{"@context":"http://iiif.io/api/presentation/3/context.json","id":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/iiif/bg2h70b35k/manifest","type":"Manifest","label":{"en":["Future aspirations: Rodney Brown"]},"logo":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/organizations/logo_images/000/000/200/original/lapl_logo.png?1628076950","metadata":[{"label":{"en":["Agent"]},"value":{"en":["Altadena resident and team member at American Red Cross","Rodney Brown"]}},{"label":{"en":["Date"]},"value":{"en":["2025-11-05"]}},{"label":{"en":["Format"]},"value":{"en":["MPEG-4"]}},{"label":{"en":["Type"]},"value":{"en":["TheirStory"]}}],"provider":[{"id":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/aboutus","type":"Agent","label":{"en":["Los Angeles Public Library"]},"homepage":[{"id":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/","type":"Text","label":{"en":["Los Angeles Public Library"]},"format":"text/html"}],"logo":[{"id":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/organizations/logo_images/000/000/200/original/lapl_logo.png?1628076950","type":"Image"}]}],"thumbnail":[{"id":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/collection_resource_files/thumbnails/000/299/670/small/Screenshot_2026-01-09_at_10-42-24_Story_Hub_-_TheirStory.png?1767984164","type":"Image","format":"image/png"}],"items":[{"id":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3578/collection_resources/164562/file/299670","type":"Canvas","label":{"en":["Media File 1 of 1 - open-uri20260108-2656257-i32a23.mp4"]},"duration":502.22933,"width":640,"height":360,"thumbnail":[{"id":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/collection_resource_files/thumbnails/000/299/670/small/Screenshot_2026-01-09_at_10-42-24_Story_Hub_-_TheirStory.png?1767984164","type":"Image","format":"image/png"}],"items":[{"id":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3578/collection_resources/164562/file/299670/content/1","type":"AnnotationPage","items":[{"id":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3578/collection_resources/164562/file/299670/content/1/annotation/1","type":"Annotation","motivation":"painting","body":{"id":"https://aviary-p-lapl.s3.wasabisys.com/collection_resource_files/resource_files/000/299/670/original/open-uri20260108-2656257-i32a23.mp4?1767897224","type":"Video","format":"video/mp4","duration":502.22933,"width":640,"height":360},"target":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3578/collection_resources/164562/file/299670","metadata":[]}]}],"annotations":[{"id":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3578/collection_resources/164562/file/299670/transcript/88173","type":"AnnotationPage","label":{"en":["TheirStory Transcript (Paragraphs with Speakers) [Transcript]"]},"items":[{"id":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3578/collection_resources/164562/file/299670/transcript/88173/annotation/1","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\u003cstrong\u003eSPEAKER_S1:\u003c/strong\u003e So yes, my name is Rodney Brown. I'm a disaster rescue team with the American Red cross and the CEO of New Life Global Development. Yes, we've been all over LA County, Altadena, El Sereno and all those areas as we've been, um, doing real estate development projects, uh, some single family, uh, luxury homes and things like that in the area. So I'm very familiar with most of the cities in LA County. Yes. So the majority of, uh, the, the friends in East Altadena, uh, Fair Oaks, um, area, Sacramento Street, the roads, uh, those areas are where, um, the most concentrated, you know, of, uh, friends and, and that, you know, that we're helping To restore right now. Well, I mean, of course, it's devastating and ultimately traumatic the way it happened, um, the way these fires just swept through and devastated the entire community. However, we have hope. And in our faith, we have the hope that this also is an opportunity for us to dig deeper, for us to be resilient and be focused on rebuilding this community with the same sort of, uh, historical value that African American families brought to this community. And we think that this is a great opportunity, even though there is some dark forces that want to come up and buy it and change it. And but when you see that sign, the Altadena Strong, trust me, these families are locked in. It's not going to be business as usual, and as long as New Life Global Development is involved in the restoration of it, it's going to be because we're not just going to be rebuilding one home, have it different from another home. We want to get everybody on the block to agree with the type of of style of home that they want, so they can understand and visualize beforehand what the community is going to look like three years from now, when we finish a lot of the construction to make sure that it retains its heritage and the African American community, and how can we expand? A lot of the families are third and fourth generation, so they never had to pay a mortgage. It was inherited to them. They never had this. But now this is like a wake up call to families. Listen, this is legacy wealth. You can't just sell. You have to stay resilient and hold on to this property. Even if we come in and we clean the lot, We detoxify everything. We do the plans to go back to build. We would like or prefer for them to choose the original plans they already have. Because number one, it expedites us to be able to put shovel in the ground. Number two, it brings the the aesthetics of the community and the history and the heritage of the community back as everyone familiarized it. Then we can sprinkle some of that modern stuff in the technologies within it and make it a smart community, right? Because now we have to start from the beginning. Utilities all the way up, ground up. So this is a great opportunity for us to bring the heritage and the historical value of the African American community in Altadena, as well as bring in the new technology. Well, it now leaves families to make the decision of how they're going to to build, resolve, to restore and continue that legacy well. So this means that those, you know, there's businesses that have to be started. There's strategic plans that have to be if you own a property and it has some equitable value, it's time to leverage that reconstruction. But start continue the rebuilding resilience by investing in more properties in your community. Now the opportunity is here. While you're rebuilding your house, talk to neighbors that are that may not be able to come back that want to sell. Sell to your neighbor. Don't sell to the guy that's from nowhere around here, not even from California. There's the opportunity there. So