John Malpede is the founding Artistic Director for the Los Angeles Poverty Department (LAPD), a theater collective of homeless and formerly homeless individuals. Founded in 1985, LAPD works to build community in Skid Row and to raise public awareness of the “real deal” of life on the streets. Collaborating with drug recovery programs, transitional housing initiatives, and employment services, LAPD engages hundreds of Skid Row residents each month through workshops and original performances that reflect the hopes, challenges, and experiences of the neighborhood.
