MHD Off the Record

Latest Episodes:

MHD OTR South LA Highlight: Eastside Riders Jul 25, 2022

Show notes

This is an MHD Off the Record South LA Highlight where co-host, Chavonne Taylor, sits down with a local organization, business, or individual doing great work in South LA. On this episode, she sits down with John Jones Jr. and John Jones III, founders of Eastside Riders Bike Club. a volunteer organization with a mission to improve Watts through community service, charity work, and bike programs aimed at keeping local youth out of gang activity.

www.esrbc.org

www.instagram.com/eastsideriders

Ep. 16 How did Hip Hop DJ Culture Develop in LA? Feat. J. Rocc Jul 11, 2022

Show notes

MHD and co-host, Chavonne Taylor, speak with turntablist and founder of the World Famous Beat Junkies, J. Rocc, about his career and the development of HipHop DJ Culture in Los Angeles.

Born Jason Jackson, J.Rocc began DJing in the mid-'80s with California group PSK. In1992, he founded the Beat Junkies, a DJ crew comprised of talented musicians, with Melo-D and Rhettmatic. Soon after forming, the Beat Junkies, became a seminal force in the rise of instrumental hip-hop and the growth and development of LA’s HipHop DJ Culture. He also hosted Adventures in Stereo on 90.7FM KPFK for 6 years. Highly recognized for his funky showcases and original arrangements, J. Rocc has a significant place in LA music history. He has recently released his second full-length producer album, A Wonderful Letter, which is his love letter to the City of Los Angeles.

www.stonesthrow.com/artist/jrocc

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MHD OTR South LA Highlight: CicLAvia Jun 27, 2022

Show notes

This is another MHD Off the Record South LA Highlight where Co-Host, Chavonne Taylor, sits down with a local organization, small business, or individual doing great work in South LA. On this episode, she speaks with Tafarai Bayne, Chief Strategist for CicLAvia, a non-profit that catalyzes vibrant public spaces, active transportation, and good health through car-free streets. CicLAvia engages with people to transform our relationship with our communities and with each other. Inspired by Bogotá’s weekly ciclovía, CicLAvia temporarily closes streets to car traffic and opens them to Angelenos to use as a public park. Free for all, CicLAvia connects communities to each other across an expansive city, creating a safe place to bike, walk, skate, roll, and dance through Los Angeles County.

To learn more about CicLAvia and stay up to date on their upcoming events, please visit www.ciclavia.org.

Ep. 15 How Have African Americans Historically Shaped and Experienced L.A? Feat. Dr. Alison Rose Jefferson Jun 13, 2022

Show notes

African Americans have a long and rich history in the development of Los Angeles and yet, it is only sparsely recognized. MHD and co-host, Chavonne Taylor, sit down with Dr. Alison Rose Jefferson, a historian who has not only researched and documented Black History in Los Angeles but has contributed to its official recognition in communities and cities throughout the county. She talks with MHD about the ways African Americans have contributed to the development of Los Angeles, why Black LA history documentation has been limited, and even her own family history as a third-generation African American Californian.

Dr. Alison Rose Jefferson is the author of Living the California Dream: African American Leisure Sites during the Jim Crow Era which examines how African Americans pioneered leisure through their attempts to create communities and business projects, in conjunction with the growing African American population. She is currently working with the California African American Museum as a guest curator on the February 2023 exhibition Black California Dreamin’ which highlights Black Angelenos and Californians who worked to make leisure an open, inclusive reality.

www.alisonrosejefferson.com

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Ep. 14 How Can Music Organize, Empower, and Connect Communities? Feat. Las Cafeteras May 30, 2022

Show notes

MHD and Co-Host, Chavonne Taylor, speak with Denise Carlos and Hector Flores from Las Cafeteras, a powerful band from East LA that crosses and blends various styles and genres from Afro-Mexican to Rock to HipHop to Soul to Punk to Cumbia and many more. They’ve performed with legendary artists such as Common, Lila Downs, Ozomatli, and Los Lobos (just to name a few). Denise Carlos is lead vocalist and lyricist for the band and holds her Master's degree in Clinical social work. Hector Flores is an Artistic Director and Co-Founder of Las Cafeteras. He was also an organizer for over 10 years in East and South LA before transitioning to his career as a musician.

www.lascafeteras.com

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MHD OTR South LA Highlight: The Sims Library of Poetry May 16, 2022

Show notes

This is an MHD Off the Record South LA Highlight where Co-Host, Chavonne Taylor, sits down with a local organization doing great work in South LA. On this episode, we speak with Hiram Sims, a poet, essayist, and creative writing professor from South LA. He is the founder of the Sims Library of Poetry, which has the mission to serve, educate, and find love for poetry, especially for marginalized people of color in the community of South Los Angeles. He is a graduate of USC with a BA in Creative Writing and a Masters of Professional Writing in Poetry. In addition to teaching, he has published three collections of poetry and a creative writing textbook titled THESE PAGES SPEAK.

