In downtown Richmond, the historic former First National Bank building at 530 Macdonald Avenue has sat vacant for years—an empty storefront that generations of neighbors have watched as they pass by on their way somewhere else. Where some may see an empty property, I see an opportunity to create something Richmond needs: a creative community space that brings people, art, business, and activity back to Macdonald Avenue. My name is Jayson Johnson, and I’m a Richmond-based filmmaker and founder of Strike Five Films.

The Getty Conservation Institute and the Los Angeles City Planning’s Office of Historic Resources are leading a new phase of the African American Historic Places, Los Angeles (AAHPLA) project, the African American History of Los Angeles Historic Context Statement update. The update seeks to incorporate broader community voices through meaningful community engagement and intentional listening, so that the 2018 document can be expanded and deepened to reflect the rich history and heritage of Black Los Angeles.