"Keep it Run Hundred" runners jog along Culver Boulevard as the traffic signal turns green in Culver City on July 23, 2024.
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Julie Leopo
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LAist
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Topline:
Black, Latino and Asian runners in Los Angeles say the reason why their run clubs are growing is much deeper than what's on social media. It’s a safe space. It’s community-driven. It’s more than just a run club. Here are 24 run BIPOC-led, inclusive clubs you should know.
Why it matters: People are scouring this sprawling region to find community, representation and inclusivity, and running groups led by Black, Asian and Latino runners are leading the pack.
Why now: For decades, the list of runners of African descent who have dominated the track in both sprinting and long distance Olympic races has been long. Even right now, many Americans are crossing their fingers for track athletes like Noah Lyles and Sha’Carri Richardson to take home the gold at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
Black Americans, Jamaicans, Kenyans and others in the African diaspora maybe be prominent in the most competitive spaces, but that doesn’t mean that regular folks are represented fully in the general running industry. According to the 2023 Running USA’s Global Running survey, only 4.8% of long distance runners in the U.S. are Black, even though there is a long history of Black Americans like Ted Corbitt and Marilyn Bevans who have made an impact in the field.
The backstory: But while most run clubs do naturally present an open co-ed space for one to meet the love of their life or their next bestie, many Black, Latino and Asian runners in Los Angeles say the reason why their run clubs are growing is much deeper.
It’s a safe space. It’s community-driven. It’s more than just a run club.
It’s a place where all people, like Lauren Turner who describes herself as a “curvy runner” with a “mom-bod,” feel included in a sport, whose industry has long been predominantly white, thin and competitive, even in film, TV and magazines.
Open up TikTok or X, formerly known as Twitter, and you will find a steady stream of viral content makers declaring run clubs being the new dating apps or thirst-trap opportunities for singles. Others have touted run clubs as a way to make friends.
But while most run clubs do naturally present an open co-ed space for ones to meet the love of their life or their next bestie, many Black, Latino and Asian runners in Los Angeles say the reason why their run clubs are growing is much deeper.
It’s a safe space. It’s community-driven. It’s more than just a run club.
It’s a place where all people, like Lauren Turner who describes herself as a “curvy runner” with a “mom-bod,” feel included in a sport, whose industry has long been predominantly white, thin and competitive, even in film, TV and magazines.
Lauren Turner runs down Culver Boulevard in Culver City with the 'Keep it Run Hundred' running group.
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Julie Leopo
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LAist
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For decades, the list of runners of African descent who have dominated the track in both sprinting and long-distance Olympic races has been long. Even right now, many Americans are crossing their fingers for track athletes like Noah Lyles and Sha’Carri Richardson to take home the gold at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
Black Americans, Jamaicans, Kenyans and others in the African diaspora may be prominent in the most competitive spaces, but that doesn’t mean that regular folks are represented fully in the general running industry. According to the 2023 Running USA’s Global Running survey, only 4.8% of long distance runners in the U.S. are Black, even though there is a long history of Black Americans like Ted Corbitt and Marilyn Bevans who have made an impact in the field.
Things are changing, especially in L.A. where there's a distinct culture around fitness and appearance.
People are scouring this sprawling region to find community, representation and inclusivity, and running groups led by Black, Asian and Latino runners are leading the pack.
#302: Today we're talking about run clubs and how they foster community in L.A. Our associate editor (and our special resident marathon runner) Aaricka Washington looked into running clubs that were founded by Black, Asian and Latino people, the ways that they're offering inclusive, safe spaces for Angelenos, and why they've been growing more popular.
#302: Today we're talking about run clubs and how they foster community in L.A. Our associate editor (and our special resident marathon runner) Aaricka Washington looked into running clubs that were founded by Black, Asian and Latino people, the ways that they're offering inclusive, safe spaces for Angelenos, and why they've been growing more popular.
When Turner, a former competitive athlete in college, tried to jump back into running after having three sons, she hit a hard reality: she couldn’t run faster than a 16-minute mile (which is a slower pace for folks in athletics). She was hoping to get back into running and staying healthy, but found it difficult to do by herself, especially in postpartum and while working as a clinical social worker.
I was weighing the most I've ever weighed in my life. When you weigh more than you're used to, and you're carrying around all that extra weight, it's really hard to move your body the way that you used to move it.
— Lauren Turner
While her third son was still in a stroller and she was still breastfeeding, she decided to check out the Keep It Run Hundred club after a friend recommended the group. Keep It Run Hundred was founded in 2018 by a then-30-year-old from South Central named Alrick “Butta” Augustine who found motivation to lose his “dad weight.”
Turner is now one of the dozens of runners who consistently meet up in Inglewood on Thursdays as part of Keep It Run Hundred.
Keep It Run Hundred founder Alrick "Butta" Augustine gathers participants for a group photo after completing a run.
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Julie Leopo
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The growing popularity of running clubs
When Turner, who is also from South Central, first visited the run club she was nervous, she says, but she yearned for a space to have community support while taking care of her body.
“I was super scared, because I was like, ‘Damn, I'm super slow,’” Turner says.
But when she finished her first run, her perspective started to shift.
