Loss, Life & Love

Ben Caldwell is an artist, director, educator, independent filmmaker, and mentor, offering professional advice and support through his KAOS Network media lab and open mic hip-hop workshops.

Angela Jackson aka Angela Rena is an author, educator, and community activist who has for more than 30 years looked to the arts and culture of Leimert Park in Los Angeles to produce and hold culturally relevant events. As she completes her doctorate in educational leadership she joins the Life, Loss, and Love LA Festival sponsored by Reimagine to help create a program that will not only educate and entertain the community but will inspire the community to continue to have the conversations centered around grief and loss so the community can heal and become its best self.

South Los Angeles native Kaya Dantzler is a cultural organizer and producer who works at the intersection of art, social justice, and community engagement. As a Cultural Organizer, she harnesses the power of education, arts, and culture to build cross-cultural and intergenerational solidarity. She is currently the co-lead organizer with We Love Leimert, and serves as regional field manager with Color of Change.

Hahn has curated, programmed, envisioned, tour managed, and produced thousands of concerts, festivals, showcases, and more, featuring creatives from Los Angeles and around the world in her decades-long independent performing arts career as the artistic visionary for DTLA’s Grand Performances. She values work that tells stories of our shared humanity while embracing and encouraging parity, bravery, grace, compassion, and risk-taking.

Hahn is recognized for her creative conceptualization and production of programs that tell complete stories from unexpected perspectives with equal respect for audiences, artists, the producing institution, and those participants’ histories and futures. As such, her curatorial voice has played a critical role in developing the creative arts scene in southern California. she works closely with the recording academy (GRAMMY awards) and participates in academy leadership convenings.

Phillip “Fish” Fisher was nicknamed, “Fishbone,” while attending an elementary school in Los Angeles, California. He was exposed to different styles and genres of music at an early age, including pop, punk, reggae, fusion, funk, gospel, blues and more. It was this multi-faceted musical education that provided an intense foundation for Fish’s unique skills in music, business, and philosophy,

Fish, along with his brother, was a founding member of the world renowned seminal pop/metal/funk/ska band Fishbone, hailed as the most underrated group of the 80s. From their inception in 1984, the band forged a new creative sound, which became a major influence for many of today's hottest bands and led the way for a new genre of rock music. You can hear Fish's brilliant and tasteful drumming on Fishbone's landmark "Truth and Soul" and his drumming genius behind songs like “Bonin’ in the Boneyard,” “Everyday Sunshine,” and “Freddie’s Dead,” to name a few. Fishbone was one of the featured performers on the 1993 Lollapalooza Tour.

Fish has played with the best of the best since leaving Fishbone in 1998. His list of credits reads like a biography of musical bewilderment, seemingly bringing the eclectic style of Fishbone to artists that range from country to rock and hip hop to metal. His drumming has graced the stage and recordings of artists - Hootie and the Blowfish, Macy Gray, Seal, Lionel Richie, Taylor Swift, Big Daddy Kane, Sean "Puffy" Combs, Snoop Dog, Nas, 50 Cent, Christina Aguilera, Rihanna, Everlast, Chali 2Na (of Jurassic 5), Lady Antebellum, Shinehead, T-Pain, Mos Def, Taleb Kwali, Adam Levine, Sharon Jones - The Dap Kings, De La Soul, Ciara, Dave Steward - Eurythmics, Rocky Dawuni, The Bangles, Little Richard, George Clinton, Barrington Levy, Timbaland, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Mega Pop-star Justin Timberlake, Steel Pulse and many more.

A mainstay of the Los Angeles entertainment scene, better known as DJ
QwessCoast a DJ with an innovative entrepreneurial gift that has taken him all over
the world. Whether he is sharing the stage with iconic performers, providing a
soundtrack for nationally televised sporting events, or producing and curating special
events, concerts or festivals, this visionary can always be counted on to deliver an
exceptional performance.

Born in Los Angeles, Qwess spent his early years in the Leimert, Baldwin Hills & Inglewood area where he developed the passion for music that would define his career. He began turning his dreams into reality with the launch of the Elevate Culture Agency, which started as a mobile DJ for hire operation but soon turned into an extensive multi-media production agency.

Word of Qwess’ success spread quick, and in no-time he was performing, collaborating and producing with some of the best and elite in the city. Soon enough, Qwess went international, touring with the likes of Stevie Song Party Tour, Nas & Damien Marley, The Morgan Heritage Family Band, Omarion, Lloyd, and more. A former general manager of the 400 cap Miracle Theater Inglewood, he now serves as one of the official DJ’s for the TV/PPV Show Premiere Boxing Champions (PBC) which airs live on Fox, Showtime, and Fox Sports 1 networks.

Qwess is Co-Founder in Still Rising Co. and executive producer of the Leimert Park Juneteenth Festival for the last 3 years. Co-Founder and executive producer of the West Adams Block Party. In collaboration with the Mid City Neighborhood Council (MINC) Qwess curated the Mid-City Art + Music Festival 2018/2019. In collaboration with Bridge Street Productions Qwess help curate the Obama Street Naming Festival.

Furthermore, in collaboration with City of Inglewood Qwess Co-Produced the Inglewood King Fest 2020.