“Southland Sessions” spoke with five different people about how they shifted the focus of their creative organization to keep afloat in 2020 and best serve their community. Beyond the big institutions in the city, these organizations seek to make a difference and uplift while filling the creative needs of the people around them, from teens to adults.
The programming Lopez-Byrd hoped to have in-person has been put on hold, but another purpose emerged for the space. One of the organization’s board members started using the conference room for classes. Other people asked if they could drop in for meetings; college students also use the space. Lopez-Byrd says that TedxComptonBlvd will be using the space for their event as well.
Fact Mix 783: TYGAPAW
Fact Mix 783: TYGAPAW
A high energy mix from the Jamaican club producer and DJ.
Dion McKenzie, better known as TYGAPAW, moved to Brooklyn from Jamaica in 2002. After spending time playing in a band called My M.O. and in a rap duo, Kowabunga Tyga, she began to explore DJing and production, and in 2014 started queer club night Fake Accent. That was followed by Shottas, a party for the queer Caribbean community in the city, combining dancehall and dembow with ballroom influences.
“Wanting to create safe spaces for queer and trans people of color is really important to me because [of my experiences] growing up and not being able to be myself in any sort of party situation,” she told The FADER in 2016. “Especially in dancehall, reggae. It’s a beautiful thing when you can bring people together that want to be in that space, want to feel the music, want to see DJs, want to relate and connect to each other.”