Downtown Los Angeles is often measured by cranes, capital investment, and construction permits. But beyond the skyline is something more enduring — Black excellence in Downtown Los Angeles operates at the center of policy, mobility, commerce, history, and creativity.
If you don’t know, now you know.
“Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.” -James Baldwin
One. Karen Bass – Civic Leadership at City Hall
Photo Courtesy Karen Bass
Always in the eye of the storm, Karen Bass became the 43rd Mayor of Los Angeles in 2022, making history as the first woman and first Black woman elected to lead the city.
Before City Hall, Bass served six terms in the U.S. House of Representatives representing California’s 37th Congressional District and was the first Black woman to serve as Speaker of the California State Assembly. Her political roots trace back to founding the Community Coalition in South Los Angeles, addressing public health, policing reform, and neighborhood investment.
Today, Bass has been praised by many Angelenos for her emergency responses to homelessness, strong anti-ICE sentiments, development initiatives, transportation improvements, and infrastructure efforts that are helping shape the future of DTLA.
While making Black history, Bass has withstood both criticism and praise for the paths she has cleared and the changes she has made. That visibility carries both pride and pressure proving that leadership at the highest level of Los Angeles is always within reach. Yet she remains under constant public scrutiny — often over situations far beyond her immediate control. Only history will answer the question: will she be able to handle the flames?
Stay Strong Sis!
Two. Riding on the Metro with Cheif Executive Officer, Stephanie Wiggins
Photo Courtesy Metro Transit Authority
Wowow! In how many ways has Metro changed since Stephanie Wiggins began serving as Chief Executive Officer of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro), one of the largest public transit systems in the United States?
Making history, Stephanie Wiggins took the helm at Los Angeles Metro in 2021. Among the most transformative achievements during her tenure are the opening of the Regional Connector Transit Project in 2023; the launch of the K Line connecting South Los Angeles and Inglewood; the new LAX/Metro Transit Center Station; the Rail-to-Rail Active Transportation Corridor; and major expansions of the A Line, G Line, and D Line.
Under her leadership, Metro has strengthened safety and security through an expanded Transit Ambassador program, additional public safety initiatives, and the installation and upgrade of gated TAP entry systems across stations to improve fare compliance and controlled access. The agency has supported ridership growth as post-pandemic recovery accelerated and delivered tens of millions of free rides to students through the GoPass program.
Her efforts have also earned national recognition for advancing equity and expanding access ahead of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, ensuring major infrastructure projects are completed well before the global spotlight turns to Los Angeles and positioning Downtown for long-term mobility success.
Despite the very real challenges Metro continues to face on a daily basis, there have been notable improvements in safety and cleanliness, leading to a heightened sense of morale among riders.
At the same time, Metro’s social media presence has adopted a noticeably lighter tone. Under Wiggins’ leadership, the agency has embraced playful, community-facing marketing — from energetic dance videos featuring Metro operators to light satire about everyday transit life and culturally connected initiatives like the limited-edition Nipsey Hussle TAP card.
With the grand opening of the D Line extension through Koreatown and into the Westside, Metro’s marketing team once again captured public attention with what may become one of the boldest transit campaigns in recent memory — inviting riders to proudly wear T-shirts that read, “Ride the D.”
Lol. Say less!
Three. Nolan Marshall III – South Park Social District Leadership
For those not already familiar, South Park Social District spans 52 blocks and is the fastest-growing residential district in Downtown Los Angeles. It is home to L.A. Live, the Los Angeles Convention Center, Crypto.com Arena, the GRAMMY Museum, California Hospital, glitzy hotels, and millions of visitors who pass through each year for events like LA Comic Con, Lakers games, and major annual conventions.
When Nolan Marshall III was invited to move to Los Angeles after serving as CEO of Downtown Vancouver in British Columbia, best believe he already knew just what it meant navigating the economic, political, and cultural dynamics of a major urban core positioning him to step confidently into his role as CEO of the South Park Social District.
With more than just a sense of how to do the job, Marshall has brought with him years of hands-on civic leadership, a deep understanding of urban revitalization, and a track record of guiding complex downtown districts through growth and transformation.
