LARC Presents...

LARC Reporting Fellow Tara Blossom brings us an intimate portrait of trans community in Los Angeles (this story originally aired on LAist 89.3 in March 2026) While often stories about medical fundraising focus on exorbitant procedure costs, in this story we focus on how the recovery period for one trans man is actually the most expensive part of his medical journey. In order to be able to take a month off work to recover, Eliaz Chavez must raise $2500 to cover his rent and other living expenses. Like many queer people before him, he turns to throwing parties, also known as "fundragers", to make ends meet. Listen to the episode to hear Eliaz's story.

LARC partnered with AfroLA and The California Report from KQED on this special about how seniors in Altadena’s historic Black community are finding support after the Eaton Fire. Reporter Corinne Ruff explores the role of faith-based organizations in times of crisis, telling the story of a Pasadena church helping an elder congregant rebuild her home and her life. Editorial assistance came from Ari Saperstein, Molly Peterson, and Dana Amihere, with additional production support from Khari Douglas, Kendall Lowery and Sam Anderson.

This past spring, Long Beach’s Cambodia Town hosted its 17th annual New Year’s parade, a vibrant celebration of food, dance, and community in a city with the largest Cambodian population in the United States. This year’s festivities also marked 50 years since the Khmer Rouge began its brutal regime, which claimed the lives of over a million Cambodians. Hear how, despite this painful history, survivors and their families come together to honor their culture and find healing through shared celebration. 

Symphony performances aren't known for their youthfulness... but one group is trying to change that. For the first time since the start of the pandemic, the Culver City Symphony Orchestra held it's Youth Competition, bringing together aspiring musicians from across the region for a unique chance to play with the esteemed group. Hear how this competition is engaging students from across the city into a revival of classical music and how the students are pushing up against the longstanding norms. This story was reported by Cliff Beach & Timothy Hall as part of the LA Radio Club Reporting Incubator, with editorial support from Khari Douglas and Ari Saperstein. "LA Radio Club Presents..." is produced by Aaron Dalton and Emma Lehman. 

In January of 2025, the Eaton wildfire spread through the Southern California community of Altadena. Altadena residents saw an outpouring of support from their community, but now face the much larger task of rebuilding not only their houses, but their lives, neighborhoods, and senses of normalcy. Hear from three Altadena residents about what life has looked like after the fires, and where they’re headed as the dust settles.

2025 Reporter in Residence Kilo Martin takes us behind the scenes with Central City Neighborhood Partners (CCNP), a nonprofit serving the Westlake/Pico-Union neighborhood. Initiatives like their community Posada focus on supporting mental health through an unlikely vehicle: dance. Hear how CCNP is bringing the community together and helping to break down the stigma around mental health.This story was reported by Kilo Martin as part of the LA Radio Club Reporting Incubator, with editorial support from Angel Carreras, Alejandra Salazar, and Ari Saperstein. Special thanks to Khari Douglas, Kyle Lamont, Megan Jamerson, Andrea Bautista, and CCNP. Translation assistance by David Rodriguez. "LA Radio Club Presents..." is produced by Aaron Dalton and Emma Lehman. 

LA Radio Club Reporter in Residence Kevin Lee brings you this story about Coffee Chess, a meetup in Culver City where players young and old come together for the joy of the game. Learn what makes Coffee Chess different than the stuffy chess clubs of yore, and what this community means to its unconventional slate of members. Story editing by Jenn Swann, with additional scoring & mastering from Aaron Dalton. “LA Radio Club Presents…” is produced by Aaron Dalton, Emma Lehman and Ari Saperstein. This piece was made for the SoCal Reporting Incubator, from LA Radio Club. Visit radioclubcollective.com to learn more.

LA Radio Club Reporter in Residence Mya Constantino brings you this story about deep secrets, long-lost siblings, and the meaning of family. After discovering her father’s secret, one Angeleno contends with what it means for their relationship and her own identity. Story editing by James Kim, with additional scoring & mastering from Aaron Dalton. “LA Radio Club Presents…” is produced by Aaron Dalton, Emma Lehman and Ari Saperstein. This piece was made for the SoCal Reporting Incubator, from LA Radio Club. Visit radioclubcollective.com to learn more.

LA Radio Club Reporter in Residence Stella Hartmann brings you this story about Oil Can Harry’s, a now-defunct country-western LGBTQ+ bar in Studio City. As one of the longest-running LGBTQ+ bars in the country, Oil Can Harry’s was known to regulars not just as a space for disco and rodeo, but as a safe haven for a community forced into the margins. Story editing by Angel Carreras, with additional scoring & mastering from Aaron Dalton. “LA Radio Club Presents…” is produced by Aaron Dalton, Emma Lehman and Ari Saperstein. This piece was made for the SoCal Reporting Incubator, from LA Radio Club. Visit radioclubcollective.com to learn more.

LA Radio Club Reporter in Residence Olivia Hewitt brings you this story about Claremont’s stray cats. Hear about the adventures of Milky – or Roger, or Meepers, or Flashbang, depending on who you ask – and the other stray cats of this Inland Empire community. Story editing by Ashleyanne Krigbaum, with additional scoring & mastering from Aaron Dalton. “LA Radio Club Presents…” is produced by Aaron Dalton, Emma Lehman and Ari Saperstein. This piece was made for the SoCal Reporting Incubator, from LA Radio Club. Visit radioclubcollective.com to learn more. 

LA Radio Club Reporter in Residence Christian Brown brings you this story about the history of a celebrated recording studio and efforts to restore it after a devastating fire. As studios across the city and the country fall on hard times, Christian looks at how Boulevard Recording has persevered. Story editing by Avishay Artsy, with additional scoring & mastering from Aaron Dalton. “LA Radio Club Presents…” is produced by Aaron Dalton, Emma Lehman and Ari Saperstein. This piece was made for the SoCal Reporting Incubator, from LA Radio Club. Visit radioclubcollective.com to learn more.  

LA Radio Club Reporter In Residence Meghan Coyle brings you this story about Sansei Baseball, a Japanese-American youth baseball league in LA’s South Bay. Through conversations with locals, Meghan explores the history of baseball in LA’s Japanese-American community, and what Sansei brings to the kids that play on the team. Story editing by Andrea Gutierrez, with additional scoring & mastering from Aaron Dalton. “LA Radio Club Presents…” is produced by Aaron Dalton, Emma Lehman and Ari Saperstein. This story was made as part of the SoCal Reporting Incubator from LA Radio Club. Visit radioclubcollective.com to learn more.