UCLA and ATTN: Join Forces for Multi-Dimensional Pop-Up Event Featuring UCLA Alumni George Takei, Ray Garcia and Natasha Case

Community Classroom Event Brings UCLA’s Knowledge Solves Campaign to Life and Explores Some of Today’s Big Ideas including Culture, Sustainability and Entrepreneurship at The Row in Downtown Los Angeles 

UCLA and ATTN: are excited to announce a community classroom event taking place at The Row in downtown Los Angeles September 29th in celebration of UCLA’s 100 year anniversary. The UCLA and ATTN: community classroom will be a free, multi-dimensional pop-up in the Arts District downtown where attendees can join in on the creation of an interactive community mural, view art installations, experience a human library where volunteers act as “open books”. There will also be three keynote talks on the mainstage, pairing a series of dynamic duos who will engage together on a single, pressing modern issue. Legendary actor and activist George Takei, Coolhaus founder and CEO Natasha Case and renowned LA chef Ray Garcia will each team up with a UCLA professor, allowing for a fresh mix of authority and entertainment to host guided lecture style discussions and performances. 

"UCLA's centennial celebration is a rededication to the communities we serve locally and globally through our research and innovation and the thousands of future leaders we educate,” said Carole Goldberg, Distinguished Research Professor of Law and Chair for UCLA Centennial Celebration Steering Committee.

The community classroom is part of a new campaign developed by UCLA called Knowledge Solves that highlights programs and research at UCLA that serve our communities for the greater good. Knowledge plays a fundamental role in solving the biggest issues in our world, and this one day event will bring the classroom into our shared community to collectively explore big ideas that inspire UCLA students, alumni and LA’s residents, engaging the LA community around their most passionate points of interest. 

“UCLA’s centennial is a celebration of not only its100-year milestone but its on-going commitment to Los Angeles,” said Andres Cuervo, director of UCLA’s Centennial Celebration. “This community classroom and partnership with ATTN: is a reflection of that commitment and an opportunity for Angelenos of all-ages to explore big ideas and experience UCLA in downtown like never before.”

“We founded ATTN: in Los Angeles nearly five years ago because there are few other cities in the world as committed to arts, creativity and cultural diversity than LA,” said Matthew Segal, ATTN:’s Co-Founder. “We’re honored to be celebrating UCLA’s 100th anniversary by planning an event for our community that will manifest these characteristics.” 

The UCLA and ATTN: Community Classroom is open to all LA residents. The one day event is being produced by ATTN:’s experiential division, ATTN: Moment, in partnership with UCLA. 

Mainstage Discussions:

CULTURE - George Takei is a legendary actor, LGBTQ+ rights advocate, and social media darling. In a Q&A with UCLA faculty, George will discuss the growing diversification of the performing arts through the lens of Asian-American visibility and his role as an early trailblazer. As a survivor of World War II U.S. internment, George will go on to discuss with a UCLA professor the rare insight he has on the modern-day crises we are witnessing in real time over social media, how media visibility helps, and how people can be more socially conscious citizens.

ENTREPRENEURSHIP - An LA native, Coolhaus founder and CEO Natasha Case is a model of entrepreneurship: she has constructed an empire spanning multiple retailers and shops, a national fleet of trucks, merchandising, and even several books. Joined by UCLA faculty, Natasha will speak about finding entrepreneurial success through embracing your passion, building a loyal following, and the strength of savvy social media marketing.

SUSTAINABILITY - Ray Garcia is the renowned chef of DTLA’s popular restaurant Broken Spanish, where he draws inspiration from LA’s culture as well as local Southern California produce. Alongside UCLA faculty, he’ll discuss the growing importance of eating sustainably, and how this ultimately fuels our greater health.