Did this year move more quickly? Congratulations, LASA Class of 2026! We have enjoyed spending this year together. This month, we gathered at The Huntington to celebrate the class, consider next steps students move towards senior year, and meet an alum from LASA’s first class.
LASA partnered with LA2026 for a visit to Mission San Gabriel to consider history, memory, and the interplay amongst Indigenous and colonial powers over time. Historian Steve Hackel met us at the mission to walk through the renovations and reimagined exhibition. In addition to a new wall of names of local Native peoples, LASA listened to recorded versions of the testimony of Toypurina – who has been “arrested and jailed during an attempted 1785 Native rebellion at the mission.”
LASA is honored to have picked 779 pounds of oranges from The Huntington grove for the Hollywood Food Coalition this month.
LASA gathered at El Pueblo to take in the sounds of the city and LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes’ “A Great Day in East L.A.: Celebrando the Eastside Sound.”
LASA gathered at The Huntington to begin the new year by considering purpose and public health with guests Mike the Poet, Dr. Cynthia Willard, and historian Amber Santoro.
LASA braved the pouring rain to visit the Port of Los Angeles in November to learn more about the state of the port as well as global marine exploration and trade.
LASA gathered in October to consider LA’s preparations for hosting FIFA World Cup and the Olympics. We started with a tour of the Coliseum, host to the 1932 and 1984 Olympic games. From the view of the beautiful LA skyline to the details about the specific blend of grasses for the pitch, LASA was reminded of how much our built environment operates in conversation with nature.
September brought LASA together to consider food insecurity in LA and Angelenos responses. We worked at shift at the LA Food Bank, sorting (huge) potatoes and onions. Collectively with the other volunteers, we helped 58,000 pounds of vegetables reached people across the county
Welcome to LASA, Class of 2025-2026! We gathered in August to meet each other, brainstorm our purpose, and learn about water infrastructure. Thanks to everyone who helped make our three summer days together meaningful, including Ross Wehner of World Leadership School, Stacie Takeguchi of Pasadena Water and Power, and the teams at Metropolitan Water District’s Weymouth facility and LA River Expeditions.
