27 Dec Looking Back at 2023
The theme of 2023 is building upon last year’s foundations & listening to our community.
Last year’s planning and expansions set up the Greenway Arts Alliance team for a good year. We could not have imagined the rollercoaster of a year that lay ahead for everyone, but the planning and foundational work allowed us to nurture the seeds we planted last year through this year’s challenges.
Our community members have always given us great ideas and constructive feedback to help us work through challenges. The MTP Vendor Community has contributed marketing, programming, and operational ideas and feedback that have had a positive impact on our work.
We are excited to continue our 26 year partnership with Fairfax High School and LAUSD for many years to come.
GREENWAY ARTS ALLIANCE’S PROGRAMS:
GREENWAY COURT THEATRE (GCT)
Under the leadership of Producing Director, Mohammed Ojarigi, the Greenway Court Theatre has developed innovative programming, and announced their first season for 2024!
Click on the year end summary images below to see what the Greenway Court Theatre was up to this year:
GREENWAY INSTITUTE FOR THE ARTS (GIA)
A note from GIA’s Director of Student Programs, LaQuan Ford:
“As we say goodbye to another incredible year, Greenway Institute for the Arts celebrates the numerous accomplishments that have shaped our journey in 2023. We served over 500 LAUSD students this semester, offering them engaging and transformative in-class and after-school arts programming. One of the highlights was the production of “Secret of Hailey’s Cove,” a student-written play in December that showcased the creative prowess of our talented students.
Beyond the stage, we expanded our impact by hiring new students to contribute to the operational success of our arts-based marketplace, providing them with invaluable real-world experience and weekly professional development training. We facilitated over 10 sessions of in-class arts integration residencies at Fairfax High School. Recognizing the importance of forging deep connections in the community, GIA organized its first fundraising event of the fiscal year—a vibrant Cabaret featuring Friends of Greenway and local artists, demonstrating the power of unity in the arts.
We are excited to announce the successful launch of GreenwayREADS, our literacy program set to serve over 750 students starting in January 2024. The chosen novel, the highly acclaimed “I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter,” promises to catalyze meaningful discussions and explore diverse perspectives and themes.
As we reflect on the year gone by, we are grateful for your unwavering support, our team’s dedication, and the boundless creativity that continues to flourish within the walls of the Greenway. Here’s to a year filled with achievements, growth, and the long-lasting power of the arts.”
MELROSE TRADING POST PROGRAMS
FUNDRAISING FOR NON-PROFITS
Non-Profit Boost Program
Through this program approved local non-profit applicants receive a free booth plus equipment (tent, table, chairs) for their organization to use to spread awareness of their cause, collect donations or petition signatures, register people to vote, connect people with services, and more.
This year we donated 163 booths plus equipment to 28 Local Non-Profit Organizations including pet rescues, art collectives, lgbtqia+ organizations, Girl Scout Troops, environmental initiatives, local arts non-profit organizations, voter registration and local fundraising initiatives.
If you are connected to a local non-profit organization, share this link with them: MTP Non-Profit Free Booth Program
LAUSD Entrepreneurship Program
5 local school groups participated in the MTP Entrepreneurship Program for LAUSD PTSA & PTA Groups and Booster Clubs this year. We walk them through the planning process, and get them ready for MTP with a group orientation. Then we promote their pop-up on our channels (newsletter, website and social media), asking the greater community to support their fundraising efforts.
Each group met the $500 goal, and received a matching grant from Greenway Arts Alliance for up to $500.
Fairfax Entrepreneurship & Beautification Volunteer Programs
Three Fairfax Clubs/Teams participated in the entrepreneurship program, while 2 Fairfax Basketball Teams participated in the beautification volunteering program.
We look to expand that number in 2024, so if you are connected to an LAUSD school, please share this information about the program: MTP Entrepreneurship Program Info for LAUSD School Groups
Melrose Trading Post Artist Showcases & Community Collaborations
2023 was a banner year for Artist Showcases & Community Partnerships at the Melrose Trading Post.
We started in February, with a partnership with author and Fairfax HS Alumna, Virginia Bulacio. We celebrated the launch of her poetry book, “Luna Inmigrante” at MTP with a poetry reading and book launch. Virginia brought her fellow published poets to do a powerful poetry reading on stage centered around Latin culture.
MTP is a proud cookie selling location for the local Girl Scouts of America troops, and this year was no exception! The Girl Scouts are at MTP during the 5 weeks of cookie season, spreading delicious cookies to the community while raising money for their program.
Local dance troop, Bob’s Dance Shop, approached us about doing a surprise Flash Mob at MTP. Their social media accounts are full of these amazing expressions of joy, done throughout the world, and we’re proud to be one of the few L.A. locations.
During the pandemic, students and alumni from CSU Dominguez Hills’ Art Program formed the DH Art Collective. We worked with this Art Collective on two pop-ups at MTP this year, where the students/alumni received a free space to sell their artwork. For some, it was the very first time they had sold any of their artwork in public! We’re excited to continue working with DH Art Collective in 2024.
