Senator Lola Smallwood-Cuevas (D-Los Angeles) announced the launch of the Historic South LA Black Cultural District’s Featured Destinations program with a culinary crawl held this week in the Windsor Hills neighborhood of South Los Angeles. The new program spotlights local businesses, artists, organizations and cultural spaces—creating new opportunities for residents and visitors to discover, experience and support the people and places that make the Black Cultural District unique.
Held on the final day of Black Business Month and on the heels of Dine LA, the launch celebrated the cultural district’s vibrant culinary community and highlighted the diverse food and beverage businesses that contribute to the cultural and economic vitality of South Los Angeles.
“The Black Cultural District is focused on bringing more visitors to the South LA area so they can discover what residents already know—just how special this community is,” said Senator Smallwood-Cuevas. “We are home to an incredible collection of culinary establishments, and I was honored to recognize all that these businesses bring to our community. More tourism means more support for local businesses and more opportunities to build wealth for our residents.”
During the launch event, 14 food and beverage businesses were recognized as Featured Destinations. Each participating business received a dedicated profile on the Historic South LA Black Cultural District website, making it easier for residents and visitors to discover their businesses and offerings, as well as a Black Cultural District decal to display at their locations.
“The success of the Black Cultural District begins with the businesses, organizations, artists, cultural institutions and community spaces that make South LA unlike anywhere else in Los Angeles,” said Karen Mack, President and CEO of LA Commons, the event’s organizer. “By participating in this program, these businesses are helping us celebrate, promote and share the stories that define our community.”
The Featured Destinations program will continue to grow, creating new opportunities for local businesses and community partners as the Black Cultural District expands. Throughout the year, the cultural district will feature rotating marketing themes highlighting retail, cultural institutions, wellness, entertainment, history and community experiences—ensuring that a broad range of establishments have opportunities to participate.
Featured Destinations may also be invited to participate in promotional campaigns, social media features, collaborative events, curated visitor experiences, and other marketing initiatives designed to increase awareness of the Black Cultural District while strengthening connections among local businesses and the broader community.
South Los Angeles is home to California’s highest concentration of Black residents, businesses and cultural landmarks. Senator Smallwood-Cuevas, a longtime worker rights and racial equity advocate whose 28th District includes South LA, championed the state designation of the Historic South LA Black Cultural District to preserve the community’s rich history and culture, while creating new opportunities for economic growth among local Black-owned businesses.
“I’ve been around a long time and can’t remember when, if ever, I’ve seen all the biggest South LA restaurant players, minus a few biggies, all in the same place—happy, smiling, laughing and just purely enjoying each other’s company,” said Greg Dulan, owner of Dulan’s Soul Food Kitchen. “What took place was exactly what the community needed—a space to be with each other outside of the usual norm and to be reminded that we have friends in this community, we know one another, we should support each other’s locations—and if we are not, this was a good reminder why we should be.”
Those interested in learning more about or joining the Black Cultural District Featured Destinations program can visit https://www.bcdla.org/join-bcd-featured-destinations.
