Connectopod™

Chinatown Oral History Project-Chinatown Land Trust

Karen Law and Winnie Fong from the Chinatown Land Trust
Malia Mahelona-Janilkarn, Caleb Leong, and Michelle Chiu, Teen Council members at the Los Angeles Public Library-Chinatown branch,  interview  Karen Law and Winnie Fong, community activists from the LA Chinatown Land Trust.
Established in June 2021, the LA Chinatown Land Trust aims to safeguard and manage affordable housing within the LA Chinatown community, offering a sustainable solution to combat displacement and gentrification in an increasingly unaffordable landscape for low-income, long-term, immigrant, and senior residents. 
About the Teen Council
Since July 2022, these dedicated members of the Teen Council have spearheaded a grocery delivery program at the Chinatown Library, witnessing  firsthand the harsh realities faced by the seniors they serve. These elders, living below the poverty line, confront the disruptive impacts of gentrification in Chinatown, jeopardizing their ability to remain in their homes. Driven by empathy, the teens have embraced the responsibility of documenting and sharing the personal narratives of these seniors, and advocating for the rights of the immigrant community
 
Producer: Betsy Foldes Meiman
Assistant Producer: Melissa Peruch
 
 

Find Me Next to You

This song,Find me Next to You,  is from Changing the Narrative season 3. 
Gayle lost her brother DJ ( Denny John) to suicide. He left this song unfinished. With the help of musician Joe Foldes, she finished it as a tribute to DJ. 
 
 

Chinatown Oral History Project-Eugene Moy pt. 2

 Eugene Moy  had so much knowledge to share that the Teen Council of the Chinatown Branch of the Los Angeles Public Library created 2 episodes!  A past president of the Chinese Historical Society of SoCal and long time advocate for the Chinese community, Eugene shared his personal history growing up in LA as the son of immigrants, the history of Chinatown , and the challenges faced to today in a Chinatown that is a hotbed of gentrification. The great resources he shared in the interview with Malia Mahelona-Janilkarn, Caleb Leong, Qihao Huang, and Zhangyang Wu are listed below. Here is a link to Eugene Moy Pt. 1 ICYMI!
 
1) Chinese Historical Society of Southern California Gum Saan Journal V. 29, N.1 2006 : Chinese Grocery Edition 2006
2) Chinese Historical Society of Southern California Gum Saan Journal V. 35, N.1 2013 : Three Enduring Legacies: Castelar School, Chinese American Museum, and Far East Cafe
3) Chinese Historical Society of Southern California Gum Saan Journal Special Edition 2004 : Delbert Wong: First Chinese American Judge by Marshall Wong
4) Chinese Historical Society of Southern California Gum Saan Journal V. 40, N.1 2018: 80th Anniversary of Chinatown
5) Chinese Historical Society of Southern California Gum Saan Journal V. 36, N.1 2014 : Voices of Chinatown 
6) The Chinese Historical Society of Southern California 2005 Annual Spring Dinner Celebrating Chinese American Pioneers in Law
7) Roads into and out of Chinatown by Annie  Chin Siu, D. D. S.
8) Images of America: Chinatown in Los Angeles by Jenny Cho and the Chinese Historical Society of Southern California
 

Chinatown Oral History Project- Eugene Moy Pt.1

Malia Mahelona-Janilkarn, Caleb Leong, Qihao Huang, and Zhangyang Wu, members of the Teen Council at the Los Angeles Public Library-Chinatown branch, conducted an interview with Eugene Moy, a longstanding activist and the President of the Chinese Historical Society of Southern California for the years 2022 to 2023. Having been engaged in the branch's grocery delivery program for the past 18 months, these teenagers directly observed the difficult living conditions experienced by the seniors they were assisting. These elderly individuals, living below the poverty line, are grappling with the effects of gentrification occurring in Chinatown, which is forcing them out of their homes. The teenagers have taken it upon themselves to document and share the personal narratives of these seniors, as well as to advocate for the rights of the immigrant community they represent. The inaugural episode of the Teen Council's Oral History Project serves as a foundational exploration into the history of Los Angeles Chinatown and an examination of the contemporary challenges faced by its long-term inhabitants.
 
 
 
 
 
  
 

Sound it Out! Love Burns

Lena Sage returns to Connectopod with a story of unrequited of fiery love. Take a look at her photos for her Abandoned Spaces episode as well!
Created in a workshop series at the Canoga Park Library
session 1: created perform and record a character or narrate a story 
session 2: create a collage image of the story or character
artists: Betsy Foldes Meiman (audio), Lois Keller (collage), Joe Foldes (sound design

Sound it Out! The Drama of Rebecca

Isabella Wu channels influencer Rebecca-can she even recognize real life?
Created in a workshop series at the Canoga Park Library
session 1: created perform and record a character or narrate a story 
session 2: create a collage image of the story or character
artists: Betsy Foldes Meiman (audio), Lois Keller (collage), Joe Foldes (sound design

Sound it Out!-O380 in Area 51

Celina Sandoval living her best Alien life!
Created in a workshop series at the Canoga Park Library
session 1: created perform and record a character or narrate a story 
session 2: create a collage image of the story or character
artists: Betsy Foldes Meiman (audio), Lois Keller (collage), Joe Foldes (sound design

Sound it Out!-The Luck of Bernardo

Max Garcia inspires us to dream big with the story of Bernardo and the billion dollar bathroom. 
Created in a workshop series at the Canoga Park Library
session 1: created perform and record a character or narrate a story 
session 2: create a collage image of the story or character
artists: Betsy Foldes Meiman (audio), Lois Keller (collage), Joe Foldes (sound design

Sound it Out!-Ahma-The Female Samurai

 
Mahek brings us the story of Ahma, the female Samurai, protecting the life and honor of her master.
 
Created in a workshop series at the Canoga Park Library
session 1: created perform and record a character or narrate a story 
session 2: create a collage image of the story or character
artists: Betsy Foldes Meiman (audio), Lois Keller (collage), Joe Foldes (sound design
 
 

Sound it Out!-A Princess Story

Ixchel Lopez brings us the story of Shelly, the plain princess. Where does true power lie? You can also hear Ixchel in Tree and K-68
Created in a workshop series at the Canoga Park Library
session 1: created perform and record a character or narrate a story 
session 2: create a collage image of the story or character
artists: Betsy Foldes Meiman (audio), Lois Keller (collage), Joe Foldes (sound design