“I was like, ‘Whoa,’” Turner says. “There are so many Black and brown people ready to run at night in my neighborhood. I feel so safe with all of them. It really helped me to be able to keep hope and have support during the pandemic, when I did feel really alone and didn't have as much social support, especially around parenting. Meeting some other moms that were in a similar life stage was also really dope.”
Lauren Turner stands for a portrait moments before the weekly "Keep it Run Hundred" run in Culver City.
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Racial disparities in the running community
There are still major racial issues in the running community.
White men killed a 25-year-old Black man named Ahmaud Arbery who was running in a Georgia neighborhood in 2020. After that hate crime, the Run with Maud movement started.
According to a recent survey from the Running Industry Diversity Coalition, an organization which aims to improve “inclusion, visibility and access” of racially/ethnically diverse people in the running industry, runners of color reported feeling significantly less safe at trail and road races than white runners. And while 93% of running industry organizations say they are committed to racial justice and DEI efforts, 59% don’t track progress and goals and only 14% publish their goals publicly, according to the RIDC.
From left: Komal Kumar, 26, and Dhriti Yandapally, 24, rest after completing their runs on July 23, 2024.
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Earlier this year, a Black-led running club filed a lawsuit against Boston Marathon organizers for discrimination during the 2023 race. Recently, Harlem Run founder and the author of Running While Black Alison Mariella Désir expressed her disappointment with a trail and ultrarunning equity working group that published an article that only included the progress of white women.
From left, Morgan C., 32, and Lia T., 27, pose for a photo after completing the "Keep it Run Hundred" run.
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Even though there have been run clubs, like L.A. Leggers, that have existed for decades, 13 of the most prominent Black, Asian and Latino-led run clubs in L.A. County have sprouted in the last 11 years, according to run club leaders’ survey responses. Seven of the run clubs surveyed were founded in the past seven years.
Chris Bordenave, who was born and raised in South Central, says the growth of BIPOC run clubs in L.A. has been in the last few years has been powerful and impactful to see.
Bordenave went from being the only Black kid who ran on his cross country team in high school to being on billboards across L.A. in Nike campaigns. He manages Santa Monica’s Blue Ribbon Sports, Nike’s first running specialty store, which he says serves as a “sanctuary for runners.” In his role as a part of Nike L.A., he works with six run clubs as partners — Keep It Run Hundred, Koreatown Run Club, Girl Gang Crazy, Good Vibes Track Club, Running Mamis and Her Sports.
Chris Bordenave works for the Nike L.A. running team as the Blue Ribbon Sports Community Manager. BRS has six run clubs as community partners.
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He said that he was introduced to the run club community with Keep It Run Hundred in 2018. Joining the club reignited a spark in him.
Running was just so transformative. It just changed my life.
— Chris Bordenave
He says that there was already a trend with run clubs pre-pandemic, but once the pandemic hit, it sparked a mass exodus from couches to the streets of L.A.
“Things were closed, things were shut down, and people just were stuck in their own little bubbles at home, and they needed something to get out, to take this anxiety, channel it in a positive and proper way,” Bordenave says. With running, you don’t need a track. All you need is some shoes and depending on what type of person you are, some music and your phone or watch to track you.”
He says that once COVID restrictions started lifting people started to realize how they’ve grown emotionally, spiritually, mentally and physically. He also saw another trend: corporate brands taking notice and hosting special events in collaboration with local run clubs.
Chris Bordenave says that running long distance as a part of run clubs has been transformative for him. "It changed my life."
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“We're L.A., one of the cultural capitals of the world,” Bordenave says. “So anything we do out here is always going to be bigger. It's going to be more expansive, you know, than other cities.”
Run clubs offer community too
Mariah Dyson is the founder of Girl Gang Crazy, a nonprofit organization that aims to offer an inclusive space for women through not only marathon training programs, but through a variety of events centered around mindfulness. Dyson, a former sprinter, started running long distance after living in New York for some time.
Mariah Dyson is the founder of the Girl Gang Crazy run club.
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GGC started in 2019, but then the pandemic shut everything down. But the group was still able to engage with each other virtually through challenges on the Nike Running Club app until they could safely meet together in person again.
Dyson says she created a marathon training program and has been training more and more women every season. Along with creating experiences in movement in sport through marathon training, she says another pillar of GGC is creating experiences in mindfulness.
GGC members, often called “gworls,” have learned how to surf with Intrsxtn Surf, have taken self-defense classes and have volunteered for local non-profits.
When asked how she feels about the space that she’s created, Dyson says it’s exciting because she’s made many new friends. And she’s learned not to take that for granted.
Mariah Dyson founded Girl Gang Crazy originally to run with other women who looked like her.
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Every time I have a conversation with anyone that comes to GGC, it feels divine. It feels like we were supposed to meet. If nothing else, you feel connected to the space. You feel connected to your own body and your own new power that you're finding. I just kind of feel like it's something I'm supposed to do.
— Mariah Dyson
Turner says that through the run club and the mom runners who supported her, Turner finished her first L.A. marathon in 2021 in six hours.
“It was really amazing to see the kids there at the end,” she says. “They saw me finish. And that was [the] big part of my motivation, to show them that your mom is a woman that can do anything she puts her mind to.”
