MHD Off the Record

On this episode of MHD Off the Record, Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson sits down with Adrianne Shropshire, founder and Executive Director of BlackPAC and the Black Progressive Action Coalition (BPAC). A Los Angeles-based political strategist and community organizer, Adrianne has spent her career building lasting civic engagement and strengthening Black political power.With the midterm election approaching, they discuss the fight over voting rights, BlackPAC’s voter outreach, and the Senate races and state contests that could shape the country’s political future. Adrianne also reflects on coalition-building in Los Angeles, generational tensions in Black political leadership, and the role of young people in the movement.Adrianne shares her path from interning in Mark Ridley-Thomas’s City Council office during the 1992 uprising to co-founding BlackPAC in 2016.In this episode:The midterm election landscape, voting rights, and redistrictingBlackPAC’s canvassing and issue-based messagingSenate races featuring Black, Native, and Latino candidatesThe effects of fractured coalitions in Los AngelesThe history of the progressive agenda and Jesse Jackson’s 1988 platformGenerational tensions in Black political leadershipBuilding political homes for young peopleBlack voter participation and media narrativesAdrianne’s journey from USC and City Hall to community organizingVoter suppression and California’s Proposition 39Community AnnouncementsMake Your Plan to VoteElection Day is Tuesday, November 3. Vote by mail or in person at an LA County Vote Center.Vote Centers are open now. Eligible voters who missed the October 19 registration deadline can still register and vote in person through Election Day.On November 3, Vote Centers are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.Find Vote Centers and ballot drop boxes, or learn about voting options, at LAVOTE.GOV.Halloween Events in CD8 ParksFree, family-friendly Halloween events are happening at recreation centers across the district.October 22 and 23: Haunted House at Algin Sutton Recreation Center, 5–9 p.m.October 29 and 30: Haunted Park at Harvard Park, 4–8 p.m., with a haunted maze, pumpkin decorating, and trunk-or-treating.October 30: Spooktacular Halloween Festival at Martin Luther King Recreation Center, noon–4 p.m.October 30: Haunted Halloween celebration at Loren Miller Recreation Center, 4–8 p.m.October 31: Fall Festival at Van Ness Recreation Center, 11 a.m.–3 p.m.

In this episode of MHD Off the Record: South LA Highlights, we sit down with Nicole “Neekko” Lindsay, founder and CEO of Education Is Key, a Los Angeles nonprofit that helps underserved students pursue their educational goals through scholarships, mentorship, and community programming.Neekko shares how her experience as a first-generation college student inspired her to create Education Is Key, and how the organization grew from a community fundraiser into a resource for students pursuing many different paths after high school.We talk about the pink key that became a symbol of the organization, the students and families the nonprofit supports, and why success can look different for every student—from attending a university or trade school to earning a certification or finding a job.In this episode:How Neekko’s first-generation college experience inspired Education Is KeyThe story behind the organization’s pink keyWhy Education Is Key supports students pursuing college, trade school, vocational programs, and certificationsHow scholarships help cover costs beyond tuitionThe importance of welcoming students with different backgrounds and life experiencesEducation Is Key’s mentorship, financial literacy, and personal development programsHow the organization grew through community supportHow to support Education Is Key through donations, merchandise, and partnershipsResourcesDonate or learn more at eduiskey.orgFollow @education_is_key on InstagramEmail [email protected] about partnerships, scholarships, and volunteer opportunitiesMerchandise proceeds go directly to scholarships and programmingCommunity AnnouncementsBike to the PollsWatts Learning Center, 310 W. 95th StreetSunday, October 25, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.Free food, a resource fair, community altar, voting booth, and harvest festivalBring your bike, ballot, and Halloween costumeHosted by the Broadway SOAR Street Safety and Beautification ProjectLA Recreation & Parks Licensed Preschool ProgramFree or low-cost care for eligible families at Iris E. Massey, Jim Gilliam, and Ralph M. Parsons Child Care CentersEarly childhood education, STEAM activities, and meals includedLearn more or enroll at recreation.parks.lacity.gov/childcare

