WalkGood LA founder Etienne Maurice leads his first yoga class in the WalkGood Yard on Feb. 20, 2024 in Arlington Heights.
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Aaricka Washington
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LAist
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Topline:
WalkGood LA brings yoga, wellness to a neighborhood that's been underserved by services like this.
Why it matters: Etienne Maurice’s main goal has always been to offer a safe space for Black people, and other people of color in L.A., who are impacted by racism. He sees The WalkGood Yard as a natural extension of this, as yoga is good for the heart, body and soul.
The COVID-19 pandemic and cases of police brutality only exacerbated the health issues that have existed in Black communities nationwide, like higher rates of obesity and diabetes, according to a recent report from L.A. County that highlights the impact of systemic racism on Black residents.
The backstory: WalkGood LA, a nonprofit wellness organization, all began when founder and filmmaker Etienne Maurice and his cousin, Marley Ralph, a yoga instructor, organized a march and community yoga class at L.A. Memorial Park that June as a peaceful protest.
Soon after, WalkGood LA was born and Maurice started hosting wellness events all over the city, encouraging residents of color to get outside and into their bodies. Nowadays, at the yoga events held at Kenneth Hahn Park, a couple hundred people still regularly show up. The Yard is WalkGood's first brick and mortar space offering classes.
Eira Schwyzer decided to brave the rainy weather Tuesday to go to a yoga class in the Arlington Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles. It’s a new studio in an area that hasn’t had a lot of options for practicing a downward-facing dog pose, or really any kind of yoga.
The WalkGood Yard opened on Sunday, the first physical space of the Black-owned nonprofit wellness organization WalkGood LA.
For Schwyzer, she sees it as a necessity in her working-class, predominantly Latino, Black and Asian neighborhood.
“I believe that this is what we need to be investing in,” Schwyzer says. “Now I feel like I can go to a place that is for people like me, Afro-Indigenous Latino people, who need something to be able to go to, connect with our community and focus on our mental and physical well-being. This is a place where we can elevate our community and inspire people to do the same.”
A wellness movement born from protest
Schwyzer has been attending WalkGood LA events since the organization formed in 2020 in response to the murders of Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd Jr. and Breonna Taylor — two of those deaths at the hands of police.
It all began when founder and filmmaker Etienne Maurice, his sister Ivy Maurice and his cousin, Marley Ralph, a yoga instructor, organized a march and community yoga class at L.A. Memorial Park that June as a peaceful protest. Soon after, WalkGood LA was born and Maurice started hosting wellness events all over the city, encouraging residents of color to get outside and into their bodies.
In the beginning, Maurice says roughly 450 people showed up at the park every Sunday. Nowadays, at yoga events held at Kenneth Hahn Park, a couple hundred people still regularly show up.
Listen
24:48
How I Got Started: Community Builder Etienne Maurice
Maurice’s main goal has always been to offer a safe space for Black people, and other people of color in L.A. who are impacted by racism. He sees The WalkGood Yard as a natural extension of this, as he sees yoga as good for the heart, body and soul.
The COVID-19 pandemic and cases of police brutality have exacerbated the health issues that have existed in Black communities nationwide, like higher rates of obesity and diabetes, according to a report from L.A. County that highlights the impact of systemic racism on Black residents. Black people are also 20% more likely to experience serious mental health issues than the general population, according to the American Psychiatric Association.
And practicing yoga on a regular basis has multiple benefits, including reducing levels of stress, improving strength and relieving pain.
Neighborhood history
The new studio is on West Pico Boulevard, a mile away from where Maurice grew up in his mom’s house, and not too far away from L.A. Memorial Park where WalkGood LA started. But there’s even more intention behind the location of this space. It’s the rich history surrounding the neighborhood.
Right across the street is Jewel Thais-Williams’ Catch One, one of the first Black disco night clubs in the nation, and one of the most prominent gay bars in L.A.
And the studio space is just about a mile north from the West Adams neighborhood, a once prominent area for upper-middle-class Black Angelenos.
In the 1960s, dozens of Black-owned homes in the wealthy Sugar Hill neighborhood were bulldozed with the construction of the I-10 Santa Monica Freeway. That community was split in half, forcing many families to move south of the freeway throughout areas like Baldwin Hills and other locations south of the 10 Freeway.
For Maurice, bringing a Black-owned space back to the area is like reclaiming history.
