In this episode, MHD talks with A New Way of Life founder, Susan Burton, about her journey to criminal justice activism and the ways we can support those who are coming home after being incarcerated.

Susan Burton, an esteemed advocate for criminal justice reform and the founder of A New Way of Life, who has dedicated her life to supporting formerly incarcerated women by providing housing, legal services, and a path to personal empowerment. Having personally navigated the challenges of re-entry after nearly two decades in and out of the criminal justice system, Susan's journey began with her own struggle for recovery following the devastating loss of her young son. Her experiences fueled a commitment to change, leading to the establishment of A New Way of Life in 1998, a beacon of hope and transformation for countless women.

Resources:

www.beingsusanburton.com

www.anewwayoflife.org

Spotify Playlist:

playlist.sptfy.com/SusanBurton

Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell serves on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, representing the Second District, which includes more than two million residents across South Los Angeles, the South Bay, Koreatown, and surrounding communities. A third-generation Angeleno and longtime public servant, Supervisor Mitchell has built her career around equity, expanding the social safety net, and investing in families, children, small businesses, and communities that have historically been underserved. Before joining the Board of Supervisors in 2020, she served in the California State Assembly and State Senate, where she authored more than 100 laws and became known as a strong voice on budget equity, child welfare, economic justice, and racial justice. Her work reflects a deep understanding of Los Angeles County’s role in meeting people’s basic needs while creating pathways for residents to thrive.

Resources:

mitchell.lacounty.gov

Community Announcements

South LA Job Fair

• Crenshaw High School
• Thursday, June 25th, 10 a.m., featuring free food, free Live Scans, a Kids Zone, and live entertainment.
• All are welcome, and justice-impacted community members are encouraged to attend.
• Register at southlajobfair.eventbrite.com.

Juneteenth Events

6th Annual Juneteenth Celebration & Resource Fair

• George Washington Carver Park 1400 E. 118th St, Los Angeles, CA 90059
• Saturday, June 13th 12 to 4 p.m.
• Free and open to all, with on-site County services, community resources, family activities, live performances, food trucks, health and wellness resources, tenant and landlord resources, record expungement support, pool time and lessons, live art, and more.
• Register at mitchell.lacounty.gov/Juneteenth-2026.

Juneteenth Calling All

• Sister Dreamer Sculpture Park 1810 W. 76th St.
• Friday, June 19th 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., featuring dancers, marching bands, drill teams, roller skaters, double dutch crews, and more.
• Help set the record for the world’s longest Soul Train line.
• 3 p.m. Soul Train line starts.
• 7 p.m. “7 Stories of the Soul” film screening.

Los Angeles has 223,000 streetlights, and the assessments that fund their upkeep haven't been updated since 1996. In this episode, we sit down with two leaders from the Bureau of Street Lighting to break down the ballot landing in property owners' mailboxes right now and what's at stake for neighborhoods like ours if it doesn't pass. The deadline is June 2nd. Listen up and pass it on.

Guests:

Ansar Mustafa is a lifelong Angeleno who has spent 20 years improving the city he calls home. As a licensed Civil Engineer and ENVISION Sustainability Professional, he currently leads the Community Impact Division for the Bureau of Street Lighting — overseeing everything from decorative neighborhood lighting and community banners to major council-funded infrastructure initiatives. Before joining BSL, Ansar managed complex, multi-million-dollar infrastructure projects at the Bureau of Engineering

Rodney Fulton is a seasoned infrastructure professional with nearly three decades of hands-on experience in fiber optics, field leadership, and street lighting systems. He got his start in 1997 with PacBell and rose through the ranks to play a key role in the E-Rate initiative, helping bring fiber connectivity into classrooms across Los Angeles. A proud member of Local 11 for over 24 years, Rodney joined BSL in 2024, where he continues to lead complex fiber projects and mentor the next generation of skilled tradespeople.

Resources

lalights.lacity.org/residents/prop_218.html

For questions or concerns, contact [email protected]

bridgette bianca and GusTavo Guerra Vasquez are co-founders of South Central Spits Fire!, a program created to uplift the cultural and artistic wealth and diversity of literary talent in South Central Los Angeles.

bridgette bianca is a poet and professor from South Central whose work centers the Black experience, storytelling, and cultural memory. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in English from Howard University and an MFA in Writing from Otis College of Art & Design, and is the author of be/trouble, a nationally recognized poetry collection that has been featured on major reading lists and literary platforms. She has performed at venues including the LA Times Festival of Books and The World Stage, and continues to lead workshops and community-centered literary programming across the City.

GusTavo Adolfo Guerra Vásquez is a poet, professor, peacemaker and curator from South Central whose work spans across the United States and beyond. A co-founder of multiple poetry and art collectives, he has organized and collaborated with artists throughout the Americas, including curating the #PoeticPandemic spoken word series during quarantine. His work has been featured in exhibitions and publications, and he continues to use poetry and cultural programming to connect communities and elevate stories rooted in the community. His poetry chapbook “GuatemaLAngelino” has received accolades from educators and mental health professionals.

Resources

www.instagram.com/southcentralspitsfire

The 1992 Los Angeles Civil Unrest, sparked by the acquittal of officers in the brutal beating of Rodney King, exposed deep cracks in the systems meant to protect and serve. More than thirty years later, what actions can we take to create real public safety practices that center justice, equity, and community care?

Joining Los Angeles City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson to explore these questions is John Kim, President and CEO of Catalyst California (formerly Advancement Project California). John shares his personal reflections on the uprising and how it continues to shape his work today. He also discusses how Catalyst California is helping to advance a new vision of safety—one that moves away from traditional policing and invests in community-centered solutions like Alternative Traffic Enforcement.

