Leimert Park Village, Inc. kicks off the first in a global series of diaspora-centered exchanges

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Leimert Park Village, Inc. is set to embark on a European cultural exchange centered in Saint-Denis, a historic community just outside Paris known for its strong African and Caribbean presence and its role as a host site for the Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympic Games. The delegation will be hosted by Deputy Mayor Mesh El Khalfaoui, who will guide meetings, neighborhood tours, and cultural briefings to showcase the community’s post-Olympic transformation and commitment to equity.

The delegation will continue across the continent to deepen diaspora connections and cultivate global partnerships in cities advancing innovation, sustainability, and cultural preservation.

Aligned with Mayor Karen Bass' commitment to Games that activate and reflect all parts of our City’s diverse and multicultural identity, the initiative aims to position Leimert Park Village as an international cultural hub ahead of both the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

This July, the delegation will be led by Leimert Park Village, Inc. board members Dr. James V. Burks, a renowned cultural strategist and founding force behind the African Marketplace, and Sherri Franklin, a prominent community developer and policy advocate for equitable urban revitalization, Ben Caldwell, an influential media artist and founder of KAOS Network, Akil West, founder and CEO of Sole Folks and the Black-Owned & Operated Community Land Trust, alongside Kimberly Brown, Global Ambassador and strategic advisor. Together, they will engage civic leaders, cultural institutions, and community organizers across Europe to exchange strategies in creative placemaking, cultural tourism, and heritage-based economic development.

As part of the broader mission:

- The team will attend the International WELL Building Institute’s Social Sustainability Summit in Amsterdam, where Brown will serve as a featured speaker on the closing panel. A member of the organization’s Sustainable Finance Advisory, she will highlight the role of purpose-driven capital in advancing health equity and community resilience.

- In Montreux, the delegation will explore cultural tourism and public-private partnerships during the renowned Montreux Jazz Festival, studying how music and placemaking drive inclusive economic vitality.

- In Milan, a global hub for design and innovation, the delegation plans to engage in knowledge-sharing with cultural leaders on creative economies and sustainable urban regeneration.

“This international exchange continues a legacy of cultural vision and self-determination,” said Dr. Burks, a longtime advocate for Black arts, culture, and tourism in Los Angeles. “Leimert Park’s global visibility is not just overdue—it’s essential to preserving our stories and shaping a more inclusive future.”

The exchange marks a strategic investment in international collaboration as Leimert Park Village, Inc. continues its work to elevate one of Los Angeles’s most historic Black neighborhoods on the world stage by strengthening is relations with global African Diaspora communities.

About Leimert Park Village, Inc.

Leimert Park Village, Inc. is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the cultural, artistic, and economic vitality of Leimert Park, a historic neighborhood in South Los Angeles.

In partnership with Metro, Leimert Park Village, Inc. has launched a comprehensive three-part initiative to increase transit ridership and strengthen cultural tourism. This includes the development of a cultural economic tourism strategic plan, installation of a micro-entrepreneur pop-up kiosk at the Leimert Park K Line station, and research at the intersection of transit, entrepreneurship, and cultural commerce. Source: https://lastandardnewspaper.com/index.php/community/1151-metro-partners-with-leimert-park-village-inc.html

More details and partner announcements to follow.

Media Contact: Kimberly Brown This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 424-379-1556