April 29, 2021
LAWT News Service
The Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County (NHMLAC) today announced that Shana Mathur, a recognized leader in the management of non-profit cultural institutions, has been named to the newly created position of Chief Strategy and External Relations Officer. She will report directly to President and Director Dr. Lori Bettison-Varga and will be responsible for crafting the vision and executing the strategy for the NHMLAC brand and experience that attracts new fans, members, donors, and participants in life-long engagement; driving brand awareness and community engagement to increase the sphere of influence and market share for the museum in Los Angeles and beyond; and providing effective executive direction and management to the marketing strategy, communications, creative, enterprise and guest experience functions of NHMLAC, all while bringing a focus on inclusion, diversity, equity, and access to all aspects of her work. Mathur will join the Museums in July 2021.
NHMLAC is the organization that oversees the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County (NHM) in Exposition Park, La Brea Tar Pits in Hancock Park, and the William S. Hart Museum in Newhall. Mathur will join an executive team that includes Dr. Bettison-Varga, as well as the Chief Deputy Director, Senior Vice President of Education, Exhibitions and Community Engagement, Senior Vice President of Research and Collections, Chief Advancement Officer, Chief Talent Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and a newly appointed acting Chief Digital Officer.
“Shana Mathur’s deep experience in drawing the public toward leading cultural organizations and engaging Southern California’s diverse audiences will help NHMLAC heighten our service to our communities and enhance our ability to share our research and collections far and wide,” said Dr. Bettison-Varga. “We are excited to have her join our team and look forward to her energetic, expert support in fulfilling our mission to the public and the field.”
Mathur was Chief Marketing Officer at the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association from 2008-2018, where she oversaw marketing, sales, and customer experience at Walt Disney Concert Hall and the Hollywood Bowl. She produced record-breaking sales and audience growth through innovative campaigns, from the introduction of Music & Artistic Director Gustavo Dudamel to the LA Phil’s Centennial. She built award-winning digital and audience engagement initiatives for the LA Phil and rebranded the organization to facilitate its evolution as a more inclusive partner to the communities of Los Angeles.
After leaving the LA Phil, Mathur was an independent consultant from 2018 to 2020, providing strategic planning, branding, marketing, communications, and operations counsel to cultural non-profits including the San Francisco Symphony, Oregon Symphony, San Diego Symphony (for its new waterfront venue The Shell), filmmaker Ava DuVernay’s non-profit ARRAY Alliance, and others.
She is currently serving as Chief External Affairs Officer for The Broad Stage, a performing arts producer and presenter affiliated with Santa Monica College. In her role she leads development, marketing, and communications activity and is the organization’s steward for equity, diversity and inclusion initiatives. She will leave her post on June 1, 2021.
“The Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County embody the urgency of this time for the natural world, the cultural world, and our society as a whole,” said Mathur. “NHMLAC has an opportunity to evolve and expand its relationships with the communities it serves, to innovate programmatic and engagement models, and assert its role in creating a just and equitable future. I am thrilled and honored to join Dr. Lori Bettison-Varga and her stellar team at NHMLAC to help shape its impact and relevance for years to come, and by further defining the ways in which we will recognize, embrace, and create a safe space for our audiences to learn, contribute, and belong.”
Mathur’s commitment to cultural advocacy is amplified through her role as a Board member of Arts for LA, an organization that generates public will to support the arts. She is an adjunct faculty member at Claremont Graduate University, where she teaches a course in Marketing and Strategic Communications for the Arts. Mathur holds a B.A. in Anthropology from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and an M.B.A. from Baruch College’s Zicklin School of Business at the City University of New York.
April 29, 2021
By LAWT News Service
P3 Innovation Center Inc. and the Cape Town Space Society announced the launch of the first two labs in an international network of laboratories that will be focused on integrated applications of lasers, electronics and optical technology. In addition to applied research, product development and technology test & certification services, the LEO Labs will offer paid apprenticeships to community college and university students as well as a variety of workforce training and youth outreach programs in STEAM: Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics.