24 BIPOC-led, inclusive run clubs in LA
Black, Latino and Asian run club leaders shared with LAist how their run clubs have grown and what makes them inclusive. All of these run clubs have been in existence for 11 years or less.
Meeting information: Tuesdays in Veteran’s Park in Culver City at 7 p.m., Thursdays at Sip & Sonder in Inglewood, Sundays at Playa Del Rey at 6 a.m.
Average weekly numbers: Tuesday 75-100; Thursdays 100+; Sundays 15-25
How it’s grown: “There has been a big push recently and I attribute that to social media.”
Why it’s inclusive: “We have all levels of walkers and runners that come out. It’s about community and being supported and motivated by people you don’t even know.”
Meeting information: Tuesdays at Santa Monica College’s Corsair Stadium at 7 p.m. Thursday and Saturday are various locations and times.
Average weekly numbers: 200 to 300 people that come between Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday
How it’s grown: GGC’s first in-person training season cohort had 30 women. “The numbers are growing organically. It's fun to see because there's so many girls that never thought they could do it.”
Why it’s inclusive: “There's always a pace and a space for everybody.” Before runs, the group is split into different pace levels ranging from a 7-minute pace to a 14-minute and above “sexy pace.”
Meeting information: Tuesdays at Loqui in Playa Vista at 7 pm
Average weekly numbers: Between 25-50
How it’s grown: “Running has changed so many of my runners' lives that they have started running 5Ks, full marathons and even Ultra marathons. When you complete a great and challenging race, your confidence boosts and you start to realize you are a lot more capable of many things you thought were NOT possible.”
Why it’s inclusive: “Since the beginning 10 years ago I have always told my crew we all start to finish and no man left behind. We don't worry about speed, it is NOT an individual thing but family-oriented, we all look out for one another as ONE.”
Mondays at 7 p.m. 3 or 5 Mile option — Meets Wilshire/Oxford
Wednesdays at 7:15 p.m. Meets at LACC Rainbow Track, Parking Lot 3
Thursdays at 8 p.m. 3 or 5-mile option - Meets at Love Hour 532 S. Western Ave.
Saturday Long Runs: Locations, mileage, times vary, TBD every week via IG
Average weekly numbers: 800
How it’s grown: “We attract a lot of new runners. When people see us on the streets or on social media, they can see themselves running with us because we probably look like them.”
Why it’s inclusive: “I won't pretend that running with us is not intimidating. Going to something new, where everyone is seemingly more ‘experienced or faster’ is definitely difficult. But I think what we do a good job at is making it fun and welcoming. Once you're here, you realize how much we care for each other.”
Tuesdays (Summer only) at 6 p.m. at Patria Coffee Roasters- 108 N Alameda St., Compton
Saturdays at 7:45 a.m. at Patria Coffee Roasters
Average weekly numbers: 45 people on Tuesdays, 85 people on Saturdays
How it’s grown: “I believe just staying consistent and word-of-mouth has helped a lot. We also do collaborations and activations with different organizations in Compton and around Compton.”
Why it’s inclusive: “We do scholarship fundraisers, park cleanups, wellness, events, and more. We understand that running may be new to a lot of people in our community, so we also emphasize education and providing resources.”
Meeting information: The WalkGood Yard (4019 W Pico Blvd.)/Wednesdays/6 p.m.
Average weekly numbers: 90
How it’s grown: "WalkGood LA began as a 5K protest against racial violence in 2020, and so the evolution of RunGood has been incredible to witness. We run together, support each other, and make sure everyone finishes. In 2024, we began to offer two paces for the 5K run, to allow for both a competitive pace and the "sexy" pace. The energy and support has always been there, but now it's been amplified.”
Why it’s inclusive: “We are a Black and Brown-led organization that creates safe spaces for healing and wellness for underserved communities, anyone that has ever been othered. No matter what option people choose, they do not have to fear being left behind to complete the distance on their own. Everyone is celebrated.”
Meeting information: Monday art run @ 8 p.m. usually in DTLA. Wednesday Tracklist @ 7 p.m. at Crenshaw. Thursday LISTA @ 7 p.m. in Mid City. Saturday long run @ 7 a.m. usually at Griffith Park. You can find our run details at @blacklistla.runschedule or www.blacklistla.org
Average weekly numbers: 150
How it’s grown: “Over the years, we've introduced a total of seven community programs to keep Angelenos active and moving. We are also a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that utilizes running to promote community, art discovery, and inspire healthy living in Los Angeles.”
Why it’s inclusive: “BlacklistLA is unique because we merged art with running in 2013. The art was intentional, not only to explore Los Angeles and show love to artists beautifying our streets, but also to motivate runners to lace up and run. All of our Board Members, Run Captains, and Community Ambassadors live in the places we serve, so we understand the lay of the land and how to motivate underrepresented communities in LA.”
Meeting information: 868 S Olive St., Los Angeles, CA 90014 - Sundays - 9 a.m. (subject to change, check IG)
Average weekly numbers: 30
How it’s grown: “The first few months, the numbers could vary between 5-12 people. I regularly heard people come out because they saw us on Instagram. We did a few things such as collaborating with run clubs, choosing different start locations, and having some themed runs such as Sunday Runday in the Park, where we had a mobile coffee stand, games, and DJ after the run. I think the biggest exposure came when we entered a team in The Speed Project.”
