Close to 1 million African Americans live in Los Angeles County and make up most of the area’s cultural, economic, and political landscape. Between influencing the culture and fighting for equity in underrepresented fields, Black residents still deserve space to have fun, enjoy each other’s company, and create new experiences. Jocelyn C. Chambers moved to Los Angeles in July 2018, from Austin, TX in search for community and connection.
Chambers is the founder of BLKEventsLA, a platform dedicated to linking the Black community through curated events throughout the city. In addition to her platform, she is also a co-founder in the development of the JoinLinks App with Terence Simpson, also connects individuals with similar interests. Chambers is an advocate for diversity and representation and relocated to L.A. to write music for movies, but quickly realized the need for Black resources for the culture.
As a multifaceted composer, Chambers is a community champion who has cultivated a diverse portfolio of emotionally resonant music for film, television, and commercials. She is a classically trained pianist, and her work spans genres from neoclassical to hip-hop. She is culturally impacting society through multiple avenues with her community involvement via her social platforms.
Related Links:
Meet Jocelyn C Chambers – Voyage LA Magazine | LA City Guide
A Great Day in South L.A. Offers Black History Tours – Los Angeles Sentinel (lasentinel.net)
In a recent interview with the Los Angeles Sentinel, Chambers dives into the who, what, where, how, and why behind BLKEventsLA’s mission to engage the Black community in L.A. through a weekly list of parties, art exhibitions, group gatherings, and live music. Reflecting on her community impact, Chambers shared, “creating BLKEventsLA has shown me the immense need for such a platform. This summer, we have exciting events lined up that are crucial for fostering unity and celebrating our culture.”
Post pandemic Chambers noticed L.A. needed a revival, “I think it has taken awhile for the city to get back to where it wanted to be after covid and a lot of Black events were resurrected after the pandemic, but a lot of things didn’t survive. I’m excited for the summer because there are so many great things happening that deserve to be shared. One of my favorite events is Love, Peace, and Spades. They have a monthly game night at the Line Hotel in Korea Town, with all the Black family classics. It’s a great event to meet new people and get closer to the friends you already have. It feels like the highlight reel of a family cookout.”
Launching in June of 2023, BLKEventsLA received an immense amount of support and quickly resonated with thousands of followers, natives, and travelers alike, looking to experience and build community in more ways than one. The weekly event roundups on TikTok and Instagram, plus a Tuesday newsletter featuring 80+ events, has garnered the attention of Issa Rae and Donald Glover.
Chambers has curated multiple community walks and events to support Black-owned businesses like Hilltop Coffee + Kitchen, Ora in Leimert Park, WalkGood L.A., and Jellyman Tea. The Saturday Hike Crew, founded by Tre Ingram, collaborated with Chambers for their first community walk and has garnered the participation of over 250 people since. Being unapologetically Black has made both platforms an instant success.
After celebrating BLKEventsLA’s first year in business, Chambers hopes to expand BLKEventsLA and the JoinLinks app within the next five to ten years throughout the states to help Black individuals find where they can go, what they can do, and who they can go with. She explained, “I know for certain I want Black people in all parts of the country and eventually all parts of the world, to feel like they can immediately integrate into a flourishing Black community. If I were to start over and go to a different city, I would want to be able to walk into a place where Black experiences are happening regularly. To have these platforms and build these networks that keep us connected, would be a great across America in a very beautiful way.”
Chambers’ dedication and covenant to her community is evident in her work. Stay connected and follow @BLKEventsLA on TikTok and Instagram for daily and weekly updates about what’s happening in Black L.A.
