Hola Boyle Heights! Your community reporter, Alex Medina, is here to share some happenings in and around the neighborhood to get you out and about!
Check out the latest from the Beat
Keeping up with our coverage of university encampments making headlines nationwide, our reporters Andrew Lopez and Ricky Rodas followed up on Cal State LA during a CSU-wide day of action. With roughly 200 protestors gathered on campus, students demanded the school’s disclosure of investments in companies with controversial views on the conflict in Gaza. You can read that follow-up here. We will continue covering local connections to this issue.
One such connection includes Adelmi Ruiz, one of the Beat’s alumni and a good friend of mine during our time at Bravo High School. She has kept up with journalism, graduating from San Francisco State with a degree in Broadcast and currently working as a multimedia journalist at KRCR-TV in Northern California. She was assigned to cover a protest at California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, early last week when she was detained. I got to catch up and chat with Adelmi about her experience, which you can read about here.
Our youth reporters are what make our program special, and what’s even more special about that is how many of our alumni stick around or come back to support the program. One such person is Carol Martinez, a 2019 Roosevelt High School graduate who went off to UCLA to get a degree in English, and she’s back reporting with us this summer. She just recently got the chance to talk with the owner of Cafe Niña, a coffee spot at 3264 E. 4th Street operated by Janet Cerda, a fellow Boyle Heights native. With a unique menu incorporating a mezcla of caffeine and Mexican flavors, it’s a spot you’ve definitely got to check out. You can read her story here.
At Garfield High School in East LA, LAUSD is planning a major campus modernization project. Some notable plans include two new four-story buildings, which will bring more than 30 classrooms, a new library, a garden, and much more. You can learn more here.
There’s always a lot going on in and around the neighborhood, so make sure to keep an eye on our website and social media channels for more of the latest from your local news source.
Happenings in the Heights
Friday, May 10th
It’s a summer of salsa at LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes (501 N. Main Street). From 6 – 10 p.m., you’ll hear from Rumbankete, a collective of the city’s most prominent Salsa musicians, including Havana-born Super DJ Robby. Entry to the event is free, and beverages and food will be available for purchase throughout the night. Additional information on the event is available online.
Saturday, May 11th
LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes (501 N. Main Street) has two events for those looking to become better cooks while learning about the cultural aspects of food. At noon, you can learn about the traditional milpa system – maize, beans, squash – and strategies on how to grow them in the city’s environment. At 3 p.m., you can join award-winning chef Tumara to learn how to make your own homemade, fresh tortillas. To learn more about these events and more coming soon, check out the organization’s website.
Over at The Wellness Center (1200 N. State Street), the organization is hosting a celebration in recognition of its decade-long service to the well-being of residents in Eastside neighborhoods. Set to take place from 11 a.m. through 2 p.m., there will be a resource fair, entertainment, food, craft activities, and more. There will also be a special performance from 2:30 – 4 p.m. following the event’s main festivities. You can register to attend by calling (213) 784-9191.
Latinx with Plants (2208 E. Cesar E. Chavez Avenue) is hosting its first Flower Crown workshop for those looking for the perfect gift this Mother’s Day season. For $60, the organization’s owner and founder, Andi Xoch, will teach you how to craft your own crown using fresh, dried, and artificial flowers and foliage. There are two workshops, with one taking place from 12 – 2 p.m. in English and another from 2:30 – 4:30 p.m. in both English and Spanish. A limited number of tickets are available online.
Down at The Paramount (2708 E. Cesar E. Chavez Avenue), La Mera Candelaria is hosting an album release party for Mujerona. Tickets for this all-ages show online, set to start at 8 p.m., are available for $20, with special guests Mona Grey and DJ Miz HoneyP also set to take the stage.
Monday, May 13th
It’s time for a showcase featuring Legacy LA’s Hip Hop Academy! At the nonprofit’s hub (1350 San Pablo Street), you’ll see an art exhibit focused on the group’s songwriting process, hear from young artists in the neighborhood, and even see two live performances by Mescal and DJ Gloss. The event runs from 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. and is completely free for the public.
As always, let us know what you think of the newsletter and send us events to include in future editions. I hope you have an amazing weekend!