Why it’s inclusive: “When running downtown, there are several stop lights for us to take a break and allow others to catch up if needed. At the start of the run, we go around and introduce ourselves to the group and ask a fun fact question. We all look out for each other to make sure everyone makes it through the run. Afterwards you can hang out/socialize at the coffee shop. And sometimes during the summer months, we add brunch options post-run for those interested.”
Meeting information: Thursdays @ 6:45 p.m. & Sundays @ 7 a.m. - meeting locations highlight gems in South Central and rotate
Average Weekly Numbers: 30 people
How it’s grown: It started from 5-10 members to over 50 active members with more participants joining special events and community runs like Hood Beer Run and Ghetto Running Day. They have local community engagement events and holistic wellness activities.
Meeting information: Edward Vincent Park 400 Warren Lane, Inglewood, CA 90301 7 a.m. every Saturday
Weekly attendance numbers: 20
How it’s grown: “Women have invited friends and family, which has also encouraged community building. The ladies show up every week and authentically release whatever they’ve gone through during the week. We also have been intentional with connecting with each other, especially during the post run/walk brunch.”
Why it’s inclusive: “Recovery Run is a special space because we really allow everyone to come as they are. No brand deals, promotions, or marketing.”
Meeting information: Saturdays at 7:30 a.m. from the Metaphor Club in Leimert Park or Playa Provisions in Playa Del Rey
Average weekly numbers: 10
How it’s grown: “In the beginning, there were just a couple of guys that met on various days of the week to get a run in. We saw an increase during the pandemic as people focused on fitness over other social activities.”
Why it’s inclusive: “Black Men Run champions a healthy lifestyle and brotherhood. We advocate for physical and mental fitness. We are a safe space for Black men to run/walk, fellowship and mentor. All paces and all levels of experience are welcome.”
Meeting information: Wednesdays at 7 p.m. Crenshaw and Coliseum
Average weekly numbers: 15-30
How it’s grown: “In the beginning, my friends supported me and showed up to run. Maybe about 10 runners and some walkers arrived. Slowly more and more runners began to arrive. I’m a bit sure that the tacos post run may have a bit to do with it. It is all word of mouth. And fliers on IG helped as well. As I reposted other run clubs for support, they would do the same for me.”
Why it’s inclusive: “The 5K crew and walkers separate and then reunite a few times before we head back to finish. We have pacers and sweepers. We have seen amazing friendships grow. We don’t offer training. We don’t push people outside of their comfort zone. We give runners information on other clubs that they can join for training.”
Meeting information: Lululemon Studio City on Mondays at 7 p.m.
Average weekly numbers: 20
How it’s grown: “We started with 9 runners and we have 60 runners in our roster now. Taking on difficult races and sponsorships has really helped us grow and be recognized. There’s a running explosion happening and I think people see the benefit of running and training with like-minded people. This community is about so much more than fitness. It’s about inspiration, motivation, and teamwork.”
Why it’s inclusive: “We are a ‘no runners left behind’ club and open to all paces and abilities. We meet you where you are and make you feel accepted no matter what pace you walk/run. We also organize events that are specifically created to open the doors for BIPOC communities.”
Meeting information: The Brig-Venice, Tuesday at 6 p.m.
Average weekly numbers: 10-15
How it’s grown: “We are very new to this, so each week when new folks join us, it is very exciting to hear how they found us. Our growth has likely been driven by community engagement, social media outreach, and the welcoming atmosphere we have created. Since we are still growing, it feels less intimidating when you show up. People know each other's names, and we take pride in caring about folks not just at the run on Tuesday but also checking in with folks outside of the Tuesday run. There is a desire for community and socializing in a healthy, outdoor setting.”
Why it’s inclusive: “Our priority is to have fun while running and then enjoy snacks after. We offer a walk/jog/run option. The run is a little over a 5k, closer to 3.2 miles and for folks who wish to walk/jog, we have a 2-mile option. We make sure everyone knows where they are going and, most importantly, that you do not end up alone.”
Federal changes may cause drastic drop in coverage
Aaron Schrank
has been on the ground, reporting on homelessness and other issues in L.A. for more than a decade.
Published May 4, 2026 4:58 PM
County officials estimate that recent Medi-Cal changes could put coverage at risk for hundreds of thousands of residents.
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Maya Sugarman
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LAist
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Topline:
The number of Californians without health insurance could double from 2 million today to 4 million by 2030, according to a report from the Legislative Analyst's Office. It’s the state budget office’s preliminary attempt to quantify how federal legislation known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill” will reshape healthcare access statewide.
Losing coverage: The One Big Beautiful Bill is driving nearly 90% of the projected coverage loss, according to the LAO report. It's mostly Medi-Cal enrollees who are expected to be dropped when new work requirements take effect in 2027. The remaining 10% are largely people leaving the state's health insurance marketplace, Covered California, after enhanced federal premium subsidies expired last year.
L.A. County impact: County officials estimate that recent Medi-Cal changes could put coverage at risk for hundreds of thousands of residents and cost the county’s health departments about $800 million a year. A U.C. Berkeley Labor Center analysis projected more than 1 million Medi-Cal enrollees could lose coverage by 2028.
