Following the shooting in Monterey Park, which would become the deadliest mass shooting in Los Angeles County history, the LA County Board of Supervisors unanimously passed several new gun control ordinances for the county. Two of those measures are expected to take effect soon, while several others require drafting.
“My colleagues and I are as determined as ever to do everything in our power to fight the gun violence epidemic and protect our residents,” said Supervisor Janice Hahn at a news conference that immediately preceded the LA County Board of Supervisors meeting on Feb. 7. “As we know, the heart of the problem lies in the failure of congressional leaders to pass even the most basic federal guidelines, but we’ve also found actions that we can take at the county level to protect our residents.”
The two immediate ordinances passed by the board of supervisors ban the sale of 50 caliber guns and ammunition in unincorporated county areas and prohibit anyone aside from law enforcement and active military from carrying a firearm on LA County property.
The second ordinance applies regardless
of a valid concealed carry permit and specifies the ordinance applies to all LA County properties, including state beaches, parks and county owned buildings, whereas the first only applies to unincorporated areas of LA County.
In the same motion, Supervisor Hahn and Supervisor Hilda Solis proposed two additional regulations be prepared. The first ordinance, to be drafted by the director of regional planning, would be to implement a 1,000-foot buffer zone between firearm dealers and “child safety zones,” such as schools.
The second regulation to be drafted is an amendment to County Code, Title 7 — Business Licenses, Chapter 7.46 — gun dealers. The amendment would require a slate of new requirements for gun dealers in unincorporated county areas, including prohibiting minors on the premises, maintaining annual sales reports, maintaining a fingerprint log and requiring ammunition dealers to obtain a county business license.
Public comment in opposition to Supervisors Hahn and Solis’ proposed regulations largely hinged on three points — the concern that the proposed regulations are unconstitutional, creating privacy violations through creating a registry and undue burdens on businesses.
“The treasurer and tax collector should not be an entity that has access to or be in need of such personal information as a fingerprint,” publicly commented Gabrielle Dagan in opposition. “This requirement should be removed. A minor’s presence at gun or ammunition stores should not be restricted. It is one of the locations in which they absorb and learn proper procedures, safety, and respect for firearms — a place where these conversations can start or be emphasized. Also, this imposes additional, non-serving burdens upon business.”
In a separate agenda item, the board of supervisors also instructed the interim county counsel to draft ordinances that would require all firearms in a residence to be securely stored, and mandate liability insurance for gun owners.
friends lose his life because his parents did not lock up their guns in their house,” Supervisor Horvath said. “They thought it was out of his reach, but it wasn’t, and he no longer is alive today. There isn’t a day in their lives where their hearts don’t break (because there was something) in their control to keep their child safe.”
The board of supervisors subsequently approved a motion by Supervisors Solis and Hahn stating their collective support for the Assault Weapons Ban of 2023 that would ban the sale of assault weapons and high capacity magazines and the Age 21 Act that would raise the minimum age to purchase assault weapons from 18 to 21.
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The motion additionally requested a feasibility study for implementing a countywide gun registry or using existing LA County sheriff’s records to make information, such as how many firearms are in a household, more accessible to first responders.
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“Statistics show that when the national ban previously championed by Sen. Feinstein and then-Sen. Joe Biden was in place, mass shootings significantly decreased — but tripled when it expired,” Supervisor Solis said. “Today, living in the United States of America means being at risk of becoming a victim of a mass shooting. Time is of the essence, and we must act now.”
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Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, who authored the agenda item on safe storage, said the issue hits close to home for her.
“As a child, I watched one of my dear
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For those measures that require development, the text of the proposals gives the county 90 days to draft an ordinance. However, the board of supervisors may vote on the ordinances sooner than that.
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The Los Angeles County Fire Department’s 78-member Urban Search and Rescue team has been deployed to Turkey to aid rescue efforts following a 7.8 magnitude earthquake that devastated the region. The Los Angeles rescue team consists of firefighters, paramedics, rescue specialists, physicians and structural engineers trained to respond to these urban disasters.
“My thoughts are with the victims and their families, many of whom were already grappling with brutal losses from the war in Syria, including refugees and their host communities. The United States is committed to assisting in the recovery in any way we can,” USAID Administrator Samantha Power said. “To begin those efforts, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has deployed a Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART), which will work in close coordination with Turkish authorities on the front lines, as well as with our partners on the ground and agencies across the U.S. government.”
Known internationally as USA-2, the LA County USAR team was one of two international rescue teams requested by USAID on Feb. 6. USA-1, a second rescue team based
out of Fairfax County, Virginia, also received deployment orders to join rescue efforts.
To train for disasters like the one in Turkey, members of USA-2 train at a facility
in Santa Clarita to learn skills like tunneling, lifting heavy objects, and moving concrete off people. Six K9 groups have also been deployed within the group. Those dogs have been trained to identify people still alive underneath debris, so the team knows where to focus their rescue efforts.
“We’ve all seen disasters like that in Mexico City and Nepal,” said Anthony Marrone, the interim fire chief for LA County. “Sometimes, two, three, four or five days later, we’re going to be pulling people that are alive out of the rubble. And that is what these members are going to be doing once they reach Turkey.”
The greatest danger to men, women and dogs deployed to Turkey will be aftershocks and secondary building collapses. Following the 7.8 magnitude earthquake, there was a 7.5 magnitude aftershock and several smaller aftershocks up to a magnitude of 4.0.
Weather is an additional factor in rescue efforts. Following the disaster, tempera -
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Run, don’t walk your hands over to your computer’s keyboard and book tickets now, before they sell out, for my dear friend Michal Dawson Connor’s inspiring show, “The Slave Letters.” The show’s origin story began when Connor worked in Berlin during the mid ‘90s. After performing in a production of “Porgy and Bess,” Connor was asked to sing “Songs of the Hebrides” in his glorious baritone at a Hamburg radio station. A Russian harpist on the project, who did not speak German or English, and Connor, who didn’t speak Russian, spoke to each other in Italian — a common language for musicians.
The Russian harpist encouraged Connor to create his own projects, while almost simultaneously, a German radio listener heard him singing and had a brainstorm: “Connor needs to sing the songs of his heritage.” This German listener went so far as to research collections at the Smithsonian and was able to locate letters written by enslaved people and former slaves. As a result, both a book
and a performance piece based on those letters were born. These events underscore why listening to those who appreciate your talent and want to help take it to the next level is important. To quiet the inner voice that says, “I don’t want to play into people’s fixed ideas about what I can or can’t do.”
More is more when it comes to mitigating traffic around LAX. The new People Mover train and Consolidated Rent-A-Car facility are arriving soon, making renting a car and getting to and from the terminals quick and easy.
There’s a trap that African American singers can get ensnared in: musical type-casting. Michal Dawson Connor is a legit singer, as comfortable with German lieder as he is with operatic arias. While he doesn’t want to be “pigeonholed” into only doing spirituals, a common request for singers like him, he also doesn’t want to ignore them. Instead, he has transformed these iconic melodies by reframing them almost as art songs, giving them their full artistic due in performance via his sumptuous and unique arrangements. As a result, it is like hearing them for the first time.
