Everyday Urbanism in L.A.’s Koreatown Cindy Olnick 0:00Today on Save As: Junyoung Myung 0:01Even though Korean immigrants and Korean Americans have been Southern California for more than 100 years, and Koreatown has great cultural significance in Los Angeles, it was…
Tag: cultural heritage
Everyday Urbanism in L.A.’s Koreatown
In this “Where Are They Now?” episode, we catch up with alum Junyoung Myung (MHC ’15), who followed yet another of many career paths in heritage conservation: research and teaching. His exciting work blends architecture, design, heritage conservation, and technology—from teaching undergrad architects about adaptive reuse, to training AI to identify architectural styles, and much more. He’s also finishing his doctoral dissertation, which explores how generations of Korean immigrants and Korean Americans created a unique ethnic urban landscape in Los Angeles. It builds on his master’s thesis, Values-Based Approach to Heritage Conservation: Identifying Cultural Heritage in Los Angeles Koreatown.
Jun talks with co-host Trudi Sandmeier about working with residents to identify overlooked places of memory and meaning, using digital technology to advance the field, and inspiring the next generation of architects to embrace heritage conservation.
Beyond the Stage: Uncovering Drag Culture in Los Angeles
Drag performances have long been a draw for audiences in L.A., though often held “underground” because of threats of persecution. In addition to its entertainment history, drag has had a role in affirming and protecting gender identity. Architect and recent graduate Jesús (Chuy) Barba Bonilla researched this history for his master’s thesis, Drag Culture of Los Angeles: Intangible Heritage through Ephemeral Places. In this episode, Willa Seidenberg chats with Chuy about how he chose this topic and why it matters within and beyond the LGBTQ+ community. He delves into the challenges of researching drag’s hidden and erased heritage and the vital need to uncover, document, and share these stories.
Documenting Black Women’s History at the Wilfandel Clubhouse
Dedicated students at the University of Southern California have pulled out the laser scanners and measuring tapes to document the Wilfandel Clubhouse in the West Adams neighborhood of Los Angeles. The Wilfandel Club, the oldest Black women’s club in Los Angeles, was founded in 1945 by Della Williams (wife of architect Paul R. Williams) and Fannie Williams as a safe place for social, civic, and community events. In this episode, producer Willa Seidenberg visits the clubhouse to see the students in action, hear what they’re doing and why, and talk with longtime member Jan Morrow Bell.
The Hidden Heritage of San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf Cindy Olnick 0:00Today on Save As … Emi Takahara 0:01People don’t really know about the Italian and Sicilian heritage, or even the early people, the Yelamu that lived there, they’re not thinking…
[Update] Meet you at Lenchita’s Cindy OlnickHello, Save As listeners, this is Cindy Olnick here, and we are very excited to bring you a brief update on a very important topic that we covered in the very first season. We…
Legacy Businesses in Immigrant Neighborhoods Trudi Sandmeier 00:00Today on Save As … Xiaoling Fang 00:02These small places might not look fancy or unique or iconic from outside, but it’s such an important pinch point for the community. Trudi Sandmeier 00:12Welcome to Save As:…
Legacy Businesses in Immigrant Neighborhoods
Small businesses provide much more than goods and services. Over time, they become neighborhood anchors and a key source of culture and community—especially for new Americans.
Heritage conservationists are increasingly turning to legacy business programs as economic development strategies to combat rising rents, gentrification, and the erosion of community character, particularly in ethnic and immigrant neighborhoods. In this episode, producer Willa Seidenberg talks with recent USC graduate Xiaoling Fang about her thesis, Legacy Business Program Implementation in American Urban Immigrant Neighborhoods.
Xiaoling explored some of the longstanding small businesses in L.A.’s Chinatown and Little Tokyo neighborhoods, and how legacy business programs, like the ones recently adopted in Los Angeles, can be used as a tool to help culturally significant and beloved businesses survive.
Listen below, and click here for the transcript.
Feng Shui as Cultural Heritage Cindy Olnick 00:00Today on Save As… Haowen Yu 00:01It’s not only like letting you know what it’s ahead of you, but also a way to change the nature, to reshapes a nature, to reshape someone’s Feng Shui.…