The new LEO Labs in Irvine and Cape Town will be officially named the Hildreth “Hal” Walker Jr. Lasers, Electronics & Optics Labs. The LEO Labs in Irvine will be located at the P3 Innovation Center for People, Planet & Prosperity, a nonprofit organization dedicated to achieving the United Nations’ Social Justice and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Brian Hagerty, founder and co-executive director of the P3 Innovation Center will serve as lead program director for the LEO Labs. Mr. Hagerty met the Walkers in 2011 and began a now decade-long science, engineering and education collaboration that has led to the launch of the Hildreth Hal Walker Jr. LEO Labs.
Hildreth “Hal” Walker Jr., president of the Cape Town Space Society, is a true pioneer of lasers, electronics and optical technology. After serving in the U.S. Navy as an electrician’s mate aboard the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Rendova where he became an expert in power electronics, Hal Walker was hired in the 1960s by Ted Maiman, the inventor of the laser and founder of KORAD Lasers in Santa Monica, California.
While at KORAD, Walker served as the firm’s field operations manager in 1969 during the Apollo 11 mission’s Lunar Laser-Ranging Experiment (LURE), becoming the first man to successfully fire a high-powered ruby laser at retro- reflector mirrors placed on the lunar surface by Neil Armstrong; thus, using lasers to accurately measure the distance between the Earth and Moon. Walker served as a NASA /Jet Propulsion Laboratory Solar System Ambassador for 20 years.
In 1991, Prof. Hal Walker and his wife Dr. Bettye Walker launched an after-school education organization known as A-MAN Inc., offering STEM programs to under-served populations in the Los Angeles area. Then, in 1997, the Walkers organized a journey to Cape Town along with some of their program’s students, ages 8-13, where the group met with South Africa’s president Nelson Mandela. Mandela was so impressed with the students that he asked the Walkers to bring their A-MAN programs to South Africa. In addition to their long-standing International STEM Discovery programs, the Walkers co- founded the Cape Town Space Society in February 2019 with the mission of working to create a spacefaring civilization.
“Especially at this time,” Professor Walker said, “with the global challenges of climate change, public health, job creation and social justice, the mission of the LEO Labs aligns with the missions of A-MAN Inc. and the Cape Town Space Society, providing a tremendous opportunity for economic and workforce development as well as for inspiring new generations to imagine, to innovate and to serve.”
April 22, 2021
By Betti Halsell
Contributing Writer
Working as the foundation for many Black-owned businesses is the co-working facility La Create Sp_ce. Located in Inglewood, California, sits a two-story building with 2,600 square feet of innovation and productivity. Owners, Marisa and Terrell Johnson, break down the values of La Create Sp_ce and the significance of creating a supportive environment for people of color and their businesses.
“One of the main things that we do is provide businesses and entrepreneurs a place to work - a place to create and get access to various types of resources that are centered around digital tooling and giving small businesses space,” Co-founder Terrell Johnson as he explained the bones of the operation.
He elaborated on the La Create Sp_ce headquarters, and that the company looks to bring attention to the firms that are being developed locally in South Los Angeles.
As a membership-based service located in Downtown Inglewood, California, business owners from every background commune and breathe in like-minded productive energy. La Create Sp_ce is framed around shared workspaces, conference rooms, varied production studios, and additional resources to nourish the growth of various businesses.
La Create Sp_ce houses designers, copywriters, and production specialists; according to a review on Black Enterprise, the co-working lab looks to “build a place where small business owners, artists, techies, social media influencers, and content creators could come together, grow ideas and bring projects to life.”
The synergy that fills this building produces motivation to construct and fortify confidence in one’s business. The mission of La Create Sp_ce is “to provide a productive and inspiring environment where innovation, creativity, and originality bring together community.” According to Terrell and Marisa, at create Sp_ce its “all about meeting, creating, and taking advantage of any and all new opportunities.” Being in the prime area for entertainment media, La Create Sp_ce specializes in video production, podcast services, and event coordination. They have curated an environment that is especially geared for shooting social media content, interviewing, commercials, and full broadcast production.
Brands looking to hold a conversation with a professional finish are able to take advantage of the La Create Sp_ce podcasting service; it harnesses a professional tone and provides excellent quality over recorded dialogue.
