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E9: Homelessness in San Pedro with Amber Sheikh Ginsberg Nov 22, 2018

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In this episode Amber Sheikh Ginsberg and I have a serious discussion about one of the community's most heated topics: homelessness. She is probably one of the most informed and qualified people in the area I could possibly have this discussion with as she has worked closely with those experiencing homelessness for much of her career. Amber is an LA based non-profit consultant with Thurlow/Associates and San Pedro Resident of about a decade. Prior to becoming a consultant she worked in homeless services, education and with social justice organizations. She is currently the Vice Chair of the Coastal San Pedro Neighborhood Council's Homelessness Committee and coordinates the CD15 Working Group on Homelessness. She lives with her husband and two young children here in San Pedro. She, like many others in town, is concerned about the growing homeless population we're seeing in San Pedro. But everyone is concerned for different reasons. Her and I begin our discussion by talking about homelessness as a whole and the general lack of empathy we have toward it as a society. Amber on people experiencing homelessness in San Pedro : "In San Pedro itself we have five hundred homeless individuals. Those are five hundred solutions, as well. There's not one blanket solution." - Amber She describes working on skid row and meeting a woman who looked and dressed just like herself. Assuming she was there to volunteer, she was immediately humbled when she learned that she was there to get lunch. This is just another example of how every individual experiencing homelessness has an individual story of why they are homeless. Why we need a shelter here in San Pedro: "There are NO shelter beds in San Pedro for homeless individuals. I feel like repeating that over and over again. There are NO shelter beds for individuals in San Pedro. There's no where to go in San Pedro if you are homeless tonight, tomorrow, next week." - Amber She shares some eye-opening information about the resources that are available here in San Pedro including the fact that we have zero shelter beds for individuals. Harbor Interfaith only houses families experiencing homelessness, and the number of beds they provide is still low at fifty-eight. She shares that research shows that more than 70% of our homeless are either from San Pedro, have family here or has ties here. They are a part of this community. She wasn't able to provide the number of kids in LAUSD schools that are experiencing homelessness because the number that she had heard was so high that she didn't want to believe it or share it publicly. After the recording of this episode our councilman Joe Buscaino posted on facebook that the number of kids experiencing homelessness in LAUSD schools is 15,589. He also confirms that the Beacon Street site is suitable for a Bridge Home Shelter. LINKS: Harbor Interfaith http://www.harborinterfaith.org/ Rainbow Services https://rainbowservicesdv.org/ Councilman's post announcing the Bridge Home https://www.facebook.com/JoeBuscaino/photos/a.116782065161192/1061184967387559/?type=3&theater Video on Bridge Home project https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzbFtpT48M8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDxFydlDM5A Daily Breeze article "Angry Protestors..." https://www.dailybreeze.com/2018/09/08/as-angry-san-pedro-protesters-take-to-streets-to-oppose-shelter-buscaino-stands-behind-efforts-to-help-homeless/ Daily Breeze article "Homeless shelter supporters.." https://www.dailybreeze.com/2018/09/10/homeless-shelter-supporters-line-san-pedro-street-with-candles-and-a-message/ SPONSOR: Siren's Java & Tea https://www.instagram.com/sirensjavateahouse/?hl=en

