My neighborhood: Manchester Square



Participants in Reporter Corps, a USC Annenberg program to train young adults from South LA to report on their own communities, created audiovisual introductions to their neighborhoods this summer. Skylar E Myers project focuses on history, poverty, and love. 

Skylar Endsley Myers, 23, Saint Bernard Catholic High School graduate, University of California San Diego graduate 

My family has lived in South Los Angeles for nearly three generations. My grandparents remember the treachery of the Watts Riots of 1965 just as vividly as they can recall their first time witnessing the genre-bending genius of George Clinton & the Funkadelics at a house party in Compton. And let me tell you their words are unlike anything you’d read in a history book. In the midst of gang wars, riots, and disparity my grandparents would tell me these stories and they’ve worked to instill me with pride, hope, and dignity throughout my life. I always assumed they told me these stories as a reminder that we’ve been here before and we’ve made it through and we have the power to get through it again. For this reason I feel storytelling is important, especially for the improvement of the community. Stories are records of what has happened in the past to form both who you are and how you’ll behave in the future. Through Reporters Corps South LA, I hope to bring light and voice to the overshadowed stories of the streets, the people, and the schools in hopes of instilling all South Central Angelinos with the same pride, hope, dignity and attachment I feel for this city.

To read about Skylar’s experiences growing up in South Central click here.

Growing up queer in Watts: What happens when school is still not a safe place



 

Watts Towers | Photo taken by Xochil Frausto

Watts Towers | Photo taken by Xochil Frausto

Discovering my sexual orientation in a violent, poverty-stricken environment was not easy. I remember the first time someone called me a “dyke” at Markham Middle School.  At that time I was a punk rocker, wearing ripped jeans and men’s shirts. I didn’t yet consider myself queer — or even really know what that meant — but I was already aware of homophobia. Not until junior year of high school did I begin to explore my identity. Jordan High was reflective of the area that I lived: It was dangerous. Race riots broke out between Latinos and Black students, and students were not welcoming of gays. I did not feel that teachers, administrators or counselors could support me. [Read more…]

My Neighborhood: Watts



Participants in Reporter Corps, a USC Annenberg program to train young adults from South LA to report on their own communities, created audiovisual introductions to their neighborhoods this summer. Xochil Frausto and Shanice Joseph take us on a trip through Watts and speak with residents about safety, pride, and history. 

Xochil Frausto, 23, Jordan High School graduate

My parents emigrated from Baja, Mexico to Watts in the mid-1970s to realize the “American Dream.” But Watts was not how they had imagined America. Growing up I saw the cyclical reality of poverty, drug abuse and gang warfare. Walking to school I would see bodies, blood and altars. Although these circumstances brought many hardships in my life, I also feel fortunate to have grown up in a place that is so unique — from its historical role in the Black power movement, to the arts, to the cultural mixture of Blacks and Latinos. But Watts is too often voiceless. I want to share the stories of my neighborhood and bring forward a renewed perspective of South Los Angeles — issues that pertain to the immigrant community, gentrification, foreclosures and the Black community, and LGBT issues. I actively try to contribute to Watts whether through community organizing or through sharing my story of growing up in South L.A. I am also working to earn my degree in photography, and I write fiction and poetry about growing up Chicana.

Read about Xochil’s experience growing up Queer in Watts here.

 

My Neighborhood: Baldwin Hills



Participants in Reporter Corps, a USC Annenberg program to train young adults from South LA to report on their own communities, created audiovisual introductions to their neighborhoods this summer. Ryan Johnson takes us to where she grew up, Baldwin Hills, and talks with residents about problems with schools, diversity, and transportation challenges.

Ryan Johnson, 19, Immaculate Heart graduate, Loyola Marymount University student 

Three generations of my family have lived in South Los Angeles, and I have lived in the Baldwin Hills section my entire life. Although that area of South L.A. has gained the reputation of being a predominantly middle-class, African-American neighborhood and is often referred to as “the black Beverly Hills,” that is not the whole story. Not all of Baldwin Hills is wealthy, and the media neglects covering the poverty and lack of resources that also exist. While living in my neighborhood, I have always felt that I needed to travel to other parts of L.A. to gain better resources, an education, and entertainment. Unfortunately, my neighborhood has never felt safe enough to walk to various places in comparison to other regions of L.A. I have attended school both in my immediate community as well as in the greater Los Angeles area. As a result of the positive and negative experiences I’ve had in my neighborhood, I have always been interested in learning the ways in which I can give back and improve conditions in the southern Los Angeles region.  I am a sociology major at Loyola Marymount University and I had the privilege of taking a community organizing course this past semester.

 

Crenshaw High’s magnet conversion and Baldwin Hills families



Crenshaw High underwent a magnet conversion this fall.

Crenshaw High underwent a magnet conversion this fall | Photo by Jazmin Garcia

As a child, my predominantly African-American enclave in South Los Angeles seemed perfect with its hilly landscape, the view of the city, and the close relationships I had with my neighbors. But in my teens, reality set in and my perspective began to change.

Weekends became my only chance to spend time with other kids like me. We all lived in the same middle-class neighborhood, yet we traveled all over the city for a good education. “Have car, will travel,” became my mother’s refrain. I would attend meetings of Jack and Jill—an African-American community service-based organization— and compare stories with my peers about balancing one-hour commutes with homework and extracurricular activities, and what it’s like to attend schools where there were very few people of color. [Read more…]

A night with Reporter Corps South LA



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Ryan Johnson welcomes people to the 24th Street Theatre

Reporter Corps, a new program that trains young adults to report on their own communities,  presented the work of its first South L.A. class Tuesday evening at the 24th Street Theatre.

Reporter Corps interns presented an audiovisual tour of  their South L.A. communities and a preview of their in-depth educational stories to more than 50 people that included community members, USC Annenberg students and professors, and Eighth District City Councilman Curren Price.

The University of Southern California’s Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism selected the six South L.A. residents, ages 18 – 23, from a competitive pool for the 10-week program. Participants received intensive multimedia reporting training from volunteer journalists representing outlets including the LA Times, KPCC, Wall Street Journal, Streetsblog SouthLA and others. Each participant developed a personal education story in partnership with the Hechinger Report, a non-profit news organization. [Read more…]

Reporter Corps South LA members interview Jan Perry



Jan Perry speaking with members of Reporter Corps South LA at City Hall.

Jan Perry speaking with members of Reporter Corps South LA at City Hall.

During a visit to Los Angeles’ City Hall for the City Council meeting on June 28, Reporter Corps of South LA met with Councilwoman Jan Perry.  It was the last day of her 3rd and final term of service to District 9 of South Central Los Angeles. In her 12 years of service, Perry got a fast food ban in South L.A., got some 5,000 units of affordable housing built, as well as supporting the implementation of other large developments, such as parks and businesses.   Though she is uncertain of exactly what lies ahead, she plans to stay in politics.

Meeting with Councilwoman Jan Perry might have been unexpected, but in the few moments we had between discovering we would be talking with her and her actually making it to the pressroom, the sharp minds of Reporter Corps South LA were able to hustle up some interesting questions. Check it out. [Read more…]

Reporter Corps application deadline extended!



Alhambra Source Reporter Corps fellow at KPCC-FM studios.

Alhambra Source Reporter Corps fellow at KPCC-FM studios.

The deadline for applications has been extended to May 17.

Reporter Corps will train young adults in journalistic ethics and practice, multimedia storytelling skills, and how their local government works so that they can report on their own community. Reporters will publish stories on Intersections South LA and receive training and support from professional journalists and researchers. Reporter Corps is made possible with the support of USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism and the McCormick Foundation. [Read more…]