neighborhood overview

Anaheim is perhaps best known for being the home to Disneyland and Angels baseball. But this blog isn’t about Mickey Mouse or Mike Scioscia. This blog stars the people and community behind the city’s famous icons.

The city of Anaheim is a large city in Orange County, California covering 50 square miles. Its current population is approximately 343,973, making it the 10th largest city in California. Our community immersion focused primarily on the “Central District” as delineated by the city of Anaheim. Although designated by the city as “Central District” for neighborhood services and police patrol areas, the residents of the area did not seem to identify with a neighborhood name. As per the US Census (2005-2007), the population of the city is predominately Latino, with Asian and white being the next largest ethnic/racial groups. The community we walked in appeared to be consistent with the overall demographics of the city.

Anaheim was incorporated in 1876, with on 881 residents. The small town was predominately rural, with agriculture being the primary occupation. The main crop grown in the area was citrus trees. The city’s long history is embodied by two historic homes located in Central Anaheim, on the border of a neighborhood known as “the Colony”. The Mother Colony House, built in 1857, and the Woelke-Stoffel home, built in 1884, are both located along West Street. The Mother Colony House was built by George Hanson, known as the “Father of Anaheim”, as his home and office.

Downtown Anaheim and the Anaheim Historic Colony (“the Colony”) are bordered with North, South, East, and West streets. These streets were the original borders of the city. Main street names in Anaheim such as Walnut, Pine, Sycamore, Olive, Bush, Cypress, Water, and streets with flowers or trees named for the agricultural importance of the area. Some streets have specific meanings behind the names. There are several street names including Paulina, Emily, Whilhelmina, Emily, Adele, Claudina, Alberta, Helena, and Clementine, which are named after women who were important to the men who founded Anaheim, and who were important women in the planning process. As railroad transportation was very important back then, Topeka, Atchinson, and Santa Fe streets are named after the line that connected Anaheim with the rest of the country. Katella Avenue, one of the main roads that runs through Anaheim and many other cities in Orange County, is the combination names of the women who were instrumental in forming the Red Cross chapter of Anaheim, Kate, and the first chairperson of the library board, Ella Rae. Other notable streets in the greater Anaheim area include Pacifico Street, named for Don Pacifico Ontiveros who sold the land the Anaheim colony was built to George Hansen. Pacifico Street was renamed Gene Autry Way, after the man who brought professional sports to the area.

As we walked in the community, we encountered two different murals that equally reflect the city of Anaheim. The first mural, a glass mural located on a Washington Mutual Bank building on Harbor Boulevard south of Lincoln, represents the history of Anaheim. The mural depicts George Hansen and other important figures in the early history of the city. Interesting to note, the mural includes Chinese immigrant workers working in the vineyards, reflecting Anaheim’s some of Anaheim’s earliest cultural diversity.

Another mural, located on Elm Street a few blocks south of downtown, is located on a small grocery store. The mural reads “Productos Latinos” and includes images of Latino culture. The mural reflects the current demographic of the city and cultural pride.

The neighborhood we walked in appeared to be a relatively safe neighborhood. Although there were some homes with security bars and doors, there were a number of homes that had been recently renovated which did not include any additional security features. There were few people loitering and it appeared that the majority of residents were at work. We even spotted a number of young women out running, which would indicate a safe environment. There was a considerabe amount of litter, but limited graffiti. The only graffiti we encountered was along Wilshire Avenue, which runs alongside of Interstate Highway 5.

An additional testament to the long history of Anaheim is the Anaheim Cemetery, located at 1400 East Sycamore Street. It is the oldest public cemetery in Orange County. It was established in 1886 by the Los Angeles Vineyard Society and is home to the gravesites of the men who founded the city of Anaheim, including Petra Ontiveros Langenberger, whose family’s land was sold in order to establish the city. On the north east lawn, the Veteran’s section is the home to many soldiers who fought in the Civil war, World War I and World War II. Many of the gravestones have military symbols carved in near the individual’s name, including a symbol of three ovals linked together with the letters, “F” “L” and “T” in the center of each one.

