Issue 02:
FAMILY A look at the intersection of family and community in Pasadena
PLACE IDENTITY The meaning and significance we attach to places shapes how we see ourselves. This is the premise of place identity, studied by researchers like Harold Proshansky and Thomas Bender. And it is a major reason we feel connected to a house, neighborhood, or community. It is impossible to separate a place from the experiences we have in that place. As we spend time somewhere, we see the same people — at the park, at farmer’s markets, at church. Our family lives become intertwined. We become, over time, familiar with each other. That familiarity is good for community. It makes us feel more accountable, become invested in one another’s success. Your child plays on the same baseball team as mine. I cheer when he has a hit, wince when he whiffs it. I root for him, you, and our team. This is where family and community intersect. It is also easy to narrow our community to only what is familiar. This is the challenge BldgC is committed to addressing — how can we help share the daily lives of all Pasadenans, raising awareness of each other so we recognize the shared experience of living here? Issue 2 looks at family through the lens of community. We highlight family businesses and organizations that support famillies. We show the daily moments (the milestones and the mundane) that define us as individuals, family, and community members.
bldgc.org
91101 91102 91103 91104 91105 91106 91107 91108 91109 91110 91114
91115 91116 91117 91118 91121 91123 91124 91125
91126 91129 91182 91184 91185 91188 91189 91199
Pop Quiz: There are 27 zipcodes in Pasadena. Circle the ones you know.
PAL
An Interview with the
Police Activities League For many families, the hours after school ends and before a parent gets home is a childcare logistics challenge. The Police Activities League (PAL) is a safe and supportive space in Pasadena for youth age 9-17, offering mentoring and leadership skill development alongside sports and education programs between 2pm and 5pm on weekdays. PAL is much more than just “afterschool care” however; they see and nurture every youth’s potential to be an asset to their community and the future generation of community leaders. Their association with the Police Department is loose, but allows the police community to interact with the program participants in positive ways. Officers regularly pop in to play a game of basketball or pool when they are off duty and volunteer at events. Different than the Police Explorers program, PAL ‘s police connection is largely about low-key relationship building, knowing that healthy relationships between youth and police are one component of community safety and fostering positive relationships with authority figures. PAL has been around since 1997 in Pasadena and has actively grown their focus beyond the original scope of athletics. While PAL is a national organization, its branches act locally and with the community’s needs in mind. Board Member and former PAL Supervisor, Retired Lieutenant Rodney D. Wallace, talks about the importance of adding the program’s leadership components in Pasadena: For many of the youth, it is a time they can be taken seriously and given responsibility. Programs offer exposure to STEM, entrepreneurship, and selfesteem building opportunities. Wallace points to the PAL logo embroidered on his shirt. “We had a contest among the participants to design the logo and this is the winning design. People have said we should change it, but I say, ‘Why?’ This is a great design.” His commitment to elevating others first is evidenced in his reluctance to be interviewed, deferring instead to the Program Coordinators and Youth
Advisors who “do the real work.” The structure of PAL is unique — They match Youth Advisors up with up to fifteen mentees, giving a consistent person for youth to rely on for advice, encouragement, and yes, homework help. The Youth Advisors are all college students between the ages of 18 and 23. Their own career development and goals are seen as an important part of the overall equation. The mentorship happens naturally through modeling and building a connection to someone who is living just beyond the mentee’s experiences. Youth Advisor Carolina says that at times she knows she is the only set of ears these kids have. Many of them come from single parent homes where the parent is working multiple jobs and attention is in short supply. At PAL, there is a person monitoring their social and emotional development alongside their academic progress. Carolina has been a mentor for three and a half years, making her the second longest mentor in the program currently. She knows she will leave the program at some point, and will have to leave some kids before she is able to see their personal journey come to a satisfying end. “I don’t feel like I get to do enough,” she admits, “I’m always like, I want to do more.” Carolina and Marcella (another third year Youth Advisor) both describe their pride at watching “PAL kids” grow. “The years pass quick here,” Carolina says, “Sometimes, I’ll look at someone and think, ‘Who were you 5 years ago? You’re so different!” When asked about a particular connection that was meaningful to them, they gave examples of kids in fragile emotional places gaining confidence and moving beyond the situation, be it homelessness, divorce, suicidal thoughts, or peer conflict. “There are a few kids that call us Mom,” Marcella shares. “They see us that way.” PAL participants are not obligated to come to the facility on Mentor (a block off of Lake Avenue in the Salvation Army facility), but if someone hasn’t