These songs transport the listener back in time; they contain echoes of not just plantations but also of Africa. He credits his grandmother and great-grandmother with planting a love for his family’s culture at a young age. Connor’s great-great-grandmother was enslaved, and her daughter, his great-grandmother, influenced his life, as did his grandmother. They delighted in Connor’s magnificent voice and were highly entertained by hearing their classically trained progeny sing in German … and they let him know it.
“I don’t know if you’re cussin’ me out or what when you sing those funny words!” “Whatever you is singing, keep doin’ it… but I sure wish I could understand what you’re sayin’.”
“Why, Mister Mike! You are so distinglished.” While Connor avoided the “negro” spiritual traps, his grandmothers both instilled a love of them, so he couldn’t avoid the lure of
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doing an entire project of so-called “Black” music.
While “The Slave Letters” was born in Germany, a few (and not enough!) places in the United States have had access to it. The first place was the Reizenstein Middle School in Pittsburgh, which Billy Porter attended. Who knows, maybe Porter saw this show! During that performance, in an excerpt from “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” where Simon Legree beats Uncle Tom, the incensed students attacked the actor playing the wicked Legree. The students were not having it! Connor calmed everyone down, continued the performance, then led an intense Q&A after the show about the brutality and terror of slavery.
How many white people realize that Harriet Beecher Stowe’s “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” turned the tide of Northern sentiment about slavery? Before the book, many northerners were mainly apathetic about the “peculiar institution,” but after its publication, northerners were appalled and saw Black people not as chattel but as people. That might be “duh” now, but then? When I weighed whether I should write my book “Beauty Bites Beast” from an academic point of view or use a pop culture tone, Stowe’s example swayed me. Like her, I wanted to influence culture in the broadest way possible.
I saw snippets of “The Slave Letters” at All Saints Episcopal last February and was pro-
foundly moved by the beauty and depth of the piece. The packed audience there felt the same way. This year, we have two opportunities to see an enhanced version of the show. Whatever driving is required will be well worth it! It features the world-famous Roger Wagner Chorale, conducted by Jeannine Wagner, along with woodwind and string accompaniment, other soloists and a dancer, and, of course, the incomparable star Michal Dawson Conner. And yes, bring the kids!
Considering the current horrific rightwing attempts to erase the existence of this period of American history, this show is something that I believe everyone needs to see and hear. It’s all of our history, not merely Black History. And what a grand way to commemorate Black History Month, on either Saturday, February 25 or Sunday, February 26. To get precise times, addresses, and tickets, go to wagnerensemble.org. You’ll see a blue button that reads “Our Next Concert.” My husband and I will be at both performances; we hope to see you there.
2023 marks the 30th year that Ellen Snortland has written this column. She also teaches creative writing online and can be reached at ellen@beautybitesbeast.com. Her award-winning film “Beauty Bites Beast” is available for download or streaming at vimeo.com/ ondemand/beautybitesbeast.
Are you one of the millions of Americans who suffer from peripheral neuropathy?
Have you been told you have to deal with it; live with it; and rely on gabapentin, Lyrica, Cymbalta, injections or other dangerous off-label drugs with serious side effects?
Are you suffering from numbness, tingling, burning pain or deep stabbing pain, often diagnosed as peripheral neuropathy? Are you having balance problems or have the fear of becoming disabled, needing someone to take care of you, and losing your independence?
As the blood vessels that surround the nerves start to die off, nerves begin to shrink from the lack of oxygen, nutrients and blood supply. When these nerves begin to die, symptoms such as numbness, tingling, burning pain, sharp deep stabbing pain, balance problems, and fatal falls and injuries may appear.
The main problems are doctors who rely on the “drug cocktail” and exploratory surgery, which miserably fails.
You think like a neuropathy expert more than
you think. Let’s offer an analogy. What do you think of when you see a wilting plant? What does it need? Exactly! Water, sunlight, nutrients and, finally, take any toxins away from its environment for healing!
A nerve is an organism just like a plant, so our goal in our clinic is simple. We must increase the blood supply to the nerve so it can heal.
But first, ask yourself this question. How many medications will it take to increase blood flow to the dying nerve? Medications cannot increase blood flow. SoCal Spinal Decompression Center’s three-step process has a 90% to 95% success rate with neuropathy:
• Increase blood flow.
• Educate small fiber nerves.
• Decrease pain signals.
the more it repairs itself, just like a plant would by getting more water, sunlight and nutrients.
In addition to LLLT, the center uses cutting-edge technology around a Nobel Prize-winning concept, allowing increased circulation to the extremities.
It’s crucial that once new blood gets to the nerves and creates new blood vessels, it re-educates the nerve back to normal function. By using a device that’s used in large hospital chains across the country for neuropathy, doctors can repair the damaged nerves and start to make them durable once again.
The most common mistakes neuropathy sufferers make are to take the “it will go away on its own” or “the medications will get me better” mentality. Doing this for long periods can cause you to reach a point of no return.
For more information, call (213) 908-5855.
Common causes of neuropathy (Over 100 causes)
Diabetes
Poor metabolic health
Autoimmune Chemotherapy
Chemical exposure
Medications
Infections
Nerve impingement
Kidney or liver disease
Alcoholism
Common lifestyle changes
Pain medication addiction
Balance problems
Falls
Hip and head injuries from falls
One way to increase blood flow is by using cutting-edge technology such as lower-level light therapy, also known as LLLT. The technology was discovered by NASA by treating wounds in space. LLLT was approved by the FDA in 2001 and is at the forefront of neuropathy treatments. Low-level light therapy creates a process called angiogenesis. Angiogenesis means “new blood vessels.” It’s like watering a plant. The more LLLT a nerve gets,
Amputation
Sleep deprivation
Loss of independence
Depression
Common clinical symptoms of neuropathy
Numbness/tingling
Burning pain
Deep stabbing pain
Cramping
Walking with a shuffle
Grip strength decreases
Loss of muscle strength
Inability to feel hot or cold
Crawling sensation of the skin
Freezing in hands or feet
Medication side effects
I was told it would only get worse.” – Beau T.
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“I’m now off all my neuropathy meds. And I can feel my gas and brake pedals now!” – Benny H.
“I had no idea nerves can heal. The tingling in my hands is 95% better. I was told it would only get worse.” – Beau T.
“I had no idea nerves can heal. The tingling in my hands is 95% better. I was told it would only get worse.” – Beau T.
“I’m now off all my neuropathy meds. And I can feel my gas and brake pedals now!” – Benny H.
“I’m now off all my neuropathy meds. And I can feel my gas and brake pedals now!” – Benny H.
“I had no idea nerves can heal. The tingling in my hands is 95% I was told it would only get worse.” – Beau T.
“I’m now off all my neuropathy meds. And I can feel my gas and brake pedals now!” – Benny H.
The state of the economy and fears of a looming recession may have some prospective parents readjusting their timeline for having kids, and those who do may be worrying about how much they should be saving for their children’s future. But how much does it actually cost to raise a child in the Greater Los Angeles area?
