We had the good fortune of connecting with Laura Stotland and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Laura, every day, we about how much execution matters, but we think ideas matter as well. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
Local Anchor happened somewhat by accident. What started as a Facebook group for local parents became an invaluable community resource for families. Let me back up a bit. My background and career were in marketing, holding positions with the Walt Disney Co and iHeart Media in Los Angeles. I also have experience in philanthropy. I was always involved in non-profit work from a very young age. Fast forward to our Facebook group, I saw the same parenting questions come up again and again and decided to create a website to help support local parents. We started as South Bay Mommies & Daddies in 2017, but in late 2021, I was selected for the prestigious Facebook Accelerator Program, which included a grant. This helped me rebrand and relaunch my website to help more parents beyond the South Bay. We are now focused on the LA Market and creating content that will support parents across the country, emphasizing Kindness and Giving Back. We are able to do this through brand partnerships that align with our mission. It’s been a labor of love, but we are excited to see it grow and thrive.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
There are many great parenting websites and resources out there. What sets us apart from the rest is our focus on giving back, supporting our community, and leading with kindness. For example, every year for Valentine’s Day, we run a Valentine’s Day Kindness Project. We encourage local families to create homemade cards for patients and frontline healthcare workers in our local hospitals. Last year, during the peak of the pandemic, we raised $15,000 to purchase meals from local small business restaurants and feed our frontline healthcare workers. We were able to give over 1000 meals. In our Facebook group, we are always looking for ways to give back, whether it is adopting a family during the holidays, hosting a back-to-school crayon collection, or helping to restock a local food pantry.

Let’s be honest, the last couple of years during this pandemic has been hard for everyone, but for some, it’s been life-changing. I believe that coming together and supporting our community has helped so many through this challenging time. I know it’s helped mine.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I am not your typical LA girl. I’m not really into the hustle and bustle anymore, maybe that’s because I’m a mom now? We would probably head west to a beachfront location for good food, delicious drinks, and casual vibes and book a room at the Terranea Resort in Palos Verdes. I’d take her to some of my favorite inspiring places, like the Getty Villa or LACMA and of course, we’d have to do a night downtown because you need to experience downtown LA if you’re visiting for the first time. That would definitely include checking out an LA Lakers or LA Kings game followed by dinner at LA Live. And last but not least, the beach… I mean what is a trip to LA without going the beach?

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I honestly wouldn’t even know where to start. So many have inspired me over the years, from my corporate mentors to business coaches, my family, friends and colleagues, and community members. There are just too many to call out. I call them my trusted advisors, the people I reach out to and bounce ideas, ask for guidance and receive encouragement, or just call to vent about how hard it is to run a business. It is vital to have trusted advisors, and I appreciate them so much.

Website: www.localanchor.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/southbayanchor/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/localanchor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/local_anchor

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/localanchor

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/localanchor

Other: Facebook Groups: https://www.facebook.com/groups/localanchor About Local Anchor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=seDApef1698

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.