Radio Bilingüe regretfully announces that as of June 15, 2011 it is suspending LA>Forward and Los Angeles Public Media for the foreseeable future.

Los Angeles Public Media was originally launched by Radio Bilingüe and funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting as an effort to create a new paradigm for public media (radio, video, online, mobile) in Southern California, one that would give voice to Latinos, African-Americans and Asian-Americans who are under-served by, and under-represented in, public media.

LAPM proceeded with completing a research project that captured an unprecedented profile of the media habits of multi-ethnic audiences in Los Angeles. This research is applicable to other markets and continues to be shared with public media outlets and philanthropic organizations around the country to help them understand and reach new audiences.  LAPM has also piloted new radio and video content that strongly resonates with our target audience.

In September 2010, LAPM launched LAForward.org, a website that looked at news and culture through the prism of race and ethnicity. The website has attracted a devoted following for its unique multi-media content that is created by staff writers and producers, as well as by prominent guest bloggers.

However, Radio Bilingüe’s efforts to secure a radio broadcast outlet in Los Angeles for LAPM have proven unsuccessful, while federal funding cuts to CPB’s digital appropriation are precluding the agency from assuring support to LAPM in the coming years.

LA>Forward has been produced by talented staff drawn from the local communities of color in Los Angeles, recruited specifically for their instincts and experience serving their audience.  In the short period of its robust operation, LAPM and LA>Forward confirmed that content by and for communities of color will be responsive and welcomed by new public media audiences.

We are forever grateful for the tireless efforts of the LAPM staff and other project collaborators who took many risks and showed enormous perseverance and creativity on this journey with Radio Bilingüe.  We also thank the Corporation for Public Broadcasting for its major support of the project.

We are especially grateful for our LA>Forward followers who provided us with support, encouragement and valuable feedback. Their response was proof that a service such as LAPM is wanted and needed.

Radio Bilingüe is honored to have been part of this breakthrough endeavor for public media.  We will showcase the content produced by the LAPM staff for the world to experience in LA>Forward archives still available through its web address, and remain committed to expanding public media services to Latinos and other people of color in Los Angeles and beyond.

Hugo Morales

Executive Director, Radio Bilingüe

hugom@pacbell.net

—The up-and-down Dodgers are back in town, opening a homestand Monday night against the Reds. Maybe Matt Kemp really was distracted last season by Rihanna. He’s having an MVP year without the sultry singer.

—The Monday night J.A.M. Sessions at the Ford Amphitheatre this week features dance and percussion from Senegal. It’s BYOD (Bring Your Own Drum.)

—What? You missed them Sunday night?! Lucky you have one more chance to catch the hot double bill of Bruno Mars & Janelle Monae, Tuesday night at the Gibson Amphitheatre.

—The California Citizens Redistricting Commission issued the first draft of new Congressional and state legislative districts last week, and Zócalo Public Square has assembled a panel to discuss: “Can Redistricting Improve California?” Panelists include Kathay Feng, director of California Common Cause and one of the authors of the 2008 redistricting reform bill; Steven Ochoa, national redistricting coordinator for MALDEF; Joe Mathews, senior fellow at the New America Foundation;  and Dan Schnur, director of University of Southern California’s Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics. Wednesday night at MOCA.

—Star Jones is a novelist? The attorney and TV personality signs “Satan’s Sisters,” Wednesday night at Eso Won Bookstore. (We assume the book isn’t about her former colleagues on “The View.”)

—R&B legend Booker T. Jones plugs in his fabled Hammond B3 at The Satellite in Silver Lake on Thursday night.

Katherine Archuleta was picked by President Obama to lead his reelection campaign.

The California Redistricting Commission releases the first public draft of its new recommended district lines today.

AEG’s proposal for Farmers Field and a football team in L.A. has legs.

If you missed Diego Garcia this week, you can catch him for free in Pasadena on Saturday.

The Mavs are one game away from proving that the Lakers were beaten by the best team in the NBA. Yes, it is all about the Lakers.

Parents object to naming L.A. arts high school after former superintendent Ramon Cortines.

Anti-abortion billboards targeting Latinos will go up throughout California.

Watch this CNN profile of Latina director Carmen Marron who made her first movie with no prior film making experience.

Don’t miss the screening of Martin Scorsese’s homage to the Mississippi Delta blues “Feel Like Going Home” at the California African American Museum tonight at 7pm.

The meet the Rockies tonight.

—Get an early start to the weekend by checking out NY lipsters (Latino hipsters) Si*Sé, Thursday night at the Key Club in West Hollywood.

—You bring a t-shirt and artist and DJ Eamon Ore-Giron provides the designs and the tunes for T-Shirt Revival Night, Saturday at the Outpost for Contemporary Art in Highland Park. It’s part of the Northeast L.A. Second Saturday Gallery Night.