“Here we are … years later, a Black-owned organization, a Black-owned building … trying to bring that same spirit of entrepreneurship, but with healing attached to it,” Maurice says. “I think this is going to be the start of something that I've really envisioned for the city of L.A. to make some real change in this community.”
When conceiving the space, Maurice says he was inspired by Arlington Heights’ Underground Museum — which was one of the nation’s leading spaces for Black art, and a community space for healing practitioners, creatives and activists until it closed unexpectedly in March 2022. Maurice recalls the different exhibits, community gatherings and movie screenings the museum held for people who lived in the area. He wants to bring the essence of community building, art and entrepreneurship back to Mid-City, and add yoga to the mix.
“I think that's the whole purpose of bringing people together from all walks of life,” Maurice says. “So that we can create a more healing community in Los Angeles because right now it's looking like Gotham City.”
Stepping inside the Yard
If visitors are not careful, they could miss the space. It’s sandwiched in between several other businesses down a busy stretch of Pico Boulevard. There’s a vivid, yet simple sign with white lettering that says "The WalkGood Yard."
When visitors first walk into the new studio, they are greeted by the sounds of R&B classics like Mint Condition’s "If You Love Me," and a mural of Maurice’s maternal grandparents, to whom he’s dedicated the space.
WalkGood LA founder Etienne Maurice stands in front of a mural of his grandparents, to whom he's dedicated the space.
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Aaricka Washington
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LAist
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Maurice’s family is from Jamaica, so the vibrant space is full of pride in those roots — red, gold and green colors fill the rooms.
“It reminds me of home, and for me home is Los Angeles by the way of Jamaica,” Maurice says.
Photos of family and family friends — like Maurice’s mom, actress Sheryl Lee Ralph; civil rights activist Rosa Parks, R&B singer Luther Vandross — adorn the WalkGood heritage wall.
Photos of Black leaders, family and friends — like Maurice’s mom, actress Sheryl Lee Ralph; civil rights activist Rosa Parks, R&B singer Luther Vandross — adorn the WalkGood heritage wall.
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Aaricka Washington
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LAist
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The main studio is spacious with a lot of windows and natural light, wood floors and exposed brick walls. There’s also a meditation room called the Zen Den that is full of pillows and cushions on a soft, plush carpet. It will be used for sound bowls, and just chilling.
The Zen Den meditation room has pillows and cushions on a soft, plush carpet. It will be used for sound bowls, and just chilling.
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Aaricka Washington
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LAist
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The first yoga class
On Tuesday, a few days after its grand opening, members grabbed their yoga mats, while Maurice changed the music playlist to a more calm, classical one. “Good Flow,” a traditional, calm yoga class, was the first paid members-only session in the new studio space.
“You are joining me for our first good flow here at the WalkGood Yard,” Maurice says. “We got a new sound system installed. Pretty much everything is how we want it to be on this gloomy, bright rainy day.”
He then gets right into one-hour long class with a "savasana" pose where everyone is on their backs with the soles of their feet together with one hand on their diaphragm, and the other on their heart.
WalkGood LA founder Etienne Maurice facilitates a "Good Flow" yoga session for the new WalkGood Yard members on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024 in the Arlington Heights neighborhood.
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Aaricka Washington
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LAist
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Classes info
To attend regular classes at the Yard, Maurice is asking that people become a member. There are three membership tiers ranging from five classes a month for $99 to unlimited classes for $225 a month (and a lot more perks). Drop-in classes are $25 each, which is about the average price for a yoga class in L.A.
WalkGood LA will still host free outdoor events like group hikes and run clubs monthly. BreatheGood, a community-donation-based yoga class, will continue to be held at Kenneth Hahn Park on the first Sundays of every month.
Maurice says that they will offer YouGood? A Black Men’s Healing Circle for free at the Yard.
Long Beach resident Jasmine Jones says she's happy to join. Not only has Jones been searching for a good spot to do yoga, she’s also been looking for community and a way to make new friends. She says Maurice’s Good Flow class made her feel welcomed and accepted, unlike how she’s felt in some classes that were in predominantly white spaces.
“It was relaxing and soothing,” Jones says. “I like being in a Black space. I notice when I'm in other yoga spaces, the energy feels different. It's just the vibe of being around your own people. It feels like home. It feels grounded.”