E8: Cindy Bradley - The Ballet Teacher Behind Misty Copeland Nov 15, 2018

Show notes

Interview guest, Cindy Bradley, sits down with me to share her history with ballet, her coming-to-San-Pedro story, and how she knew Misty Copeland was destined for greatness from the start. Cindy and I chat about the podcast and she immediately brings up the "Misty's episode" (Episode 3: Fan-Girling Over Misty Copeland with Megan Barnes). She actually says that Misty loved the episode (!!!) and I basically die. I pull it together and continue with the interview. Cindy shares her childhood memories of growing up in Georgia during the "hippie time" and discovering ballet for the first time. Her father being in the Air Force caused the family to move around a lot. She saw a lot of the country before arriving in San Diego. Here she suffers a major injury that ends her career in ballet before it really began. This is when she decides to teach ballet and start a punk band. Cindy on coming to San Pedro for the first time: "We were driving down the harbor freeway to the end... there were those refineries everywhere... and we were like 'do we really want to live around refineries?' And then we got into it and it just opened up into this beautiful town surrounded by water." - Cindy She describes San Pedro feeing like home from the very beginning and how her and her band discovered that there was a local punk scene here in town. Meeting Patrick Bradley Cindy opens up to me about her health battles with crohn's disease. She is proud of the victories she's won in her health but credits her husband for getting her through the tough times. She shares the story of how they met and how he wooed her with a series of paintings. Cindy on the man that made her swoon: "Without him there would be no San Pedro Ballet, there would be no Wolf, there would be no Misty, there would be no anything because there would be no me." - Cindy Meeting Misty Of course, we have to talk about Misty Copeland. She talks about what it was like being her teacher and how she feels as though they were always in sync with each other. How she describes feeling the first time she knew Misty was a prodigy: "Immediately it just became the number one goal in my life to make sure that she would become a dancer... I didn't think about it much, it just became my mission." - Cindy We go on to talk about her talent for picking stars and her newest star that she likes to call her "male Misty", a young high schooler from Narbonne High School named Enrique. We talk about why its difficult to recruit and retain male ballet students and what we believe to be a toxic belief that society has about masculinity. Lastly, she proudly announces that the ballet school is celebrating 25 years and is very excited about the upcoming local performances of The Nutcracker. After the recording of this episode Cindy attended the premiere of "The Nutcracker & The Four Realms" with Misty Copeland and she also appeared in a piece in People Magazine with Misty, the article is titled "Misty Opens Up About the Teacher Who Changed Her Life: 'She Took A Huge Leap'". LINKS: Tickets to The Nutcracker at the Warner Grand http://www.sanpedrocityballet.org/upcoming-events/nutcracker Article in People Magazine https://people.com/human-interest/misty-copeland-teacher-changed-life/?fbclid=IwAR2ZJmPYeFWzex_JjBWl5x5BT9zWVvsLYKh5ntFKs6fNGbKIWdPVDWfKaqQ Preview of The Nutcracker & The Four Realms https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXfxLIuNJvw SPONSOR: Siren's Java & Tea https://www.instagram.com/sirensjavateahouse/?hl=en

E7: Ryan Hart & Michael Ortiz - Head Coaches of SPHS Boys Soccer Team Nov 08, 2018

Show notes

Interview guests Ryan Hart and Michael Ortiz share with me their hope for the San Pedro High School Boys soccer team as they take on their first year as Co-Coaches. Michael and Ryan have both grown up together in San Pedro and even attended the same schools since Jr. High. Michael grew up on a military base off of 25th Street and surprisingly never left during his primary school years. He later joined the military himself and is now living with his wife at Fort Macarthur here in San Pedro. Ryan shared how their group of friends always kind of prepared themselves for Michael's eventual move but it never happened. How Michael's military background influences his coaching style: "It improved me. It helped me understand the importance of having a structure... When I say something at practice, that we're going to do it, we need to do it. " - Michael Ortiz Michael's wife was present for the interview and I put them on the spot a little by asking what it was like for him to marry his high school sweet heart, something he mentions being really proud of. He shares how he was heavily involved with sports growing up and was a natural athlete early on, often putting minimum effort into his academics just to ensure he had his spot on the team. Michael went to Pedro high and made the soccer team every year. Ryan's experience of growing up in San Pedro: Ryan describes himself as a "late bloomer", not figuring himself out until way later in his high school years. He didn't make the soccer team at Pedro until his senior year, which he feels puts himself in a unique position to inspire kids to don't make the cut the first time, because he didn't either. He went on to get his business degree from the University of Michigan and now lives locally in Redondo Beach. What their doing to invest in the players that don't make the team: "We're reaching out to all the parents and inviting their kids to, what we're calling a 'coaching clinic' and so all the kids that didn't make the team will probably just stay after practice one day... it's helpful to them, its helpful to us because when they come back next year they'll be better and that's in the best interest of everybody ." Not only do they invest in the players that don't make the team but they also make sure that the players on the team that struggle with keeping their grades up, get the help they need. They've partnered with the local Boys and Girls Club to create a space for players that need extra help with their academics. Why their roles are important: To understand why their roles as the current co-coaches for the SPHS boys soccer team are so important you have to understand the role and reputation of former SPHS boys soccer coach of eight years, Pete Hazdovac. From how Ryan and Michael describe him, he was not only an amazing coach that invested in his players but also a community leader. He with the help of Ryan and Michael, led the boys to victory last year as they won the Division 4 City Title. Now, the coaches are not only trying to build upon that success but also hope to carry on Pete's legacy. LINKS: SPHS Boys Soccer Merch Promotion https://shop.fancloth.com/90277/447795 Instagram: @sphs_boys_soccer https://www.instagram.com/sphs_boys_soccer/ SPONSOR: Siren's Java & Tea https://www.instagram.com/sirensjavateahouse/?hl=en

