LASA welcomed the 2018-2019 class with a four-day intensive in August. Throughout the year, we will post student reflections and reports on our journey together. On Wednesday morning, we introduced ourselves, mapped LA, and caused an earthquake. Robert de Groot, from USGS, revealed a deep history of Southern California and shared his day-to-day work – explaining the magnitude of earthquakes …
On May 19, LASA 2017-2018 celebrated its final day together with a trip to LACMA. Abigail Duckor, an Objects Conservator with LACMA, welcomed us and introduced us to her world of art at the intersection of chemistry. We toured the Conservation Lab and asked questions about materials, procedures, and pieces of art we saw tucked into boxes and behind cabinet …
We started the day with Geraldine Knatz. Geraldine is the port expert – having started as a student working in marine biology and working her way to serve as the Executive Director. She is now a professor at USC but spent the morning sharing ghost stories of Warehouse No. 1 and the plans for the original pier and cargo buildings. From the water’s edge, …
LASA voted to attend March for Our Lives L.A. in Downtown L.A. on March 24, 2018. The march was followed by our speaker, Dr. Cynthia Willard, Medical Director of Program for Torture Victims and consultant for the USC International Human Rights Clinic. Thank you to our friends at LA Plaza for hosting us. Here are a few of the photos from that …
LASA gathered at the Huntington to bus to our shift at the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. The Food Bank partners with local organizations to serve 300,000 people a month. The massive warehouse and community of volunteers are a testament to Angelenos’ commitment to civic engagement. We learned that Los Angeles is the hunger capital of the country – and all of …
LASA kicked off 2018 in downtown Los Angeles at the public library. Hovering at the half-way point in our LASA year, we spent time thinking about the questions LASA students have answers for and those that remain. The list is impressive: How might be address lack of cohesion of LA neighborhoods – what causes the sectionalism/gentrification? What are LA’s plans …
In November, LASA considered the subterranean stories under Los Angeles. Seeking answers to questions about the details of these stories and the significance of “under Los Angeles” to their present lives, students met on the USC campus and jumped on the bus to the La Brea Tar Pits. Greeted by Stephany Potze and Laura Tewksbury, LASA walked to the amphitheater …
On October 21, LASA considered justice and injustice in Los Angeles. We started at LAPD’s Hollenbeck Station where we received a tour and the generosity of the officers’ time. Cesar noted that the visit allowed him “to experience what a normal day looks like for the police officers” and also gain “some insight on [the] views and objectives” of the …
LASA ventured into the worlds of technology and pine forests in September to consider the history and future of high tech Los Angeles. Departing from the Huntington, LASA traveled up to Mt. Wilson Observatory. As the bus weaved its way up the mountain and the temperature dropped, we considered how close the Observatory is and yet how many of …
Wednesday, August 9 LASA welcomed its 2017-2018 class on Wednesday. This first day LASA considered the underlying natural environment of Los Angeles, starting a discussion on water and thinking about the plates underneath us. LASA worked together in teams to map LA in creative and innovative ways. Check out some of the maps we created. After introductions and mapping, the General …