Sign up for our newsletter at beacons.ai/mhdcd8

Resources

John Kim is the President and CEO of Catalyst California (formerly Advancement Project California), a leading racial justice organization that champions systemic change to achieve equity and expand opportunity across the state. Throughout his career, John has been a strong advocate for community-driven solutions that address structural barriers in public education, voting rights, public finance, and public safety. Under his leadership, Catalyst California has been at the forefront of efforts to reimagine justice and safety by investing in alternatives to policing and advancing policies that center the needs and voices of historically marginalized communities. His work reflects a lifelong commitment to building a more just and inclusive California.

Website: www.catalystcalifornia.org

Instagram: @catalystca

Learn more about Alternative Traffic Enforcement programs and community-based safety models at:

www.catalystcalifornia.org/initiatives/reimagine-justice-safety

Community Announcements

Crenshaw Farmers' Market

• Open every Saturday from 10 AM to 3 PM
• Located at 5730 Crenshaw Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90043 (Historic Fire Station 54 parking lot)
• Accepts CalFresh EBT cards and WIC checks. Offers Market Match, which doubles CalFresh benefits up to $20 per day.
• For more information, visit foodaccessla.org/crenshaw-farmers-market or follow on Instagram: @crenshawfm

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Want to learn more about Los Angeles City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson and LA's Council District 8? Follow @mhdcd8 on Instagram and sign up for the newsletter at mhdcd8.org!

On this episode, LA City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson talks about education, family, and community with Inglewood's own D Smoke.

Daniel “D Smoke” Farris is an acclaimed American rapper, singer, and songwriter who rose to fame after winning Netflix's "Rhythm + Flow" in 2019. Known for his seamless blend of rap, R&B, jazz, and gospel, and for incorporating both English and Spanish in his lyrics, D Smoke's music often tackles themes of social justice, community, and identity. His debut album, "Black Habits," released in 2020, was critically praised and earned him a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Album. With a background as a music educator and a family deeply rooted in music, D Smoke's work is characterized by its lyrical depth, musicality, and a mission to inspire and educate.

Resources:

www.dsmokemusic.com

www.instagram.com/dsmoke7

Episode Playlist:

https://playlist.sptfy.com/mhdotr25

Community Announcements:

Line Dancing Class

• Fridays 10:00am - 11:30am
• Constituent Services Center, 8475 S. Vermont Ave, 90044
• www.instagram.com/p/C3vHUk7OTSh/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Jamiah Hargins is the founder and president of Crop Swap LA, a Los Angeles urban farming nonprofit rooted in Leimert Park and dedicated to making fresh, locally grown food accessible to South LA communities. Founded in 2018 as a simple neighborhood produce swap, Crop Swap LA has grown into a globally recognized movement operating multiple microfarms across the city, feeding dozens of families weekly with organically grown produce using rainwater capture and solar energy. Jamiah has been honored by Adidas as part of their Honoring Black Excellence initiative with a commissioned mural unveiled on Degnan Blvd in Leimert Park, named a 2022 LISC Michael Rubinger Community Fellow, and recognized as a Climate Hero by One Earth.

Resources

Website: www.cropswapla.org

Phone: (213) 878-2752

Community Announcements

LADWP Landscape Efficiency Assistance Program: www.ladwp.com/LEAP

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 regarding 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

Episode Spotify Playlist

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

Episode Spotify Playlist

On this episode, LA City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson sits down with three trailblazing leaders featured in the current City Hall exhibition, "When Black Women Lead, Communities Thrive, Everybody Wins". In honor of African-American Heritage Month, the group discusses the pivotal, often unrecognized role Black women play in shaping Los Angeles through housing, health equity, and community advocacy.

The conversation explores the "underground railroad" of support that exists among women leaders, the challenges of balancing direct service with upstream policy change, and the personal sacrifices required to lead community institutions.

1. Jacquelyn Dupont-Walker, Founding President of Ward Economic Development Corporation (WEDC), who has led the development of more than 400 units of affordable housing and serves on the LA County Metro Board.
2. Bernita R. Walker, CEO and Co-founder of Project: PeaceMakers, Inc., a survivor, longtime advocate, and retired Deputy Sheriff whose work in domestic violence prevention spans more than four decades.
3. Brandy Muñiz, Executive Director of All Peoples Community Center, an 84-year-old institution where she leads housing initiatives and community-centered programs addressing poverty and systemic inequities in Historic South Central.

Community Announcements

When Black Women Lead: Communities Thrive, Everybody Wins Exhibition

1. 3rd Floor Bridge Gallery, Los Angeles City Hall, 200 N. Spring St., Los Angeles, CA 90012
2. February 2–26, 2026 | Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (Closed weekends)
3. Free and open to the public (visitor badge required after security screening)

Tamekia Strayhorn is the Founder Executive Director of Here to Help Foundation, a South Los Angeles–based community development corporation focused on housing stability, economic opportunity, and support services for individuals and families navigating housing insecurity. Under her leadership, the organization has expanded its reach by centering dignity, access, and long-term stability for residents often overlooked by traditional systems.

Resources:

Website: www.heretohelpcdc.org

Address: 7409 Crenshaw Blvd

Phone: (323)305-6631

Community Announcements

When Black Women Lead: Communities Thrive, Everybody Wins Exhibition

• 3rd Floor Bridge Gallery, Los Angeles City Hall, 200 N. Spring St., Los Angeles, CA 90012
• February 2–26, 2026 | Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (Closed weekends)
• Free and open to the public (visitor badge required after security screening)