Why it matters: More uninsured people means hospitals and clinics provide more services without getting paid. The LAO projects that uncompensated care costs at hospitals could grow by several billion dollars statewide by 2030. Clinics face steeper losses because they run on smaller budgets and depend more heavily on Medi-Cal revenue. The LAO also projects premiums on the individual health insurance market will rise as healthier people drop coverage.
What's being proposed: The LAO itself doesn’t recommend new spending and instead urges lawmakers to track what happens to hospitals, clinics and county programs before taking action. But both L.A. County and state officials are pushing tax efforts to combat federal cuts. LA County voters will decide June 2 onMeasure ER, a half-cent sales tax that would generate about $1 billion a year for hospitals and clinics. ANovember statewide ballot initiative would impose a one-time 5% tax on Californians worth over $1 billion and direct 90% of proceeds to Medi-Cal.
The number of Californians without health insurance could double from 2 million today to 4 million by 2030, according to a report from the state Legislative Analyst's Office. It’s the state budget office’s preliminary attempt to quantify how federal legislation known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill” will reshape healthcare access statewide.
The One Big Beautiful Bill is driving nearly 90% of the projected coverage loss, according to the LAO report. It's mostly Medi-Cal enrollees who are expected to be dropped when new work requirements take effect in 2027. The remaining 10% are largely people leaving the state's health insurance marketplace, Covered California, after enhanced federal premium subsidies expired last year.
What's the impact to coverage?
L.A. County officials estimate that recent Medi-Cal changes could put coverage at risk for hundreds of thousands of residents and cost the health departments about $800 million a year. A UC Berkeley Labor Center analysis projected more than 1 million Medi-Cal enrollees could lose coverage by 2028.
The LAO report also warns that county indigent health programs for uninsured residents will soon face a surge in demand they’re not prepared to meet. Those county programs had enrolled about 850,000 people statewide before the federal government expanded Medicaid coverage in 2014. Total enrollment is currently 10,000 statewide, but the trend is going to reverse, according to the report.
What's the impact to health-care providers?
More uninsured people means hospitals and clinics provide more services without getting paid. The LAO projects that uncompensated care costs at hospitals could grow by several billion dollars statewide by 2030. Clinics face steeper losses because they run on smaller budgets and depend more heavily on Medi-Cal revenue.
The LAO also projects premiums on the individual health insurance market will rise as healthier people drop coverage.
What are proposals to help?
The LAO itself doesn’t recommend new spending and instead urges lawmakers to track what happens to hospitals, clinics and county programs before taking action. But both L.A. County and state officials are pushing tax efforts to combat federal cuts.
L.A. County voters will decide June 2 on Measure ER, a half-cent sales tax that would generate about $1 billion a year for hospitals and clinics. ANovember statewide ballot initiative would impose a one-time 5% tax on Californians worth over $1 billion and direct 90% of proceeds to Medi-Cal.
California says insurer mishandled wildfire claims
Erin Stone
covers climate and environmental issues in Southern California.
Published May 4, 2026 4:40 PM
An insurance office burned by the Eaton Fire in Altadena.
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Kevin Tidmarsh
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Topline:
California regulators say State Farm has illegally delayed, underpaid and denied claims from policyholders affected by the 2025 L.A. fires — something fire survivors have said for months.
The investigation: The state analyzed 220 randomly selected claims filed in response to last year’s fires and found hundreds of violations by State Farm in more than half them — what state attorneys dubbed a “troubling pattern” in their filing.
The insurer's response: State Farm denied the allegations and called them politically motivated.
Read on ... for more on the state's action against its largest home insurer.
California regulators say State Farm has illegally delayed, underpaid and denied claims from policyholders affected by the 2025 L.A. fires — something fire survivors have said for months.
The California Department of Insurance announced Monday that it has taken the first step in the process to bring the allegations to a public hearing before an administrative judge. That could result in the state’s largest home insurer paying up to about $4 million in penalties, and suspension of its license for up to a year, meaning it could not write new policies in California during that time.
“Our investigation found that State Farm delayed, underpaid, and buried policyholders in red tape at the worst moment of their lives,” state Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara said in a statement.
The state analyzed 220 randomly selected claims — out of more than 11,000 filed with State Farm in response to last year’s fires — and found hundreds of violations in more than half them. Attorneys for the state called it a “troubling pattern” in their filing.
State Farm denied the allegations and called the state’s move “politically motivated” in a lengthy statement posted to its website.
Every Fire Survivors Network, a coalition representing thousands of L.A. fire survivors, pressured the state for months to investigate State Farm’s handling of wildfire claims.
Joy Chen, who co-founded the group after her home was damaged in the Eaton Fire, said the state’s action is far from enough.
“It’s just very disappointing to see our regulator issue a report that shows his own failures over the last 16 months,” she told LAist.
Only a few dozen homes have been rebuilt so far in both Altadena and Pacific Palisades since the fires destroyed more than 16,000 buildings, mostly homes, in those communities and nearby areas.
A survey by the nonprofit Department of Angels last year found that nearly three-quarters of L.A. fire survivors reported delays, denials and low payouts of their claims across all insurers.
