On Sunday, October 25th the community came out to Debs Park to celebrate Center Director Marcos Trinidad's work in the community as a part of Metabolic Studio's Dulce Democracia  project. Although the morning was overcast and chilly, the sun came out just in time as Angelica's Ice Cream truck pulled into the Debs Park parking lot off of Monterey Road, to the delight of all the kids (and many of the adults) in attendance. 

Dulce Democracia is an action of Metabolic Studio, where they have partnered with a local ice cream truck vendor named Fausto (Angelica’s Ice Cream) and are distributing ice cream and masks along his regular routes in East LA and in communities along the Los Angeles River. The masks they are giving away say “¡Vote! 2020” on them as they encourage everyone to safely participate in this critical election. Additionally, the Center was able to provide the community with free California wild rose plants from our Los Nogales Native Plant Nursery!

As a part of this project, Metabolic Studio has been recognizing leaders in our local community who have uplifted their communities in these unprecedented times with a What the Helado!? Banana Split. It was a pleasure to share this honor with friends, family, partners, and community members - without whom the Center's work in the community would not be possible. Especially in the midst of the oftentimes overwhelming stress and pain surrounding Covid-19, racial injustice, spreading wildfires, and election anxiety, it was an incredibly fresh breath of air to be able to connect with our community (while still physically distancing) and enjoy a sweet treat in the sun together.

Of course, Dulce Democracia is about more than free ice cream and enjoying each other's company. It's about coming together to share resources and mobilize those around us to take action and to vote early in this all too critical election. If you are able to and haven't done so yet, we urge you to please VOTE by 8pm on November 3rd. 

We'd like to extend a huge THANK YOU to Metabolic Studio for the ongoing support of Marcos and the Center's work. For more info on their work, visit https://www.metabolicstudio.org/.