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  • Last login about 2 hours ago

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Overview

  • 310 references 103 Confirmed & Positive
  • Fluent in English; learning Portuguese, Spanish, Vietnamese
  • 94, Male
  • Member since 2009
  • Entrepreneur, Small Business Owner
  • BS, Info & Computer Science
  • No hometown listed
  • Profile 100% complete

About Me

I teach people to shoot safely and responsibly and to destigmatize and demystify guns in progressive and liberal spaces:
https://www.instagram.com/la.progressive.shooters/

I post about music, dance, film, art and community events around LA and used to host weekly CS meetups at these events:
http://instagram.com/enclave.la
If you like multicultural events, not touristy stuff, you can check it out.

Find Me on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/enclavelosangeles

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

CouchSurfing has redeemed my faith in the goodness of people, if we all give each other a chance to connect in an open, genuine and positive way. After losing my software engineering job in 2009 Recession, I backpacked through S. America and Europe for a year, and it changed my life. So many people have helped me along my travels, the least I can do when I'm back home is host and be an active welcoming part of our community. CS and traveling has inspired me to think outside the box, and I went on to create my 1st business in 2011, a surf school, and then my 2nd business, CultureGap.LA, in 2016, a grassroots marketing company for the cultural and performing arts. When that business got shut down because of the pandemic in 2020, I became a certified firearms instructor, focused on helping the most vulnerable and marginalized folks, like queer and transgender, domestic abuse survivors, eldery and disabled folks.

I truly believe in the good of this community and we each have a responsibility to make it what it is. I am an outspoken advocate for member safety. I have publicly outed 2 male Ambassadors who are sexual predators after numerous reports to me by female CSers who are too afraid to speak out, and speak out against an organization and culture that protects them and other predators on this site. Read references carefully, and also message other women CSers privately to ask about male hosts they've stayed with. And if you want to request a couch from me, you'll need to mention the word "safety" in your request to show that you've read my profile.

Interests

  • arts
  • culture
  • writing
  • concerts
  • dancing
  • salsa dancing
  • running
  • instructor
  • shopping
  • movies
  • traveling
  • socializing
  • blogging
  • music
  • live music
  • guitar
  • surfing
  • snowboarding
  • martial arts
  • business
  • engineering
  • history
  • languages
  • software
  • beaches

Music, Movies, and Books

I cover LA's independent music and global music scene in LA, going to live music shows almost every night. Here's a playlist of my favorite LA bands I put together for a couchsurfer who stayed with me:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCguygynKDs&list=PLMgiCFUISJdiMNeKbsSMe8vdDplzQPGak

I love foreign film and documentaries. There are film festivals in LA all the time.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

The one day I didn't have my waterproof camera on me, a pod of dolphins surrounded my surfboard...a magical moment with majestic intelligent beings.

Teach, Learn, Share

I love to teach people how to dance salsa, and share all the great events happening in what I consider the real Los Angeles, a global city of over 200 languages and so many immigrant and POC communities that go hidden, while people only know about the Touristy Los Angeles.

I also love showing people my favorite foodie spots, with hashtag #enclavefoodie on IG:
https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/enclavefoodie/

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, France, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Peru, Poland, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States, Viet Nam

Old School Badges

  • 45 Vouches
  • Pioneer Badge

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