The Sims Library of Poetry is located at 2702 W Florence Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90043.

To learn more about the library or stay up to date on their upcoming classes and events, please visit www.simslibraryofpoetry.org.

Ep. 13 What Should We Know About Black LA Business History? Feat. Yolanda Hester May 02, 2022

Show notes

African American entrepreneurship has a long and fascinating history in Los Angeles. The period from the 1920s to the 1960s was the era of “race enterprises,” in which black entrepreneurs specifically catered to black consumers. Collectively these enterprises supported a growing middle class and one of the highest rates of African American homeownership in the country. As rich as this history is, so little is discussed in regards to Black business in Los Angeles. So MHD and co-host Chavonne bring it to the surface in an enriching conversation with independent public historian, writer, and researcher Yolanda Hester!

Yolanda Hester is an independent public historian, writer, and researcher. She is interested in highlighting lesser documented stories and helping them find their way to the historical record. Her work has included exploring the history of Black business in LA (Community and Commerce) for The Center For Oral History Research at UCLA, consulting on the history of The Shindana Toy Factory for KCET (Shindana Toy Company: Changing the American Doll Industry), as well as projects for the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs and The National Urban League. She currently manages the oral history project for Arthur Ashe Legacy at UCLA. Her most recent essay The Legacy of Shindana Toys: Black Play and Black Power can be found in The American Journal of Play.

Resources:

www.yolandahester.com

www.library.ucla.edu/location/library-special-collections/discover-collections/online-exhibits/community-commerce-oral-histories-african-american-businesses-los-angeles

www.kcet.org/shows/lost-la/episodes/shindana-toy-company-changing-the-american-doll-industry

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Ep. 12 Do We Need New Models of Policing and Public Safety? Feat. Leslie Cooper Johnson and Brian Bentley Apr 18, 2022

Show notes

The 1992 Los Angeles Uprising was sparked after a jury acquitted four LAPD officers who had been charged with using excessive force in the arrest and beating of Rodney King on April 29, 1992. With the anniversary of the civil unrest approaching, MHD and his co-host, Chavonne Taylor, discuss new policing and public safety models with PUSH LA (Promoting Unity, Safety & Health in Los Angeles) convener Leslie Cooper Johnson and former LAPD Officer Brian S. Bentley.

Leslie Cooper Johnson is the Vice President of Organizational Development at Community Coalition, or CoCo, a social justice organization in South Los Angeles, where she has worked for the past 15 years. A lifelong resident of Inglewood, she received her Master’s in Social Work from the University of Southern California. As part of her role at CoCo, Leslie convenes the PUSH LA collective, which stands for Promoting Unity, Safety & Health in Los Angeles. PUSH LA was formed in response to decades of racist policing and has a mission to “reimagine protect & serve.”

Brian S. Bentley is an author and a former LAPD officer. His first book, One Time: The Story of a South Central Los Angeles Police Officer, graphically depicts his involvement in suspect beatings and describes in detail the gratification he and his partners received from their actions. He claims some officers are addicted to violence and can't stop on their own. His book lets readers see firsthand how police brutality is accepted and encouraged in law enforcement. Bentley spent most of his career at Southwest Division. He was one of the few LAPD officers who lived in the division they patrolled.

Resources:

REIMAGINING TRAFFIC SAFETY & BOLD POLITICAL LEADERSHIP IN LOS ANGELES

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MHD OTR South LA Highlight: The Healing Circle LA Apr 04, 2022

Show notes

This is an MHD Off the Record South LA Highlight where Co-Host, Chavonne Taylor, sits down with a local organization doing great work in South LA. On this episode she speaks with Josh Hamm, founder and CEO of The Healing Circle LA, a dialogue space for Black men and women to come together to establish community, support each other and build in a holistic way.

You can learn more about The Healing Circle LA on their website www.thehealingcirclela.org.

Ep. 11 How is South LA Reflected Through Music? Feat. Terrace Martin Mar 21, 2022

Show notes

MHD and Co-Host Chavonne chop it up with multi-instrumentalist and producer Terrace Martin about his experiences growing up in South LA and how the culture influences his music.

Terrace Martin is a 4-time GRAMMY-nominated artist, producer, and multi-instrumentalist from the Crenshaw District. Terrace Martin is renowned for being one of the top jazz musicians in the world and has become a creative engine at the epicenter of LA's progressive hip-hop scene. His noteworthy production has included major collaborations with Kendrick Lamar (good kid, M.A.A.D. city & the GRAMMY-winning To Pimp a Butterfly), Travis Scott, Stevie Wonder, Snoop Dogg, Herbie Hancock, and many other influential artists. Terrace Martin has created his own label, Sounds of Crenshaw Records, and his latest album, Drones, is out now.

www.soundsofcrenshaw.com/terrace-martin

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