John Malpede and Los Angeles Poverty Department

LAPD was founded in 1985 to "create performance work that connects lived experience to the social forces that shape the lives and communities of people living in poverty." Since then, they have created numerous productions that have toured nationally and internationally, receiving critical acclaim for both their artistic quality and social impact.  Rooted in Los Angeles' Skid Row neighborhood, LAPD's performances reflect the "realities, hopes and dreams" of the people who make up this community, giving them a way to raise awareness about social and political issues and create opportunities for people to intervene in policy decisions that affect their lives.