For the past four months, journalist and USC student Melissa Leu visited the monthly meetings of the neighborhood council Voices of 90037. During her time, she found out a lot about how hyper-local politics operate in underserved communities. Voices of 90037 represent the a strip just north of Watts. It sits between the 110 and Flower Street, south of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard to 62nd Street.

Leu captures the challenges and inspiration of the Voices of 90037 through a series profiling members of the council.

Voices of 90037 Treasurer Angelica Cookson moved from Mexico to Los Angeles nearly 4 years ago. Almost immediately upon arrival, she got involved with the Neighborhood Council and began her quest to increase community participation.

Come back Friday, December 30, for the next profile!