“What we need is for all State Farm contracts to be enforced so that Los Angeles families can have the money that we need to move forward with getting back home,” Chen said.
The state’s alleged violations carry a fine of up to $5,000, and up to $10,000 if the violations are found to be willful. The case will be heard by a state administrative law judge, who will provide a recommendation to Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara on a possible penalty.
The Insurance Department said people with homeowners policies from any insurer can report problems with their claims at insurance.ca.gov or by calling (800) 927-4357.
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Adolfo Guzman-Lopez
is an arts and general assignment reporter on LAist's Explore LA team.
Published May 4, 2026 3:15 PM
The FIFA World Cup trophy is displayed during the official draw ceremony held at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. on Dec. 5, 2025.
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Topline:
Details are out for FIFA’s World Cup Fan Zone parties in LA County in June and July. Watch tournament matches at ten locations from Venice Beach to Pomona, from free to $$$ with food, drink, and big screens.
Why it matters: The FIFA Fan Zones offer people an opportunity to get a taste of the tournament while not breaking the bank to pay for tickets.
The locations: The Original Farmers Market in L.A., June 18-21; The City of Downey, June 20; LA Union Station, June 25-28; Hansen Dam Lake, July 2-5; Magic Johnson Park, July 4-5; Whittier Narrows, July 9-11; Venice Beach, July 11; The Fairplex, July 14-15, July 18-19; West Harbor, July 14-15, July 18-19; Downtown Burbank, July 18-19
Some are free: The Fan Zones in the city of Downey, Union Station L.A., “Magic” Johnson Park, and Whittier Narrows are free of charge.
Yes, you could put a screen in your backyard and call up your friends to watch a particularly compelling World Cup game after the tournament begins June 12.
But FIFA is turning each game into a public celebration, sponsoring 10 outdoor Fan Zone watch parties with large viewing screens across L.A. County through the final on July 19.
Details were released on Monday, including locations, dates and prices.
The Fan Zones open in a staggered schedule from one day to four days each, starting with the Original Farmers Market on June 18 - 21, and then popping up across the region until the glorious end on July 19 in downtown Burbank.
Fan Zones across L.A. County:
The Original Farmers Market in L.A., June 18-21 The City of Downey, June 20 LA Union Station, June 25-28 Hansen Dam Lake, July 2-5 "Magic" Johnson Park, July 4-5 Whittier Narrows, July 9-11 Venice Beach, July 11 The Fairplex, July 14-15, July 18-19 West Harbor, July 14-15, July 18-19 Downtown Burbank, July 18-19
Ticket prices range from free (City of Downey, Union Station L.A., “Magic” Johnson Park, Whittier Narrows) to over $300 for a VIP experience with a viewing lounge and a concert at the downtown Burbank Fan Zone on the day of the World Cup final match on July 19.
Fan Zone kick off
At the first Fan Zone, at The Original Farmers Market from June 18 for four days, entry will cost you $5 per day or $17 for all four days. Kids age 3 and under are free. (FIFA says the zones are family friendly).
You’ll be able to see four matches there each of the four days, including Mexico vs. South Korea on June 18 at 6 p.m. and USA vs. Australia on June 19 at noon.
FIFA World Cup 2026 scarves are displayed during the ribbon cutting for the LAX/Metro Transit Center rail and bus public transportation station at LAX on June 6, 2025.
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You won’t have to squint to find your favorite player or catch the goals. The Farmer’s Market will include a 30-foot viewing screen as well as a 15-foot secondary screen to watch the games. There will be beer gardens, and you can purchase food from the Market's dozens of establishments.
Other Fan Zones
The West Harbor L.A. Fan Zone will give people an opportunity to experience the newest major development along the San Pedro waterfront, a 42-acre waterfront district that’s been years in the making.
The Union Station L.A. Fan Zone on June 25 is free and includes match viewing, music, food, and immersive fan experiences, featuring live DJs.
The final Fan Zone opens July 18 and 19 in downtown Burbank for the World Cup’s last two matches. FIFA says it’ll include “an adjacent international street fair filled with global flavors and cultural experiences.” Tickets range from $25 to over $300
This of course, isn’t the only opportunity to watch World Cup matches with groups of people in SoCal. The city of L.A. will host its own watch parties.
Many college campuses either don’t track their populations of rural students.
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Topline:
Up against a massive court backlog that can drag their cases for years, asylum seekers face steep costs when pursuing their dreams of college in California.
Facing a double blow: Asylum-seeking students in California often face a double blow: they are charged higher tuition for nonresidents and excluded from most financial aid. For students and their families, this can mean thousands of dollars paid out of pocket and years of financial stress as their immigration cases remain unresolved. Before establishing residency, asylum-seeking students are charged non-resident rates, which are about three times what state residents pay for public universities and roughly eight to 13 times more for community colleges, depending on the district.
Policy changes stoke uncertainty: As of February 2026, a little over 2.3 million immigrants are awaiting asylum hearings nationwide, according to Syracuse University’s Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse, which tracks federal activity. The most recent data shows California alone had about 169,000 pending asylum cases in its immigration courts by the end of 2023 — the second-largest backlog of any state. The average wait for an asylum hearing in California was 1,412 days at that time. The Trump administration paused asylum cases in November, creating even further delays. The administration has now allowed cases to resume for applicants from all but 40 countries.
