to working closely with our expanded board this year as we advance our shared vision for the future of DTLA.”

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Covered SPORTS California will help Pitcher Trevor Bauer, the Dodgers’ latest signee, watched the team as a child growing up in Southern California.

Photo by Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers

Trevor Bauer officially introduced as a Dodger

By Zakkary Brog hen Trevor Bauer was a child, he watched larger-than-life stars on the field at Dodger Stadium.

Now he’s one of them.

The Los Angeles Dodgers officially introduced the new pitching signee during a Feb. 11 press conference.

Acquired via free agency, Bauer signed for $102 million over three years. He can exercise options in 2022 or 2023, if he so chooses.

Dodgers President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman said his goal, heading into the off season, was to sign Bauer, even with the team’s starting pitching rotation coming off a World Series victory.

“From our standpoint, to add a player of his caliber to the existing roster was something that, when the offseason started, was very much on our mind,” Friedman said. “We weren’t quite sure how realistic it would be. So, to be sitting here today with the culmination of a lot of work from a lot of people, to be in this position is extremely exciting.”

Bauer had a career year in 2020. In the shortened season, Bauer pitched in 11 games for the Cincinnati Reds, finishing with a National League-best 1.73 ERA with 100 strikeouts. For his performance, he was crowned last season’s National League Cy Young award winner.

After becoming an unrestricted free agent, Bauer’s priority was finding what he called a “partnership.”

“It was all about the organization,” Bauer said. “The talent level that’s here, the organi-

W

zational structure, the systems that are in place, the people who are here. ... A lot of people have told me, ‘If you can play for the Dodgers, you should.’”

It is also a sort of homecoming for Bauer. He was raised in Santa Clarita.

“It was hard to imagine myself in a Dodger jersey, because sitting in the stands, you look out there and the players on the field, they’re superstars,” he said. “As a kid, you look out there and you’re like, ‘If I could ever be even close to that, that’d be awesome. I wonder what the lifestyle is like. I wonder what being on the field is like in front of 50,000 fans. I wonder what all that’s like.’ As a kid, they take on almost like an alien or a foreign kind of being, because it wasn’t a reality in my life at that point. And now being here, it’s a really surreal thing sitting on the field and looking out at the stands as opposed to sitting in the stands looking out on the field.”

Because of that childhood experience at Dodger Stadium, Bauer hopes to inspire a new generation of baseball fans now that the roles are reversed.

“One of the things that I’m most passionate about is trying to provide that same type of inspiration, that same type of, I guess, ‘wide-eyed wonder’ for the kids who are watching me play,” Bauer said. “So it inspires them to go out and play baseball and to love the game that’s given me so much both in my personal life, professional life, family life, all around.”

The Dodgers are scheduled to begin their World Series title defense when pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training on Feb. 18, with the rest of the team following on Feb. 23. Their first regular season game is slated for April 1, when they’ll travel to Colorado to take on the Rockies.

22 DOWNTOWN NEWS

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Covered California will help ARTS & CULTURE

FEBRUARY 15, 2021

Brett Autrey finds music once again

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski ret Autrey simply describes the rollercoaster that led to his new collection, “deadchannel_ Trilogy.”

“It was a hell of a lot of work and a hell of a long journey,” said Autrey, who performs under the name Blue Stahli.

This “journey” wasn’t inspired by “sunshine and rainbows,” as the Arizona native puts it. In 2018, his mother died after battling brain cancer. He was her primary caretaker, along with friends and family.

“I live in LA now,” he says. “I would drive out to Phoenix to hang there for a month or months at a time. I’d come back to LA for a weekend or week and go back out to Phoenix.

“When you’re losing a parent and you’re up against something like she had, glioblastoma, there is no cure for it. When people die of this, they don’t go quickly.”

It was a long and painful process for him. He eschewed music and focused on his mother. He only had time for music when his mom was in physical therapy or asleep from radiation and chemotherapy.

When she died, Autrey didn’t know how he could return to music.

“There’s not only grief that hits you. There’s a hell of a lot of end-of-life stuff you have to take care of,” Autrey said.

