If you’re looking to connect with L.A.’s community this weekend, keep reading for a range of ways to experience the city, from the No Kings protest, to wellness gatherings, to multicultural festivals and concerts.
Los Angeles stands out as one of the most diverse and vibrant immigrant hubs in the United States. One in every three L.A. city residents is foreign-born, and over half of Angelenos speak a language other than English at home. During this weekend and beyond, consider visiting some of the city’s most deeply-rooted immigrant neighborhoods such as Westlake, Koreatown, Pico Union, Boyle Heights, Harvard Heights, Arlington Heights, Monterey Park, Cerritos, Little Tokyo, Little Armenia, Little Ethiopia, and countless others.
Support and patronize immigrant-owned businesses, form connections through our communities—and enjoy some amazing global cuisines in the process.
1. Community care pop-up
The MidCity Mercado pop-up is hosting a community care and mobilization event on Friday, June 13th, from 12-7 pm. Guests are welcome to join for healing programming, pre-protest orientations, protest poster making, first aid kit making, and fundraising activities. Learn more at @midcitymercado on Instagram.
On Saturday, tens of thousands are expected to turn out for L.A.’s “No Kings Day” protests, described by organizers as “a national day of action and mass mobilization.” Protests are scheduled at numerous locations in Los Angeles, which you can consult here.
2. Wellness activities
For some, a wellness day might be in order. If you want to get your body moving, enjoy some fresh air, or find some peace of mind, here are a few community-oriented wellness resources that might be of interest.
- Walk Good LA (@walkgoodla on Instagram) is hosting several wellness and community events this weekend:
- Roots & Culture Art Experience at the Re/Creation Center (June 13-15)
- RunGood, a 5K community run or 2-mile walk at the WalkGood Yard (Wednesdays at 6:30 pm)
- Free Yoga Class in Spanish at the WalkGood Yard (Saturdays at 9 am)
- Running Clubs – While some running clubs, such as Latinos Run LA, have canceled their runs this weekend, you can consult this list of local running clubs for more organizations whose gatherings you could join.
- Book Clubs – From the Children’s Bilingual Book Club in Whittier to the LGBTQ+ Book Club in WeHo, here is a list of L.A. book clubs that are worth looking into for some community connection.
- L.A. Public Library and L.A. County Library both have fantastic community literature resources as well, many of which are available online.
3. Concerts, cultural festivals, and events
Thousands will turn out for these local concerts, events, film screenings, and festivals in L.A. Whatever vibe you’re feeling, these events can give you a chance to blow off some steam by listening to live music, checking out stunning local art, or simply supporting immigrant food vendors.
- Street Food Cinema – Head to the Autry Museum to watch Friday the 13th on Friday at 10 pm or A Goofy Movie on Saturday at 8:30 pm. Diverse food vendors will be on-site selling a fantastic selection of international cuisines.
- Pasadena Chalk Festival (June 14-15) – Hundreds of skilled chalk artists come together to create colorful chalk murals at the Paseo, ranging from whimsical illustrations to powerful statements.
- KCRW Summer Nights (June 13, 7-11 pm) – Join L.A.’s diverse arts and music scene at Cabrillo Marine Aquarium with live DJs, global food trucks, and a bar.
- Hollywood Fringe Festival (June 12-29) – This annual Hollywood arts festival presents hundreds of talented artists with theater, comedy, dance, and cinema arts showcases.
- Tarfest (June 14) – This free, annual all-ages arts and music festival brings interactive art, music, food trucks, and entertainment to Pan Pacific Park.
- Blue Note Jazz Festival (June 14-15) – The Hollywood Bowl hosts two day-long musical celebrations with headliners The Isley Brothers and De La Soul on Saturday, and Grace Jones and WILLOW on Sunday.
4. Community organizing
Los Angeles has a strong backbone of passionate community nonprofit organizations whose resources have been crucial for tens of thousands in our community. Whether you want to donate, find volunteer opportunities, or seek out upcoming events, here are some organizations to look into.
- Mutual Aid LA Network – An information hub that aggregates useful mutual aid resources for the public to navigate according to their needs.
- LA Regional Food Bank – Since 1973, the Food Bank has fought hunger in our communities by providing essential food and groceries to those who are food-insecure.
- YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles – The YMCA has long been an essential community hub providing food distribution, emergency childcare, direct crisis assistance, youth resources, and more.
- Esperanza Immigrant Rights Project – A nonprofit legal organization that provides free and low-cost legal representation for immigrants facing deportation.
- CHIRLA (Coalition for Human Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles) – An L.A.-based nonprofit dedicated to advocating for the human and civil rights of immigrants and refugees.
- ÓRALE (Organizing Rooted in Abolition, Liberation, and Empowerment) – An immigrant-led Long Beach organization that works to end the criminalization of immigrants through rapid response, legal support, and advocacy.
- International Institute of Los Angeles (IILA) – An L.A. nonprofit that provides legal assistance, job support, childcare, and more to immigrants, refugees, and human trafficking victims.
- No Us Without You LA – A food distribution organization that provides free food to undocumented hospitality workers who are excluded from government aid.