E6: Mike Real - A Local Artist Highlighting Real Issues Nov 01, 2018

Show notes

Interview guest, Mike Real, tells me about his upbringing in the Rancho San Pedro Projects and how growing up around gang violence motivated to spread positivity through his music. Mike Real is a native San Pedran, his mom being from San Pedro and his father from Wilmington, grew up with family from both areas. He shares his personal story and what it was like to grow up in the San Pedro projects. His family was heavily involved with gangs in both San Pedro and Wilmington and he remembers not repping either because he never really knew which one he was "supposed" to be a part of. He had witnessed as a child a family member getting shot and killed just outside their home and recalls his grandmother's warning to him and his cousins if they ever heard shots fired. He goes on to share that he comes from a family of gang members from both San Pedro and Wilmington, and how everything he saw growing up really motivated him to start something positive. Using his music to make a difference: Mike is a rapper using his upbringing to shed light on the hard-hitting issues that really affect the communities he grew up in. He doesn't shy away from difficult conversations about homelessness, ignorance, poverty and gang violence. We talk about his hope for his music and that is that he will help bridge the gap between our two local towns and the lower income communities with communities that aren't exposed to the same issues . He wants to be a voice for those who can't share their stories, which is why he often sits down with homeless people to ask them about themselves. Mike's hope for San Pedro He has high hopes for San Pedro and wants to see it live up to it's full potential. He is excited about the redevelopment of the waterfront and wants to see it beautiful. However, he goes on to share his mixed emotions about the redevelopment of the Rancho San Pedro Projects. We discuss gentrification, and the specific plans for the local projects and we end on a hopeful note, talking about how the city plans for very little to no displacement of the families currently living in the Rancho San Pedro community. LINKS: His Song: "A Beautiful Struggle" https://soundcloud.com/michael-avila89/the-beautiful-struggle-feat-jess Instagram: @mic_avila87 https://www.instagram.com/mic_avila87/ Facebook: Michael Avila https://www.facebook.com/100000855547261/posts/2046590698712762/ Youtube - Michael Avila https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoT2wjVkGmeQpkytxNBdvIg

E5: Homesick for Pedro with Marissa Haney Oct 25, 2018

Show notes

Co-host Marissa and I talk about what its like to miss San Pedro. She, living on the east coast now, describes the details of her hometown that she misses most and what it's like being so far from home. Marissa Haney, my life-long best friend, was born and raised in San Pedro and moved away when she first went to study at the Culinary Institute of America in New York. There she met her husband and together they live on the East Coast in the suburbs of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She doesn't miss California's boring sunny weather but she does miss being able to drive down the street to spend time at the beach. She describes being younger and knowing in her spirit that she wasn't going to stay in San Pedro forever and I talk about being young and knowing I'll never leave. We discuss that many people from San Pedro usually identify with one or the other. We discuss our memories of Ports O' Call. I fill her in on what's new in San Pedro. For some reason I felt it was necessary to update her on all the Starbucks' in town as well as the grocery stores. Our conversation is very fluid and we get off topic a little but for anyone who's interested in San Pedro it should be entertaining. We also go over San Pedro themed costume ideas for Halloween. Suggestions were sent in via Instagram and we talk about each one of them. She feels that not a lot of people know where San Pedro is, and she hopes that the town will get more exposure. The changes are exciting but only if people know about it to enjoy it. LINKS: Instagram @buxumbaker https://www.instagram.com/buxombaker/ SPONSOR: Siren's Java & Tea https://www.instagram.com/sirensjavateahouse/?hl=en

