MHD Off the Record

In this episode, Jeff Chang joins Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson to discuss the cultural significance of hip-hop as a language of place, its role in expressing community truths, and how each generation redefines its voice through music, graffiti, and dance.
Jeff Chang is an author, journalist, cultural critic, and organizer whose work helped define hip-hop as a political, social, and cultural force. He is the author of Can't Stop Won't Stop: A History of the Hip-Hop Generation, a foundational book on how hip-hop emerged from youth culture, organizing, migration, race, and urban crisis. He also wrote Who We Be: A Cultural History of Race in Post-Civil Rights America and We Gon' Be Alright: Notes on Race and Resegregation. His newest work, Water Mirror Echo: Bruce Lee and the Making of Asian America, looks at how a cultural icon can become a symbol of identity, resistance, and possibility. Chang's work treats culture as a place where communities explain themselves before institutions are ready to listen. That’s why he is perfect for this conversation about hip-hop, social messaging, Nipsey Hussle's legacy, and what the city's cultural future says about its political future.
Key Topics
Hip-hop as a cultural language
Representation of community truths in music
Generational evolution of hip-hop
Hip-hop's role in urban identity
Jeff Chang's perspective on hip-hop and culture

Resources:
www.jeffchang.net

Community Announcements
Visit bit.ly/CD8Summer for Summer Events in CD8

On this episode, MHD talks about the fascinating and rich history of the great City of Los Angeles with Evan Lovett.
Evan Lovett is the dynamic creator of social media mainstay "L.A. in a Minute" and host of its engaging podcast, In a Minute with Evan Lovett. He emerges from the community of North Hills, fueled by a profound love for Los Angeles. A UCLA journalism graduate, he has worked for the L.A. Times, NBC, and later began working in the AdTech space. Launched in 2022, the series delves into L.A.'s rich history and culture, earning features on KCRW, KIIS-FM, Access Hollywood, KTLA, and more. Lovett's work is a blend of personal storytelling and educational content, aimed at highlighting LA's diverse heritage and intriguing history.
Resources:
www.instagram.com/lainaminute
www.tiktok.com/@evanlovett

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 Bsl-assessment@lacity.org