Up against a massive court backlog that can drag their cases for years, asylum seekers face steep costs when pursuing their dreams of college in California.
Asylum-seeking students in California often face a double blow: they are charged higher tuition for nonresidents and excluded from most financial aid. For students and their families, this can mean thousands of dollars paid out of pocket and years of financial stress as their immigration cases remain unresolved.
Before establishing residency, asylum-seeking students are charged non-resident rates, which are about three times what state residents pay for public universities and roughly eight to 13 times more for community colleges, depending on the district.
All asylum seekers are disqualified from federal financial aid. The few who qualify for California’s state aid may never know their options, or face hurdles in obtaining it due to a patchwork of financial aid processes.
The state’s higher education systems are not mandated to track asylum seekers, making state budget impacts nearly unquantifiable during legislative attempts to expand financial aid eligibility.
“I only see them struggling,” said Eric Cline, social services program director at OASIS Legal Services, which supports LGBTQ+ asylum seekers across the Bay Area and Central Valley. “I’m always surprised (when) a few clients tell me 'I just graduated from college.’ I think, ‘Wow, how did that happen?’”
Policy changes stoke uncertainty for asylum seekers
Asylum seeking is one of the least-protected immigration statuses in the U.S. Asylum seekers, who’ve fled their home countries fearing persecution and are asking the U.S. for protection, differ from refugees, whose status is granted before they enter the country. Asylum seekers apply upon arriving in the U.S.
Applicants can stay as their cases remain pending for years, though experts say the Trump administration is expediting deportations for numerous asylum seekers and ending cases before they can receive a full hearing.
As of February 2026, a little over 2.3 million immigrants are awaiting asylum hearings nationwide, according to Syracuse University’s Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse, which tracks federal activity. The most recent data shows California alone had about 169,000 pending asylum cases in its immigration courts by the end of 2023 — the second-largest backlog of any state. The average wait for an asylum hearing in California was 1,412 days at that time.
The Trump administration paused asylum cases in November, creating even further delays. The administration has now allowed cases to resume for applicants from all but 40 countries. In the San Francisco immigration court system, which is popular among asylum seekers due to higher acceptance rates, a combination of firings by the Trump administration, retirements and relocations whittled the 21 immigration judges to two, according to reporting in Mission Local. Left behind is a caseload of nearly 119,000 immigration cases, the highest of any immigration court in California.
President Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” also established new fees for asylum seekers, placing additional pressure on an already low-income population. Applicants must now pay an initial $100 application fee plus $100 per year while their case is pending, $550 for a work permit, and $745 each year to renew the permit. In addition, a new rule proposed by the Department of Homeland Security would effectively end the ability of asylum seekers to obtain work permits at all.
Royce Hall on the UCLA campus
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As they await a decision, asylum seekers are excluded from federal aid and some state financial aid programs, including Cal Grants under California law.
For one asylum seeker, Carol, being ineligible for financial aid meant she had to take time off from school to work to make ends meet. CalMatters is not using her full name because she fears speaking publicly may jeopardize her asylum case.
Carol did speak before the Assembly Higher Education Committee in 2023 urging lawmakers to pass AB 888, which would have expanded Cal Grant eligibility to certain asylum seekers. The bill ultimately did not pass.
She said she arrived in the United States at 17 and had spent more than six years waiting for her case to move through immigration courts, a period during which she said she was ineligible for financial aid.
“I’ve had to delay my educational journey several times, including going part-time and even taking a semester off from school to work,” Carol told lawmakers.
Without access to aid, she said she experienced homelessness, couch surfing and at one point slept on a mattress topper on a hardwood floor because she could not afford a bed. She worked multiple jobs at a time, skipped meals and attended class without the required course materials.
Her story, she said, was not new. Carol told the committee that four years earlier her brother had testified with a nearly identical experience on behalf of a previous bill that was ultimately vetoed, a cycle she argued could have been prevented.
“Had California taken action then, I wouldn’t have had to face the harrowing experiences that I shared with you today,” she said.
Despite the barriers, Carol graduated from Cal State Long Beach and worked as a caseworker with the International Rescue Committee, helping resettle refugees and asylum seekers. She told lawmakers she hopes to pursue a law degree and become an international human rights attorney.
The narrow path to college aid for asylum-seeking students
Many asylum seekers arrive eager to continue studies they began abroad, but quickly run into what Cline calls “a brick wall."
“All of our clients are low-income … they’re almost never eligible for generalized financial aid,” he said. “When you take away the financial aid aspect, it makes (college) pretty inaccessible.”
For California residents, annual undergraduate tuition is $15,588 at the University of California, $6,838 at the California State University and about $1,380 for 30 units at a community college. Students classified as non-residents — including some asylum seekers before establishing residency — can pay $54,858 at a University of California, about $20,968 at a Cal State before campus-based fees, and roughly $10,140 to $13,560 for 30 units at a community college, depending on the district. These figures do not include campus-based fees, housing or living expenses.
Even when students do manage to establish residency, the cost is still steep. For the many asylum seekers who arrive in the United States as adults, they may not have attended a California school previously, barring them from qualifying for state financial aid.