On this episode of MHD Off the Record: South LA Highlights, we sit down with Traci Bivens-Davis, Interim Executive Director of the Los Angeles African American Women’s Public Policy Institute (LAAAWPPI), an organization dedicated to preparing women for meaningful leadership and engagement in government, public policy, campaigns, community organizations, and public affairs.We talk with Traci about the history of the Institute, its evolution from the Los Angeles African American Women’s Political Action Committee, and the vision behind creating a leadership pipeline specifically designed to help Black women navigate and influence public policy.We reflect on the life and legacy of LAAAWPPI’s longtime leader Joy Atkinson, whose mentorship, political knowledge, relationships, and commitment to developing women helped shape generations of leaders throughout Los Angeles.Following Joy’s passing, Traci helped guide LAAAWPPI through a significant period of transition while carrying the 2026 cohort through its training and graduation. In addition to her leadership at LAAAWPPI, Traci brings more than 30 years of experience in health equity, advocacy, workforce development, training, and organizational leadership.In this episode:How and why LAAAWPPI was createdThe importance of developing a pipeline of Black women in public policy and civic leadershipJoy Atkinson’s leadership, mentorship, and lasting legacyHow LAAAWPPI prepares women for campaigns, government, advocacy, organizing, and public appointmentsTraci’s experience leading the Institute through its 2026 transitionThe impact of LAAAWPPI’s network of more than 400 alumnaeWhat leadership and success look like beyond elected officeThe barriers Black women continue to face in politics and public leadershipLAAAWPPI’s next chapter and the future of its leadership pipelineLAAAWPPI Annual Recruitment ReceptionDulan’s on Crenshaw 4859 Crenshaw Blvd.Monday, September 28, 6-8 p.m.Learn more and apply at LAAAWPPI.netCommunity AnnouncementsI-110 Corridor Plan Public Workshop Round 2Nakaoka Community Center, Room A, 1670 W. 162nd Street, GardenaWednesday, September 23, 6-7 p.m.Register at publicinput/g01756 or learn more at engage.dot.ca.gov/D7_110CMCPProcure South LA: Next Level Business SummitMetro Hub, 8501 S. Evermont Place, Los AngelesThursday, September 24, 9 a.m.–4 p.m.Register at bit.ly/ProcureSouthLA

On this episode, Chavonne Taylor speaks with Hattie Mitchell, Founder of Crete Academy, a non-profit charter school in South Central Los Angeles, aimed at serving students experiencing homelessness. Crete provides gifted programming, special education, enrichment, and a rigorous academic model. The Crete Educational Model focuses on the immediate, basic needs of students and their long-term educational needs. Their goal is to provide resources and support services to every student so that they are successful. Hattie earned her BA in Elementary Education and Teaching from Cal State LA, her Master’s Degree in Public Policy at Pepperdine University, and her Doctor of Education in K-12 Leadership from USC.Resources:www.creteacademy.org

On this episode of MHD Off the Record, Los Angeles City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson sits down with Abigail Marquez, General Manager of the Community Investment for Families Department (CIFD), and Michael Tubbs, Founder of Mayors for a Guaranteed Income (MGI) and Special Advisor to Governor Gavin Newsom. Together, they dive into the realities of Guaranteed Basic Income (GBI)—a policy designed to provide no-strings-attached cash payments to individuals and families in need.With millions struggling to make ends meet, we ask: Does GBI empower people to escape poverty, or does it foster dependency? Our guests share insights from pilot programs in Los Angeles and Stockton, breaking down the data, misconceptions, and long-term impact of direct cash assistance.Abigail R. Marquez serves as the General Manager of the City of Los Angeles’ Community Investment for Families Department (CIFD), a position she has held since 2021. With nearly 21 years of experience advancing anti-poverty initiatives in Los Angeles, Marquez plays a key role in overseeing programs designed to disrupt generational poverty and support low-income residents. She is responsible for administering the City’s Consolidated Plan, which allocates around $120 million in federal funds annually to support various capital projects and social services. This includes managing 20 FamilySource Centers and services for domestic violence and human trafficking survivors. Under her leadership, CIFD has implemented notable initiatives, including the Guaranteed Basic Income pilot program (BIG), the largest of its kind in the nation, and the Opportunity LA Children’s Savings Account program, which helps thousands of first-graders build financial security. Prior to this role, she was the Assistant General Manager at the Los Angeles Housing and Community Investment Department (HCIDLA), where she led efforts in community services and development​.Michael Tubbs is the Founder of the Non-profit organization, End Poverty in California (EPIC), the Founder of Mayors for a Guaranteed Income (MGI), and the Special Advisor to California Governor Gavin Newsom for Economic Mobility and Opportunity. In 2016, he was elected Mayor of Stockton at 26-years-old. He was the city’s first African-American Mayor, and the youngest Mayor of any major city in American history. As Mayor, Tubbs was lauded for his leadership and innovation. He raised over $20 million dollars to create the Stockton Scholars, a universal scholarship and mentorship program for Stockton students. Additionally, he piloted the first mayor-led guaranteed income pilot in the country. His book, The Deeper the Roots: A Memoir of Hope and Home, where he details the experiences of his life is available now wherever books are sold.Community AnnouncementsTHIS IS A RE-AIR, so information in the announcements is not up to date.__________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!Sign up for MHD Off the Record Newsletter at beacons.ai/mhdcd8