MHD Off the Record

Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell serves on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, representing the Second District, which includes more than two million residents across South Los Angeles, the South Bay, Koreatown, and surrounding communities. A third-generation Angeleno and longtime public servant, Supervisor Mitchell has built her career around equity, expanding the social safety net, and investing i...

Los Angeles has 223,000 streetlights, and the assessments that fund their upkeep haven't been updated since 1996. In this episode, we sit down with two leaders from the Bureau of Street Lighting to break down the ballot landing in property owners' mailboxes right now and what's at stake for neighborhoods like ours if it doesn't pass. The deadline is June 2nd. Listen up and pass it on.

Guests:

Ansar Mustafa is a lifelong Angeleno who ...

bridgette bianca and GusTavo Guerra Vasquez are co-founders of South Central Spits Fire!, a program created to uplift the cultural and artistic wealth and diversity of literary talent in South Central Los Angeles.

bridgette bianca is a poet and professor from South Central whose work centers the Black experience, storytelling, and cultural memory. She holds a Bachelor’s d...

The 1992 Los Angeles Civil Unrest, sparked by the acquittal of officers in the brutal beating of Rodney King, exposed deep cracks in the systems meant to protect and serve. More than thirty years later, what actions can we take to create real public safety practices that center justice, equity, and community care?

Joining Los Angeles City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson to explore these questions is John Kim, President and...

On this episode, LA City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson talks about education, family, and community with Inglewood's own D Smoke.

Daniel “D Smoke” Farris is an acclaimed American rapper, singer, and songwriter who rose to fame after winning Netflix's "Rhythm + Flow" in 2019. Known for his seamless blend of rap, R&B, jazz, and gospel, and for incorporating both English and Spani...

Jamiah Hargins is the founder and president of Crop Swap LA, a Los Angeles urban farming nonprofit rooted in Leimert Park and dedicated to making fresh, locally grown food accessible to South LA communities. Founded in 2018 as a simple neighborhood produce swap, Crop Swap LA has grown into a globally recognized movement operating multiple microfarms across the city, feeding dozens of families weekly with...

African American entrepreneurship has a long and fascinating history in Los Angeles. The period from the 1920s to the 1960s was the era of “race enterprises,” in which black entrepreneurs specifically catered to black consumers. Collectively, these enterprises supported a growing middle class and one of the highest rates of African American homeownership in the country. As rich as this history is, so little is discussed...

The 1992 Los Angeles Uprising was sparked after a jury acquitted four LAPD officers who had been charged with using excessive force in the arrest and beating of Rodney King on April 29, 1992. With the anniversary of the civil unrest approaching, MHD and his co-host, Chavonne Taylor, discuss new policing and public safety models with PUSH LA (Promoting Unity, Safety & Health in Los Angeles) convener Leslie Cooper Johnson and for...

On this episode, LA City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson sits down with three trailblazing leaders featured in the current City Hall exhibition, "When Black Women Lead, Communities Thrive, Everybody Wins". In honor of African-American Heritage Month, the group discusses the pivotal, often unrecognized role Black women play in shaping Los Angeles through housing, health equity, and community advocacy.

The conversation explo...

Tamekia Strayhorn is the Founder Executive Director of Here to Help Foundation, a South Los Angeles–based community development corporation focused on housing stability, economic opportunity, and support services for individuals and families navigating housing insecurity. Under her leadership, the organization has expanded its reach by centering dignity, access, and long-term stability for resident...

Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson and co-host Chavonne Taylor discuss the importance of viewing psychology and mental wellness from a community perspective with Dr. Cheryl Grills. Dr. Cheryl Grills is a Clinical Psychologist with a current emphasis in Community Psychology. She is also a full-time Professor and director of the Psychology Applied Research Center at Loyola Marymount University as well as a Governor appointee o...

On this episode, Chavonne Taylor speaks with Paco Retana, Vice President of Programs at Wellnest, a nationally acclaimed, and leading provider of emotional health and wellness services to children, young adults, families, and their communities. As Vice President of Programs at Wellnest, he is responsible for all clinical services, including program evaluation and training. He also oversees the areas of outpatient, early interventio...

In this episode of MHD Off the Record, Council President Marquise Harris-Dawson sits down with former Los Angeles Mayor and U.S. Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti. Returning to his roots in the San Fernando Valley, Garcetti reflects on his journey from the youngest City Council President in LA history to representing the United States on the world stage.

Ambassador Garcetti served as the 42nd mayor of LA...

Los Angeles is a huge city with many resources and opportunities. However, figuring out how to get access to the right resources—whether it’s housing, jobs, or financial support—can be overwhelming. So who should be responsible for making sure people get the help they need? Should the government be doing more, or are community organizations better equipped to step in? Are we empowering ourselves, or are we asking ...

On this episode, we’re exploring how Los Angeles is redefining public safety beyond enforcement. The Mayor’s Office of Community Safety, led by Deputy Mayor Karen Lane, is building a citywide network of programs rooted in prevention, healing, and opportunity. We’ll be discussing everything from youth mentorship and violence interruption to reentry support and community-led crisis respon...

On this episode, LA City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson sits down with singer, songwriter, producer, and artistic creator James Fauntleroy. James is a four-time Grammy Award winner and one of the most influential songwriters of his generation. He recently co-wrote "Die With A Smile" by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars, which won an award at the 2025 Grammys, hit No. 1 (5 wks) on Billboard and became the fastest song to reach 1 b...

Cooking With Gabby was founded by Steven “Chef Steve” Vasquez Sr. and his wife Lisa. Their vision was to address the serious health challenges facing children and families—specifically poor nutrition, obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. It began with Chef Steve and his daughter Gabby cooking healthy meals together and sharing the benefits of nutritious eating, fitness, dance, and active lifestyles throughout the...

On this episode, Los Angeles City Council District 8 staffer, Chavonne Taylor, speaks with Jay McAdams, Executive Director of the 24th STreet Theatre, a unique organization blending professional productions and world-class artists with quality arts education since 1997. Their mission is to engage, educate, and provoke young people and their families with excellent theatre and arts education.  Jay is a producer, having produced...

On this episode, the roles have shifted a little... Producer, Chavonne Taylor, steps into the host role to interview Los Angeles City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson about Proposition 50, the single item on California’s November 2025 special ballot.

At its core, Prop 50 would put new, temporary voting maps in place for the upcoming election — a direct response to efforts in Texas and other states to tilt congre...