“When you’re in charge of executing all that stuff and wrapping up everything, and packing up the house and selling the house, which was in the family since I was both, was incredibly difficult.”

Eventually, he did return to music and captured these feelings on the “deadchannel_Trilogy’ — “Quartz,”“Copper” and “Obsidian.”

“That entire experience felt like I was being smashed into the ground by a massive weight that would not let up and, as soon as you thought you could be broken down, you’re broken down again.

“I made this trilogy to represent this big swirling tornado of all the random pieces of how this felt. Each album is set out as a different stage of it. It also represents the journey back and forth between the two cities.

“Living in LA, I would make that drive across the desert, over to Phoenix and then from Phoenix, back to LA. I did that drive many times.”

“Quartz” is “just awash of ’90s craziness.” Autrey said it’s representative of Phoenix and about the reconnection with the things he loved.

“I said, ‘I’m going to make this sound like an album I would listen to in 1996 while driving home from Blockbuster, renting a Rutger Hauer movie for the millionth time.’”

“Copper” achieves the melancholy, experimental soundscape, while “Obsidian” defines who he is after his mom’s death. “‘Copper’ represents the road trip between Phoenix and LA. It’s meant to be a complete road trip album.”

On it, he used an old piano from his church that his mom rescued from a dump. After his mom passed, Autrey brought the guitar to his LA home.

“The piano was out in the common area,” he said about the church. “Kids would come out and bang on it and beat the hell out of it. People set coffee cups on it. They thought it was an eyesore and said they were going to haul it to the dump. My mom said, ‘If you’re going to throw this away, you can take it to our house, which is slightly better than a dump. She wanted to have anything musical in the house. She loves music and she gave that to me.

“I would write tracks out and sit at that piano and record the improvisation stuff that came along with it.”

The finale, “Obsidian,” is Autrey’s journey through a life change, processing grief and family tragedy, defining who he is as a person after being broken down and starting anew.

Autrey has one hope for his trilogy.

“I hope it can help someone else going through an incredibly heavy situation,” said Autrey, who also writes music for video games.

“I’m incredibly grateful for the fact that that my job literally also allows me an outlet. I don’t care about being famous or making a ton of money. I don’t care about that, and I don’t want to be famous. I just want to make music I like and express some of these things. I hope it does some good being out there.”

B

Bret Autrey, who performs under the name Blue Stahli, lives near DTLA. Photo courtesy Bret Autrey

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Covered DINING California will help

Nickel Diner: Paying it forward

By Frier McCollister t wasn’t so long ago that the Downtown corner of Fifth and Main street was considered to be one of the riskiest corners of the city.

Nickel Diner’s co-owner and chef Monica May recalled those times.

“In 2004, when you walked down Main Street, you didn’t cross Fifth Street,” she said. “You didn’t cross Winston, for God’s sake. It was a no-man’s land. So, when we opened the Nickel, we knew where we were. You had to recognize where you were and note that it was important to be inclusive as opposed to exclusive.”

During the past 13 years, the Nickel Diner has established itself as a tentpole community fixture in its Downtown neighborhood bordering Skid Row. It also garnered an enthusiastic and loyal following among local foodies. May’s now-iconic maple bacon doughnut and her handmade artisanal pastries were the initial standouts on the menu, when the restaurant opened as a neighborhood breakfast joint in 2008.

May and her partner and co-owner Kristen Trattner were among a small group of Downtown pioneers, when the idea of opening the Nickel hatched.

“I originally had a café — Banquette — Fourth and Main,” Trattner said. “(Downtown) was a beautiful little misfit community back in the early aughts, and there was truly a sense of community. The Nickel was this fluke.

“At Banquette, we used to say, ‘Wouldn’t it be great to have access to a real kitchen?’ We could open and really give the neighborhood what it needs, which at that time was a place to get breakfast. As I’ve always said, ‘Eggs after 11 a.m.’ because there wasn’t anywhere else.”

May and Trattner found Nickel’s future spot when it was an abandoned space, the former location of a Mexican restaurant. They stripped the dining room to reveal the high ceilings, wood paneling and tile floors that define the Nickel’s interior vintage charm. The renovation and financing was a challenge.