According to recent estimates, the total cost of raising one child in California is somewhere around $310,000 for basic living expenses over 17 to 18 years, $100,000 more than the national average. That total only includes the cost of necessities, such as housing, food and clothing. It does not include luxury expenses, such as summer camp, toys, sports equipment, private school or how much parents should save for college.
Although children are sometimes a happy accident, Hatem Dhiab, a managing partner and financial advisor with Gerber Kawasaki Wealth & Investment Management in Santa Monica, said there are two criteria parents should try to meet before they begin to have kids.
At the very least, he said, prospective parents should have enough saved for a decent emergency fund and enough tucked away that they could withstand losing their job for a short period of time. Once they have met those financial milestones, Dhiab said it’s best they begin to budget for children as a percentage of their gross annual income.
“If I had to put a percentage on kids, childcare and schooling, I’d say 10 to 15%. No more, (because) you still need to save 20 to 30% of your money for your retirement goals,” Dhiab said.
In the first few years, parents will feel the cost of childcare the most. That expense may come as lost wages to parents who choose to remain home with their child, or as direct payments to day care organizations. For LA, that monthly average comes out to $1,430 — or $17,160 annually.
There are a few strategies parents can do to help mitigate the costs of infants specifically. In California, parents who make less than $32,409 qualify for a Young Child Tax Credit up to $1,083 for children under six.
And you can get creative, Dhiab said. One popular strategy he has seen is parents asking a grandparent or relative to move in. That way they can split the time watching a child during the day, alleviat-
ing day care costs. Working from home and finding time-flexible employment is another way to help mitigate day care costs.
But being creative can only do so much. In Los Angeles, the median household income is around $70,000. With Dhiab’s 10 to 15% calculation, a household with that combined income should budget around $10,500 for one child, less than the yearly $17,000 parents appear to actually spend. That discrepancy is why Dhiab said he sees parents waiting to start families. And when they do, he said he is seeing them have fewer children overall.
“It is really tough to have a family (making) $100,000 to $150,000 combined right now,” Dhiab said. “I’m just being honest. Even at one hundred fifty thousand dollars, you don’t have a lot of disposable income.”
That disposable income is significant because if parents want to send their children to college, they should save an additional $200 per month, minimum, from when that child is born. And if parents don’t want their child to have student loans, Dhiab recommends more.
Right now, in-state tuition for a Univer-
sity of California school costs $41,000 per year, including room and board, while a CalState University school costs around $25,500 per year. When budgeting, parents must remember that the cost of college increases annually by approximately 6%, meaning it will be significantly more expensive to attend university in 18 years than it is now.
If a family is looking for a more cost-effective route to a college degree, it is more economical to attend a two-year program at a community college and transfer into a four-year program. Santa Monica College, if a student lives at home, costs around $7,150 per year.
One tool parents can use to help alleviate the burden of saving for college is opening up a 529 plan once their child is born. A 529 plan is a tax-advantaged account for education savings that parents may use for private school, college or apprenticeship program expenses.
Contributions to the plan are considered tax-free gifts and can add up to $16,000 per donor each year. Dhiab said you don’t even have to wait until your child is born to start saving in one of these accounts, allowing prospective parents to take advantage of compounding interest.
“The earlier the better,” Dhiab emphasized. “A lot of people take advantage of the fact that anyone can give to a 529. Smart clients get family members and friends, instead of buying gifts for birthdays, to donate to the 529. It is not tacky — everyone knows college is expensive.”
Another unanticipated cost many parents find themselves facing is the price of birth. Published reports show that giving birth in a California hospital costs $19,000 on average, including pregnancy, delivery and postpartum care. Health insurance will cover most of that cost, but parents should still expect around $3,000 for out-of-pocket costs.
There is also the outright expense parents must undertake of purchasing the necessary supplies for taking care of a baby, like strollers, a crib and other newborn supplies. In today’s world of supply chain issues, there are still shortages of baby formula, and even baby food can be difficult to find on store shelves.
Dhiab said many parents also forget about the hard realities they will face if the worst should happen after having children. Planning financially for a child also means having a plan for what happens in the event one or both parents pass away.
“Protection is important,” Dhiab explained. “Life insurance is really important — good life insurance and estate planning. It is good to have the kid, but you also have to plan for the worst-case scenario. People need to think about ‘God forbid something happens to my wife or whomever,’ and make sure they have some protection in place for the family. For estate planning, (what if) something happens to both parents? Who is going to take care of the child, and who is going to be financially responsible.”
In the end, children make life better for some couples in unquantifiable ways that don’t have a price tag. Studies suggest that people who have children report greater long-term happiness overall and live longer than those who do not. For some, children give meaning and purpose to their life that they did not have before. It just takes planning.
“The first thing (I impart to my clients) is understanding how much this is going to change their current lives. Have a good plan for being able to adjust to those new changes,” Dhiab said. “Nobody can plan 100% for having kids, but at least have that (plan ready for the future).”
Entertainment education is The Los Angeles Film School’s past, present and future.
The school is proud to be one of Hollywood’s leading film and entertainment colleges. Its goal is to equip aspiring artists with the necessary skills they need to succeed in this industry.
Whether students choose to take classes online or on campus in Hollywood, the staff trains the next generation of creative professionals. Students thrive in the 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.
The Los Angeles Film School offers 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 television as well Associate of Science degrees in audio protection, music production and film.
The Los Angeles 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 and game engines. 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 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.
Celebrating its 30th anniversary, School on Wheels provides academic support to students living in shelters, motels, vehicles, group foster homes, and the streets of Southern California.
These students are matched one-onone with volunteers who serve as academic mentors and tutors. Each student receives a new backpack full of school supplies each year, as well as technological support with devices (like securing laptops, tablets and Wi-Fi hotspots) when needed.
School on Wheels students are eligible for supplemental support in the form of scholarships, post-secondary education guidance, STEM/STEAM workshops and career events.
Additionally, the nonprofit offers personalized advice to parents who are navigating the education system for their children and assisting with things like IEPs (individualized education programs).
All volunteers are trained and supported by staff who educate them on learning strategies, trauma-informed approaches and safety protocols.
Students experiencing homelessness face myriad stressors and challenges stemming from housing instability, making this group nine times more likely to repeat a grade and four times more likely to drop out of school entirely. These students deserve additional support to help them lessen the educational gaps caused by their unique circumstances. Learn more at schoolonwheels.org.
ADVERTORIAL
By Pilgrim School
Pilgrim
School’s
early education, elementary and middle school summer programs are open for registration.
These six-week programs run Tuesday, June 20, until Friday, July 28. For early education (18 months to age 4), tuition includes camp T-shirt, lunch, snacks, a faculty sports coach, art, music, water play, games, science, and a fun, themed activity each week. For elementary (K to fifth grade), tuition includes a camp T-shirt, lunch, snacks, faculty sports coach, art, music, water play, games, science and weekly field trips.