This symbol comes from the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the letters stand for Friendship, Love, and Truth. For instance, Malcom G. Reynolds (1895-1992) is buried with his wife, Della M. Reynolds (1899-1973) and the symbol is engraved into the stone with the encryption, “US Army World War 1.” Other symbols include two “V” like symbols with a “G” in the center and a cross with a flower.

Many of the graves have European surnames such as: Smith, Thomas, Williams, Waggs, Miller, Hass, Carrol, and Bersteen with dates starting in the early 1800’s. Many families decided to be buried near each other in family plots, and there are sections made up completely of single families. It is not uncommon to see multiple plots with repeated “MOTHER” and “FATHER” engraved into the stones. At some point, there was a noticeable change in the community and more Latino individuals began making Anaheim Cemetery their final resting place. As the main road leads towards the exit gates, many of the graves have names such as Cruz, Navarro, and Gonzalez written on them.

Sadly, there is an entire section of babies and young children of Latino decent born in Anaheim, such as Joe Chavez below, but who lived very short lives. The Anaheim Cemetery is the final resting place for the residents of Anaheim, and serves as a place of remembrance for the existing community.

neighborhood boundaries

Through the eyes of city planners and local city departments, the city of Anaheim is primarily distinguished into 4 district boundaries: West, Central, South & East. Therefore, there are strict regulations regarding the way properties are zoned, most notably the distinctions between commercial and residential zones. In addition, each of these districts possess there own, unique character, charm and culture.

So, rather than concentrating on the engineered borders that separate the districts, we choose to focus on the more obvious charm of the districts that make up the city of Anaheim. We pay particular attention to the cultural aspects as well as the historical presence that the city has to offer, regardless of the city’s formally designated districts and boundaries. Also, what cannot be ignored is the increasing development of both commercial and residential properties. Much of the newly constructed commercial and residential properties are located along Harbor Boulevard, one of the city’s main streets, which not only acts as a hub for residents, but also serves to connect residents of the surrounding areas.

However, let’s not forget the three infamous landmarks that regularly attract not only the city’s residents, but residents throughout California, the U. S., and the international community:

The Honda Center, Angel’s Stadium, and Disneyland. The Honda Center features concerts and hosts a wide array of cultural and political events and fulfills our artistic side while the Angel’s draws in sports fans from various cities, young and old alike. But what cannot go without mention is what the city of Anaheim is famous for, and that is Disneyland. Disneyland attracts tourists from all across the globe as well as the locals enabling each and every individual to experience and recapture their child within.

Although the people who do not live in Anaheim would tend to define the city by its landmarks, the city’s residents, on the other hand, have much more specified and complex boundaries with regards to how they understand and interpret their city. Given that the city’s residents are predominantly of Latino dissent, their sense of the city’s boundaries are largely influenced by a combination of their culture, religion, legal status, and employment opportunities, all of which determine their life experiences within the city. Some examples that we noticed as we were walking along the city streets include: Catholic Churches and missions; bilingual literature and advertisements; and ethnic markets and restaurants. Nonetheless, racial and ethnic diversity is evident throughout the city as demonstrated by the Asian markets, the mosque located on State College, and the potpourri of passers-by on the street.

As mentioned above, while there are prominent landmarks as well as attractions and other forms of entertainment that provide jobs for some of the city’s residents, many residents commute to other cities for broader employment opportunities. Reasons for commuting outside of the city for employment range from a lack of “big” business to one’s legal status and their access to employment, including but not limited to, transportation and hireability.

In closing, there are indeed natural and manmade barriers that the city’s residents, as well as persons who do not live in the city, are aware of as dictated by the city’s 4 districts and its cultural influences.

local facilities

The city has substantial commercial development, which tends to be located along major thoroughfares. Local facilities included grocery markets, restaurants, medical offices, banks, and other retail and service uses.