been seen around for a few days, their mentor will check up on them, calling the family or the school to find out what’s been going on. This sort of accountability is part of staying in touch with the mentee’s overall life. Youth Advisors have a lot of contact with the program families, checking in with parents or grandparents at pick ups or drop offs. Carolina mentions a grandma of a former PAL kid who she is still regularly in contact with. This intimate and nurturing AdvisorMentee relationship is part of why PAL sees many siblings go through the program. Parents are happy to have someone they can trust to care about their child’s development, and a program that is conscientiously accessible. PAL advisors have designated routes at many of the local schools, picking up kids and bringing them to the facility. Program fees are symbolic rather than profitdriven. Donations come from their annual fundraising events organized in part by PAL’s Board (all community volunteers): The Golden Badge Awards (Spring) and the PAL Golf Tournament (Fall). The support allows PAL to nurture many of their youth’s personal development — from sponsoring a Youth & Government program fee for a civically-engaged teen to field trips to cultural and educational destinations and college and career counseling. PAL’s reach is deep, but they would love to be able to serve more of the community. Currently their waitlist is over 100 people long. For every PAL kid finding an extended family within the program, there are many more waiting for that opportunity.
You can find out more about PAL through their website: www.pasadenapal.com. Written by Kaya Plansker in October 2018
All Issue 02 Photos by @brigittepavich
“The child in each of us Knows paradise. Paradise is home. Home as it was Or home as it should have been. Paradise is one's own place, One's own people, One's own world, Knowing and known, Perhaps even Loving and loved. Yet every child Is cast from paradiseInto growth and new community, Into vast, ongoing Change.”
Quote from Parable of the Sower, by Octavia E. Butler; “grand dame of science fiction”, Pasadena native and PEN American Center Lifetime Achievement in Writing recipient.
San Rafael Park
Linda Vista Park
Lower Arroyo Park
Arlington Garden
Singer Park
Allendale Park
Central Park
Memorial Park
Villa Parke
McDonald Park
Washington Park
La Pintoresca Park
Robinson Park Brenner Park
Defenders Park
Brookside Park
Upper Arroyo Park
Hahamongna Watershed Park
Tournament Park
Grant Park
Jefferson Recreation Park
Michillinda Park
Eaton Blanche Park
Vina Vieja Park
Gwinn Park Alice’s Dog Park
Victory Park
Eaton Canyon Nature Center
PASADENA
Defenders Park 450 West Colorado Ave Pasadena, CA 91105
Linda Vista Park 1259 Linda Vista Avenue Pasadena, CA 91103
Lower Arroyo Park South Arroyo Blvd & Norwood Drive Pasadena, CA 91105
Brenner Park 283 Barthe Drive Pasadena, CA 91103
Arlington Garden 275 Arlington Drive Pasadena, CA 91105
Allendale Park 1130 South Marengo Ave Pasadena, CA 91106
McDonald Park 1000 East Mountain Street Pasadena, CA 91104
Washington Park 700 East Washington Blvd Pasadena, CA 91104
La Pintoresca Park 45 East Washington Blvd Pasadena, CA 91103
Robinson Park 1081 North Fair Oaks Avenue Pasadena, CA 91103
Central Park 275 South Raymond Ave Pasadena, CA 91105
Michillinda Park 3800 South Michillinda Dr Pasadenaa, CA 91107
Victory Park 2575 Paloma Street Pasadena, CA 91107
Jefferson Park 1501 East Villa Street Pasadena, CA 91106
Tournament Park South Wilson Ave & Cornell Road Pasadena, CA 91125
Villa Parke 363 East Villa Street Pasadena, CA 91101
Singer Park 651 South St. John Ave Pasadena, CA 91105
Upper Arroyo Park Rosemont Ave & Arrovo Woods Pasadena, CA 91103
Brookside Park 360 North Arroyo Blvd Pasadena, CA 91103
Grant Park 232 South Michigan Ave Pasadena, CA 91106
Pasadena Memorial Park 85 East Holly Street Pasadena, CA 91103
San Rafael Park 1350 West Colorado Blvd. Pasadena, CA 91105
Hahamongna Park 4550 Oak Grove Drive Pasadena, CA 91103
Eaton Blanche Park 3100 East Del Mar Blvd Pasadena, CA 91107
Eaton Canyon Nature Center 1750 North Altadena Drive Pasadena, CA 91107
Vina Vieja Park 3026 East Orange Grove Blvd Pasadena, CA 91107
Alice’s Dog Park 3026 East Orange Grove Blvd Pasadena, CA 91107