AB 540, the 2001 law that exempts undocumented students from paying non-resident tuition, only applies if the student attended a California high school or community college for three years.
Those who qualify through AB 540 can fill out the California Dream Act Application for state financial aid, such as Cal Grants, university system-specific grants, state loans, and the state’s middle class scholarship.
The application process can still be confusing for asylum seekers whose status is not fully accounted for in the design of the application. For example, asylum seekers often have Social Security numbers for work authorization, but affirming so while answering the financial aid pre-screening questions leads to undetermined eligibility because the questions don’t take into account the nuances of applying as an asylum seeker.
Stickers and flyers on a table in the Undocumented Community Center at the College of San Mateo in San Mateo, on Nov. 28, 2023. At this center, undocumented students can access financial and legal aid as well as guidance in navigating grant applications.
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Asylum seekers often require extra help from financial aid counselors, but even counselors may not know how to help navigate eligibility rules. Students often wind up seeking help from undocumented student resource centers on public campuses, which are designed to help students who lack legal residency and those from mixed-status families find aid and academic support.
Kaveena Singh, the director of immigration legal services at the East Bay Sanctuary Covenant, which provides legal services to low-income immigrants, noted that she herself has written letters to financial aid offices to help explain the in-between nature of the few asylum-seeking students she has served.
As an asylum-seeking student in his mid-20s, L. ended up qualifying for state financial aid through AB 540. However, he misunderstood for six years exactly what aid he qualified for. L. wished to withhold his name and the names of the institutions he’s attended for fear of negative impacts on his pending asylum case.
Initially, community college didn’t cost him anything — but when he transferred to a large four-year university, the cost of college soared. He went to his university's financial aid office for help so often that all the staff there knew his name. It was a "big relief” when he was finally able to successfully fill out the California Dream Act Application, and obtain financial aid for his summer and fall quarters.
L.'s asylum case has been pending for nine years. He, his dad, mom and younger brother arrived in the United States in the winter of 2016, claiming asylum under fear of political retribution. His father organized political assemblies in China, and his mother was forced to have an abortion under the one-child policy.
“I just wish I could go home and visit family and friends and catch up for a good few weeks in the summer here and there to reconnect with my past,” L. said. “It's like there's two separate lives, like two entities being artificially cut.”
L. worked throughout high school and college, and worried about affording school.
Most days, the combination of family trauma and the limbo of waiting for his case means L. survives through “constant compartmentalization.”
In the meantime, he tries to carry on — he studies politics, and is interested in international relations and human rights.
"As rough as all that's happened, the silver lining is that one day hopefully I get a passport and a green card," L. said. "To help other people avoid such a hassle will be just as fulfilling for me."
Previous legislative efforts have failed
Legislative bills to extend state financial aid eligibility to asylum-seeking students have been introduced at least twice in recent years but have failed.
One attempt came in 2019, when Sen. Ben Allen, a Democrat from El Segundo, introduced SB 296, a bill that would have extended Cal Grant eligibility to students with pending asylum applications. The measure passed the Legislature with some bipartisan support, but was vetoed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, who said that it would "impose costs on the General Fund that must be weighed in the annual budget process."
“That was frustrating, but I understood it,” Allen told CalMatters. “The real issue is that we don’t have good data. Our schools don’t track asylum seekers, so we can’t easily calculate the cost.”
UC data on asylum-seeking students is protected due to privacy policies, according to Stett Holbrook, a UC spokesperson. The Cal State system reports it has less than 500 students with "asylum status," which includes both those who have an asylum granted and asylum seekers, according to Cal State spokesperson Amy Bentley-Smith. The numbers are self-reported during the admissions process.
In spring 2025, 13,507 students self-identified as “refugee/asylee” across the California Community Colleges — up from 11,537 the prior semester — per the CCC DataMart. The data does not include a category for just asylum seekers. Students can self-identify their immigration status while applying, but asylum seekers are not specifically tracked, according to the college system’s spokesperson Melissa Villarin.
Four years after SB 296 failed, Democrat Sabrina Cervantes — then representing Riverside in the Assembly and now as a state senator — revived the proposal through AB 888, introduced in 2023. Like Allen’s earlier bill, AB 888 sought to make Cal Grants accessible to students with pending asylum applications by creating a direct eligibility pathway outside the AB 540 residency requirements. The bill passed the Assembly unanimously but was held in the Senate Appropriations Committee last September, effectively ending its chances for the year.
Cervantes declined an interview with CalMatters. “My Assembly Bill 888 would have created a new pathway for pending asylum seekers in California to apply for Cal Grant financial aid in pursuit of their higher education,” Cervantes wrote in a statement.
Newsom’s office declined to say whether he would support a future version of the proposal, pointing instead to his brief 2019 veto message.
“There’s nervousness around anything that involves new expenses," Allen said. “... We’re going to have to spend some time seeing what information we can get with regards to better data to get better estimated costs. I think that will help to better inform the conversation."
Andrea Baltodano and Chrissa Olson are contributors with the College Journalism Network, a collaboration between CalMatters and student journalists from across California. CalMatters higher education coverage is supported by a grant from the College Futures Foundation.
