As schools begin to slowly lift COVID-19 restrictions and students return to in person learning, Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) youth organizations have joined opposition to anti-Asian hate and over the weekend hosted a press conference in the San Gabriel Valley encouraging local teens to speak up against hate of any kind. “Our goal…
SGV Organizations Hold Vigil Calling for End to Violence Against AAPI Communities
The recent mass shootings in Georgia, where a man killed six Asian women and two others, have caused a great amount of grief and sorrow in Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities. Organizations across the San Gabriel Valley answered the national call to action against anti-Asian violence with a vigil in Monterey Park, one…
Mariachi Community Counting On COVID Vaccine To Save Musical Livelihood
The combination of non-essential business closures and crowd restrictions have been a double blow for the mariachi community struggling to survive the economic hardships the pandemic has caused for hundreds in this musical industry who depend on performing for large crowds to earn a living. It has been over a year since the Centers for…
Communities Gather in the Wake of Rising Anti-Asian Violence
A recent study based on police department statistics from 16 major cities across the U.S. found that anti-Asian hate crimes increased 149% in 2020; Los Angeles had a 114% change in anti-Asian hate crimes. Anti-Asian crimes have been rising to historic levels across the nation during the pandemic. According to a report by Stop…
Getting To Know Street Vendors Across San Gabriel Valley
While millions of Americans continue to struggle with the prevailing effects of the pandemic, Latinos in Los Angeles County continue to embrace a spirit of resilience despite being disproportionately affected by COVID-19. In Covina, a family of four has resorted to selling tacos de canasta —translated as “basket tacos,” they area type of steamed taco…
Jurassic Quest Dinosaurs Visit the Rose Bowl Until End of January
By Alex Cordero The largest dinosaur exhibition, Jurassic Quest, makes its way through Southern California and is taking over the Rose Bowl until Jan. 31. The drive-thru experience features close to a mile-long display of life-sized mechanical dinosaurs from the Cretaceous, Jurassic and Triassic periods. The quest is designed to go along with an educational…
Varda Becomes First Licensed Cannabis Dispensary to Open in Pasadena
By Alex Cordero Longtime San Gabriel Valley residents Tony Fong and Leonard Wang recently made local business history by opening Varda, the first licensed and only locally-owned cannabis dispensary in Pasadena. Wang and Fong are the founders of this 3,000-square-foot store designed to give a multigenerational line of customers an amiable experience when shopping for…
American Legion Post 13 Responds to Calls for Help from Local Veterans
By Alex Cordero So far this year, American Legion Post 13 has received a high number of calls from local veterans seeking immediate assistance for basic essentials like groceries and funds for gas or safe housing. Legion members answered by creating a new resource: the Veterans Assistance Program (VAP). “While Pasadena Post 13 cannot provide…