Gwinn Park 3000 East Orange Grove Blvd Pasadena, CA 91107
WHERE TO PARK IT
142,647
of us all together 4,840 15.8%
living in poverty
veterans
42.9% own vs. rent
Average commute time
51.2 are
women 6%
Foreign born
are under 5
Black Asian Hispanic / Latino 56%
33%
16%
11%
30%
27.6 mins
%
White
Source: census.gov/quickfacts/pasadenacitycalifornia
SERVICE ORGANIZATION PROFILE Families Forward Learning Center: Believing in a twogeneration approach to education for a transformative family outcome, FFLC is a preschool and parent education center in one. They are located on North Fair Oaks Avenue and proudly serve Northwest Pasadena with their programs. By acknowledging the challenges their families face FFLC confronts the lack of resources and education, as well as language barriers and poverty with a philosophy that when families work together, they can improve their quality of lives and impact their community. Children are nurtured through their first 5 years in a top notch facility complete with outdoor learning center and nutrition kitchen. Parents are encouraged to form their own goals and are supported through the steps until they achieve them. Concrete resources like mental health, English language learning, and life skills classes are offered on site.
familiesforwardlc.org
But what may be equally as valuable is the sense of community that develops between program families. Given the example within FFLC, many parents extend support beyond the program, meeting up for coffee or playdates or even raising money for a friend or providing temporary housing in a time of need. In a resource scarce neighborhood, these interpersonal relationships can be very valuable. The staff at FFLC lives the mission, fostering an environment that builds trust and accountability. Familes who come through the program remain connected, often stopping by to share milestones for themselves and their children. The investment FFLC puts into their community has a lasting effect on multiple generations.
Pasadena Nikkei Seniors There is a rich history of Japanese family-run businesses in Pasadena, concentrated in the Central Business district (between Fair Oaks & Raymond Avenues) during the 1940’s and 50’s. While many of the businesses did not survive the subsequent city development, there is still a strong Japanese community within Pasadena. The Pasadena Mirai Nihongo Gakuin offers a variety of classes to adults and children alike, taking into account the family values, language, and cultural experiences that define each generation. The keeping of connections to Japanese traditions and interpreting what it means to be of Japanese descent in the societies where they have settled is an example of how generational identity can play a part in community identity. “Nikkei” has a nuanced cultural meaning, but generally refers to emigrant Japanese who have set up distinct communities outside of Japan. Pasadena has a welcoming Nikkei community, focused on seniors, but open to any member of the community looking for cultural connection. Monthly luncheons and craft activities are hosted at the Japanese Cultural Institute. Relevant discussions on topics like Senior Scams or how to maintain vitality as you age can be found on their event calendar. 595 Lincoln Avenue, Suite 202, Pasadena, 91103, (626) 449-5487
We Olive & Wine Bar When you think franchise, you don’t typically think local, but brothers Ervin and Eric Galvan are trying to change that. They were drawn to We Olive’s California-sourced olive oil and wine model because it celebrated the craft and commitment of small batch growers across the state. Ervin and his wife had made annual trips to the We Olive in San Luis Obisbo, bringing home a supply of oils and wine that would last them until the next year. In 2015, Ervin realized he could bring the supply to Pasadena by opening a storefront on Colorado in Old Town. The Galvan’s We Olive & Wine Bar is tucked in next to other local eateries like Barcelona and King’s Row. While there is plenty to buy, customers can also taste and learn by ordering from the constantly innovating menu of dishes made with small batch olive oils and choosing an accompanying wine typically only found at vineyards. We Olive is part-store, part-community, putting on weekly events like Wine Wednesdays and Friday Jazz that bring regulars around. Ervin and Eric have found a welcoming community of business owners as well. They are proud to be among the conscientious entrepreneurs who work hard to present a unique, hand-picked retail experience. Old Town is a blend of big brands and small businesses. From block-to-block, shoppers can find global brands or local products. Historically, Old Town has been the center of Pasadena’s commerce district. As it revitalizes, that local flavor is an important ingredient to preserve. Asked why they chose Pasadena, Galvan says, “You can’t beat the sense of community here.” Having grown up working in their family’s business, the Galvan brothers see the value in connecting with one another through business as well. “The first year was hard,” Ervin admits, “but we have a good system now.” Ervin typically handles the operations and inventory. With a background in science and history, he enjoys indulging his inner nerdiness. Eric focuses on their employees and in-store experience. Next time you are walking around Old Town, stop in and let the two of them convince you to join their community. 32 East Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, 91105 weolive.com/pasadena