O.C. Japan Fest, corgi beach day, the grunions are back, a new play festival, a talk with Sen. Cory Booker and more of the best things to do this weekend.
Highlights:
Experience sakura season without leaving the area at the O.C. Japan Fair, featuring 250 vendors, craftspeople, food booths, art activities and more, all celebrating Japanese culture.
Check out readings of five new plays – all for free! – at the Play L.A. New Works Festival, put on by Stage Raw and the Greenway Arts Alliance along with a number of L.A. indie theater powerhouses.
Spend Friday night with New Jersey Senator Cory Booker, whose new book, Stand, tells stories from his political life that aim to share “actionable insights” to help preserve democracy in these challenging times.
I hope you had luck in securing the first round of LA28 Olympics tickets — and that you’re not still waiting for page refreshes this morning! We’ve got all the info on how to get your tickets and why you shouldn’t fret if it doesn’t work out on this first try.
LAist’s Mariana Dale went to Hollywood High School this week to see how students and teachers felt about Mitski bringing a concert to the historic space. Seems like no one was missing class since perfect attendance meant a shot at tickets.
No matter your music taste, there’s a show for you this weekend. It may not be the height of summer yet, but things will be heating up at the Hollywood Bowl as Ben Platt and Rachel Zegler reunite for their concert performance of Broadway hit The Last Five Years. Plus, Licorice Pizza recommends Mercury Prize-winning London rapper Dave at the Palladium, St. Paul & the Broken Bones are at the Belasco, Calum Scott plays the Wiltern, and there’s a really cool First Fridays night at the Natural History Museum with dub legend Adrian Sherwood. Saturday has pop trio LANY at the Intuit Dome, Lamb of God slaughtering the YouTube Theater, SoundCloud rapper Rich Amiri at the Fonda, post-hardcore band Hail the Sun at the Wiltern, pop sensation Nessa Barrett at the Masonic Lodge, and another rising pop star, Alexander Stewart, at Chinatown’s cool new venue, Pacific Electric.
Experience sakura season without leaving the area at the O.C. Japan Fair, featuring 250 vendors, craftspeople, food booths, art activities and more, all celebrating Japanese culture. From sake tastings to sushi-making workshops to musical performances and kimono try-ons, the annual event is one of the largest Japanese cultural fairs in California.
Play L.A. New Works Festival
April 3-4 Greenway Court Theatre 544 North Fairfax Ave., Mid-City COST: FREE, MORE INFO
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PLAY LA Festival
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Check out readings of five new plays — all for free! — at the Play L.A. New Works Festival, put on by Stage Raw and the Greenway Arts Alliance, along with a number of L.A. indie theater powerhouses. This year’s plays are Stonewall’s Bouncer by Louisa Hill, produced by The Victory Theatre; At Olduvai Gorge by India Kotis, produced by The Odyssey Theatre Company; Ghost Play by Mathew Scott Montgomery, produced by InHouse Theatre; The Incident by Rachel Borders, produced by The Road Theatre Ensemble; and Three Dates by Erica Wachs, produced by IAMA Theatre Company. Go see one, or go see them all!
SoCal Corgi Beach Day
Saturday, April 4, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. 21351 California 1, Huntington Beach COST: FREE; MORE INFO
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Vlad D
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Unsplash
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Head to Huntington Beach for the cutest event of the year, the annual SoCal Corgi Beach Day. This year’s theme is "Tiki Beach Pawty," because of course it is. Honor Queen Elizabeth II’s favorite pets and spend the day at the beach with these short, stout, snuggly friends while they frolic and compete in events like — I am not making this up – Corgi Limbo.
Plaza Mexico Celebrates Easter
Sunday, April 5, 12:00 p.m. to 4 p.m. 3100 E. Imperial Highway, Lynwood COST: FREE; MORE INFO
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Plaza México
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You have your pick of Easter Bunny photo ops and egg hunts around town, and Plaza Mexico would be a great one with the family. Meet and take a picture with the Easter bunny, enjoy kids' arts & crafts, family activities, vendors and sweet treats.