we're talking to venture capitalists. Uh, our company at New Life Global Development is talking to venture capitalists about how can we empower other families to buy properties in the same community where they live. And this is the way we continue. It's going to take so many different solutions and ideas. And for us, creating think tanks. But I believe that if we come together as a community to be able to help one another, we can get 2 or 3 families from three blocks over to help Mrs. Johnson rebuild her house or just hold the note. You don't have to even buy the house. Create the note. Own the loan. Build your family. Take stake. Real investment stakeholders to come together in your community. Don't just look at the house. There's a loan that has to be put on a mortgage. Had to put on that. There's families in the community that can come together and create those loans and let it be owned by an organization or community group that lives right there on the block. So they drive by the house that they all own. As a part of that note, not the real asset, but the note is what's holding the value and the the the the true value and the legacy wealth is in the loan and not just in the land. It's the land and the mortgage. And communities and families in Altadena can be that note holder where they can have control of their own community. Well, to expound on the last comment, I think we need to look at strategies of families need to come together and create their own homeowners association. We need control and different angles, different ways. Not just owning the note, but controlling, um, how leadership supports resources in that particular community. That's where homeowner associations come in. A lot of people, you know, frown on homeowner associations. But now when you look at how we want Altadena to be rebuilt and come back to its original state, plus the new technology and magic, we can put, uh, in this community. I think it's time for us to take a fresh look at Creating certain types of homeowner associations within in the cities they call them neighborhood council. Right. But have a voice on what's happening in your on your blocks or when you go to city council, town council and give them these ideas, not just go and complaining to them as they're used to people always, you know, just coming complaining. Now let's create a solution. How do we do that? The homeowners association is also a think tank. We're driving through the neighborhood. It's not just about security, you know, but it's it's about efficiency, energy efficiency, renewable energy, um, tech, you know, technical Wi-Fi, stuff like that. How does it affect this community if if family groups create their own Altadena homeowner associations, they can have a great impact on that type of resource in the community and see that grow.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3578/collection_resources/164562/file/299670#t=3.64,497.06"}]},{"id":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3578/collection_resources/164562/file/299670/index/90430","type":"AnnotationPage","label":{"en":["Auto-generated Index (2025-11-05 21:55:38) [Index]"]},"items":[{"id":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3578/collection_resources/164562/file/299670/index/90430/annotation/2","type":"Annotation","motivation":"supplementing","body":[{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Introduction and Background","format":"text/plain","label":{"en":["Title"]}}],"target":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3578/collection_resources/164562/file/299670#t=0.0,65.0"},{"id":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3578/collection_resources/164562/file/299670/index/90430/annotation/3","type":"Annotation","motivation":"supplementing","body":[{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Rodney Brown introduces himself, highlighting his roles with the American Red Cross and as CEO of New Life Global Development. He shares his extensive experience working on real estate development projects across various neighborhoods in LA County, including Altadena and El Sereno. This establishes his familiarity with the region and his commitment to community development.","format":"text/plain","label":{"en":["Synopsis"]}}],"target":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3578/collection_resources/164562/file/299670#t=0.0,65.0"},{"id":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3578/collection_resources/164562/file/299670/index/90430/annotation/4","type":"Annotation","motivation":"supplementing","body":[{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Impact of Fires and Community Resilience","format":"text/plain","label":{"en":["Title"]}}],"target":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3578/collection_resources/164562/file/299670#t=65.0,123.0"},{"id":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3578/collection_resources/164562/file/299670/index/90430/annotation/5","type":"Annotation","motivation":"supplementing","body":[{"type":"TextualBody","value":"The speaker describes the traumatic impact of the fires that swept through and devastated the community. Despite the destruction, he expresses hope and faith, viewing the disaster as an opportunity for resilience and deeper community engagement. He stresses the importance of rebuilding with a focus on the historical value brought by African American families and resisting outside interests that may seek to change the community's character.","format":"text/plain","label":{"en":["Synopsis"]}}],"target":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3578/collection_resources/164562/file/299670#t=65.0,123.0"},{"id":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3578/collection_resources/164562/file/299670/index/90430/annotation/6","type":"Annotation","motivation":"supplementing","body":[{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Rebuilding with Heritage and Technology","format":"text/plain","label":{"en":["Title"]}}],"target":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3578/collection_resources/164562/file/299670#t=123.0,140.0"},{"id":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3578/collection_resources/164562/file/299670/index/90430/annotation/7","type":"Annotation","motivation":"supplementing","body":[{"type":"TextualBody","value":"The speaker outlines a vision for coordinated rebuilding, where families on the same block agree on home styles to preserve the community's heritage. He emphasizes the importance of visualizing the future look of the neighborhood and integrating modern technologies to create a smart community. The goal is to retain historical aesthetics while updating infrastructure and