Along our route in the community, there were two elementary schools, which were located, back to back on the same street. The newer school we entered appeared to be a private school in comparison with the other. Westmont Elementary School was a nice modern and beautiful school. As we spoke to one of the school administrators, who wished not to be photographed, we surprisingly found out it was an Anaheim public school and was less than 8 years old. In civic building terms, 8 years is just in its infancy. Since the school is fairly new, the facilities are well-kept, clean, and have some technology, such as computers, within the classrooms. To the side of the school, there was a small playground located behind a fenced-in area. In the back of the school, there were about five to six rows of five lunch tables. Located near that were more playground equipment, such as hopscotch markings on the floor.

A bit further down, there was another playground set that was shared with the other school that was adjacent to it. This other school, known as Price Elementary, seemed a bit older. The classrooms were separate, one-story buildings. Although this campus was a bit older, those children who were enrolled at Westmont had to enroll through Price. Located directly across the street from the two schools were a few apartment buildings, many of which advertise that they are leasing. Thus, it may be that the newer Westmont Elementary was built as a response to the growing population of the nearby neighborhoods.

Across the street Westmont Elementary School was a Post Office and The Salvation Army community center which was in the process of being upgraded, enlarged and renovated to accommodate the changing communities’ needs.

We found the Anaheim Plaza on Euclid Street, less than 1 mile from the housing community we started from and 1/10 of a mile from the two schools. The shopping center was very large, ample parking and quick and easy access to Euclid street.

The shopping plaza consisted of various stores that are usually known for having cheaper priced products, such as Wal-Mart, Payless Shoe Store, and TJ Maxx. The shopping center was quite big, with an even larger, though quite filled, parking lot. A large portion of the people was coming in and out of Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart was filled with people inside, especially families or older females. Located inside Wal-Mart was a fairly busy McDonald’s, with people who have just shopped at Wal-Mart come to get a bite to eat. On the side of the Wal-Mart we noticed one bullet hole in the building.

The main street leaving the shopping center was Euclid Street. There was an OCTA bus route “37” on Euclid Street with many busses observed from the Wal-Mart store. We estimated there was a new bus every 10 to 15 minutes.

What we found to be interesting was the amount of taxicabs that continued to patrol the shopping parking lot and the areas behind the shopping center. So many taxicabs were driving around the parking lot. We figured there must be an economic benefit to them and their customers. Without a doubt a taxi is much more expensive compared to the bus.

The OCTA bus fare is $1.50, and $.60 for seniors (65 & older), Medicare cardholders and persons with disabilities, to include Service Connected Veterans with ID card. The cost of a taxi just to sit down was $2.10. Not including the fare, which is calculated at 3/10 of a mile. We tried to approach many taxi drivers and discuss why so many taxis are driving around and how business must be for them. He saw us and quickly drove off.

Having made our way back to Euclid Street, we found ourselves in the midst of many different shops and shopping centers. On one side of Euclid, there was a Smart & Final, an El Super, and a few banks in one plaza; on the other side, there was a row of various restaurants, 99 Ranch Market, and two banks, one of them being an Asian bank. Quite noticeably, just in a short distance, there was much diversity in the neighborhood. Both El Super and 99 Ranch Market were filled with people, since both are fairly well known for their cheap prices. The supermarket offers lower prices than its competitors, especially on Wednesdays and Thursday, to attract consumers to its store. While walking down North Wilshire Avenue, we saw a couple of community members on their bicycles heading toward the Wal-Mart. The shopping areas are big and have a variety of different prices. We stopped to take a break and Myke decided to engage in self-care and took a motorcycle ride with Tom and Jerry.

As we continued to walk north from the shopping centers, there was a tall building for acupuncture and herbal medicine. There were a few smaller office spaces for acupuncture. Directly across from the tall building, there was a Korean college. There were a few people at the college, though it was during lunch time.

Eventually we turned around and walked back towards Lincoln Avenue from Euclid Street. While walking we stopped at Marie Calendar’s for lunch, which is located across from the shopping centers and some small business buildings. Although it is a national chain restaurant, it was quite quaint. The ambiance was very nice, mellow, and cozy. The customers were mostly elderly Caucasian ladies dressed up for lunch dates or employees from nearby medical centers on lunch breaks.

