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Preserving Cultural Neighborhood Gems
October 15, 2019 @ 8:30 am - 12:30 pm
Free
About this Event
On October 15, LISC LA invites you to join us for a series of panels highlighting preservation strategies being undertaken in some of Los Angeles’ historic cultural communities.
Come learn from practitioners who are actively maintaining and building local community assets to stem the tide of displacement. Through three panel discussions, we will cover business, ownership, and creative placemaking case studies that exemplify community-driven preservation efforts.
Breakfast will be provided.
Schedule
8:30 AM – Registration and Breakfast
9:00 AM – Welcome and Introduction
9:15 AM – If Not Us, Then Who?: Securing Affordability through Community Ownership
Rents are rising for tenants and business owners alike, but that doesn’t mean they have to move. In this discussion, you will hear from organizations that are keeping home, land, and business spaces affordable by putting these assets in community hands.
- Tom de Simone, Genesis LA, Moderator
- Isela Gracian, East LA Community Corporation
- Rudy Espinoza, Inclusive Action
- Evan Edwards, Project Equity
10:00 AM – Networking Break
10:15 AM – Keeping Mom & Pop on the Block: Tools for Business Preservation
Small businesses are an integral part of the local economy and culture. This panel highlights unique financial tools that help sustain small businesses that may be at risk of displacement.
- Tunua Thrash-Ntuk, LA LISC, Moderator
- Bill Watanabe and Lisa Hasegawa, Little Tokyo Impact Fund
- Tony Barengo, CDC Small Business Finance
- Andrew McDowell, With Love Café
11:00 AM: Networking Break
11:15 AM – Claiming Our Space: The Role of Creative Placemaking in Preservation
Creative placemaking leverages arts and culture to activate spaces. This panel will explore how culturally specific communities use placemaking as a means to anchor their presence, honor their history, and provide opportunities for economic development.
- Laura Choi, Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, Moderator
- Kristen Gordon, Destination Crenshaw
- Chancee Martorell, Thai CDC
- Erika Gee, Chinatown CDC
12:00 – Closing Remarks
Transportation
Limited free parking is available at the venue and on the street. Attendees are encouraged to carpool or take public transit to the event.