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South LA Highlight: LA Native

Published on: 17th August, 2026

We sit down with Odessa Bowdin-Sierra, the founder and designer behind LA Native, a Los Angeles apparel brand celebrating local pride, neighborhood identity, and the belief that moving up doesn't always mean moving out. A proud Angelino with deep ties to the Crenshaw community, Odessa first made her mark in 2003 with Nobody Jones Boutique, bringing high-quality, fashion-forward clothing to a neighborhood she felt deserved more options. In this conversation, she shares her journey through the fashion industry, the racism that drove her to open her own shop, the origins of LA Native as a "love letter" to the city, and her philosophy on community reinvestment and small business ownership.

Resources

  • LA Native website: shoplanative.com
  • LA Native storefront: 4343 Crenshaw Boulevard (across from Leimert Park, next to Taco Mel)

Community Announcements

South LA Economic Development Strategy Meeting Thursday, August 27th | 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM Council District 8 Constituent Service Center — 8475 South Vermont Avenue, Los Angeles Conducted in English and Spanish. Accessibility accommodations available upon request.

Keep Los Angeles Beautiful — 8th Annual Beautification Conference Saturday, September 19th | 9:00 AM Friendship Auditorium — 3201 Riverside Drive, Los Angeles Free and open to all. Workshops, panel discussions, and a community resource expo with 30+ exhibitors.

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About the Podcast

MHD Off the Record
Dive into the heart of South Los Angeles with Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson on MHD Off The Record—where culture drives leadership and community voices lead the way!
MHD Off the Record takes you inside Los Angeles City Hall with Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson. Each episode explores the culture, politics, and policies shaping life in Los Angeles from housing and homelessness to city planning, public safety, and immigrant rights.

Focused on uniting neighborhoods across the city, the MHD Off the Record podcast blends political insight with community-driven solutions. Listeners hear conversations with civic leaders, activists, and community stakeholders that reveal how multicultural organizing, music, and personal stories influence the direction of Los Angeles.

If you’re curious about how Los Angeles City Council makes decisions, want to learn about city resources, or care about the future of South LA and beyond, this podcast gives you the context and voices behind the policies that impact Angelenos every day.

About your host

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Marqueece Harris-Dawson