06 Mar Photo Recap – UFL Explores LA

During January, Urban Futures Lab Fellows left the friendly confines of the office and project sites to tour three different neighborhoods in Los Angeles, learning about each’s hidden history from local experts. Fellows headed to Chinatown, Downtown, and Union Station with Taylor Fitz-Gibbon of UCLA REMAP on a tour called “Planned Forgetting.”  With Jon Christensen of the UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, Fellows put on their walking shoes to explore areas around the LA River, including the Los Angeles State Historic Park, Metabolic Studio and the The Bowtie Project. Finally, they spent time with Leslie Ito and Alison M. De La Cruz from the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center – JACCC, Dean Matsubayashi from Little Tokyo Service Center, and Kathy Masaoka to understand the historical and contemporary dynamics at play in the neighborhood.

The Fellows gained insight to what Los Angeles looked like in the past. They were exposed to parts of the city they had not explored before. They learned how the city came to be through different policies, architecture, history, and social justice movements. The tours also provided insight into what the future city may look like. January was a month of reflection, critical inquiry, and stepping out of comfort zones.

Accompany the Fellows on these tours and as they try out new foods like pho and udon in our photo albums!

>> Jan 10, 2017 – “Planned Forgetting”

>> Jan 13, 2017 – Los Angeles River Tour

>> Jan 19, 2017 – Little Tokyo Tour