The Los Angeles Post

Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County  presents First Fridays Connected: L.A. at the Intersections 

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Live music and discussion on Friday, April 2, features a deep dive into the theme “Climate Crisis” and a performance by Sudan Archives


Los Angeles, CA (March 19, 2021) — The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County (NHM) is connecting homebound audiences to timely discussions and music with this season’s virtual First Fridays Connected: L.A. at the Intersections.

On Friday, April 2, groove at home with DJ Francesca Harding and prepare a special cocktail presented by Elle Nucci. Then, dive into a lively live stream discussion around the Climate Crisis, moderated by Dr. Knatokie Ford, founder and CEO of Fly Sci® Enterprise; with panelists Leah Thomas, intersectional environmental activist and eco-communicator; and Nick Shapiro, assistant professor of biology and society at UCLA.

Urgent and real, there is no denying that we are in a climate crisis. Why do people overlook the proof? How can a consensus on the crisis be achieved? How are climate change and environmental issues affecting communities of color? How can we all effect change? Who are the change makers?

After the discussions, enjoy a performance by Sudan Archives, a violinist and vocalist who writes, plays, and produces her own music. Drawing inspiration from Sudanese fiddlers, she is self-taught on the violin, and her unique songs also fold in elements of R&B, and experimental electronic music.

An exclusive preview for NHMLAC members – watch the preshow Secrets from the Vault with Betty Uyeda, Collections Manager of History/Seaver Center, to learn about the collection she oversees and discover details hidden in plain sight. Each month features a different expert to uncover the big mysteries, strange oddities, and untold stories from NHM. To become a Member, visit NHMLAC.ORG/join and support our current educational mission, research, and community outreach.

This event is FREE, reservations are required. Only one reservation per household is needed. For more information and to RSVP, visit bit.ly/FFCApr21.

Returning for another season is First Fridays media sponsor KCRW.

First Fridays: L.A. at the Intersections

Climate Crisis
Friday, April 2, 2021
6-8pm
Free RSVP: bit.ly/FFCApr21

NHM VIRTUAL DJ LOUNGE

10 Minute Cocktail: Elle Nucci – 6:05 pm
Elle Nucci, owner of EN Events, presents the special 10 Minute Cocktail CENTRAL AVENUE. Recipe from LA based Mixologist Jackie Pember.

DJ: Francesca Harding – 6:15 pm
Francesca Harding is a music supervisor, DJ and radio host based in Southern California. She currently works at an ad agency, pitching music for Film and TV trailers while music supervising for indie projects that she has a passion for. Her Dj mixes have been featured on Jay Z’s blog, Life and Times with her mixtape ‘Ciao Verano’ as well as Seattle’s 90.3FM KEXP. You can catch Francesca on air, every fourth Thursday of the month, for ArtForm Radio on Worldwide FM.

DISCUSSIONS

Secrets from the Vault – 5:30 pm (Members-only)
Join NHMLAC’s Betty Uyeda, Collections Manager of History/Seaver Center, to learn about the collection she oversees and discover details hidden in plain sight. Each month features a different expert to uncover the big mysteries, strange oddities, and untold stories from NHM.

Climate Crisis – 6:45 pm
With Leah Thomas and Nick Shapiro

Urgent and real, there is no denying that we are in a climate crisis. Why do people overlook the proof? How can a consensus on the crisis be achieved? How are climate change and environmental issues affecting communities of color? How can we all effect change? Who are the change makers?

Leah Thomas is an intersectional environmental activist and eco-communicator based in Southern California. She’s passionate about advocating for and exploring the relationship between social justice and environmentalism and identifying the ways in which injustices happening to marginalized communities and the earth are interconnected. In 2020, Leah launched Intersectional Environmentalist, a platform for resources, information and action steps to support intersectional environmentalism and dismantle systems of oppression in the environmental movement. Leah and has been featured in publications such as Vogue, Teen Vogue and more. She has collaborated with brands such as Dove, West Elm, and All Birds.

Nick Shapiro is an assistant professor of biology and society at UCLA. He is a multidisciplinary environmental researcher focused on environmental and climate justice. His work ranges from building openly-licensed technological interventions into environmental problems with impacted communities to assessing the environmental hazards of prisons, jails, and detention centers.

Moderator Dr. Knatokie Ford is Founder and CEO of Fly Sci® Enterprise, an education and media consulting organization focused on leveraging the power of storytelling to promote social change. As a biomedical scientist and social entrepreneur, she is an international advocate for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) inclusion. Dr. Ford previously served as a Senior Policy Advisor in the Obama White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

PERFORMANCE

Sudan Archives – 7:30pm
Violinist and vocalist, Sudan Archives writes, plays, and produces her own music. Drawing inspiration from Sudanese fiddlers, she is self-taught on the violin, and her unique songs also fold in elements of R&B, and experimental electronic music. She honed her at-home style after moving to Los Angeles aged 19 to study music technology, and after a chance encounter at a Low End Theory party with Stones Throw A&R and Leaving Records owner Matthewdavid, she signed with Stones Throw. At the very start of her musical career, she’s already won plaudits from the likes of the New York Times and Pitchfork, and played live at experimental festival Moogfest.

UPCOMING FIRST FRIDAYS DATES (full schedules to be announced):

For this season’s First Fridays Connected 2021, NHM explores Los Angeles at the Intersections, a celebration of science and culture. Neighborhood murals reflecting this city’s state of mind, climate activism across all communities, the transforming habitats of humans and animals, and cuisines of the city as L.A.’s cultural signifiers, show that the ties that connect the city together are strongest at the intersections.

Friday, May 7, 2021: Culture x Cuisine
Friday, June 4, 2021: Murals of Los Angeles

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Image Credit
First Fridays Connected, courtesy of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County (NHM).