On the second day of Community Immersion, we visited the city hall which is near the public library on 200 S. Anaheim Boulevard. The banks located in the downtown community are Bank of America, Citibank, and School's First Teachers credit union. The public library is easily accessible by taking the bus and it is close to the First Presbyterian Church. In addition behind the back was a small mobile library to reach areas of the city during community events.

sources of mutual aid

The Central Library located on the corner of Broadway and Harbor streets, provides a wealth of resources for community residents, young and old, alike. The adult computer lab located here offers ready access to the Internet and other computer applications for those in search of employment.

The Children’s Library provides children with a safe environment where they can interact with their peers and the regularly scheduled story time and miscellaneous children’s events offer the children of this community a place to be exposed to many opportunities for education, entertainment and exploration.

The extended hours of the library provide working parents with the opportunity to interact with their children and access the multiple resources that this library has to offer.

Churches provide additional resources for the community and a place of faith and worship.

social control

There are two types of Social control – Informal and Formal. Forms of informal social control are embedded into our society without explicitly being expressed. Informal social control is inherent in our culture; it is learned through experiences and not stated. Religion is a primary example of informal social control as it’s typically fostered in homes and among family members, while it’s implications expand to the community at large through organizations such as churches. Formal social control is more overtly stated and it deals with social deviants whom are most commonly punish through fines and/or imprisonment. Forms of formal social control include laws, statues, rules and regulations, most commonly expressed through governments and Law Enforcement agencies such as the Anaheim Police Department.

In our exploration of the city we saw several law enforcement agencies, including Anaheim Police Department which seemed to have the heaviest presence, along with the Anaheim Fire Department, and Parking Enforcement.

Our group had the opportunity to speak with several Law Enforcement Agents along with the Anaheim Police Department. Each person we spoke with had a range of experience and years with their departments. Because of the diversity in the individuals we spoke with we were able to obtain different insights on varying issues that the city faced along with the solutions that the city has attempted to implement.

We were specifically able to speak with At the APD office on Harbor Boulevard, Cadet Daniels, at the APD office on Harbor Boulevard, who responded to our questions regarding the City of Anaheim and its issues with the homeless community. He stated that "We just tell them to move along. They are cognitive for the most part. We really do not have a problem with having too many homeless people." (C. Daniels, personal communication, August 20, 2009). This statement spoke volumes towards the “status quo” of the resurroudning area and that of the City of Anaheim, who rely heavily on the industry of tourism. There is a facade that there are no problems or issues within the city, when in reality, there is a large amount of transients in the city of Anaheim.

When APD was asked about the transient situation in Anaheim, they pointed us towards La Palma Park, a common day-time hang out for the area’s homeless. When we arrived at the park, next to a large and well maintained football arena, partnered with a City Recreation Center, we found a dozen or more transients and their pets loitering, drinking, and inhabiting the shadiest area of this park. Despite the signs prohibiting such activity, a local business owner, who refused to give name or contact information, said that the transients were reported to the city and police on a regular basis. He also stated that these individuals were bad for the motel business which was located across the street and that “The City says that there is no problem in this area with homeless people”, (Anonymous, personal conversation, August 20, 2009) yet the police refuse to help, and allow the transients to continue their activities which affect business. As a group we were also able to observe that while we were there, there were no police present. One of the men hanging out in the park mentioned that Disney buses children to this particular park in order to use the recreation center during the summer months, yet the children’s designated play area was consumed by shopping carts.

Another significant presence of social control included signs through out the city. From one end of town to the other, we saw signs reporting projects in progress or completed by Dept of Public Works. Other signage included: “Drug free zone”, “Overnight parking prohibited”, “Tobacco use prohibited”, and of course the dreaded “No Parking.” Various parks also had “Public Notice” signs regarding Gang activity, drug use, lude acts, and alcohol consumption. There were also a notable amount of signs from the City Department of Public Works. These signs seemed to be largely enforced by the Anaheim Policy Department.

evidence of homelessness

In exploring the city of Anaheim our group was surprised to see that not too far away from the glitz of Disneyland, homelessness is a daily occurrence. There are numerous motels throughout the city of Anaheim and in speaking with some of the motel owners we discovered that not only are these motels consistently booked, but also sadly the residents don’t stay for very long. Although there should be more assistance for those who work in Anaheim these findings are obviously indicative of the fact that those who work in the city cannot afford to live in it. Our group did find that there are shelters throughout the city, finding them however, is not an easy task, particularly for someone who relies on public transportation.