Making history as the first of his kind in Downtown, Marshall oversees a team of nearly 30 ambassadors who maintain public safety and cleanliness seven days a week, while also managing placemaking, marketing, and community events. He actively supports the future of DTLA, regularly advocating at City Hall for responsible expansion, business development, and policies that reinforce a safe environment for families in downtown Los Angeles.
From business support to aesthetics, since his arrival in 2022 Marshall has produced dozens of community events, giveaways, and civic improvements. He also introduced Pico, the district’s canine ambassador, to promote responsible pet ownership and strengthen community engagement. Under his leadership, the Social District has enhanced lighting, added new landscaping, installed upgraded receptacle bins, and launched the weekly South Park Farmers Market — voted the #1 Farmers Market in Downtown Los Angeles by Downtown News.
While supporting a diverse mix of local business owners, collaborating with civic leaders and managing the daily intensity of the urban core, Marshall’s approach combines creativity, intentional investment, and strategic leadership. His efforts have helped make the South Park SoCal District economically strong, socially vibrant, and visibly well maintained — complete with upgraded utility boxes honoring downtown movers and shakers, parklets featuring green space, and yes, dog waste stations.
Good Lookin’ Out!
Four. Derrick Moore – Commercial Real Estate Leadership from On Top of the Hill
Photo Courtesy Eric Epperson/DT Weekly
If the new downtown had a list of founding fathers Derrick Moore’s name would come up as one of the first. His impact on Downtown Los Angeles is measured not just in square footage, but in the radical transformation of the city’s identity.
Sitting on top of the world of commercial real estate, Sir Derrick Moore is the Senior Vice President at CBRE, the largest commercial real estate firm in the world. As of 2026, CBRE remains the unrivaled global leader in the industry, distinguished by its massive scale and “multi-engine” business model that spans more than 100 countries. The firm is recognized not just for brokerage, but as a Fortune 500 powerhouse that manages billions of square feet for the world’s largest corporations. It is the benchmark that institutional investors use to price the market, known for its “Information Advantage”—a vast database of global real estate intelligence that allows its leaders to predict urban trends before they happen.
From his window seat above the city, Moore continues redefining the city through a series of high-stakes negotiations bent on turning a dormant urban center into a global destination for residential and retail investment.
Moore was a primary champion of the 2005 Adaptive Reuse Ordinance, a landmark law that allowed for the revitalization of historic buildings constructed before 1974. This single policy change allowed Downtown to shepherd the conversion of empty, historic relics into thriving live-work-play spaces, effectively reshaping the architectural character of every district from Little Tokyo to the Financial District. His includes securing pioneering tenants like Bottega Louie, Baco Mercat, CVS, and Whole Foods, just to name a few coupled with his current projects at California Plaza, Los Angeles Athletic Club and the Park Fifth Towers.
Now that we’ve established there wouldn’t be a downtown as we know it without visionaries like Derrick Moore, we continue with congratulations and equate Moore’s existence with a modern day phenomenon.
On Gang!
Five. Keri Freeman – Diversity in Local Media Sharing DTLA Worldwide
Photo Courtesy Abracadabra Productions/DT Weekly
Keri Freeman is a writer, artist, musician, comedienne, published author, and commercial real estate professional whose work centers on Downtown Los Angeles.
She founded Gallery Art Walk News in 2009, focused on the original Downtown LA Art Walk, which later evolved into Downtown Weekly created in 2016. The publication distributes in more than 150 cafés, hotels, food halls, and transit hubs across Downtown Los Angeles, helping local businesses grow without incurring crippling debt.
Today, her publications reach over 8 million people annually while Freeman continues to organize community engagement events like DTLA Coffee Week, Pizza Week, Gray Pride Month, Vegan Weekend, and the DTLA Writer’s Club, connecting residents and patrons while supporting local vendors. Her work ensures that Downtown’s stories especially those of color, and other local businesses are amplified in a meaningful, accessible way.
As the days move forward Freeman has devoted herself to the Return of Art Walk News, creation of the DTLA Parade and joining the fight to make downtown LA its own civic district.
Go head with your bad self!