In addition, its long-awaited middle school summer programming returns. Join the staff as they take a deep dive into LA-centric issues of today and tomorrow: environmental sustainability, social justice and the theatrical arts. Each twoweek session will feature individualized, thematically aligned math, English and enrichment courses as well as hands-on opportunities to engage with these issues and their effect on our community and the greater Los Angeles metropolis. Middle school students (rising six to eighth graders) will also attend weekly field trips.
and support to students experiencing homelessness.
Southwestern Academy is a coed boarding and day school offering sixth to 12th grades in San Marino.
Founded in 1924, Southwestern Academy has become a school that is dedicated to offering students a personalized, stimulating curriculum that assists individuals in their preparation for college and the world beyond.
Rich in culture and diversity, catering to the educational needs of domestic and international students, Southwestern Academy offers a number of programs that allow it to support a wide range of students.
Course offerings include numerous ELL courses and programs for nonnative speakers, while the size, structure and programs allow the school to support students with varying learning differences.
The school’s close-knit community of faculty and staff make every student feel like part of the family. Southwestern Academy believes in emboldening students as they become a part of the community.
ADVERTORIAL
Bachelor’s degree completion programs at Cal State LA Downtown provide students with the knowledge to create meaningful career paths and long-term financial success. Convenient evening and weekend classes make learning even more accessible. Begin your bachelor’s program this fall. Apply by March 15 for the following programs:
The Bachelor of Arts in Communication Program, with an option in Organizational Communication, is designed for individuals and working professionals with an interest in earning a degree in a broad but growing field. The curriculum also makes it applicable to students seeking advancement in any career.
Psychologists experienced an increase in demand due to the impact the COVID-19 pandemic had on many individuals’ mental health. The Bachelor of Arts in Psychology Program prepares students for advanced study and those who may already be working in related fields.
The Bachelor of Science in Business Administration Program prepares students for globalization, a growing economy, a complex tax and regulatory environment, data and market research, and evaluation of marketing strategies.
Cal State LA Downtown also offers Master of Public Health (apply by March 15) and fully employed MBA (apply by May 31) programs. Financial assistance may be available.
The 45th Annual LA Chinatown Firecracker, celebrating the Year of the Rabbit, has something for everyone: runners, cyclists, children and even dogs.
Runners can participate in the 5k or 10k race. For cyclists, there are 20 and 40-mile rides. Families and children are welcome to join in the Kiddie run, and pet owners can partake in the PAW’er dog run and walk.
For Lisa Goldfarb, administrative assistant and bike director for LA Chinatown Firecracker (LCFRC), “there’s no excuse not to go outside. … We’re having a Lunar New Year celebration to get people outside and interacting with each other and just be healthy. It’s something for everybody, including your animals and your kids.”
Even those uninterested in or unable to race can enjoy the opening ceremonies before races begin at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 18, and Sunday, Feb. 19, to celebrate the Lunar New Year. The ceremony at the historic Chinatown Central Plaza will include the ceremonial lighting of 100,000 firecrackers, a DJ and lion dancers to promote good luck in the coming year.
Race days will conclude with a post-race expo, open to the public, and will include vendors, booths, a new Chalk Art Festival, Boba Garden, and a children’s carnival for Kiddie Run participants on Sunday.
Saturday’s activities will include the 20 and 40-mile bike rides; neither are timed races, and the 1-mile PAW’er dog run and walk. The 5k and 10k races, which are USATF-sanctioned events, will be on Sunday, along with the 1k kiddie run.
After events, participants will be awarded takeout containers of noodles and beer
from Angel City Brewery. On Sunday, festivities will conclude with an award ceremony for the 10k and 5k race winners.
Participants can compete individually or form teams with friends or coworkers. Many competitors return each year to race. Currently, three official legacy runners are slated to run in this year’s race, one of whom is 90.
The iconic race is one of the oldest and longest-running events in the country, celebrating the Lunar New Year. This year’s race will be the first in-person event since COVID, and organizers expect upwards of 9,000 racers in all categories.
Besides the sun and warm weather, Goldfarb is excited to be back in person.
“It’s live — it’s finally going to happen,” she said. “All these people will be in the street celebrating and being together for the new year.”
The annual Firecracker event is run solely by volunteers and has been since the first 10k race in 1979, organized by a group of friends from Belmont High School. The race has since expanded to include a bike race, kiddie race and dog walk.
The group, which includes some of its original members, is now known as the LA Chinatown Firecracker Run Committee and is committed to promoting health, fitness and cultural awareness.
LCFRC will reinvest the event’s proceeds into the community, benefitting elementary schools and nonprofit organizations that provide community support to local neighborhoods.
In the past, the LCFRC has supported organizations like Chinatown Service Center, Chinatown Senior Citizens Service Center, API Forward Movement, Lincoln Heights
Tutorial Project, Friends of the Chinatown Library and Logan Academy of Global Ecology, to name a few. Since the beginning, the event has raised over a million dollars for the community.
Registration is currently open with the
option to participate in person or virtually through RaceJoy App. All event participants will receive a goody bag with an exclusive collectible finisher’s medal, a limited edition commemorative T-shirt, and a 2023 Firecracker race bib.
LA Chinatown Firecracker
WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 18, to Sunday, Feb. 19
WHERE: Los Angeles Chinatown Plaza, 943 N. Broadway, Los Angeles COST: $30 to $65
INFO: firecracker10k.org
tures at night fell, exposing those left in the rubble and those without shelter to temperatures at or below freezing. A winter storm with snowfall is also adding to the urgency of rescue efforts.
The death toll has risen continuously by the thousands, as more bodies are recovered by rescuers and more succumb to injuries in collapsed buildings. According to reports, the estimated death count following the disaster could rise to over 20,000 in both Turkey and Syria. Deputy Chief Thomas Ewald, part of USA-2, emphasized the importance of hope for those involved.
“We serve as ambassadors for the people of LA County. We are able to go out and do what so many people wish they could do, and that is lend a hand,” Ewald said. “One of the things people fail to recognize is sometimes the most important thing is for people to have hope. That is a big take-away for me, is that sending a team of professionals to those most impacted, every little bit helps.”
USA-2 will fly to the area of impact via a Department of Defense aircraft out of March Air Force Base. After they arrive, USA-1 and USA-2 will work with the United Nations and other international rescue teams to determine where they will be deployed within the region, potentially for
greater than two weeks.
While this disaster took place far away from LA, it is a reminder that earthquakes of a similar size are commonplace in Southern California’s geologic timeline. According to seismologists, large temblors like the one in Turkey occur on the San Andreas Fault about every 45 to 230 years. The last “Big One” hit Los Angeles 161 years ago, meaning a 7.8 magnitude earthquake, or larger, is likely to hit LA at least within our children’s lifetime.
Large-scale earthquakes are something that the LA city, county and federal governments have prepared. Unlike in Turkey, building codes in LA are much stricter, keeping residents much safer in the event of a disaster. Published reports indicate that the City of Los Angeles has spent the last seven years retrofitting 8,000 seismically vulnerable buildings, costing approximately $1.3 billion.