—In conjunction with the photo exhibition, “A Revolutionary Project: Cuba from Walker Evans to Now,” the Getty Museum is presenting “Soy Cuba!”–two afternoons of film screenings, including “Our Man in Havana,” “I Am Cuba,” “Memories of Underdevelopment,” and “Lucia.” Find the schedule here.

—It’s that time of year: the Playboy Jazz Festival takes over the Hollywood Bowl on Saturday and Sunday, featuring The Roots, a New Orleans celebration, Buddy Guy, and Cuban legend Carlos Varela.

—The newly-opened Vincent Price Art Museum is having a fundraiser featuring a 3-D screening of “House of Wax,” the classic horror film that stars the museum’s namesake. It takes place Saturday night at the Downtown Independent theater.

—It may be one of the best shows of the summer: Bruno Mars and Janelle Monae (pictured) do their thing Sunday night (and next Tuesday) at the Gibson Amphitheatre.

Mayor Villaraigosa appoints Borja Leon to head his America Fast Forward plan.

Cities of Lancaster and Palmdale are accused of trying to “oust” Latinos and African Americans.

Check out the new video “Jardinero” by Ozomatli.

Laurence Fishburne is done with CSI.

The U.S. national soccer team beat Canada in the Gold Cup tournament opener.

The former Victor Clothing Co. building in downtown L.A. is famous for the murals that adorn its exterior, including “The Pope of Broadway,” the monumental image of Anthony Quinn by Eloy Torrez that covers the back wall.

But the store’s former owners also commissioned artworks for the interior, including John Valadez’s epic “Broadway Mural” from 1981 (detail pictured). Valadez, whose studio was once upstairs from the clothing store, executed the mural on several panels that collectively measure 8′x60′.

When the building was sold in 2001, Valadez’s mural was purchased by philanthropist and collector Peter Norton, and the artist recently told LA>FWD that his mural is on loan to the Rand Corporation in Santa Monica.

Unfortunately, the private think tank’s headquarters aren’t open to the public so this L.A. art treasure remains out of view.

(image via publicartinla.com)

The Citizens Redistricting Commission created by voters last year to redraw Congressional Districts throughout the state will release their first draft on Friday. An early draft of Orange County district lines completely eliminates Rep. Loretta Sanchez’s Latino majority district. This early draft will probably not withstand public scrutiny and clearly doesn’t satisfy Voter Rights Act requirements.

Latino street gang members in Azusa are charged with “harassing and terrorizing” blacks.

Check out L.A. Times Magazine’s list of the top 50 L.A. bands. Los Lobos at number 5 sounds about right but Weezer at 46, Sublime at 49?

Diego Garcia is at the Echo tomorrow night but here’s a nice interview today and listen to a live performance on KCRW now.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. announced today that he’ll fight Victor Ortiz on September 17.

The U.S. Supreme Court will allow California to continue offering in-state college tuition to anyone who completes at least 3 years and graduates from high school within the state, including undocumented immigrants.

An interesting take on inter-minority racism.

Read a first-hand account of living in the once-gentrifying West Adams district by KCRW General Manager Jennifer Ferro.

The L.A. independent film festival “Dances with Films” runs through this week.

It was a good weekend for Mexican sports, including a 5-0 win over El Salvador for the national soccer team and boxing scion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. beat Sebastian Zbik in a middleweight title fight.

—The Rhino Records Pop-Up Store in Westwood is featuring live music nightly, and Monday night it’s East L.A. singing legend Little Willie G, backed by the East L.A. Philharmonic Orchestra. Wednesday night they’ve got Guatemala-born songstress Gaby Moreno.

—Eric Overmyer, co-creator of HBO’s “Treme,” sits down with USC professor and music maven Josh Kun to talk about “Catastrophe, Survival, Music and Renewal: New Orleans Culture Post-Katrina,” Monday night at the Central Library.

—If live storytelling is your thing, check out The Moth GrandSLAM, a competition that attracts L.A’s. best spinners of true tales. Monday night at The Echoplex.

—Tuesday night at downtown’s The Mayan, there’s a benefit for ailing Los Straitjackets guitarist Danny Amis (aka Daddy O Grande) featuring his bandmates, plus Jimmy Vivino & the Basic Cable Band (from Conan O’Brien’s show). With special guests including Cesar Rosas & David Hidalgo of Los Lobos, and Exene Cervenka.

—Wednesday night, author Ifalade Ta’Shia Asanti signs her latest, “The Bones Do Talk,” at Eso Won Bookstore.

—Diego Garcia (pictured), former frontman for Elefant, has launched his solo career and Wednesday night he showcases his new sound at The Echo in Silverlake.

—PBS’s 2003 documentary series “The Blues” featured contributions from various directors. Thursday night, the California African American Museum in Exposition Park will screen “Feel Like Going Home,” the entry from Martin Scorsese.