Zócalo Public Square

Can we learn to see migration as another form of adaptation that moves a species forward? Join us for a night at the museum! On Thursday, February 6 at 7 PM PST at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, “What If We Embrace Climate Migration?” will feature artist Tanya Aguiniga, paleobotanist and curator Regan Dunn, climate mobility scholar Liliana Gamboa, and New Nomad Institute co-founder Badruun Gardi in conversation about how we can build a more interconnected, resilient, and nomadic world on the international, community, and individual levels. An after-hours reception will follow in NHM’s Dueling Dinos Grand Foyer and African and North American Diorama Halls featuring food and beverages by Flavors from Afar, beats by dublab DJ Rani de Leon, and vinyl deep listening sessions exploring global themes by Tana Yonas with Sounds from Afar. Register for the free event co-presented by Zócalo Public Square, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, moderated by The New York Times correspondent Simon Romero, here: https://zps.la/climatemig

In the last year, our essays have been syndicated in dozens of magazines and newspapers across the globe, reaching new readers. And we served drinks and food to almost 2,000 guests and interacted in real time with over 8,000 virtual event attendees. If you’re considering a year-end gift, we hope you’ll donate to Zócalo today and help us reach our goal of 150 founding donors. Your support will go a long way to help us continue the work we do. Get us to the finish line and support all that Zócalo does—always free, always open to all. https://zps.la/donate

What makes a Zócalo program truly special? Is it the engaging conversations, the people you meet, the wine you drink? Our staff felt these five programs embodied the Zócalo ethos. Join us as we look back on our favorites of 2024, and tell us in the comments what keeps you coming back to Zócalo ("we’ll accept all of the above!”). https://zps.la/program24

While it’s never easy to pick our favorite essays among the many Zócalo publishes each year, we think these ten were must-reads. Read our top picks of 2024, and let us know which ones stood out to you! https://zps.la/essay24

A proud food city, Los Angeles is what it eats. And our food is as diverse as the communities that have made L.A. home. To celebrate the diasporas that flavor Los Angeles’ culinary life, Zócalo called upon people across the Southland to share recipes. Our cookbook serves up dishes that have traveled continents and generations, reinterpreted and salted to taste—each a story within the spoonful. Learn more and find recipes here: https://zps.la/cookbook

This year we launched a giving campaign with the goal of getting 150 unique donors to make a one-time or monthly gift. We expected an enthusiastic response. What we didn’t expect was to hear such moving testimonial from our donors about why they give. “I first encountered Zócalo when I was the executive director of the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs. Zócalo's commitment to enabling everyone to have access to meaningful discussions on a broad range of topics led to DCA funding its focus on arts and culture. Since then, I have admired Zócalo and its mission of inclusivity and expansion of ideas.” Olga Garay-English Director, National Latinx Theater Initiative Thank you, Olga, for supporting Zócalo and keeping the public square vibrant and open to all. https://zps.la/donate

Home together: A binational family, a bureaucratic miracle, and los abuelitos' first trip to America. Mia Armstrong-López and her husband worked to bring his grandparents, who had never left Mexico, to the U.S. for Christmas. https://zps.la/49BU2h8

Happy Holidays from all of us at Zócalo Public Square! 🎄❄️🎁 Moira Shourie Eryn Brown Bianca Collins Sara Suárez Arianna Rivera Lee Anna Gasparyan Talib Jabbar Jer Xiong Sarah Rothbard Joe Mathews Nick Yang

When managing type 1 diabetes, there are no breaks. There are no holidays. It is relentless, writes Shane O'Donnell, a sociologist and person living with diabetes. Read his piece about the community fighting for rights and control over medical device data. https://zps.la/3D4aV84

Writer Claire van Doren reflects on what it means to be part of a long line of women—from "bra-burning feminists" to lesbians to trans women—who have been excluded or punished just for being themselves.  https://zps.la/4ikTcta