ABOUT the Founder
City Council President | Destination Crenshaw | Full Bio
For Marqueece Harris Dawson, Destination Crenshaw is more than a project, it’s a promise kept to the community that raised him. Born and raised in South Central Los Angeles, he founded Destination Crenshaw to ensure that the stories, art, and spirit of Black LA aren’t just preserved, but elevated.
What began as a response to potential erasure has become a blueprint for cultural legacy, a 1.3-mile celebration of creativity, resilience, and belonging along Crenshaw Boulevard. For Marqueece, this project embodies everything his life’s work stands for: community power, cultural pride, and the belief that equity can be built into the very streets we walk.
Destination Crenshaw isn’t just part of his legacy, it is proof that when a community builds for itself, it builds something the world can never overlook.
Our leaders make it happen: turning vision into action and securing the resources to bring it to life.
Destination Crenshaw wouldn’t be possible without the dedication of our civic leadership, the Council President’s office, and city partners. Their collaboration and tireless work helped transform a community vision into a city-backed legacy project, securing major public investment from the federal, state, and local levels, including Los Angeles County, LA Metro, and the City of Los Angeles.
Civic Leadership
Karen Bass
Mayor of Los Angeles
Holly J. Mitchell
Supervisor, Los Angeles County
Sydney Kamlager-Dove
U.S. Congress Member
Isaac Bryan
CA State Assembly Member
Stephanie Wiggins
CEO, LA Metro
Eric Garcetti
Mayor Emeritus
LA Council President's Office
Special Thanks
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