The DC project has been in development since 2016 and has been led by a committed team of local artists, curators, historians, politicians, and community members in partnership with lead architects Perkins & Will and the DC Community Advisory Council. The project will tell the story of Black LA and bring new and expanded resources to a community that has long been neglected. As more than a capital improvement, DC’s core programs and services include:

DC Arts Corps: DC is commissioning an unprecedented 100+ Black Los Angeles artists for installations in the corridor. As California’s largest Black artists jobs program, there is no single cultural project in the nation hiring as many Black artists. The focus of the DC Arts Corp is early and mid-career Black artists who often face barriers to advancement in the competitive creative economy in LA.

Workforce Development: The DC project is an entry point to a larger pipeline of union jobs in the trades that provide higher wages, job security, and good benefits. DC’s on-the-job training and apprenticeships are priming local workers to participate in a growing economy and will funnel them into careers stemming from the major rise in public capital projects. DC is on track to meet an aspirational goal of 70% local hire.

DC Thrive: The Metro construction resulted in the removal of over 300 street parking spaces, a disjointed streetscape, and the deforestation of approximately 400 mature trees. DC Thrive is a business assistance program to support legacy small businesses and incubate new businesses and creatives on Crenshaw Blvd. DC Thrive will preserve Crenshaw Boulevard as a Black cultural district, recognizing the unique challenges facing black-owned businesses.