Many of these homeless are not people that are just now experiencing hard times – they are people that have lived on the streets for decades, and have gained the ability to function and even thrive as a part of society. They’ve learned to make due with what little resources they have. Since many of those who are homeless do not have internet access, to help with this issue the county has implemented a hotline where a person can have access county wide need-based services simply by dialing 211. This has been a resource for those that are recently homeless or in danger of becoming homeless, as well as those facing other crisis’ in the County of Orange.

A perfect example of lack of positive support systems came to us in the form of a homeless man named Wes, who we met near the intersection of Lincoln and Euclid. Wes had lived in Anaheim for over two decades, and indicated that he had been homeless during the entire time. He was not very aware of reality and clearly had a mental impairment, which prevented him from being a high functioning citizen. His “home” - more accurately described as a temporary shelter - was comprised of cardboard boxes piled up with a sleeping bag and plastic bags full of his belongings.

When we questioned his knowledge of the services available to him in the area, Wes very casually said that there were none and quickly changed the subject. Although this could be attributed to his mental state, it was disheartening to find that someone who was clearly in need of community support had no idea how to obtain it. It is vital for this and other communities in the Orange County area to make more services available to the homeless and to advertise those services so that those that need them can access them. Only in doing so can our communities even attempt to ensure that everyone around us has an acceptable home.

social networks

While exploring parts of the city of Anaheim, we came across a few parks, including Anaheim City Park as well as Boysen Park.

Aesthetically, the parks were spacious, had nice sidewalks and barbeque grills, and modern playgrounds. Generally speaking, they were clean, well maintained, and safe. We spoke so several families who indicated they used the park’s playgrounds regularly and often times will play soccer and have barbeques. There was also a regular morning aerobics class for seniors. Residents stated that they enjoyed living in the area because they viewed it as safe and clean, and that they enjoyed the easy access to the parks and areas. Most did not identify any local problems, and had positive things to say about the area.

Despite the community sharing its local public facilities, many did not know where their local polling places are or were very unsure because it had changed regularly. The city of Anaheim has 111,553 registered voters, and there is somewhat of a split between Democrats and Republicans, while the remaining percentages are made up of Independents and other political affiliations.

Finally despite the fact that most of the people we talked to at the park gave positive indications about the area and it’s safety, throughout the City of Anaheim one can observe many security systems, security doors, neighborhood watch signs, and beware of dog signs. Despite what the locals are indicating to us verbally, it is not likely that you would see any of them in the park or on the streets after dark, indicating that although the safety one might feel, there is still a high level of crime in the City of Anaheim.

identity, civic engagement, & common fate

We observed and interviewed residents of Anaheim who told us about the social capital of the community. Amongst our observation of a park near Downtown Anaheim, we noticed that the park was highly utilized amongst the community but a lack of communication was involved while everyone was in their own “little world”. We interviewed a resident who had been living in the area for several years and she stated that the parks were highly used amongst families but the lack of community within families was a huge problem. One of the opposing perspectives pertained to the organization of an informal aerobics class taught at Anaheim city Park by outside members. These classes were held daily allowing people from the community to join freely. When interviewing the people at the park we asked residents if they knew where the local polling places were located. Many of these individuals were unaware of their polling places and did not even know who their city representatives were. We inquired further about the “community-feel” amongst their neighbors, and whether they felt it was a safe place to call “home”. Each resident stated in general they felt their neighborhood of Anaheim was a safe, family orientated, and that they would easily recommend it to others.