“I want to take this opportunity to highly encourage all residents of Los Angeles County to be prepared for earthquakes by remembering to make a kit, have a plan, and be prepared,” Marrone said. “You can also sign up for emergency notifications through ‘Alert LA County’ and get earthquake and other disaster preparedness information at ready.lacounty.gov.”
By Morgan Owen LA Downtown News Staff Writer
It’s 6 a.m. and 42 degrees outside as a group of 50 runners gather on the corner of 6th and San Pedro. Some of them are wearing T-shirts that say Skid Row Running Club. Their occupations range from lawyers to teachers to day workers. There are recovering addicts, volunteers and adrenaline junkies that all have one thing in common — three times a week, they meet up to train for the New Delhi Marathon.
For the last 11 years, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Craig Mitchell and the Skid Row Running Club have trained for half and full marathons as part of the Midnight Mission’s Health & Wellness programming. Their morning route loops six miles through Downtown LA and Skid Row, where 8,000 people live on the streets and 8,000 more in shelters. Each year, the group plans one international trip, and on Feb. 22 around 60 runners will depart for New Delhi, India.
“I went to Egypt and Ecuador and the Galapagos,” said Eric Barrera, listing all of the international marathons he’s completed with the Skid Row Running Club. “I am excited (for India). Leaving for two weeks is always stressful, so I don’t feel like I actually get to enjoy it until I’m there.”
Barrera said running marathons wasn’t something he had planned on doing, but once he finished his first, he quickly felt like it was something he wanted to do again. Barrera came to the Skid Row Running Club as a former army veteran suffering from addiction. Now, he works with the LA Department of Mental Health, helping veterans connect with resources for homelessness and addiction.
The Skid Row Running Club was first founded in 2012 by Mitchell through the Midnight Mission’s Health & Wellness Department as a way to provide community to those experiencing homelessness. The group leverages running to keep its members focused on not only their well-being but the well-being of their fellow runners through fostering mentor-mentee relationships.
“(The club) provides a sense of community. People who suffer from addiction or homelessness — it’s a very isolating experience,” Mitchell said. “They’ve burned bridges with their family members, they’ve lost jobs, they’ve separated from children. To once again be welcomed and loved by a group of people is transformative.”
And the Skid Row Running Club truly welcomes everyone, whether they are former gang members, had previously been incarcerated or are drug and alcohol counselors who want to share their journey to sobriety. Mitchell was inspired to create the club after a young man he sent to prison, Roderick Brown, invited him to the Midnight Mission after his release.
Mitchell said Brown was paroled there and wanted him to meet the people instrumental in his recovery. When he arrived, the president of the mission at the time asked what Mitchell thought he could do to contribute to their program, so he came up with the Skid Row Running Club.
Over the last decade, Mitchell and those who’ve joined the Skid Row Running Club have turned the group into a tightly knit community through the simple act of running, with more members joining every week. For many, that community is what keeps them returning every week.
Michael Shea, one of the runners heading to New Delhi for his first international marathon, said he was skeptical about joining the club at first. Even
though he was already training for a marathon himself, he didn’t want the fact he was homeless to define his training experience.
“I was skeptical because I didn’t want a pity party club,” Shea said. “At that time, I was experiencing homelessness. I had just moved from the Midwest (and) I was staying with the VA at the tiny shelters. I didn’t want that to be a factor … but then I saw everybody is just a runner.”
In January, the Los Angeles Longitudinal Enumeration and Demographic Study conducted by RAND Corp. showed homelessness was up 13% in Skid Row in 2022. Founded in 1914, the Midnight Mission helps organize the Skid Row Running Club and offers shelter, 12-step recovery and job training to the Skid Row community. They also offer family living through their “Homelight” program, an amenity less common among homeless shelters.
Andrew Vargas, one of the Skid Row Running Club’s newer members, joined the group after he began living at the Midnight Mission. He said he suffered a brain tumor that caused him to lose 75% of his memory. Even though he can’t remember his family, he said he feels love in his life because of this group. He recalled how welcoming the club was when he first joined eight months ago.
“They assist you in every way,” Vargas said. “In the beginning, they would run with you and help you and motivate you. They just have open arms. Everybody here has a face — some are in recovery, some are not — I don’t know, and I don’t want to (because) they don’t ask you these questions. All they do is welcome you as an individual first.”
Vargas will be one of 60 runners departing for India on Feb. 22 at 8 a.m. to run the New Delhi Marathon on Feb. 26. For him and many others, it will be their first time on an airplane. This year, athletes from the Skid Row Running Club participated in the Firecracker 10k, and the Los Angeles and Pasadena Rock ’n’ Roll half marathons. Just a few weeks after returning from India, several runners will turn around to run the LA Marathon on Sunday, March 19.
The Skid Row Running Club meets every Monday and Thursday at 5:45 a.m. in front of The Midnight Mission. The club is open to anyone and welcomes anyone who wishes to join.
For 28 years, the LA Art Show has gathered artists and institutions for what is the largest and longest running LA art fair.
This year, it will fill 180,000 square feet of the LA Convention Center from Wednesday, Feb. 15, to Sunday, Feb. 19. It marks the beginning of the city’s 2023 art season.
This year, the art fair celebrates international artists while putting climate change front and center. Kassandra Voyagis, the producer and director of the show, spent much of 2022 engaged in international travel, scouting out art that she wanted to bring to Los Angeles.
It’s allowed her to grow the show’s international participation, in particular, the Asian component. This year there will be 15 galleries from Korea and a new Japanese Pavilion joining the returning European pavilion.
“With the travel restrictions ending, everybody’s really excited to finally come back,” Voyagis said, adding they will have about 120 exhibitors this year including galleries, museums, nonprofits and individual artists.
“Being one of the largest and longest-running shows in LA, I want to bring as much of the international component and global presence as I can for the community here.”
This year’s show casts a spotlight on the events in Ukraine and the suffering that has taken place since the Russian invasion. Ukrainian artist Denis Sarazhin and his wife were stranded in the United States and living as refugees. However, thanks to support from generous donors and a GoFundMe campaign, he bought supplies and started creating here.
“Arcadia Contemporary had a focus on Ukrainian artists even before everything happened,” Voyagis said. “(Sarazhin) was preparing his work and then found himself being a refugee. He’s had to create a lot of new pieces. That’s a testament of what we represent in LA. People came together and helped him and now he’s going to be able to show his work.”
Another special exhibition is TRANSformation by MRG Fine Art in partnership with Zero Two 20. The goal is to create an open platform for artists with diverse backgrounds. Voyagis said they originally wanted to do all women artists, but the concept grew into highlighting trans artists, LGBTQ artists and those with diverse LA backgrounds.
The largest portion of the show is the “Modern + Contemporary” section, which includes contemporary painting, illustrations and sculptures from galleries in LA and around the world.
Other sections include Featured Exhibitions, Project Space and Works on Paper.
The LA Art Show donates 15% of all ticket proceeds to St. Jude Children’s Research
Hospital.
