By Pynnderella | For Hype Hair
The glass slipper may be off, but my pyn is down— let’s get into it.
There’s something sacred about a room that’s small on purpose. No lights. No stage. No red carpet, just community, clarity, and the kind of conversation that can only happen when real ones are invited in.
That’s exactly where I found myself this week, seated across from the Mayor of Los Angeles, the incomparable Karen Bass, inside The Gathering Spot, a cultural and creative hub known for hosting forward-thinking voices and purposeful dialogue. The event, curated by Rocsii Woolley, founder of The Source LA, was private, powerful, and deeply intentional. No fluff. No fluffers. Just legacy in motion.
This wasn’t a staged photo op or a city hall soundbite. It was a living room-style exchange between Mayor Bass and a hand-selected group of community leaders, students, and media minds, the ones who aren’t just reporting on the block, but rebuilding it.
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Mayor Bass didn’t just show up… she engaged. With transparency, strategy, and the kind of grace that only comes from doing the work. She answered candid questions about public safety, ICE, and how citizens can protect themselves from unlawful behaviors by enforcement. She didn’t shy away from the tough topics. Instead, she offered real steps for community safety, and encouraged all of us, especially media platforms, to stay connected. “Reach out to me about media opportunities. I want to be involved,” she said. And the room felt it. You could hear pens scratching. You could feel people being seen as we stood up, grabbed the microphone, and asked the questions in our hearts.
One of the most heartwarming moments came from a young student who asked: “How do we stay hopeful?”
Mayor Bass smiled, paused, and reminded us that hope doesn’t come from watching the news, it comes from staying involved. Staying rooted in community work. Staying in relationship with leaders who are actually present.
She also shared her own personal form of self-care and yes, we loved her for it. “I like to ride bikes along the beach. And swim. That’s my therapy.” A reminder that even the city’s top executive still needs a moment to exhale.
We dove into topics like funding from the city, equitable resources, and how to make our neighborhoods safer, smarter, and supported. There was no vague political rhetoric — just straight answers, shared accountability, and a clear sense that we are not powerless.
And yes, I made sure my locs were free and styled with baby hair. Because even in civic spaces, Black women show up moisturized, intentional, and ready to move mountains. There’s something deeply powerful about sitting in rooms where public policy and polished curls can co-exist.
But here’s what made the moment unforgettable:
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She didn’t speak at us. She spoke with us.
She modeled what it looks like to lead with presence and purpose — to be in the community, not above it.
That’s why I soundtracked the moment with Queen Latifah’s “U.N.I.T.Y.”, because that’s exactly what it felt like. A room full of strong voices. A beat made of collaboration. A chorus of purpose.
To Mayor Bass, thank you for pulling up and pouring in.
To Rocsii and The Source LA, thank you for creating the kind of space that understands both edges and impact.
To The Gathering Spot, thank you for housing this magic in a space that feels like culture and intention wrapped in one.
And to every woman reading this: keep your crown straight and your questions sharper. Because true change doesn’t always look like a protest — sometimes, it looks like a press curl and a press pass in a room full of leaders who care.
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The culture moves fast, but my ink is quicker.
Pynnderella, the fairytale connoisseur.