Perry’s Joint The Pasadena restaurant scene is blooming on South Lake and Old Town. Tucked in a block away from John Muir High School on Lincoln Avenue, however, is a local staple. Perry’s Joint was started by Perry Bennett in 2004. Perry’s is a family-friendly place to eat with diverse menu options including breakfast sandwiches, hot dogs, nachos, shakes, coffee drinks, and an impressive sandwich list (from classic to fusion creations). They are known for their gourmet sandwiches piled high with meat, making it a great neighborhood place to fill up. Perry’s Joint offers more than a way to a full stomach — they also fulfill an important role in the community. Once a year, Perry’s Joint donates 100% of its profits to a college scholarship fund intended for selected John Muir High School students. The scholarship is community driven, meaning the more people who show up and order food, the more money is raised for the fund. In the years it has been running, Perry’s Joint has helped around 24 students with money to cover books and make a dent in tuition. Bennett understands how important support is at that crucial stage. Having been hands-on in his parents’ restaurants growing up, Bennett became a business owner at age 22. And now, Bennett’s son, also a Perry, is receiving the same learning experience, working at Perry’s Joint while he attends John Muir High School. Perry’s Joint’s connection to their community can be seen in the welcoming atmosphere of the cafe. Low key decor and great food at a decent price make it a perfect place to meet up with friends or family. There is even a secret menu for those in-the-know and jazz on Tuesday’s. 2051 Lincoln Avenue, Pasadena, 91103, perrysjoint.com
BUSINESS Pasadena Pacers On any given Saturday morning, you may see red shirts dotting the sidewalks of Pasadena. Out early enough to be impressive and often enough to admire their motivation, these are the Pasadena Pacers — a running group open to all ages and ability levels. Started in 1996 by Pasadena chiropractor, Dr. Steve Smith and his wife Robin, with a modest agenda of helping patients exercise without spending money, the Pacers has grown into a veritable community of runners. To join, you just need to register online and show up on a Saturday morning at 7am in the Rose Bowl Aquatic Center parking lot. You’ll be paired up with a running coach, encouraged to find running buddies and they’ll let you take it from there. This laid back approach has drawn in a surprising amount of people looking for camaraderie and accountability. Running is typically a solitary activity and can be intimidating for first timers. The Pacers model is akin to a community mixer where connection is emphasized more than competition. There are roughly 300 runners and 8 training programs from beginner to ultra runners, so there truly is a “right fit” for anyone looking. Common goals can be shared among 90-year olds and 20-year olds and it is not uncommon to see a group jogging down the street with mixed age, ethnicities, gender, and abilities. The Pacers are about accessing a love of running and a part of yourself that enjoys being gently challenged. Seeing running as a path to community may be a stretch, but Dr. Smith and Robin believe in its power to dissolve barriers between people and build shared experiences. They are developing a Pacer Nation through an expansion of the program into running clubs across the US and abroad with the lofty goal of lifting the human spirit and impacting entire communities through running. Join them for a run and see its effects for yourself. www.runpacers.org
Featured Artwork:
KENTON NELSON Pasadena resident and painter. local gallery representation: petermendenhallgallery.com www.kentonnelson.com all rights reserved by artist
BRIDGING GENERATIONS By Natalie Noyola, John Muir High School, Class of 2019