Writers Bloc: Cory Booker
Friday, April 3, 7:30 p.m. John Adams Middle School (JAMS) Performing Arts Center 2425 16th St., Santa Monica COST: $33; MORE INFO
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 05: Senator Cory Booker attends PBS' "Black & Jewish America: An Interwoven History" Screening With Henry Louis Gates, Jr. And Conversation With Sen. Cory Booker at 92NY on February 05, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
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Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
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Getty Images North America
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Spend Friday night with New Jersey Senator Cory Booker, whose new book, Stand, tells stories from his political life that aim to share "actionable insights" to help preserve democracy in these challenging times. The conversation with Writers Bloc will be hosted by Sean Bailey, the former head of Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture Production for 14 years and the current CEO of the new multi-platform production company B5 Studios. The event is sold out, but there is a waitlist available.
Behind the Canvas — An Exclusive Art Talk with the Jurors of A Woman's Place: Framing the Future
Saturday, April 4, 11 a.m. Ebell of Los Angeles 741 S. Lucerne Blvd., Mid-Wilshire COST: FREE; MORE INFO
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The Ebell
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Have coffee and doughnuts with the curators of the Ebell’s Women’s History Month exhibit, "A Woman’s Place: Framing the Future." You can catch the show before it closes and see work from women artists exploring new interpretations of womanhood, feminism and art.
Grunion Run
Saturday, April 4, starting at 10:30 p.m. Venice Breakwater Ocean Front Walk, Venice COST: FREE; MORE INFO
Thousands of grunions on the shore.
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Courtesy of the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium
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I have lived in Venice for more than 20 years and never actually seen a grunion, despite efforts, but that doesn’t mean it’s not fun to see all your neighbors scouring the beach by moonlight on a Saturday night. The Venice Oceanarium folks always organize an educational tent with lessons on how these unique fish show up on our shores to reproduce, and maybe you’ll luck out and time it right this year.
She’s Auspicious
Saturday, April 4, 7 p.m. Broad Stage 1310 11th St., Santa Monica COST: FROM $40; MORE INFO
L.A. native Mythili Prakash takes the Tamil dance form Bharatanatyam to new heights as a choreographer and performer. Her short dance film Mollika, commissioned by Sadler’s Wells Digital Stage in London, was nominated for a 2025 National Dance Award for Best Short Dance Film. She’s Auspicious, her latest production, "blurs the line between goddess and woman, exploring the dichotomy between celebration of the goddess versus the treatment of women in society." It was nominated for an Olivier Award in the category Best New Dance Performance in the U.K., and lucky for us, is on for one performance only at the Broad Stage in Santa Monica.
Julia Barajas
explores how college students achieve their goals, whether they’re fresh out of high school, pursuing graduate work or looking to join the labor force through alternative pathways.
Published April 2, 2026 5:00 AM
Cal State Long Beach is one of the 23 CSU campuses where Teamsters-represented workers held a strike last month.
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Brian Feinzimer
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LAist
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Topline:
The California Public Employment Relations Board (has issued a formal complaint against California State University trustees over the system’s alleged refusal to give raises to trades workers. The complaint follows a statewide strike earlier this year, in which workers at every campus walked off the job.
Why it matters: Teamsters Local 2010 represents 1,100 plumbers, electricians, HVAC techs, locksmiths and other building maintenance staff who work across the CSU system. A formal complaint from the Public Employment Relations Board means the two parties must resolve the dispute in a formal hearing process.
The backstory: According to Teamsters Local 2010, union members won wage increases in 2024 “after nearly three decades of stagnation.” That year, the union was on the verge of striking alongside the system's faculty, but it reached a last-minute deal with the CSU. The union has filed an unfair labor practice charge against the system, arguing that the CSU refused to honor contractually obligated raises and step increases for its members.
What the CSU says: The CSU maintains that conditions described in its collective bargaining agreement with the union — which “tied certain salary increases to the receipt of new, unallocated, ongoing state budget funding” — were not met.
What’s next: In an emailed statement, spokesperson Amy Bentley-Smith said the CSU welcomes “the opportunity to present the facts of this case before an administrative law judge.” After the formal hearing, the state board will propose a resolution to the dispute.
If you're enjoying this article, you'll love our daily newsletter, The LA Report. Each weekday, catch up on the 5 most pressing stories to start your morning in 3 minutes or less.
Wind moves palm trees on Monday, Dec. 29, 2025, in Stanton.
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Mel Melcon
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Los Angeles Times
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QUICK FACTS
Today’s weather: Mostly cloudy then sunny
Beaches: mid to upper 60s
Mountains: mid 60s to around 70 degrees
Inland: 64 to 71 degrees
Warnings and advisories: Wind advisory
What to expect: A mostly sunny afternoon with temperatures sticking to the low to mid 70s for most of Southern California. Breezy conditions will pick up in the afternoon for some valleys and mountain communities.