“The LA Art Show is an art show for everybody,” Voyagis said. “You can start collecting or be a seasoned collector. It’s a great opportunity to see a staple of the arts downtown. You can enjoy the arts and the educational component while supporting a great charity.”
Long a major component of the LA Art Show, DIVERSEartLA returns this year with an even more focused look at climate change. Whereas last year’s show looked at climate change through a broad lens, this year’s projects look specifically at water.
“In California, we’ve had a lot of issues with water,” Voyagis said. “The water focus was important because of how it has affected us in California and many other parts of the world.”
DIVERSEartLA is the noncommercial platform that connects local and international art institutions to generate thoughtful dialogue.
Marisa Caichiolo has been the curator of DIVERSEartLA since its inception in 2015. She has always focused on important topics in the art world. This year, she is bringing in nine institutions that are each sparking conversations with a variety of interactive exhibits.
“The overall curatorial umbrella in this platform for the past three years has been to see how each of these institutions are really engaging with the change that humanity and the planet is experiencing,” Caichiolo said.
“We can create consciousness about it. I know we cannot change things that we have done as humans to the planet, but we can at least start having a conversation with all these institutions to see how arts and culture can engage with social consciousness.”
This year, DIVERSEartLA features nine interdisciplinary projects:
• Cooling resources: Downtown Los Angeles is an urban heat island and Skid Row residents are more vulnerable than most. DIVERSEartLA will provide a site-specific area for community engagement exploring the importance of water, cooling resources and potential solutions. “Cooling Resources is actually helping homeless with water during the summer,” Caichiolo said. “Creating at least a conversation around this topic through art in a creative way makes it a little more accessible.”
• Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) is presenting a double-sided mural of three panels by ecofeminist and artist Judy Baca. Titled “When God Was a Woman, 1980-2021,” it was developed during a workshop and the 13 participating women are represented in the triptych. “Judy Baca is an icon in Los Angeles as a Chicano artist that really works a lot with murals of women,” Caichiolo said. “This particular mural is about … embracing and connecting the dots between the planet, mother and the
power of women.”
• “Eternal Light” is a nine-part multimedia work by Korean artist HanHo. It combines traditional art, technology and performance to re-imagine an apocalyptic scenario, inspired by Michelangelo’s “The Last Judgment.”
• Art Museum of the Americas (AMA) presents a video and sound installation featuring Alfredo de Stefano, a Mexican conceptual photographer and his exhibition, “The Pulse of Silence.” His photographs will be presented as an immersive experience, depicting deserts from five continents. “He has been traveling all over the world recording and capturing the desert,” Caichiolo said. “That’s going to be visually very profound and very strong.”
• The Italian Cultural Institute in Los Angeles will showcase “The Planetary Garden,” which is a collaboration between Italian artists Pietro Ruffo and Ella Pellegrini. The video installation adopts an allegory of the planet as a garden. “It is a very immersive experience that will be very powerful even from outside the booth,” Caichiolo said. “It has textile covering the entire booth which is going to be stunning, and the inside is an immersive video. That’s going to be very gorgeous and very powerful to see.”
• Raubtier & Unicus Productions out of Los Angeles has “Reactive Elements,” a joint project between artist Alejandro Ordoñez and curator Caichiolo that deals with the fragility of natural resources and the chain-like reactions humans cause.
• Wurzeln and Flügel from Germany, supported by the German Consulate in Los Angeles, brings Petra Eiko’s installation “Sense of Space” to the show. It immerses viewers in an experience involving six 3D sculptures and a video to foster conversation around water.
• La Neomudejar Museum from Madrid presents Carmen Isasi’s “The Uninhabited,” which reflects on the immigration crisis and those who take dangerous sea journeys.
• Office of Cultural Projects, a nonprofit from Mexico, will activate a conversation reflecting on what happens when organic elements get replaced by artificial ones. Artist Davis Birks’ video installation is “Rendezvous: This Land is My Land.”
“Most of these institutions are presenting a crossover between art, science and technology,” Caichiolo said. “Through these curatorial statements and the artists’ representations, they’re touching these issues with water in a very easy way for the com-
For Bass Drum of Death (BDOD) front man John Barrett, making music has always been a solitary endeavor. That is until BDOD’S recently released fifth full-length album, “Say I Won’t.”
The album was written and recorded in collaboration with the entire touring band: Barrett’s brother and guitarist, Jim, and drummer Ian Kirkpatrick.
BDOD’s headline tour, which kicked off in New Orleans on Feb. 8, will conclude on Sunday, Apr. 16. The band will make its way to LA on Saturday, Feb. 18, playing Zebulon at 7 p.m.
With the help of producer Patrick Carney of The Black Keys at Audio Eagle Studios in Nashville, the band was able to create a reinvigorated sound, encompassing previous DIY rock influences while adding a ‘70s-indebted swagger.
“(Carney’s) flavoring changed some things for the better and working with the other two guys, you get different points of view — different things come to the forefront,” said Barrett of the collaboration.
Barrett began writing the album back in New York, where he had lived since releasing his first record, “G.B. City,” in 2011 but moved back to his home state of Mississippi once the pandemic hit. There, he finished the record, which he had been working on since 2018.
“There was not a whole lot else to do other than try to finish up some of these songs,” he explained. “Obviously, Mississippi is a lot quieter than New York, so I was able to buckle down and focus.”
The album title and titular track, “Say I Won’t,” refers to a schoolyard goad from the brothers’ childhood, as if to say, “you dare me?” Indeed, the studio album does what it wants, sporting the confidence of an act that’s been touring for over a decade with the added vitality of new bandmates and perspectives.
Barrett remarked that the band was looking forward to returning to the road and likened touring to a “big traveling circus with all your homies.”
Nashville-based rock band Have a Rad Day will open for the LA show. For the East Coast leg of the tour, the band will be joined by the indie-rock band Dead Tooth hailing from Brooklyn, NY.
munity to embrace. It’s not easy to talk about homelessness and the shortness of water in Downtown LA with the amount of homelessness that we have. It is not easy to create that conversation or put that issue in front of everybody’s eyes. Until we do, we don’t see that we have to become part of the change. We are part of the planet. We are part of the whole community and what is happening to one is happening to all of us.”
This year launches the Museum Acquisition Award for Emerging Artists which will be given out at the closing ceremony on Feb. 19. Spain’s La Neomudejar Museum wanted to celebrate its 10th anniversary of participating in the LA Art Show and suggested the idea of an award for an emerging artist.
Representatives from the museum will choose a winning piece of art that they will purchase and make a permanent part of their collection.
“This could be a very powerful step into upcoming years of DIVERSEartLA where we can invite other museums to be a part of this program,” Caichiolo said. “It will create an incentive for artists and our community. I’m very excited about it.”
WHEN: 6 to 10 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 15 (opening night ticket); noon to 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 16 (general admission, one-day ticket $30); noon to 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 17; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. (early entry, VIP red card and opening night ticket) and noon to 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18 (general admission); 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (early entry, VIP red card and opening night ticket) and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 19 (general admission)
WHERE: Los Angeles Convention Center West Hall, 1201 S. Figueroa Street, Los Angeles
COST: Tickets start at $30; $250 for opening night
INFO: laartshow.com
Fans can expect a show firing at all cylinders, featuring new music from “Say I Won’t” while featuring earlier fan-favorite tracks. At its core, the show will be “an hour and 15 minutes of fast-paced rock-n-roll,” said Barrett.
