My neighborhood: Central Alameda



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. Miguel Molina’s  project focuses on areas for community gathering, drugs, and graffiti.

Miguel Molina, 19, Big Picture Film and Theater Arts Charter School, East Los Angeles College student, speaks Spanish

My family emigrated from Guerrero, Mexico when I was 2 years old. I lived in South Los Angeles for most of my life. My grandparents taught my father to make tamales and they sold them for 16 years in South Los Angeles. Growing up, my mom didn’t like for me to go outside and play because she thought the neighborhood was too dangerous. Although I did witness a shooting once, I never saw South Los Angeles through my mom’s eyes. For me, my neighborhood wasn’t bad. For me it was filled with families and people that liked to go outside and play in the park and enjoy themselves. I want to explore afterschool programs in South L.A., because I didn’t see many growing up, nor did it seem to be an issue people were aware of. I am passionate about writing, helping my community, and immigration reform. Through Reporter Corps I hope to be able to inspire my community involved in trying to pass immigration reform this year. I also want to engage my community in education and youth issues. I believe that writing can empower my community and bring positive changes.

StoryCorps records South LA’s diverse stories



StoryCorps kicked off its national mobile tour on Oct. 23 with mariachis, celebrities, and public officials at South L.A.’s California African American Museum. From now until Nov. 16, the StoryCorps mobile booth will be set up in front of the museum waiting to record and share the many stories upon which the vitality of South L.A. is built.

Actors Cheech Marin & Art Evans were in attendance

Actors Cheech Marin & Art Evans were in attendance

StoryCorps is no stranger to South L.A. This is its seventh year visiting greater Los Angeles, and its third time at the California African American Museum. It is also partnering with Pasadena-based radio station KPCC to broadcast some of the stories collected.

“We really love the partnership with CAAM and also KPCC,” Mobile Tour Manager Dina Zempsky said. “These organizations embrace our mission to retain diverse stories. We are back over and over again.” [Read more…]

StoryCorps celebrates 10-year anniversary at the California African American Museum



StoryCorps’ MobileBooth—an Airstream trailer outfitted with a recording studio

StoryCorps’ MobileBooth—an Airstream trailer outfitted with a recording studio

Starting Oct. 23 and running for three weeks, StoryCorps will team up with public radio station KPCC at South L.A’s California African American Museum to record and share the vibrant and varying stories of residents across South L.A. From there, StoryCorps will continue on a cross country MobileBooth Tour to mark its 10th anniversary.

If you want to share your story , reservations are now open: Call StoryCorps’ 24-hour, toll-free reservation line at 1-800-850-4406or visit storycorps.org. [Read more…]