E4: Julie Bender - The Artist Behind The 25th St. Mural Oct 18, 2018

Show notes

In the intro I make a PSA reminder to register to vote if you haven't already. Oct. 22nd is the last day to register to vote (link below). Julie and I sat down with our Siren's coffee in her former art studio, her artwork still hanging on the walls. She and I first talked about her initial impressions of San Pedro when she moved here over thirty years ago with her husband, then what it was like becoming one of LA's first fire women. We talk about the challenges she faced early on in her career and the challenges she would face as a woman, such as doubting herself when she went through hardships even though her fellow male fire firefighters were going through the same hardships, and not getting the help she needed when she was learning. She also had to deal with false rumors about her spreading through the rumor mill. She credits the Girl Scouts of America for exposing her to the mosaic art form that she's fallen in love with and has since created multiple public large scale murals in the San Pedro area. Often tagged with graffiti, Julie took it upon herself to make the large retaining wall on 25th Street a work of art, in hopes of creating a more beautiful and impressionable drive from Palos Verdes to San Pedro. She spoke to the homeowners that line up against the wall and they all gave the "OK". Julie believes that San Pedro is wonderful town made up of artistic, hardworking good people. She hopes that more locals will buy art from local artists and spend more money in our local economy. LINKS: https://registertovote.ca.gov/ https://www.juliebendermosaics.com/ Instagram @julie.bender.mosaics https://www.instagram.com/julie.bender.mosaics/?hl=en

E2: Wolf Bradley - Lead Singer of Local Band The Habits Oct 04, 2018

Show notes

In this episode we talk about growing up as a dancer in San Pedro, how it prepared him for being in a band and where the inspiration came from for their latest single "Robber In A Dress". Wolf grew up as a ballet dancer, dancing in almost every local performance of the Nutcracker since he was a child. His parents, Cindy and Patrick Bradley own the local ballet school and they were also the couple that took in a prodigy dancer who would go on to become a celebrity ballerina. Wolf tells me how his band, The Habits, got air time on KROQ for the first time and the big opportunities that followed. Their single "Calling Me Up" was catchy and got the attention of major companies in the music industry. LINKS YouTube - Robber In A Dress https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFJjEhHSdqE Instagram @habitstheband https://www.instagram.com/habitstheband/?hl=en SPONSOR: Siren's Java & Tea https://www.instagram.com/sirensjavateahouse/?hl=en

E1: 1ST EPISODE! Why SP Is So Special w/ Angela Romero Sep 28, 2018

Show notes

In this introduction episode hear what inspired me to start a local podcast and what makes San Pedro so special with local historian and columnist for San Pedro Today magazine, Angela "Romee" Romero. Romee and I talk about what makes San Pedro so special and what set's it apart from other towns. She tells us a little about San Pedro's history, first as it's own city and when it became Los Angeles. Romee informs us on how we got our name and even gives us some insight on why it may be pronounced as San "Peedro" and not San "Pey-dro". I learn what makes up "the big three" as our demographic and what brought so many immigrants to our tiny town. We learn why San Pedro was so attractive to immigrants and why San Pedrans are big on voting. As we banter we talk about how common it is to run into people we know all over town no matter where we go which is a big characteristic of living in San Pedro. https://www.instagram.com/thatssopedro/ https://www.instagram.com/sirensjavateahouse/?hl=en

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