After two long pandemic-filled years, the band only recently went back on the road in 2022. But rather than easing back into touring life, BDOD jumped right back into the thick of it, playing South by Southwest, shows on the East and West Coasts, traveling to the UK, Ireland and France, and opening for the Lemonheads on a west coast run in November and December.
Barrett compared it to “riding a bike, except you’re older, and everything hurts a little bit more. … It’s been nice to know that COVID hasn’t completely killed people’s appetite for live music.”
WHERE: Zebulon, 2478 Fletcher Drive, Los Angeles
WHEN: 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18.
COST: $24.72
INFO: bassdrumofdeath.com
Kristine Ono has a deep love for her hometown of Monterey Park.
She pauses and tears up when she thinks about Huu Can Tran allegedly killing 11 people and wounding nine at the Star Ballroom Dance Studio. He fired 42 rounds and then drove to another dance hall in Alhambra, where Brandon Tsay wrestled a semi-automatic weapon away from him.
The world needs love, she said. That’s the goal of Lovers Rock on Valentine’s Day at Grand Park. Also known as DJ Puffs, she’ll spin tunes at the party.
“Essentially, love is the message for the Lovers Rock event on Valentine’s Day at Grand Park,” she said.
“People can’t deny love — when people are on the receiving end of an action or any situation that is rooted in love, whether that be a kind gesture, a hug, or genuine understanding, they respond. And sometimes that response is joy, a pause in feeling down, or simply just an exhale. Love is the one emotion and
action that people always respond to.
“If we’re able to lead with love, we’re able to humanize other people’s experiences. We’re able to walk with empathy. If we’re able to do that, maybe we’re a little less likely to harm each other and a whole lot more likely to lift each other — and ourselves — up.
“This is the power of love for me and what I hope to bring to Lovers Rock. An exuberant celebration of love, and its powerful ability to bring joy, heal, unite, uplift and move communities forward.”
The four-hour event, held in person for the first time since the pandemic, also features multi-instrumentalist Low Leaf, a photo booth hosted by Las Fotos Project, a pop-up art gallery presented by LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes, screen-printing services from Cultivarte Studios, a flower market with Poppy Lavender Florals and cookie design workshop from East Los Sweets.
Visitors are welcome to bring a picnic, or purchase bites from The Food Clinic.
Born and raised in Monterey Park, Ono is an assistant director in Lynwood Unified School District. She has been DJing as a second career for 16 to 17 years, serving as the music director and DJ for Mayor Karen Bass’ campaign.
When she was asked to DJ Lovers Rock, she was moved and grateful for the opportunity. When people think of love, they think of it in a romantic or familial sense.
They generally don’t recognize the strength and audacity of love.
“It enables us to keep moving forward, to learn in the conversations and care about other people’s experiences. If we remain deeply rooted in love, we can build community. That’s how we learn to hear other people’s stories a bit more. This is where we start healing.”
She said she found peace by preparing the playlist for Lovers Rock.
“I was struggling through that and the impact of what happened in our hometown,” she said. “What I shared with the Grand Park team was I wasn’t able to get back into a peaceful place, a peaceful state of mind, until I started putting music together for a playlist. Music really does heal. I needed to create a space to find peace in the creativity, the message, the vibe, everything on that end.”
Ono and her friend, Angela Ramirez (DJ Spiñorita of Alhambra), visited Star Ballroom Dance Studio for a blessing ceremony. She longed to stand in the space so she could honor those who were killed.
“So many of us were affected,” she said. “We left a note behind. I felt like we were able to honor the space, the victims and those who died.
“It happened in a space where people were dancing; a place where DJs frequent. It was terrifying on different levels. The timing of this Lovers Rock event has deeper meaning for me. People say they think this is a hate crime. Every mass shooting is a hate crime on a fundamental level.
“We’re going to flip the script. Downtown LA is 10 minutes away from Monterey Park. We’re going to take ownership of that to confront and place love in front of what LA can experience. Come join us and celebrate love and make this world a more kind and more inclusive space for all of us. It’s a conduit for healing.”
Ono is an open format DJ, playing the full range of genres from hip-hop and R&B to “cheesy pop,” she said.
“People hate on Taylor Swift, but man, do I love her,” she said with a laugh. “My plan is to keep spirits lifted and to be positive and to have feel good music. Minimally, I want people to nod their heads to the music and sing along.
“That shows you get people to release, to be more open and friendly and dance together. That’s one thing LA knows how to do is share a meal, and how to let go. I think that’s what I’m looking forward to and how I approach music for these types of events.”
WHEN: 6 to 10 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 14
WHERE: Grand Park, 200 N. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles
COST: Free
INFO: grandparkla.org
When Kristina Wong introduces her one-woman show, “Kristina Wong, Sweatshop Overlord,” she warns the audience that the show has a lot of triggers— disease, death, violence, poverty, mental health stressors, racism, trauma and the last U.S. president.
She then adds, “If any of that is triggering, you should know that is the content of the world outside the show.”
Wong is bringing her show about the pandemic to Kirk Douglas Theatre from Sunday, Feb. 12, to Sunday, March 12. The story takes place in her Koreatown home.
It tells the story of how, during the pandemic, she became a “sweatshop overlord” to the Auntie Sewing Squad, which made masks and acted as a shadow FEMA when the government failed to provide the help that was needed to front-line workers, disadvantaged communities, immigrants and others.
“Sweatshop Overlord” was born as a Zoom performance with Wong sharing stories about the Auntie Sewing Squad. The New York Theatre Workshop brought in director Chey Yew and told him they wanted to make a live production out of it, committing to having it in their season even before the script was written. Yew reviewed all Wong’s Zoom transcripts and the two of them put together what is now a 100-minute show.
“We somehow got together and made this beautiful, glorious thing,” Yew said. “Kristina is very conscientious, she’s smart. It’s basically about distilling the experience and expanding it and making it more theatrical than it was meant for Zoom performance.”
It starts with day three of the COVID-19 pandemic when Wong began sewing masks on her Hello Kitty sewing machine using bed sheets and bra straps. Word spread on Facebook, and she started recruiting others to help her with the orders that poured in. Alone in their homes, but together in resolve, they make masks and provide relief efforts while the world continues to spiral into chaos around them.
Yew said he believes the performance will be cathartic for many people, a chance to connect over what everyone experienced since March 2020.
“All of us have universally gone through the pandemic,” Yew said. “This is one of those strange, global phenomena that we feel connected with. Yet, there wasn’t a moment for us to really experience a catharsis of it, particularly when the pandemic was such a solitary experience.”
Coming together in the theater, he said, lets people gather, to share an experience, to relive part of the horror and trauma as well as some of the joys. It lets people know they are not alone. It’s a great reason, he suggests, to come back to the theater.
