Everybody Loves the Sunshine is a monthly day party I throw in partnership with Los Angeles tennis boutique Grand Slam. The party's intention is to create conversation and community through music, showcasing local DJs and food vendors and inviting the community to shake hands with neighbors and get on the dance floor.

The catalyst for this party was seeing a need for a daytime, music-centered third space in our neighborhood, one without an entry fee or exclusive feel. Los Angeles has a reputation for being a city that can be hard to build community in, so we wanted to provide a free space that showcases DJs who play different kinds of music and therefore draw different crowds.

The event's name, an ode to the classic Roy Ayers song, mirrors the warm and universal character we want people to feel when they attend. It's also a nod to the music lovers, who enjoy learning about music new and old, and the sunny city we all call home.

I bring these elements into both the in-person event, as well as the digital branding on Instagram, playlist curation, and photography style. On the Instagram page, I have created different series to keep the page active. The Sunshine Selects series spotlights different people of all walks of life about an album that has shaped them and features a portrait of them holding the album and then a text blurb about why it's meaningful to them. The Making Connections series highlights song's samples, covers, and interpolations, giving audiences an opportunity to learn and also appreciate just how far one song's impact can travel.

As we move forward with this event, we always want to keep community at the center of it. We intend to add a charitable branch to the event, inviting people to bring clothing donations and canned goods which we'd then deliver to a local organization. Additionally, we want to add a live music aspect that features local up-and-coming artists looking for a platform.