Despite the fact that Judie and Jayson Johnson no longer live in Pasadena, their presence in the city and especially their former high school, John Muir, is still very strong. Judie (class of ‘74) and Jayson (class of ‘81), often come to Pasadena to visit their brother John, another John Muir alum, and have paid tribute to their high school in rewarding three John Muir Class of 2018 seniors with scholarships through the Johnson Family Legacy Scholarship Fund. I had the opportunity to sit down with them and talk about the differences in our community from back then, but most importantly John Muir — A high school deeply rooted in their family and the school I am currently attending as a senior. Growing up three blocks away from John Muir on West Montana St. in Pasadena, the majority of their neighbors were Japanese. In fact, they were the first African-Americans to buy on the block and what Judie found ironic was that “I was in the Navy, and I actually went to live in Japan.” Growing up she had wanted to be Japanese because, “all my peers, kids that went to my schools, were all Japanese, so I was like, ‘I want to be Japanese.’” Public school reputations, like John Muir’s, can often be misleading, especially in a city like Pasadena. Jayson conveyed that, “Pasadena [had] the distinction of having the most diverse residents,” adding, “From wealthy rich old money to in poverty...Our school systems don’t always reflect the residents who live here because often kids go to public school up until 6th and then they “leapfrog” to private schools,” expressing that, “public school(s) [then] kind of [get] left with being lower.” Judie agreeing, also implied that John Muir has been “in a resurgence,” stating that back then it was “the school.” Judie and Jayson’s classes had roughly five hundred students. I mentioned that my graduating class size was about half that, questioning whether or not they believed those numbers impacted the school. Reflecting, Judie mentioned that back when she was a part of band, she there was around 200 members, “I mean I remember being in band and we had like two full rows of drum corps and now I go back and I was like “um...” and it kinda hurts,” with our band size today being only 14 members. Both Jayson and Judie were involved in other extracurricular activities as well. Their parents had helped to start the Booster club at Muir, and Jayson had been part of the Key club. Judie was the first girl cheerleader at that time, “believe it or not, it used to be all males.” Girls could only be Song girls, Choir girls, or M girls and only boys were allowed to be yell leaders or athletes, “women were very gender based” back then — A quality we no longer have at John Muir, but what we also no longer have are the different clubs they used to have. Other than no longer
having Booster club or Key club, there were also service clubs other than Interact at John Muir, “I mean, you use to join clubs in the beginning of the year just so you can be in the yearbook at the end,” joked Jayson. Recognizing the way John Muir alum are still very much connected, I asked Judie and Jayson about it. “I think it’s something about the people,” Judie expressed. Both are part of John Muir’s Alumni Association and stay connected with others primarily through Facebook, although, Judie mentioned, that she would like to be even more involved than she is now. Jayson also added that as a school “we completely covered the whole aspect of social economic, race and gender,” Judie joined in, “That was the cool thing about John Muir, I mean it was known for being the first integrated school….people from other schools wanted to come to Muir,” and those that did, as Jayson said, no matter what race or background, that ongoing connection from belonging to the same school and becoming close is what keeps alumni going; to reunite annually and always giving back, bettering our school. John Muir, primarily consisting of African-American and Latinx students on their campus today, is not as diverse as it was back then. Judie and Jayson comment, “Everything changes, and so if we stay stuck in the mud saying it’s no good anymore because it’s not what we had, then we might as well give up now, maybe the change is for the better.” A way Judie and Jayson now help in giving back is through their JFLSFund. Their older brother (Jim, now deceased) worked to establish the Edward& Barbara Johnson Family Community & Education Endowment fund at the Pasadena Community Foundation. This year, they worked to tak a small part of money from the endowment fund to create a fund with the Pasadena Educational Foundation and are now giving scholarships to students from John Muir. “We are going to do that continually,” Judie implies. This year is the first year that they handed out scholarships to students and are hoping to grow that more. There are many people that know their family, knew their sister (Jennifer Townsend) who had taught for 29 years in the school system and as well as their mother (Barbara), people who want to give to this cause. “Our goal is to be able to every year bless and continue to give back to John Muir because it’s just not about Pasadena, but John Muir, and I think John Muir is a very unique experience. ‘Stangs forever!”
For more information about the scholarship fund, contact: JLFSFund@gmail.com. To learn about the John Muir alumni association’s activities, visit: www.jmhsaa.org
AMILY
FAMILY
FAMIL FAMILY BldgC is a community resource focused on building the community of Pasadena from within. bldgc.org