Read on ... for more details.
QUICK FACTS
Today’s weather: Mostly cloudy then sunny
Beaches: mid to upper 60s
Mountains: mid 60s to around 70 degrees
Inland: 64 to 71 degrees
Warnings and advisories: Wind advisory
The cool weather continues for one more day in Southern California. Later this evening, strong winds will kick in for some mountains and highway corridors ahead of a Santa Ana wind event slated for Friday.
Temperatures at the beaches are going to stick around the mid to upper 60s, and around 70 degrees more inland.
Coachella Valley, San Bernardino and Riverside County mountains will continue to see gusty winds until tonight.
At noon, the Antelope Valley will be under a wind advisory, with winds expected to reach 20 to 30 mph, and some gusts up to 50 mph. Wind advisories will also kick in for the 5 Freeway corridor, Ventura County mountains and the Santa Susana mountains, where gusts could reach 45 mph.
Libby Rainey
has been tracking how L.A. is prepping for the 2028 Olympic Games.
Published April 2, 2026 5:00 AM
The official Olympic flag returns to Los Angeles for the first time in 40 years.
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Dania Maxwell
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Getty Images
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Topline:
One or two line overview of the story, should be sharp and to the point. If it's the only thing they read it should still give them good info.
{ERASE ME — some possible lead ins, please change/add/delete what makes sense for story}
Why it matters:
Why now:
The backstory:
What's next:
Go deeper: {if you have stories you want to link add them here}
A key agreement outlining what city services Los Angeles will provide for the 2028 Olympic Games and how the cash-strapped city will be reimbursed for its extra work is now six months late.
High-stakes talks over that agreement between the city and the private Olympics organizing committee LA28 have dragged far past an Oct. 1 deadline, sparking concern from city officials and observers that taxpayer dollars could be on the line.
City Controller Kenneth Mejia, who audits and scrutinizes city finances, called the delay "deeply troubling."
"The City needs a guarantee from LA28 that they will not go over budget and will pay for all of the additional security, sanitation, transportation, administrative, and any other costs associated with the Games," Mejia said in a statement to LAist. "The preparation and execution of these events should not come at any cost to Los Angeles taxpayers."
The 2028 Olympics are intended to be privately financed, and an existing city agreement with LA28 states that the Olympics organizers, not L.A., will pay for extra costs for public services in support of the Games – like policing and traffic control.
But the nuts and bolts of that arrangement have not been finalized, and if the agreement leaves L.A. exposed to unexpected or additional expenses, taxpayers could end up paying many millions.
Hosting the Games is already an enormous financial risk for Los Angeles. The city is the financial backstop for the Olympic Games, meaning if the organizing committee runs into the red, L.A. will pick up the bill, along with the state of California.
The extra staff and resources the city will dedicate to the Games represents another area where L.A. may end up with surprise costs.
Why is the agreement delayed?
Neither the city nor LA28 have shared publicly what's holding up the deal.
Past public meetings and comments indicate that the two sides may disagree over the scope of LA28's obligation to cover city expenses.
At a December city council meeting, the city administrative officer and council members discussed the boundaries of where LA28's responsibility for a service like traffic control ends and the city's responsibility begins.
The city's Chief Legislative Analyst Sharon Tso, who is leading negotiations with LA28 along with the City Administrative Officer, told LAist in an email Wednesday that the city is still discussing the terms for things like cost estimates, service levels, and timelines for repayment.
"We continue to work diligently with LA28 to finalize the agreement," Tso wrote. "I do not have an anticipated completion date at this time."
Jacie Prieto Lopez, Vice President of Communications and Public Affairs for LA28, said in a statement provided to LAist that the organizing committee was working with city leadership to finalize the agreement.
"We remain engaged in good faith negotiations and look forward to our continued partnership with the City of Los Angeles," she said.
Once the agreement is completed, it will be submitted to the city council and mayor.
LA is counting on federal funding
LA28 isn't the only entity expected to pay L.A. for Olympics-related costs. The city also is banking on money from the federal government, which has allocated $1 billion for security costs.
The city administrative officer told the council last year that city spending on security at the Olympic venues, like for local police, should be covered by those funds.
