Destination Crenshaw

SoCal Noma Summer Camp- RHINO

Picture this: you're visiting California for the first time, arriving at LAX and navigating your way into the city. Thanks to the recently completed Metro rail line connecting LAX directly to key parts of Los Angeles, travelers can now reach their destinations with greater speed and convenience. While the majority of the line runs underground, a 1.3-mile stretch emerges at street level…right through the heart of Crenshaw.

The introduction of this segment initially sparked concern among community members, who questioned why their neighborhood had to bear the increased noise, infrastructure, and foot traffic. However, over time, the community began to recognize the potential benefits. Today, the metro line is increasingly seen as a gateway to greater accessibility and economic opportunity for Crenshaw.

This project is more than just beautification—it’s a spark for economic growth. With a strong focus on hiring locally and supporting small, Black-owned businesses, Destination Crenshaw will create pathways into the construction trades, elevate local entrepreneurs, and showcase creative talent through ongoing programming. The improvements we make together will ensure that our community directly shares in the benefits of this transformation.

This project was made to show that the Black LA is not to be missed or overlooked, it is to be valued and treasured. Featuring over 100 pieces of public art created by Black artists with ties to Los Angeles, this initiative represents the largest Black-led public art program in the nation. These works celebrate our legacy, creativity, and collective future. Spanning four new acres of cultural open space, the project will help restore and energize the Crenshaw Corridor—South LA’s most vital commercial district, a hub of Black enterprise, and the heart of the largest Black community on the West Coast.

Everyone was given a “Jedi”, an inspiration, and mine was Charles Dickson. Charles Dickson is an artist who finds meaning in the things most people overlook. The way he works with wood, carving it by hand and bringing out its texture and life, feels like he’s pulling stories straight from the material. His art has a deep, grounded energy that really spoke to me. Heart has been self-described as “reflecting the “Oneness” of the universe - that we are all One, part of One creation.”.

When I started designing my jazz restaurant and club, I kept thinking about how his work made me feel. I decided to use wood on the exterior of the building because I wanted it to carry that same spirit. I wanted the outside of the space to feel warm, rooted, and full of character. Just like Dickson’s sculptures, I wanted it to speak before anyone even steps inside.

Using wood wasn’t just a design choice. It was a way to honor his influence and create something that feels connected to the culture and the stories that shaped it. The Stump isn’t just a space for music and food. It’s a space that holds memories that honors the past, just like Dickson does with every piece he creates.