Changemakers LA

In this episode of Changemakers LA, LISC LA Program Officer Erica Webster delves into the topic of diversion programs. These programs aim to prevent or minimize an individual's involvement with law enforcement or the criminal justice system by providing services such as mental health and substance abuse treatment or housing support. This discussion explores these programs from the viewpoint of participants and social service providers. Additionally, our guests will share insights on the key factors that contribute to the success of diversion programs.

Joining LISC LA for this conversation is:

• Tanu Ah You, Case Manager At Transformational Living Homes, Founder of ALOFA 

• Pat Seller, Co-Founder of ALOFA

In this episode, Tanu Ah You shares his inspiring journey to sobriety, reflecting the challenges, victories, and the powerful impact of his experiences with diversion programs and substance use treatment. Throughout his path, he found unwavering support from his friend, Pat, who also joins us on the panel. Pat describes her role as a friend and advocate for Tanu, highlighting how she navigated the delicate balance of holding him accountable while remaining realistic and providing unconditional support. Her perspective offers valuable insights for those supporting loved ones on their sobriety journey.

Our panel consists of two remarkable individuals:

Tanu Ah You serves as a Case Manager at Transformational Living Homes, a reputable sober living and recovery program based in Long Beach. Additionally, he is a Founding Board member at Project ALOFA (Another Loving Opportunity For All), a dedicated organization that advocates for Asian and Pacific Islanders experiencing incarceration and reentry. Tanu's personal experience within the criminal legal system further fuels his passion for helping others, as he currently participates in a diversion program. He believes that his firsthand encounters enable him to form deeper connections with the clients he serves.

Pat Sellers, a close friend of Tanu and Co-founder of ALOFA, has been a community organizer for many years. Over a decade ago, Pat crossed paths with Tanu, and their friendship flourished. When Tanu approached Pat with the idea of launching Project LOAFA, she eagerly embraced the opportunity to make a difference alongside him.

Together, Tanu and Pat bring a wealth of experience and perspectives to our discussion, shedding light on the triumphs and challenges of navigating sobriety, personal growth, and the vital role of support systems in recovery.

If you would like to learn more about how we support place-based initiatives for housing, economic development, and alternatives to incarceration at LISC LA, please visit us online at www.lisc.org/los-angeles and follow us on twitter @LISC_LA.

You can find the rest of the series on iTunes, Spotify, and Google Podcasts. Subscribe to hear more conversations about the people and places that shape Los Angeles.

This podcast was produced in collaboration with Ronnell Hampton, Founder of Growing Greatness Now. Growing Greatness Now is a consulting firm committed to social and environmental justice.

This episode of Changemakers LA is hosted by Alexandra Dawson, Director of Lending + Investments at the Local Initiatives Support Corporation’s Los Angeles office. Alexandra talks to our guests about how they are addressing the equity gap through public policy efforts. Our guests leverage public policy to address many regional issues, including affordable and fair housing, homelessness, and criminal justice. 

Joining LISC LA for this conversation is:

• Konstantin Hatcher, Senior Director of Community Impact at California YIMBY
• Maria Casillas, Founder & Executive Leader of Pride In Truth
• Alan Greenlee, Executive Director of the Southern California Association of Non-Profit Housing (SCANPH)

Maria Casillas begins this episode by addressing the power in her experience as a formerly incarcerated mother. The challenges Maria faced were a big inspiration driving her passion for helping others. She talks about some of the root causes of the criminal justice system and its disparate impact on some communities. Community leaders like Maria were instrumental in achieving the Measure J funding outcomes.

Alan Greenlee discusses the power of coalition building in achieving the Measure ULA funding. He discussed the five components of coalitions and described the importance of generating resources sufficient to produce significant amounts of affordable housing.

Konstantin Hatcher discusses why it's essential to get people housed and build an environment that creates financial opportunities for those on the front lines and the most affected by the housing crisis. Finally, Konstantin explains how AB 2873 starts providing incentives for affordable housing builders that can diversify the pipeline of the folks they contract with.

About our panel:

Konstantin Hatcher is the Senior Director of Community Impact at California YIMBY. California YIMBY’s mission is to make California an affordable place to live, work, and raise a family. Their goal is to put California on a path of broad-based economic prosperity, creating vibrant, livable, and inclusive communities for everyone.

Maria Casillas is the Founder & Executive Leader of Pride In Truth, guiding the organization's strategy to center those most impacted by unjust systems. With a background as a formerly incarcerated, first-generation immigrant and single mother, Maria brings a unique perspective to the role. She serves on the Board of the Youth Justice Coalition and advocates for the rights of youth, incarcerated individuals, and undocumented people. 