Some of the interpersonal services available at La Create Sp_ce include management and consulting for businesses that have recently sprouted up or working at the incubated level. La Create Sp_ce is more than walls and desks, they look to be a part of business success stories by providing the knowledge and a customized pathway to reach the next level.
The La Create Sp_ce has an area for event production; they can house virtual performances, webinars, panels, livestreams, and broadcasting. The space embodies an atmosphere of inspiration,taking the vision of a business and providing the space, knowledge, and equipment to bring it to reality.
With the new challenge of COVID-19, La Create Sp_ce began to build businesses in the virtual world; with a digital network of entrepreneurs, creatives, and tech-driven specialists, La Create Sp_ce built a support system for their members and provided them with a symbol of resiliency that can be forged into future business models.
The Johnson Partner Group developed this central hub for successful businesses with the people in mind; the focus has always been locked into “building a community by bringing like-minded creatives and businesses together to exchange ideas and services.”
La Create Sp_ce tapped into a channel of resources that are of premium quality; they have joined the conversation with multi-million-dollar companies and funneled their knowledge back to the businesses that are coming out of Black and Brown communities in Inglewood and beyond.
Recently, the co-working-based company partnered with Square, a financial service and digital payment company and Shopify, an e-commerce company that works as a shopping platform for varied companies.
These partnerships have worked in benefit of the La Create members, delivering rich information on how to grow their business digitally and be formidable among their competition.
La Create Sp_ce Co-founder, Marisa dissected recent testimonials related to these relationships, “What I mostly see is people trying to get started, that’s where I feel there is a benefit in these introduction classes—like how do you just get started, how do you take the normal person that’s at home and want to start their business—they’re not exactly tech savvy— these introduction classes have been able to get people off that hump; we been really focused on the introduction level on how to just do it.”
Co-founder, Terrell expanded on the Shopify collaboration, “Shopify is one of the largest e-commerce platforms—if not the largest ecommerce platform in the world and they were able to come and provide training for us, teach people the fundamentals of what their product offers, how to create a store, and how to sell your products—how to market it …”
Generating wealth within the community calls for strong alliances and support, La Create Sp_ce works as a station to meet individuals that may hold a piece of advice or foster talent that propels local businesses to new heights. Their virtual directory showcases firms that are knitted into the Create Sp_ce community, looking to build each other up and bring prosperity to everyone involved.
The Johnsons are individually vetted in the field of business. Marisa studied business marketing at San Jose University. As a Silicon Valley native, she found herself calling in “unique branding and innovation” resources within the entertainment and tech industry.
Marisa uses her knowledge and experience to bring out the confidence in her clients, forging a realistic pathway for their vision to take on a life of its own. She has cultivated her experience from working with companies like Apple, Beats by Dre, and BET.
Terell is from South Los Angeles and held a video infrastructure and collaboration engineer position at Facebook. He is also San Jose State alum, specializing in technology. He built his skills while working as a technical director in the live entertainment industry.
His career led him to opportunities to work for Snapchat, Cisco Systems, and Applied Materials.
In unity, Marisa and Terrell developed a multi-dimensional conglomerate where La Create Sp_ce sits under the Johnson Partners Group umbrella.
Reflecting on what this environment means to the community, Marisa said, “Connecting with people has been the most important part for me, insuring that Black and Brown businesses have a fair chance in staying in Inglewood and however we can do our part to help with that, I think that’s the most important part.”
To learn more, isitlacreatespace.com or find them on social media at @lacreatespace , @tbyrdyun, and @sheismarisaj.
April 15, 2021
By Betti Halsell
Contributing Writer
The robust flavors found in their soul food matches the warmth given from their staff. Post & Beam has created an ambiance that is authentic to the collective community. With a spacious floor plan and an environment filled with the enchantment of laughter and dining in a sultry garden patio, intimately tethered to the main room and bar, clinks of glasses and the buzz of conversation harmonizes with the jazz notes playing in the background.
Located in the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza in South Los Angeles, Post & Beam has been creating phenomenal memories for their guests for over eight years. Hosting private events, they customized the experience to fit every occasion. The atmosphere draws in the crowd, but everyone comes back for the addicting flavor of the food, representing a rich culture found in the Black community.
