photography – J.T. The L.A. Storyteller

In photos: Two years on, from El Salvador to Guatemala, and Oaxaca to L.A., our pueblo lives on

July 1, 2020July 1, 2020 J.T.Leave a comment

Two years since our first sojourn through familial homelands in central America and beyond, one lesson remains: the need to continue discovering our cuentos in yet more places is as important as ever. Admittedly, this particular time is a difficult one for us to discover more of the world beyond familiar borders on foot, but that doesn’t mean we can’t take some time to learn about the world from afar through a good book; I’d say a good starting point would be Eduardo Galeano’s Open Veins of Latin America. Of course, it’s also said that a picture’s worth a thousand words, so here are a handful. More with yours truly once again soon, Los Angeles. And with hands extended in prayer for all the people of the world during this extraordinary time.

J.T.

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In Pictures: A Week that Changed Los Angeles for A Generation

June 6, 2020June 9, 2020 J.T.Leave a comment

(Pandemic in Los Angeles: Day 80)

A group of police officers, sheriffs, and National Guard service-members at the Hall of Justice in downtown Los Angeles

A line of National Guard service-members guard the Hall of Justice in downtown Los Angeles

A National Guard truck gets ready to make a turn on Hope Street in downtown Los Angeles

A police officer, sheriff, and National Guard service-member guard the Hall of Justice in downtown Los Angeles

A police officer and National Guard service-member exchange a word at the Hall of Justice in downtown Los Angeles

A crowd of protesters gathered on North Spring street

A line of police officers forms a barrier at L.A. City Hall in downtown Los Angeles

A police officer holds what appears to be a rubber bullet rifle at L.A. City Hall

A protester holds a sign at a protest in front of L.A. City Hall

A helicopter circles around L.A. City Hall, monitoring protests

A police SUV cruises by on Hill street in downtown Los Angeles

Police cruisers parked along 1st street and Hope street in Los Angeles

“The words ‘Equal Justice Under Law’ are carved in the pediment of the United States Supreme Court. This is precisely what protesters are rightly demanding. It is a wholesome and unifying demand—one that all of us should be able to get behind. We must not be distracted by a small number of lawbreakers. The protests are defined by tens of thousands of people of conscience who are insisting that we live up to our values—our values as people and our values as a nation…We must reject and hold accountable those in office who would make a mockery of our Constitution.” – James Mattis, Former Secretary of Defense of the United States with more than 50 years of experience in the U.S. Marine Forces

J.T.

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The Situation is Crucial in Los Angeles

March 9, 2020May 10, 2020 J.T.Leave a comment

In the last ten years, inequality across the city lines has never been more abundant. The number of unhoused people on the streets has skyrocketed, while political leadership on the issue has all but abandoned these citizens to the dust of L.A’s crust and freeways.

Just around the corner of makeshift “tent cities” founded by this inequality, minimum wage in Los Angeles continues to bleed workers out of their living; these workers are parents, siblings, community college students, and a myriad of other vulnerable people just trying to survive another day. Maybe another month.

At L.A.’s schools, swaths of students continue to be underserved while their teachers and counselors continue searching past the droves of work placed on their desks for a better way. Those teachers also continue to be widely underpaid.

L.A. as home appears to have never hung more in the balance. On some days it feels like I only see more of my community falling into the same old cliches.

And yet, here comes LOS CUENTOS.

Los Cuentos is love for my community. Just like my blog, Los Cuentos is an ode to my community recognizing the people of Los Angeles for who they are:

Resilient,

Loving,

Wonderous,

Heroes to this lover of all things Los Angeles.

It is between their shoulders that jimbo times was founded. And now it’s on their shoulders that we stand.

Los Cuentos hoodies are thus but a handful of precious threads to warm those awesome shoulders.

Our hoodies may not save the world for our community, but they will say thank you to their sacred beings.

Thank you is a start. As good of a start as we need right now. 40 Cuentos have become 9 Cuentos left to get out to the city.

Thank you Los Angeles,

J.T.

40 Cuentos

February 6, 2020February 22, 2020 J.T.Leave a comment

Did you hear about the blogger from Los Angeles turned fashionista?

It’s Los Cuentos.

In these last days of winter, I’ve got on hand my first bulk order for Los Cuentos hoodies by Jimbo Times. 40 hoodies, that is.

I’ve now got to sell all 40 hoodies before the first day of March in order to keep the production going! Can you help me do it? Colors come in Black and Maroon, and are available in small, medium and large sizes. You can place your order HERE.

If the hoodie’s not for you, you can get one for your friends or family! It’s a comfy, cozy and resilient piece to get through winter with.

Each sale earns yours truly a humble profit to keep the site and podcast running, but it’s not about the profit. It’s about the challenge; it’s about the unending call to adventure and success in Los Angeles despite any odds to the contrary!

So, what do you say L.A?

Let’s get the world Cuentos!

J.T.

Los Cuentos Salute 2020

January 4, 2020January 4, 2020 J.T.Leave a comment

Because of course they do.

Find your Cuentos and let ’em shine.

J.T.

From Shanghai, a Strange & Wondrous Place for Los Cuentos

October 27, 2019October 30, 2019 J.T.Leave a comment

I’ve come to learn that every city has something to say, but also that probably not enough can be said of just how important port-cities are for connecting one part of the globe to another. Maybe it was quite meant to be that we see this special place from China’s harbors then. But what do you say, Los Angeles? Shall we continue exploring to see which insights we can take back home with us?

J.T.