Alan Greenlee, is the Executive Director of the Southern California Association of Non-Profit Housing (SCANPH), where he has served since 2012. With 25 years of experience, he has a strong commitment to helping low-income families, and he has designed and managed programs nationwide, impacting hundreds of thousands of families. His extensive experience allows him to bring innovation to the fight against poverty.

If you would like to learn more about how we support place-based initiatives for housing, economic development, and alternatives to incarceration at LISC LA, please visit us online at www.lisc.org/los-angeles and follow us on twitter @LISC_LA.

You can find the rest of the series on iTunes, Spotify, and Google Podcasts. Subscribe to hear more conversations about the people and places that shape Los Angeles.

This podcast was produced in collaboration with Ronnell Hampton, Founder of Growing Greatness Now. Growing Greatness Now is a consulting firm committed to social and environmental justice.

This episode of Changemakers LA is hosted by Program Officer Wendy Gomez who oversees LISC LA’s Alternatives to Incarceration Incubation Academy. The Incubation Academy is a capacity building program for grassroots organizations serving the reentry population across LA County. Wendy talks to a graduate of the Incubation Academy about why community-based services are so critical in reentry and reimaging a justice system that is focused on care first.

Joining LISC LA for this conversation is:

• Danielle Lafayette, Executive Director of Unite a Nation, Alternatives to Incarceration Incubation Academy Graduate

If you're interested in the justice system and how it impacts individuals and communities, this episode of the Changemakers LA Podcast is a must-listen. Host Wendy Gomez speaks with Danielle Lafayette, the founder and Executive Director of Unite a Nation, a community-based organization providing housing, economic stability, and restorative justice services to formerly incarcerated individuals. The conversation explores why a care-first approach is crucial in the reimagination of the justice system, and how community-based services such as housing, economic stability, mental health, and peer support can facilitate healing and build stronger, safer communities. This episode offers insights and personal experiences that shed light on the complex challenges and opportunities facing the reentry population and the importance of community-centered solutions.

About our guest:

Danielle Lafayette is the founder and Executive Director of Unite a Nation, providing housing, economic stability, and wraparound services to formerly incarcerated individuals and youth development programs. She is justice-impacted and a strong advocate, having witnessed close family members impacted by the criminal injustice system.

If you would like to learn more about how we support place-based initiatives for housing, economic development, and alternatives to incarceration at LISC LA, please visit us online at www.lisc.org/los-angeles and follow us on twitter @LISC_LA.

You can find the rest of the series on iTunes, Spotify, and Google Podcasts. Subscribe to hear more conversations about the people and places that shape Los Angeles.

This podcast was produced in collaboration with Ronnell Hampton, Founder of Growing Greatness Now. Growing Greatness Now is a consulting firm committed to social and environmental justice.

This month’s Changemakers LA podcast episode is hosted by Deborah Membreno, LISC LA Program Officer. It covers Preparing Small Business for Eligibility and Accessibility in Supplier Diversity Programs. Each guest provides unique insights on how they are helping impacted businesses increase their overall sustainability and eligibility for contracting.

Joining LISC LA for this conversation are:

• Dr. David Choi, Award-winning professor of Entrepreneurship, Loyola Marymount University (LMU)
• Claudia Morales, Small Business Owner and Business Consultant
• Rene Cota, President of CMG Alliance

This episode began by discussing how many workers are motivated to leave the traditional 9-5 to pursue their passions, exit corporate America, or take on new opportunities like starting a business. Each guest serves the diverse capacity gap needs of new and disadvantaged businesses. In addition, our guests’ business development efforts increase access to supplier diversity initiatives, which facilitate measurable and equitable outcomes towards upward mobility.

Learn more about our guests and our work at https://www.lisc.org/los-angeles/regional-stories/changemakers-la-podcast-preparing-small-business-eligibility-and-accessibility-supplier-diversity-programs 

In 2018, almost half of all renters in the United States were considered to be either moderately or severely cost-burdened, which means housing costs exceeded 30% of the family income. The COVID-19 crisis has highlighted and exacerbated the growing income inequality that has left millions of households behind.

Specifically, income inequality between Black and White households worsened. Although the median incomes of both Black and White households grew in the last decade, Black household incomes rose much more slowly. The median income for Black households in 2019 was $43,200—roughly 60% of that of white households and the lowest of all other racial groups.

In this episode, Tunua sits down with three experts to explore the topic of advancing equitable growth in the affordable housing industry.

Joining LISC LA for this conversation are:

• Alexis Laing, Sr. project manager at BRIDGE Housing
  
• Jarrett Moore, project manager at Coalition for Responsible Community Development and participant in LISC’s 2020-2021 cohort of the Housing Development Training Institute (HDTI)
  
• Justin Davis, COO of Landspire Group
  

The average net worth of a White family in America is 10x greater than the average net worth of a Black family. Let that sink in. In this episode, Tunua sits down with two experts to explore the topic of Coronavirus resiliency and racial inequity, especially during this unprecedented time.