Known for their modern twist on west coast cuisine, Post & Beam curated a southern combination that synchronizes with the traditional comfort food of California. Some of the introductory plates include: warm Corn Bread with Whipped Honey Butter, Pacific Oysters, and Vegan Crab Cake. Their main dishes include one-of-a-kind plates like the Espresso Rubbed Hangar Steak accompanied with Celery Root Puree, and Red Pepper Romesco.
Chef John and Roni Cleveland reopened the Post & Beam doors on Sunday, April 4, with new chef, Martin Draluck, from Hatchet Hall, creating an innovative pallet of taste for their manicured plates. Through the heavier months of the COVID-19 pandemic, Post & Beam operated through delivery in the last four months, with their main focus on the wood-fired pizzas.
Now open for in-house dining, they return to the variety of their curated menu. When one bites into a Post & Beam creation, it reflects family-owned products, local farms and distributors, and its freshly made cuisine by Chef Draluck. As a Los Angeles native, Draluck has joined the Post & Beam family after cooking at Hatchet Hall for roughly six years. He shares the love for woodfired cuisine and southern tradition, a torch carried by Chef Cleveland.
"We are ecstatic to have Chef Draluck join our culinary team,” says Executive Chef John Cleveland. “Our mutual admiration for wood-fired cuisine and Southern traditions brought us together, and his strong command of comfort food and casual fine dining is a perfect match for Post & Beam. I am happy that we continue to grow as a foundation for young talented chefs in our community," said the Post & Beam executive chef.
With the return to the unmistakable soulful ambiance comes the resurgence of house favorites like the Shrimp & Grits, Beef Short Ribs, and the newest addition of Oyster selection. The menu continues to be updated, matching the produce that is seasonal and the plates are created with the guest in mind.
The outdoor seating is surrounded by greenery and fresh open air, while inside,one can enjoy intimate conversation while being surrounded by the mid-century interior design of the restaurant.
The seeds of the restaurant that still stand today were planted on New Years Eve of 2011, with Brad Johnson and Govind Armstrong. In July of 2019, the keys to the best tasting food in Baldwin Hills were given to Chef Cleveland.
The goal left by Johnson, was to keep the soul of South L.A. alive in the atmosphere and the food of this restaurant, which fans of the restaurant feel Cleveland has captured. “It was important to have someone who has the heart and soul of the community,” Johnson told the L.A. times back in 2019, “My fear was that there would be somebody of means who would come in, someone not from the community. What a loss that would be.”
Cleveland and his wife were regulars at Post & Beam before the transition of ownership, enchanted by the love of what it stood for way before they entered the kitchen as owners.
Chef Cleveland knows every aspect of the business, through his culinary career he has served, bussed tables, hosted, and made drinks behind a bar in college.
The restaurant continues to harvest the feeling of being in an oasis, situated on the far end of the renovated mall and adjacent to a Debbie Allen Dance Academydance studio.
Preparing for the summer nights, Post & Beam continue to design a menu that captures the season, bringing guests from all around Los Angeles to come dine at the Baldwin Hills and Crenshaw Plaza.
The Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza in South Los Angeles is now known as the location for the best comfort food with the soulful twist representing the collective community. Specializing in making every one of their guests feel part of the family, Post & Beam is now open to serve in their outdoor patio and inside their main hall at 25 percent capacity.
The rich culture of the Black community is represented in every inch of Post & Beam from the sophistication of the design to the environment that is curated through the music, food, and staff.
The music has guests swaying back and forth with drink in hand, the cornbread and Honey Butter comes out in a personal sized cast iron mold, and it electrifyingies one’s taste buds. Post & Beam values its guests and looks to uphold the most up-to-date safety standards issued by Los Angeles County. Located on 3767 Santa Rosalia Drive, the restaurant is open Wednesday-Saturday from 4-9 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., serving brunch all Reservations can be made through their official website at postandbeamla.com.Experience this sensational feeling of hospitality, Wednesday-Saturday from 4-9 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., located on 3767 Santa Rosalia Drive. Los Angeles, CA.
The staff are so welcoming from the beginning;, one feels a kindred feeling of family as the host navigates through the patio to the prepared table. With “Edge” by David McCallin playing in the background, adding to the seduction of the night of Post & Beam, there is no sense of wanting to leave.