“We opened in a recession,” May said. “Nobody was giving money to anybody at that time. It took our community. It was a lot of local businesspeople who saw the need and invested in us. That’s how we developed the Nickel. It was microloans and our neighborhood. So we’ve always been this community place.”

That said, those early days taught May and Trattner important lessons that are reflected in the Nickel’s neighborhood role.

“We never started out being community activists.” May recalled. “Back in the day, people said, ‘You have to get a security guard.’ No. What you have to rely on is our generosity of spirit. What we’re trying to bring forth will carry over into how the neighborhood feels about us.”

That combination of trusted community engagement and excellent food informed the Nickel Diner’s primary pandemic pivot and its current operational mode: serving a full brunch menu to the public on weekends, while engineering and operating a robust and effective neighborhood feeding program during the week. It’s proven to be a sustainable model that, in some form, may even outlast the pandemic.

“As we’ve gone through the past year, we’ve closed,” May said. “We’ve opened again. We survived the protests. We survived the looting. It was still always a matter of what does our community need. You rise up to that. I think certainly now, with the pandemic, it’s just become more apparent. Everybody’s needs have just become more apparent.”

May and Trattner closed the Nickel two days before the formal pandemic lockdown order, on the urgent advice of Trattner’s brother, a clinical pathologist.

“We were very proactive,” May said. “We closed the restaurant. We packed up all the food. We gave (our employees) paychecks for the next two weeks.”

The Nickel’s otherwise reliable breakfast and lunch crowd of Downtown office workers and laborers vanished. Once bustling on weekdays, the surrounding blocks had emptied.

“We realized the only way we were going to be able to survive,” May said. “It wasn’t going to be through the PPP loans. It wasn’t going to be opening for two days a week. As we struggle, you come to realize that your survival depends on small gestures.”

CONTINUED ON PAGE 24

I

Kris Trattner is the owner of Nickel Diner.

Photo by Luis Chavez

Heart-shaped sugar cookie with sprinkles.

Photo by Luis Chavez

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FEBRUARY 15, 2021

NICKEL DINER: PAYING IT FORWARD, 23

The staff of Nickel Diner prepared lasagna for the Union Rescue Mission.

Photo by Luis Chavez

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May and Trattner engaged with the nonprofit Dine 11 to provide meals for frontline health care workers. Prepping meals for California Dignity Healthcare, USC-Keck Medical Center and White Memorial Medical Clinic, a prospective model began to emerge.

May said the partners asked themselves, “How can we parlay this and translate this into a larger thing?” The answer came from the neighborhood.

“John Wesley Healthcare Center (J.W.H.C.) down on Skid Row reached out to us,” May said. “What a perfect fit. Through them, we have been able to parlay this into a subsidized movement.”

During the holidays, the plight of the neighborhood’s homeless residents became even more apparent, as they were unable to access Skid Row’s missions.

“For Thanksgiving, we worked with Skid Row Housing Trust and we provided 1,000 individually packaged Thanksgiving meals to 15 SROs within the community,” May said.

They served 350 meals a day for three days.

“Again, a neighborhood, a community coming together and realizing what it needed,” May added.

The Nickel now preps and serves more than 300 meals a week for the nearby Union Rescue Mission. And on Saturdays and Sundays, brunch is available for the rest of us.

Unfortunately, for the moment, May’s renowned maple bacon doughnuts and pastries won’t be available. A couple of weeks ago, after finishing the prep and packaging of 300 meals, May took a spill in the kitchen and is sidelined on crutches for the next few weeks.

“The doughnuts are on the backburner, but keep checking in with us,” she said.

“We should have them up and running soon. It takes a lot to stop us.”

Brunchgoers at the Nickel Diner will find more than enough to compensate for the lack of the bacon doughnut on the menu, and there’s outdoor table seating on Main Street. The blueberry pancakes ($13.75) and the breakfast burrito stuffed with chorizo, mushrooms and pepper jack cheese ($13.75) are stalwart favorites.

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The staff of Nickel Diner prepared lasagna for the Union Rescue Mission.