Six. Kevin Harbour – Strictly Business with BizFed Institute
Photo Courtesy BizFed Institute
Kevin Harbour has been appointed CEO of the BizFed Institute, marking a major new chapter for both the organization and the Downtown Los Angeles business landscape. For seven years, he served as the Institute’s President, but this promotion places him at the helm during a critical time for the city.
He is a strategist who brings over 30 years of corporate experience from powerhouses like Xerox and Verizon to the nonprofit world, where he has been dedicated to bridging the gap between high-level policy and the everyday needs of local entrepreneurs.
He has been a relentless advocate for moving capital into the community, and his first major act as CEO is the upcoming Business Access to Funding Summit on Thursday, March 26, 2026. This downtown event is designed to help business owners secure the funding they need to scale by placing them in the same room as the California State Treasurer and top banking executives. Harbour has focused on ensuring these summits provide a tactical roadmap for entrepreneurs to get their businesses “funding-ready,” moving past red tape and toward direct financial resources.
As Los Angeles prepares for the 2028 Olympics, Harbour is positioning local businesses to compete for the major contracts and opportunities coming to the region. Whether chairing the CA Jobs First Steering Committee or moderating high-level forums, Kevin Harbour is working to ensure the city’s economic growth is both robust and accessible to everyone.
Big Boss Moves!
Seven. David Anderson – Running Thangs at Peacock Theater
Photo Courtesy AEG
David Anderson serves as General Manager at the Peacock Theater, a 7,100-seat live entertainment venue located within the L.A. LIVE sports and entertainment district in Downtown Los Angeles. The theater hosts major concerts, televised productions, award shows, and live events attended by hundreds of thousands of people annually.
In his leadership role, Anderson oversees daily operations, event coordination, guest experiences, and production planning — functions that make the theater a world-class destination and a cornerstone of Downtown’s entertainment economy. Under his direction, the Peacock Theater has become the definitive home for the industry’s most prestigious events, hosting the Primetime Emmy Awards, the BET Awards, the American Music Awards, the ESPYs and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Making history alongside the world-most cherished entertainment icons, Anderson overseas the theater at the Peacock Theater – a crossroads for global stardom. He has hosted legendary performances from icons like Aretha Franklin, the Eagles, and John Fogerty, as well as modern powerhouses like Katy Perry, Ed Sheeran, AeroSmith and Kendrick Lamar.
Anderson’s leadership ensures the venue remains a premier hub for a diverse range of audience experiences while reinforcing Downtown Los Angeles as a premier hub for live performance and world-class audience experiences.
Party over here!
Eight. Prophet Walker – United Artists Renovation & Development
Photo Courtesy Treehouse.
Prophet Walker is the Co-Founder and CEO of Treehouse, a revolutionary “co-living” brand where residents live in private bedrooms but share expansive communal spaces like professional-grade kitchens, libraries, and rooftop gardens. He is a pioneering developer and a restorative justice advocate who has proven that a person’s past does not have to dictate their future, with a story of radical transformation—from an incarcerated youth who convinced the state of California to bring college education behind bars to a degree-holding civil engineer now shaping the way people live and connect in a modern city.
His work on the downtown Los Angeles includes the historic restoration of the United Artists Building on Broadway. Originally rebranded as Ace Hotel DTLA, Parker served as a lead project engineer responsible for the technical “heavy lifting” required to transform the decaying 1927 Gothic United Artists building into a luxury cultural landmark.
In this role, he managed complex seismic retrofitting and the adaptive reuse of 11 floors, ensuring the building’s historic soul remained intact while its structural integrity was brought into the 21st century.
Building on that foundation of technical precision, Walker also served as a key engineer for a cutting-edge, 6-story subterranean robotic parking garage in the downtown area, which utilized a fully automated “eValet” system to retrieve vehicles in roughly 60 seconds. By maximizing space in the city’s dense urban core through these sophisticated engineering systems, Parker is helping to set new standards for sustainable and tech-driven urban development.
