I took this course as part of the Media, Arts & Entertainment pathway as it was part of the Duke in L.A. program that is centered around the creative industries in the city. It was helpful to learn more about the historical, cultural, and social complexities of one of the most diverse cities and gave me a deeper insight into the rich history of L.A. impacts the media industry.

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The most important concepts I learned throughout this course:

• There is power in solidarity. Throughout the semester, I worked with KIWA, Koreatown Immigrant Workers Alliance, whose mission is to empower Koreatown’s immigrant workers in low-wage industries for respect in the workplace and advocate for better working conditions. For organizations like KIWA, solidarity is crucial in spreading the organization’s knowledge and advocacy to as many people as possible. It was fascinating to see how organizing granted people voices that they otherwise would not feel that they have without solidarity. Their message was loudest heard when their members grouped together and provided a space for illegal immigrants to feel safe in using their voices due to the encouragement and community of others. 

• Work with the community, not for them. When approaching a community partner, I found it most helpful to immerse myself into their organization as a member and attend events with the intent to get to know other community members. If you approach every project with a checklist and don't take the time to get to know the organization, it feels less genuine and makes it harder to collaborate with your community partner.