Make March Matter is Children’s Hospital L.A.’s annual fundraiser, where they collaborate with people throughout Los Angeles to raise money for the hospital. This year we gave CHLA a free booth every week in March to send their Junior Ambassadors to spread awareness and collect donations. We’ve just confirmed that they’ll be back in 2024!
Our annual collaboration with Da Poetry Lounge during the LA Get Down Festival continued this year during National Poetry Month, where student poets read their work on the Greenway Amphitheater Stage! Enjoy poetry and spoken word performances by Melanie Castillo, Naiya Choi Kim, and Ahmani J here on the MTP Youtube channel.
Virginia Bulacio and friends returned to the Greenway Amphitheater in April for an encore poetry reading in celebration of Luna Inmigrante and National Poetry Month! Watch performances from Virginia as well as Jesenia Chavez, David A. Romero, Brenda Vaca, Davina A. Ferreira, and Rocky Perez here on the MTP YouTube channel.
Pup Culture Rescue, Loved Again Pets, and other animal nonprofits have brought foster pets up for adoption to MTP throughout the year! MTP Patrons loved meeting all of the adorable dogs and cats looking for their forever home and potentially met their new best friend at the market.
Alegria Publishing, an independent bilingual publisher with a mission to share Latine/x stories and authors, brought their mobile book shop to the market. Patrons got the chance to meet Alegria founder Davina Ferreira as well as some Alegria authors, including MTP’s own Virginia Bulacio!
Local comedian Mona Shaikh brought a surprise stand-up set to the Greenway Amphitheater in the summer.
If you’re a regular at the Trading Post you may have seen the Rainbow Book Bus in the blue section several times and we hope you got a chance to check out their selection. The adorable mobile book fair is backed by Shop Queer Co. and wayOUT, two organizations working diligently to bring LGBTQ+ stories and resources to the communities that need it. We’re proud to partner with them and hope they’ll stop by again soon!
We got to host iconic brand Paul Frank for a pop up in the market, where patrons and vendors got to participate in a scavenger hunt for rare Paul Frank merch and take photos with a giant inflatable Julius The Monkey.
September 10th was a big day at MTP as we hosted extremely talented jazz artist Laufey as she celebrated the drop of her second studio album Bewitched. Fans lined up throughout the market to get their own vinyl copies, exclusive merch, and even meet the artist when she stopped by to join in the fun! It was A Very Laufey Day at the market and we’re so glad to have been one of the few pop-up locations for the drop.
Melissa Mendoza of Mel’s Craft Goodies came to the Greenway Amphitheater Stage this fall to present poetry from her new book, along with friends Obasaan Lin and Stephanie Cabrera.
Musician Tyler Cole and the Existential Crisis Club returned for their second pop up at MTP.
GAA team members Natalie, Lila, and Ellora popped up at the Great Pumpkin Bash this year to tell the community about Melrose Trading Post and Greenway Court Theatre programming. They were joined by three eco-friendly MTP art vendors – Kent Bindery, Little Gem Gallery, and Julia Godoy Studio – who got to sell their work and offer workshops to Pumpkin Bash attendees.
MTP Programming & Activities
The second season of our original youtube series, Melrose Stories, launched this year, celebrating the people that make MTP a unique community. We have interviewed vendors who have sold with us since our beginning in 1997, newcomers, and musicians that bring liveliness to the Greenway Amphitheater. All of our vendors have a story to tell but rarely do we get to sit and listen- until now!
Find our released Melrose Stories interviews on our YouTube channel and be sure to subscribe as we have plenty more in the vault that will be released in the coming months.
This year we started a new partnership with Jasmine Galindo from Cranes Studio. She developed Intermission Yoga + Sound Bath, which started as a ticketed event inside of the Fairfax High School Rotunda.
In 2023 we brought back Melrose Mornings, MTP’s free all ages morning programming from 10AM-11AM.
We started with Storytime in the Garden with Eclectuals, a program created by LToya Wilson of Eclectuals Book Market. On the 1st, 3rd and 5th Sundays of the month, LToya brings a local children’s author to read their book, answer questions, lead an activity, and sign copies of their book. Each story begins at 10:30AM at the Greenway Amphitheater.
After a few months, we decided to add Intermission to Melrose Mornings too! Intermission Yoga & Sound Bath is now a bimonthly, 30 minute yoga & sound bath session at the Greenway Amphitheater. Join the team from Cranes Studio from 10:30-11AM on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month.
Intermission as part of Melrose Mornings
All Melrose Mornings programming is included with your MTP admission fee.
This year, artists also shared their eco-friendly techniques with patrons at MTP.
Bo Sapphire of Little Gem Studio brought her Sun Print / Cyanotype Workshops to MTP. Patrons got to create sun print art pieces with Bo guiding them through the technical process.
