(Re)Building in Southern California
The Historical Society of Southern California
HSSC Programing Calendar 2025-2026
Description of 2025-2026 Theme
This year’s theme for the Historical Society of Southern California is “(Re)building,” a concept that resonates deeply with the times we live in.
In the aftermath of devastating fires that swept across the Los Angeles region, we are turning our attention to how communities—both physically and metaphorically—are rebuilding. From infrastructure to identity, the process of (re)building captures the resilience, creativity, and unity that continue to define Southern California.
More urgently, as many communities across Southern California face marginalization or active harm from governmental systems and policies, we aim to provide a vital space for dialogue and reflection. Our theme challenges us to consider how rebuilding is not merely a matter of repair, but an act of empowerment—of reclaiming voice, agency, and collective strength.
True to our mission, the Historical Society remains committed to “uplifting underrepresented voices, empowering community partners to tell their own stories, and creating an inclusive narrative about the history of Southern California and the West—a narrative that embraces both agency and anguish.” The idea of (re)building aligns with our broader goal: to foster a dynamic and inclusive sense of community among scholars, activists, local historians, and all those who care about the past and future of our region.
The 2025–2026 theme invites us to reflect on this defining moment in history as participants and witnesses. Together, we will explore the many ways community has been and continues to be forged, challenged, and transformed—and how, through conversation and collaboration, we can shape a more just and connected future.
AUGUST 2025: MUSEUM EVENT
A Great Day in East L.A.: Celebrando the Eastside Sound
Presenter: Dr. Jorge N. Leal, Curator
La Plaza de Cultura y Artes
DATE: Saturday August 16, 2025 1 pm-2 pm
LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes centers the history of Mexican and Mexican Americans in Los Angeles, and collects, preserves, and shares the stories, accomplishments, and experiences of Latinx people and Latino culture.
Located near the site where Los Angeles was founded in 1781, LA Plaza’s 2.2-acre campus includes two historic and newly renovated buildings (the Vickrey-Brunswig Building and Plaza House) surrounded by 30,000 square feet of public garden and LA Cocina de Gloria Molina, a teaching kitchen and event space, located in LA Plaza Village.
LA Plaza is an official project of Los Angeles County and a Smithsonian Affiliate.