Joining LISC LA for this conversation are:

• Maurice Jones, the CEO and president of LISC National.
  
• Andre Perry, a fellow in the Metropolitan Policy Program at the Brookings Institution, a columnist for the Hechinger Report, and a scholar-in-residence at American University.

In this episode we explore:

• {2:34} What Project 10x is and why it is so critical in this very moment
  
• {7:20} How leaders can shape public health and economic policy in a way that addresses the past and present impacts of systematic racism
  
• {13:43} How LISC has been and will continue to be a driving force for helping close the wealth gap between Black and White families
  
• {18:33} How the pandemic has impacted Black businesses and entrepreneurs
  
• {23:24} How Project 10x will impact the intersection of racial inequality and public health
  
• And so much more
  

** This episode was recorded in December 2020 **

We’re almost a full year into the COVID-19 crisis and so many individuals and businesses are months behind in their rent due to the effects of the pandemic. In this episode, Tunua sits down with 3 experts to chat about the timely topic of cancelling the rent and what steps we can take to work to provide rent relief to those in need.

Joining LISC LA for this conversation are:

• Tom DeSimone, CEO and President of Genesis LA
  
• Tak Suzuki, the Director of Community and Economic Development at the Little Tokyo Center
  
• Rudy Espinoza, Executive Director of Inclusive Action for the City

In this episode we explore:

• {2:27} How we can support local tenants and landlords during this challenging time
  
• {5:50} The importance of thinking outside of the box through 2021 and beyond
  
• {6:59} What cancelling the rent actually means and how we can work together to provide rent relief
  
• {8:20} What our next steps should look like going forward
  

About our panel:

Tom DeSimone, CEO and President of Genesis LA. Genesis LA’s mission is to deliver financial solutions that advance economic and social opportunities in underserved communities. As President and CEO, Tom brings years experience to funding and implementing capital resources for work on much needed local community development.

Director of Community Economic Development of the Little Tokyo Service Center, Tak Suzuki. Tak is a veteran at the The Little Tokyo Service Center having spent 20 years serving the Little Tokyo community. Through his work at the LTSC he helps provide social services and community development focused on improving the lives of local individuals and families.

Rudy Espinoza is the Executive Director of Inclusive Action for the City, a leader in local community development with extensive experience in the field. At Inclusive Action, he leads the organization as they work to bring people together to build strong, local economies that uplift low-income urban communities through advocacy and transformative economic development initiatives

This pandemic has been with us for over half a year. And though the mask wearing and social distancing have become a part of everyday life, small businesses – especially those in historically marginalized communities – are still feeling the impact of COVID-19 just as intensely as when it first began. Business owners may be settling into this new normal, but it begs the question: what is the best way to promote resilience in our communities right now, in a way that is sustainable and provides for people struggling in the current moment? Today, we’re hoping to answer some of those questions through the frame of economic development and community investment.

In this episode of the Changemakers LA podcast, we meet with leaders with firsthand experience in the community development field during COVID-19 and beyond.

Joining LISC LA for this conversation are:

- Mikaela Randolph, the board president of SoLA Food Co-op, a community owned grocery business

- Mary Lee, the former Deputy Director of PolicyLink

- Robert Lewis, the President of the Black Cooperative Investment Fund

In this episode we explore:

- How small minority-owned businesses can promote thriving local economies

- How and why gentrification impact small businesses, especially in LA and especially during COVID-19

- How the pandemic will impact business and community development in the years to come, specifically in LA

This episode of the Changemakers LA Podcast was made possible by our partner, JP Morgan Chase. To learn more about our community investment and small business investment programs, visit our website at https://www.lisc.org/los-angeles 

In this episode, LISC LA Assistant Program Officer Jessica Wackenhut, interviews Katherine Aguilar, an alum of the LISC AmeriCorps Program and now a Project Manager at LA Family Housing (LAFH).  

Katherine Aguilar is responsible for LAFH's development activities for selected housing and community development projects. She manages all phases of development, all aspects of financing and the construction process. Katherine is currently managing two new projects;  South Los Angeles and the Valley. 

In this episode, you will learn:

1. How Katherine got into the Community Development industry

2. Her journey to the role of Project Manager at LA Family Housing (LAFH).  

3. The role that LISC AmeriCorps Program played. 

Inspired by Katherine's story? Interested in a career in community developoment or becoming an AmeriCorps member host? Join our e-mail list over at www.lisc.org/los-angeles so you can be notified of upcoming opportunities.