Jordan Kent or Kent Bindery taught a paper making workshop in her booth this year! It is a beautiful way to teach the public about how paper is made, how to create their own paper, and how to reuse materials commonly found at home.
This summer, Greenway Arts hired Lila as MTP’s Los Angeles County Arts Commission Intern for 2023. Lila was an incredible addition to our team. Her contributions include curating featured vendors on our newsletter and website, and being the co-star of many fun videos on MTP’s TikTok and Instagram Reels, alongside Shop Coordinator Mahagany.
https://www.instagram.com/melrosetradingpost/reel/Cz9pU9zvD-k/?hl=en
In an MTP first, the market was closed 0n August 20 as a precaution due to a tropical storm warning as Hurricane Hillary descended on Los Angeles.
This year we’ve opened up to working with more universities, college and high schools. Santa Monica College professors brought their Fashion Merchandising classes to MTP to learn how the market runs, see fashion merchandising up-close, and gain inspiration for their class projects.
Friends we’ve lost in 2023
Vendor Daven Talbot
Holidays
JUNETEENTH
On June 18th we hosted our second annual Juneteenth Celebration in partnership with the Mid City West Neighborhood Council at MTP. It was a beautiful day filled with inspiring speakers and poets, an awesome line-up of musicians and performers and the amazing featured vendors and artists who sell at MTP. We’re grateful that Assemblymember Isaac Bryan made it out to the event again this year to deliver an awesome speech. Local non-profit organizations received a free booth to promote their causes, including art programs, mental health programs, and local advocacy and volunteer groups. Check out the recap video of the event at the link above!
HALLOWEEN
On October 29th we hosted our second Dog Costume Contest ever and it was a blast! We worked out some of the bumps from last year and welcomed more than 40 amazing contestants! It was a hard decision for the judges as there were a lot of ornate costumes this year. In the end we congratulated Gwen and her dog Maggie for the best Handmade Costume, Hiroko and her dog Rio for best Human & Dog Duo, and Caitlin and her dog Maisy for Best In Show. We greatly appreciate all of the hard work, thought, time, and money that went in to each costume and we encourage anyone with a willing pup to participate next year!
Our Grand Prize winners, Caitlain & Maisy as milk with a bowl of fruit loops!
Our fantastic vendors also went above and beyond this year for our Vendor Costume Contest. We had 12 participants including JM Film Resins dressed as an Oscar Award and winner, Film and Florals Boutique as the Energizer Bunny, and Jewel of Hawaii as a flower bouquet. For the THIRD year in a row Grecia of I Am Muse took the crown dressed as a devil with 110 votes on Instagram! Our runners up were Vida Kush and Vintage Redeux, dressed as Justin and Hailey Bieber, and Desert Moon dressed as a very colorful Furby. It’s very fun to see our vendors dress up and liven up the market and we hope to get even more entries next Halloween season!
Costume Contest Winner THREE years in a row, Grecia Palma of I Am Muse!
PRIDE CELEBRATIONS
For National Coming Out Day, OUTLOUD curated a guest lineup at the Greenway Amphitheater Stage, which included amazing performances from Junryl, Rachel Rose, and Bonavega. Watch it here on the MTP YouTube Channel.
OUTLOUD returned to MTP for National Transgender Awareness Week, with performances from Jakk Fynn, KC Ortiz, Ryan Cassata, and Lauren Tyler Scott. We hope to collaborate with OUTLOUD again in 2024.
WINTER SEASON
To spread peace, wonderment and cheer to the community at the end of this tough year, we transformed into the Merry Melrose Holiday Market for the month of December. Patrons enjoyed free photos with Santa Claus as well as Jack and Sally Skellington, plus pop-up performances from Little Women Ballet, cool artist-made photo installations, and typewriter poets from the LA Poet Society. We also ran a Toy Drive with Mágico and offered free admission for the first hour of the day.
However, vendors are at the heart of our market all year round. That’s why we host an Annual Vendor Appreciation Breakfast on the Holiday Market (usually the last or 2nd to last Sunday of December). This year we partnered with Batterberries Cafe (aka GC Crepe Makers) for a super delicious breakfast!
Greenway Arts Alliance also hosts an annual Pancake Breakfast for all staff members. This year, our Holiday Pancake Breakfast incorporated a training on fire safety and a surprise performance from GAA staff starring MTP’s Operations Manager J Scott as Frosty the Snowman. Frosty also made appearances in the market for Merry Melrose.
In the Media
In 2023 Greenway Arts Alliance / Melrose Trading Post were featured on:
Featured in Voyage L.A. Article & two podcast episodes with Madison Truscan
Marie Claire
Two Los Angeles Times article mentions
New York Times
Beverly Press / Park La Brea News
Roadbook
USC Annenberg Media
The Independent
Larchmont Buzz
Forbes
Tripzilla
The Argonaut
The LA Girl
Salt & Wind Travel
Hotels Above Par
Only in Your State
Thank you to everyone who has shared our story!
Click here to check out all of the MTP coverage on MTP on our media page.