Get out and about on the Eastside (3/1-3/3)

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 your local news source

Wow, is it really March already? At least that means it’s almost Aries season (the best star sign, if you ask me). Time sure does fly when a lot is going on, so it can be hard to stay up to date with the latest happening in your neighborhood. No matter what, we’ve got you covered with our team of youth reporters on top of our stacked news team! Here are three stories you might’ve missed that we recently sent out into the world:

Did you know that Boyle Heights has its very own Buddhist temple? Well, we do, and one of our youth reporters, Sofia Peña, wrote her first-ever article on it (I’m always so proud of our youth; it’s what makes the Beat so special). Though most members of Rissho Kosei-kai on 1st Street have been from outside the neighborhood, the church has made more of an effort to reach out to the local community in recent years. It’s quite a good read, so you should check it out if you haven’t already! 

Our Outreach Coordinator, Carmen Gonzalez, recently had the chance to talk with Armando Ibañez, a queer Latino filmmaker, actor, and creator of the award-winning Youtube series Undocumented Tales. First premiering in the summer of 2016 and ending this past fall, the series is a fantastic exploration of intersectionality in the Latino community. 

Outside of voting for the next LA City Councilmember to represent CD 14, did you know California Assembly District 54 (which covers a large swath of Los Angeles, including Boyle Heights) is also set to have a new representative? Our reporter, Andrew Lopez, spoke with all three candidates on the ballot. Check out the story to learn more about them.

There’s plenty more to read on our website, so give it a look if you haven’t in a while. 

Get out and about on the Eastside

Friday, March 1st

Outside of regular voting spots across the city, some local organizations are hosting flex locations where you can drop off your ballots or vote in person. Mi Centro, the local LGBTQIA+ center, hosts one at its Boyle Heights Hub (553 S. Clarence Street) today until 4 pm. Make sure to stop by here or another location if you still haven’t voted yet!

For folks looking for something to watch online, the coalition Eastside LEADS is hosting its monthly Instagram Live Series, Tenant Power Hour, today at 5 pm. Hosted by Coalition Organizer Cinthia Gonzalez, the session is perfect for those looking to learn the latest about the city’s protections for tenants.

Down at The Paramount (2708 E. Cesar E. Chavez Avenue), the iconic venue is next on Post Sex Nacho’s PRIMA / VERA Tour, with Potair and Angel Cinton as special guests. Tickets to the all-ages show, which doors are set to open at 8 pm, are available online for $25.

Saturday, March 2nd

Over at local bookstore Re/Arte (2123 E. Cesar E. Chavez Avenue), the business is hosting a Photo Walk along the historic Brooklyn Avenue Corridor on Cesar Chavez Avenue. The project hopes to use all photos from the walk to create a group photo zine documenting the people, businesses, and buildings on the street in lieu of controversial projects possibly coming to the area. No RSVP is required, and all ages are welcome to come; just bring a camera (that includes phones), and you’re all set. For folks who are unable to attend in person, you can send your best photos of the area to rearte.centro.la@gmail.com

Over in El Sereno at Eastside Cafe (5469 Huntington Drive North), the business is hosting a free de-escalation training. Learn the best tactics to practice de-escalation while advocating for someone in distress. The training utilizes a disability justice lens and will be facilitated by the group CAT 911. Masks will be provided and are required, and free lunch will be available for the first 20 people to attend.

Sunday, March 3rd

If you’re unable to attend the flex vote center at Mi Centro, there’ll be another over at La Plaza de Cultura y Artes (501 N. Main Street). This one runs from 10:30 am through 5 pm, so stop by if you’re in the area and still need to get your vote in.

There are two events this weekend for folks with a green thumb – or those looking to get more into the plant life. Over at Ascot Hills (4371 Multnomah Street), the group Northeast Trees is collaborating with Artemisia Nursery as part of the group’s Seedy Sundays series. Running from 9 am through 11 am for you early risers, you’ll learn how to grow and even take home some free native sage plants. The event is free, and all registered participants (up to the first 50, you can register online) will take home their little friends. 

Later in the day, nearby at Artemisia Nursery (5068 Valley Boulevard), the business is hosting an intro to native plant gardening workshop. The event will be hosted by Antonio Sanchez, who has nearly two decades worth of experience in the horticulture world. Tickets are available online for $25, and the event is set to run from 1:30 – 3:30 pm.

As always, please let us know what you think of this newsletter and send us your events so we can include them in future editions!