Dream Pop Strip Mall

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In Stockton, California — a quiet strip mall has a double life. Come nightfall, it turns into a venue for indie rock concerts. Youth Radio, in collaboration with our partners at Stitcher, developed a single story multimedia site to tell a deeper story about the city, the youth and the unusual cross-generational partnership that sparked a new music scene. Check it out here: dreampopstripmall.com.

Violence In Stockton

Michael Tubbs Speaking — Michael Tubbs is 24, and on the Stockton city council.

For some insight into how violence has affected the city’s youth, we turned to Stockton city councilman Michael Tubbs. 24-year-old Tubbs was born and raised in Stockton, California. Back in 2012, he was elected to the city council — the youngest person to ever hold that office in Stockton.

Among other issues that affect the city’s young people, Tubbs is focused on reducing crime in Stockton, which has a high per-capita murder rate that takes a toll on its young people — especially in the summer time.

Tubbs talked to Youth Radio about his work. Listen below.

Photo Gallery: Faces Behind Stockton’s Young Music Scene

During the day, the storefront in the unassuming Stockton strip mall is what real estate developers refer to as a “vanilla shell”: white walls, large windows, and generally dull surroundings. But at night, bands come in early to deck the place out with flame-shaped Christmas lights, large speakers perched on a Persian rug, and a DJ booth in the back. Check out these snapshots of what it’s like to be there.