Photo by Luis Chavez

The Hangover Helper ($15.50) is a scramble of eggs, bacon, Italian sausage and potatoes topped with pepper jack, avocados and salsa. There are also four other savory scramble combinations from which to choose ($14.50 to $15.50). The 5th and Main ($14.50) is a spicy pork hash topped with two poached eggs. On the lunch trend, there is the pulled pork sandwich ($14.50) and the Niteclub sandwich ($14.25) featuring grilled chicken breast topped with bacon, arugula, tomato and pepper jack, served with a spicy aioli on an onion roll.

If a guest preorders online, there is also the opportunity to make a $12 donation, which buys a “Pay It Forward Meal” for the Union Rescue Mission.

“At the end of the day, it keeps us going,” May said. “It keeps my crew together.

It keeps the energy flowing. It helps them out and certainly keeps my employees standing by my side and the little engine rolling forward.

“Again, these are all small gestures.”

DOWNTOWN NEWS 25

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26 DOWNTOWN NEWS

FEBRUARY 15, 2021

SPECIAL ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

2021

COIN SHORTAGE ZIP CODE DISTRIBUTION NOTICE

■ CALIFORNIA AREA RESIDENTS CASH IN: Pictured above and watched closely by guards are protected U.S. Coin Packages containing the valuable unsearched Vault Bags that everyone will be trying to get. It’s hard to tell how much these unsearched bags loaded with rarely seen U.S. Gov’t issued coins could be worth someday. That’s because each Vault Bag is known to contain nearly 3 pounds of U.S. Gov’t issued coins some dating back to the early 1800’s, so you better believe at just $980 these Unsearched Vault Bags are a real steal.

Decision puts valuable United States coins back in circulation – zip codes determine who gets them Unsearched Vault Bags loaded with rarely seen U.S. Gov’t issued coins some dating back to the 1800’s and worth up to 50 times their face value are actually being handed over to residents who find their zip code on the Distribution List below and beat the 48 hour order deadline

Who gets the U.S. Gov’t issued coins: Only U.S. residents who find their zip code listed on the Distribution List below are getting the U.S. Gov’t issued coins. If you find your zip code listed below call: 1-800-867-1535 UV3525 “The vaults at Federated Mint are going empty,” said Mar y Ellen Withrow, the emeritus 40th Treasurer of the United States of America.

That’s because a decision by Federated Mint to put rarely seen U.S. Gov’t issued coins, some worth up to 50 times their face value, back in circulation means unsearched Vault Bags loaded with U. S. Gov’t issued coins dating back to the 1800’s are now being handed over to U.S. residents who if you find the first three digitsof your zip code listed in today’s publication.

“These are not ordinary coins you find in your pocket change.

These are rarely seen silver, scarce, collectible and non-circulating U.S.

coins dating back to the 1800’s so we won’t be surprised if thousands of U.S. residents claim as many as they can get their hands on.

That’s because after the bags were loaded with nearly 3 pounds of U.S. Gov’t issued coins the dates were never searched and the bags were securely sealed. That means there’s no telling what you’ll find until you search all the coins,” said Withrow.

“But don’t thank the Government.

As Executive Advisor to Federated Mint, I get paid to inform and e d u c a te th e g e n e r a l p u b li c regarding U.S. coins. Ever since the decision by Federated Mint to put rarely seen U.S. Gov’t issued coins back in circulation, I’m being asked how much are the unsearched

Yess Aquatic chef Junya Yamasaki is a former darling of London’s avant-garde food scene.

Vault Bags worth? The answer is, there’s no way to tell. Coin values always fluctuate and there are never any guarantees, but we do know this. Each unsearched bag weighs nearly 3 pounds and is known to contain at least 5 Morgan Silver Dollars and these coins alone could be worth $35 - $325 in collector value each according to The Official Red Book, a Guide Book of United States Coins. So there’s no telling what you’ll find until you search through all the coins. But you better believe at just $980 these unsearched Vault Bags are a steal, “said Withrow.

The only thing U.S. residents who find their zip code printed in today’s publication need to do is call the National Toll-Free Hotline

before the 48-hour deadline ends.

This is very important. The Vault Bag fee has been set for $1,500 for residents who miss the 48hour deadline, but for those U.S. residents who beat the 48hour deadline the Vault Bag fee is just $980 as long as they call the National Toll-Free Hotline before the deadline ends.