In early February 2026, Prophet Walker was honored in Leimert Park at a major community celebration attended by Mayor Karen Bass and Senator Lola Smallwood-Cuevas. The event celebrated his recent official clemency and his ongoing commitment to the neighborhood, where he has been instrumental in preserving local landmarks like Harun Coffee and planning a new 101-unit mixed-use project. Through every brick and beam, he continues to build a Los Angeles that reflects the strength of its community and the power of second chances.
No cap!
Nine. Chef Amar Santana – Culinary History at VACA DTLA
Photo Courtesy VACA Restaurants
Dominican-born, Queens-raised celebrity chef, Top Chef finalist and Top Chef: World All-Stars competitor Amar Santana, whose restaurants have earned recognition in the Michelin Guide, is now making his mark on Downtown Los Angeles with the opening of VACA DTLA — a bold Spanish steakhouse anchoring the city’s evolving luxury dining scene.
Never before has Downtown Los Angeles been presented with such a divine table of Spanish excellence.
Inside VACA DTLA, Chef Amar Santana presents a high-impact Spanish steakhouse experience where fire, flavor, and finesse meet. Dry-aged cuts are showcased like art, tapas hit the table with bold intention, and the open kitchen keeps the energy alive. The bar leans into Spain’s signature gin and tonic culture, backed by a thoughtfully curated wine list. The chef also prepares a thousand-dollar steak experience of pure indulgence, sliced tableside with ceremony.
Lo mío es mío!
Ten. The Four Brothers of Old Hillside Bourbon
Photo Courtesy Old Hillside Bourbon
On the day Jesse Carpenter conceived his first vision of the Old Hillside Bourbon Company, he and his childhood friend Brian Burton were sharing the roaring excitement of a day at the Kentucky races. Leaned into the afternoon with bourbon in hand and cigars in the air, the two traded stories of Old Hillside High—math and English drills, legendary sports heroes, and the rush of first loves.
Somewhere between those breathes of nostalgia and the grandeur of the track, the energy shifted into a new kind of clarity. As they marveled at the majestic horses, the skill of the jockeys, and the roar of the fans, a quiet realization began to weave through the mood. Amidst all that world-class pageantry, they couldn’t help but notice the thinness of Black representation in the winner’s circle.
It wasn’t a somber turn, but a purposeful one. That observation didn’t dampen the day; it ignited a vision. In that moment, the spirit of their shared past met the reality of the present, and the idea for a bourbon that honored Black roots in horse racing claimed its place on the grand stage.
Soon they would join forces with Courtney Tucker and Emmanuel Waters, forming a team committed not just to spirits, but to storytelling and community impact.
The brand draws inspiration from the dominance of Black jockeys in early Kentucky Derby history. Riders like Oliver Lewis, Alonzo Clayton, and Isaac Murphy shaped the sport before segregation pushed them out for decades.
Distilled in Kentucky using limestone-filtered water, Old Hillside Bourbon blends craftsmanship with cultural preservation, positioning itself as a lifestyle brand rooted in history, achievement, and representation.
The newest release from Old Hillside Bourbon Company is the BE Edition, Harlem Hellfighters Blend, in homage to the storied Harlem Hellfighters who served with distinction in World War I. Other commemorative bottles from the brand include The Trifecta Blend, created to celebrate pioneering Black women in horse racing and The Last Rye’d straight rye whiskey, which pays tribute to legendary Black jockeys Isaac Murphy, Alonzo Clayton, Oliver Lewis, and Soup Perkins, whose dominance of the Kentucky Derby helped shape the sport’s early legacy.
The company has also released Purple Heart Rye Tribute, honoring the bravery and sacrifice of military veterans Sergeant Derek Drew and Corporal Nathan Jakubisin, while its core expressions such as Founder’s Select Bourbon, Kentucky Straight Bourbon, and The Hornet’s Nest showcase Old Hillside’s commitment to craftsmanship and heritage rooted in history and culture. These bottles can be found locally at Lazy Dog and for those lucky enough to stumble upon one downtowns famous whisky tasting events.
Winning!
Downtown Los Angeles continues evolving, but its future isn’t determined by statistics alone. It’s shaped by people — black leaders, strategists, innovators, storytellers, cultural icons, and historical pioneers. In downtown Los Angeles, Black excellence is not a sidebar in DTLA’s evolution it’s the foundation.
