Changing Tones is an advisory committee dedicated to increasing representation, providing support and ensuring racial equity and inclusion of African Americans within LAPL. Amid pandemic challenges, CT created a hybrid event with a livestream that reached beyond L.A. An evite and print/digital flyers were emailed to the public, churches, city departments, CBOs and nationally to HBCUs and Black Greek organizations. CT encouraged group viewings and streamed the interactive panel discussion after the in-person screening.

Changing Tones:

• Created an in-person and virtual event team of librarians, IT, admin, PR, city leaders, community reps, media and the public.
• Selected six diverse panelists from different walks of life.
• Facilitated a candid, virtual panel discussion, managed viewers Q&A and interspersed moderator comments.
• Used Central Library’s auditorium and the boardroom for the main IT/streaming headquarters.
• Secured a prominent local media icon as moderator who shared a personal story of being hired due to the L.A. uprising.

• Deeper understanding of the Black perspective of the L.A. uprising, racism and lasting community impacts.
• Technology provided access through virtual tools like Zoom, streaming and group viewings.
• Library served as a non-judgmental, trusted safe space to discuss racism.
• Diverse feedback and emotional expression through Q&A and emails.
• The number of local, national and international viewers from as far away as South Africa.
• Younger generations born after 1992 learned the raw impact of the L.A. uprising from witnesses.