“To some extent, it is one of those great catharses that we never expected, and Kristina provided for us,” Yew said. “Because of Kristina’s self-deprecating wit and the way that she is so smart in her observations of political life and social life, she’s able to cobble this strangely multilayered piece. It’s a testimonial, it’s docu-theater, it’s political theater. It’s also a beautiful piece about how she created community.”
He said at the beginning of the pandemic, artists were told that they were nonessential workers. It’s something Wong felt keenly, but her response was to make herself essential by creating a community, a social action community that made masks.
“To some extent, she became the most essential worker that we knew of in the United States,” Yew said.
He also said the piece reminds people of a history that was recent, but has been easy to forget because world-changing news has hit the headlines every few days, providing one new shock after another.
“By allowing us to go back in a weird way to what had happened in the country during the pandemic was a surprise to some extent,” Yew said. “Oh, my God, we forgot about that. We went through that alone, but remember the elections? Remember Black Lives Matter? And all the things that occurred? Ultimately, Kristina guides us through the past two years of a pandemic into where we are at the moment.”
The show was first performed off-Broadway at the New York Theatre Workshop in October and November 2021. Wong has since taken it to multiple locations around the country. It’s now coming home.
“This show is a homecoming. Los Angeles is where I learned to be an artist,” Wong said. “It’s also where the story of this show was born. My home in Koreatown, Los An-
geles, is where I naively offered to sew masks for strangers from my Hello Kitty sewing machine in March 2020. It’s outside my building where I first met volunteer Aunties who risked their lives, leaving their shelter in place so they could also help protect total strangers. In a city so often stereotyped for vapid, networking-driven relationships, I experienced generosity and human kindness like I’d never known before during the pandemic. After touring the country with this show, I’m looking forward to returning to my hometown and celebrating and sharing this story with Los Angeles audiences.”
The show is a joint production of Center Theatre Group and East West Players. When it performed last fall at the La Jolla Playhouse, they made an addendum. Yew said he was concerned that the play might be starting to be dated. The performances dispelled that worry.
“I found it so profound that I felt emotional as well as riveted,” Yew said. “As she did this piece about a year after we did it at the New York Theatre Workshop, the audience was saying that it is still very much alive. I think in the end, it’s not about the time in the pandemic. It’s ultimately about creating community, the need for community, the need to be connected, even though we’re so disconnected in this country and so divided. The fact that we long to gather is so crucial.”
Yew describes the show as not only docu-theater, but a very traditional hero’s journey, despite Wong’s objection to being named such.
It is also social satire and a commentary on such things as the activism community, chosen families, civic responses and anti-Asian violence.
Yew has high praise that Wong can return to the work and do it nightly. He said one-person shows require the performer to be brutally honest.
“You are tearing your heart out every night and presenting it to the audience,” Yew said. “It costs you to do a solo show in that way. You relive trauma every night.”
Yew is happy to see the show come to the Kirk Douglas theater this month, saying it is a Valentine to LA and a tribute to Gordon Davidson, the founder of the theater who always wanted people’s stories to be told, especially those of Angelenos.
“I feel that a work of this nature, with an artist of Kristina’s caliber and talent coming back to the CTG honors the person who founded the theater and actually created the theater movement in Los Angeles,” Yew said.
“So, this is a Valentine in a wonderful way not only to Angelenos, but also to the memory of Gordon Davidson and all the great things that he has done for the theater community and around the country.”
“Kristina
WHEN: Various times Sunday, Feb. 12, to Sunday, March 12
WHERE: Kirk Douglas Theatre, 9820 Washington Boulevard, Culver City
COST: Tickets start at $30
INFO: centertheatregroup.org
For Charlatans UK vocalist Tim Burgess, touring with fellow Brits Ride is a reunion.
The tour wraps Saturday, Feb. 18, at The Wiltern in Los Angeles.
“It’s not the first time that we’ve played together,” Burgess said. “We did two shows in 1993. We always said we would do it again, but we didn’t realize it was going to be such a long time between shows.”
The 1993 tour was dubbed “Daytripper,” and visited the British seaside towns of Brighton and Blackpool.
On this jaunt, the bands will trade off headline slots each night, with both performing classic albums in the full. The Charlatans UK will cover 1992’s “Between 10th and 11th,” while Ride will play 1990’s “Nowhere.” The second set of
both shows will feature greatest hits and fan favorites.
Burgess acknowledged that the Charlatans UK’s first album, “Some Friendly,” which spawned the hit “The Only One I Know,” was huge for them. But Americans “really took” to “Between 10th and 11th” and the song “Weirdo.”
“I don’t know why they took to it,” he said. “I don’t know why it didn’t really connect with the rest of the world. It did to a certain extent, but it was not what people were expecting. When people don’t get what they’re expecting, they can reject it for feel some disdain for it because it wasn’t ‘Some Friendly Part Two.’
“This record really wasn’t ‘Some Friendly Part 2.’ It was darker. It was more electronic. It was maybe fidgety and a little nervous. Some people called it our goth record.”
The pair of albums were also compared to De La Soul’s collections: The first one, Burgess said, is like “hippy flower power” with fun beats. Then the second one is “serious, agitated and weird.”
Burgess called it frustrating but still beneficial.
“It actually set us up in good stead for the future,” he said. “We’re playing it in America because we never really included many of the songs in the set. ‘Weirdo’ has always been in the set, but anything else? Hardly ever.
“It would have been really easy for us to play ‘Some Friendly.’ But we needed an excuse to revisit our second album and play in America. It’s a wonderful thing to be doing. People always used to ask us about the songs on that record when we came here. So now we’re doing it.”
The classic Charlatans UK sound — driving Hammond organ, Northern Soul and house-influenced rhythms, swaggering guitars and Burgess’ sunny yet somehow yearning vocal — is instantly recognizable.
The Charlatans UK — Burgess, bassist Martin Blunt, guitarist Mark Collins and keyboardist Tony Rogers — have notched 13 top 40 studio albums in the United Kingdom, alongside 22 hit singles, four of which made the top 10.
In addition, Burgess created the popular Tim’s Twitter Listening Party, an ongoing series of real-time album playbacks via Twitter, featuring stories from bands and fans, rarely seen images, and exclusive insights and anecdotes from the artists who created some of music’s most iconic albums. For more information, visit timstwitterlisteningparty.com or @Tim_Burgess.
“The listening parties were an incredible thing that happened through, you know, me posting about records and having a few arguments against Piers Morgan,” the Whole Foods fan said with a laugh.
The ride hasn’t been all positive, from nervous breakdowns to near bankruptcy and the deaths of two founding members.
Formerly of Beachwood Canyon, Burgess is planning to write new Charlatans UK material this year. Then again, that was the 2022 goal, too.
“Hopefully we get an album done this year,” he said with a smile. “We have no other live dates really planned for this year. There might be a couple festivals, but I think we’re going to go quiet.”
Charlatans UK and Ride
WHEN: 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18
WHERE: The Wiltern, 3790 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles
COST: Tickets start at $50
INFO: livenation.com, thecharlatans.net