“Remember this, we cannot stop collectors from buying up all the unsearched bags of coins they can get in this special advertising announcement. And you better believe with each bag being loaded with nearly 3 pounds of U.S. Gov’t issued coins we’re guessing they’re going to go quick,” said Withrow.

The phone lines will be ringing R1013

(Continued on next page)

FEBRUARY 15, 2021

DOWNTOWN NEWS 27

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SPECIAL ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

(Continued from previous page)

off the hook beginning at precisely 8:30am this morning. That ’s because each unsearched Vault Bag is loaded with over 100 highly sought after collector coins dating clear back to the 1800’s including iconic Morgan Silver Dollars, a historic Peace Silver Dollar, stunning Silver Walking Liberty Half Dollars, the collectible Silver Eisenhower Dollars, spectacular Silver Liber ty Head Half and Quarter Dollars, rarely seen Silver Franklin Half Dollars, high demand President Kennedy Silver Half Dollars, beautiful Silver Standing Liberty Quarter Dollars, American Bicentennial Quarters, rare Liberty V Nickels, one cent Historic Wheat Coins including 1943 “Steel Cents”, one of the beautiful Winged Liberty Head Dimes, scarce Indian Head one cent U.S. coins and the last ever minted Buffalo Nickels.

“With all these collectible U.S Gov’t Issued coins up for grabs we’re doing all we can to answer all the calls,” said Withrow.

Thousands of U.S. residents stand to miss the deadline to claim the valuable U.S. Gov’t issued coins. That means U.S. residents who if you find the first three digitsof your zip code listed in today’s publication can claim the unsearched bags of money for themselves and keep all the U.S. Gov’t issued coins found inside.

Just be sure to call before the deadline ends 48 hours from today’s publication date. ■

CA RESIDENTS: IF YOU FIND THE THREE DIGIT ZIP CODE YOUR ZIP CODE BELOW. CALL: 1-800-867-1535 UV3525 900 9 01 902 903 904 905 906 9 07 908

910 911 912 913 914 915 916 917 918

919 920 9 21 922 9 23 9 24 9 25 926 9 27

9 28 930 9 31 9 32 933 934 935 936 9 37

938 939 940 9 41 9 42 943 944 945 946

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The National Toll-Free Hotlines open at precisely 8:30am this morning for California residents only. If lines are busy keep trying, all calls will be answered. If you miss the deadline you will be turned away from this offer and forced to wait for future announcements in this publication or others, if any.

The only thing residents need to do is if you find the first three digitsof your zip code on the Distribution List above and beat the 48-hour deadline. The Vault Bag fee has been set for $1,500 for residents who miss the 48-hour deadline, but for those U.S. residents who beat the 48-hourz deadline the Vault Bag fee is just $980 as long as they call the National Toll-Free Hotline before the deadline ends.

Sealed Unsearched Vault Bags contain nearly 3 pounds of U.S. Gov’t issued coins

Silver Morgan Dollar 1878-1904

■ UNSEARCHED: Pictured above are the unsearched Vault Bags loaded with nearly 3 pounds of U.S. Gov’t issued coins some dating back to the 1800’s being handed over to California residents by Federated Mint.

Silver Liberty Head 1892-1915

Silver Peace Dollar 1921-1935

Silver Walking Liberty 1916-1947

Silver Ben Franklin 1948-1963

Silver Eisenhower Dollar 1971-1978

FEDERATED MINT, LLC IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE U.S. MINT, THE U.S. GOVERNMENT, A BANK OR ANY GOVERNMENT AGENCY. IF FOR ANY REASON WITHIN 30 DAYS FROM SHIPMENT YOU ARE DISSATISFIED, RETURN THE PRODUCT FOR A REFUND LESS SHIPPING AND RETURN POSTAGE. THIS SAME OFFER MAY BE MADE AVAILABLE AT A LATER DATE OR IN A DIFFERENT GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION. OH RESIDENTS ADD 6.5% SALES TAX. FEDERATED MINT, PO BOX 1200, MASSILLON, OH 44647 ©2020 FEDERATED MINT R1013

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