utilities from the ground up.","format":"text/plain","label":{"en":["Synopsis"]}}],"target":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3578/collection_resources/164562/file/299670#t=123.0,140.0"},{"id":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3578/collection_resources/164562/file/299670/index/90430/annotation/8","type":"Annotation","motivation":"supplementing","body":[{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Community Focus and Areas of Impact","format":"text/plain","label":{"en":["Title"]}}],"target":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3578/collection_resources/164562/file/299670#t=140.0,164.0"},{"id":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3578/collection_resources/164562/file/299670/index/90430/annotation/9","type":"Annotation","motivation":"supplementing","body":[{"type":"TextualBody","value":"The speaker identifies specific neighborhoods within LA County, such as East Altadena, Fair Oaks, and Sacramento Street, as areas with a high concentration of families and friends affected by recent disasters. He emphasizes the ongoing efforts to help restore these communities, indicating a targeted approach to recovery and support.","format":"text/plain","label":{"en":["Synopsis"]}}],"target":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3578/collection_resources/164562/file/299670#t=140.0,164.0"},{"id":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3578/collection_resources/164562/file/299670/index/90430/annotation/10","type":"Annotation","motivation":"supplementing","body":[{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Legacy Wealth and Property Retention","format":"text/plain","label":{"en":["Title"]}}],"target":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3578/collection_resources/164562/file/299670#t=164.0,251.0"},{"id":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3578/collection_resources/164562/file/299670/index/90430/annotation/11","type":"Annotation","motivation":"supplementing","body":[{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Many families in the community have inherited their homes over generations and have never faced mortgage payments. The speaker frames the current situation as a wake-up call, urging families to recognize the importance of legacy wealth and resist the temptation to sell their properties. He advocates for resilience and the retention of property within the community, preferring the use of original building plans to expedite reconstruction and maintain historical continuity.","format":"text/plain","label":{"en":["Synopsis"]}}],"target":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3578/collection_resources/164562/file/299670#t=164.0,251.0"},{"id":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3578/collection_resources/164562/file/299670/index/90430/annotation/12","type":"Annotation","motivation":"supplementing","body":[{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Community Investment and Strategic Planning","format":"text/plain","label":{"en":["Title"]}}],"target":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3578/collection_resources/164562/file/299670#t=251.0,314.0"},{"id":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3578/collection_resources/164562/file/299670/index/90430/annotation/13","type":"Annotation","motivation":"supplementing","body":[{"type":"TextualBody","value":"The speaker discusses the need for strategic planning and business development as part of the rebuilding process. He encourages property owners to leverage their equity for reconstruction and to invest in additional properties within their community. He highlights the opportunity for families to buy from neighbors rather than outsiders and mentions ongoing discussions with venture capitalists to empower local families to invest and rebuild together.","format":"text/plain","label":{"en":["Synopsis"]}}],"target":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3578/collection_resources/164562/file/299670#t=251.0,314.0"},{"id":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3578/collection_resources/164562/file/299670/index/90430/annotation/14","type":"Annotation","motivation":"supplementing","body":[{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Collective Ownership and Financial Solutions","format":"text/plain","label":{"en":["Title"]}}],"target":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3578/collection_resources/164562/file/299670#t=314.0,388.0"},{"id":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3578/collection_resources/164562/file/299670/index/90430/annotation/15","type":"Annotation","motivation":"supplementing","body":[{"type":"TextualBody","value":"The speaker proposes innovative financial solutions, such as families pooling resources to hold notes or loans on properties, rather than simply buying them. This approach allows community members to become stakeholders in each other's homes, fostering collective investment and control. He emphasizes that true legacy wealth lies in both the land and the mortgage, and suggests that local organizations or groups can manage these financial instruments to maintain community ownership.","format":"text/plain","label":{"en":["Synopsis"]}}],"target":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3578/collection_resources/164562/file/299670#t=314.0,388.0"},{"id":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3578/collection_resources/164562/file/299670/index/90430/annotation/16","type":"Annotation","motivation":"supplementing","body":[{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Homeowners Associations and Community Leadership","format":"text/plain","label":{"en":["Title"]}}],"target":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3578/collection_resources/164562/file/299670#t=388.0,502.22933"},{"id":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3578/collection_resources/164562/file/299670/index/90430/annotation/17","type":"Annotation","motivation":"supplementing","body":[{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Building on previous ideas, the speaker advocates for the creation of homeowners associations and neighborhood councils to enhance community control and leadership. He acknowledges that while some may be skeptical of such organizations, they can play a vital role in resource management, energy efficiency, and technological advancement. By forming these groups, families can have a stronger voice in local governance and drive solutions that benefit the entire community.","format":"text/plain","label":{"en":["Synopsis"]}}],"target":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3578/collection_resources/164562/file/299670#t=388.0,502.22933"}]}]}]}