One day, we stumbled upon a sign that stood out among the rows of industrial buildings. The sign read, “Gallery open.” As we entered the warehouse, we were met by a local artist, Robert. Robert’s pleasant demeanor and willingness to show us around his studio made us feel welcome after a morning walking through desolate streets. Robert shared his artwork with us, a style known as Drizzle Art, and explained how he brings his art to fruition. This was truly a rare jewel among the bland, fruitless, concrete packed area in which we were walking. Robert explained that he shows his art at a local bar, The Doll Hut, where many OC bands are showcased and given their first opportunities to perform. While showing us his artwork, Robert was also able to share his love for the city of Anaheim.

On day two we entered Anaheim City Park, where we met with Jerry, an employee of Anaheim Department of Parks and Recreation. Jerry informed us that he oversees the careful and meticulous maintenance of Anaheim City Park and keeps it free of graffiti and trash, while maintaining the manicured state of the flora and fauna.

Another important role that Jerry fulfills is ensuring the playground equipment stays safe for the children who frequent its swings and slides. Jerry stated with posture and pride, that the care and esthetics of the Anaheim City Park reflects all the parks in Anaheim. Jerry then went on to tell us that he is a long time resident of Anaheim and speaks very highly of the city. Jerry enjoys living in this city and notes, that there has been a revitalization of neighborhoods in Anaheim within the last 10 years.

Although there were few people in the park on this particular morning, Jerry was quick to say that it comes alive with families in the afternoons and early evenings. The park was filled with the sounds of children laughing, and adults conversing. As a group we were able to conclude that because so many people live in apartments without a yard, the park is able to serve as an extension of people’s homes and unify Anaheim’s population.

diversity

The city of Anaheim is an older community in Southern California, and is a melting pot of varying populations. Since the city is best known for Disneyland, “the happiest place on earth”, it is no wonder that you have a melting pot effect with the cities inhabitants. This was evident as we explored the city’s streets, coming across many businesses, churches, markets, and even restaurants that were geared towards a variety of different cultures and ethnic tastes.

One of the prominent differences we observed was the availability of various ethnic food and grocery stores that are geared toward specific populations. In a study done by our group, two well known grocery stores located at Crescent Avenue and Euclid Street were used to gather information about the community that frequents the stores. The stores were located next door to each other in a shopping center and the study was done on a Wednesday at noon.

There were about 20 customers inside Smart and Final. There was some light background noise and most of the customers were Latino and Asian. There were three Latino cashiers and about five customers in line. The inside was clean, organized, and quiet. Senior Assistant Manager, Mike Montgomery, said that his customers are 65% Latino.

Next door at El Super, there was loud music in Spanish being played over the radio and it was very crowded. The smell of meat, bread, and the bakery filled the air and the first thing we saw was a wall of tortillas for sale next to the door. El Super employees were set up throughout the store giving away samples of food to those walking by. The signs above the isles telling customers what items were in that section were written in both Spanish and English. There were approximately 200 people in the store, most of whom were Latino. The butcher section had a line 25 people long waiting to buy their meat, the checkout line was seven shopping carts deep, and the line at the inside bank (US Bank) had several people waiting for a teller.

After leaving El Super, our group went across the street to another shopping plaza, housing a variety of Asian restaurants and stores. The restaurant cuisine included Vietnamese, Chinese, Filipino, and Thai. The stores included Ranch 99, which is an Asian food grocery store, an acupuncturist, and East West Bank.

The local billboards, bus ads, and other signage suggest a large amount of Spanish speakers in the immediate area, since many were only in Spanish.

Our group also viewed numerous churches in our travels around the community, all of which were affiliated with a variety of religious groups. While walking the city streets, we came across Trinity Chinese Mennonite Church, St. Mary Romanian Orthodox Church, Anaheim First Presbyterian Church, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormon), and a Lutheran church. The presence such a high density of diverse churches suggests that religion is important and it plays a significant role in the lives of the local citizens.

We had an opportunity to speak with a variety of individuals all of which represented a different segment of the local population. During our community walk, we spoke to Vincent, a previously homeless, disabled veteran. He was currently living in a transitional living facility for vets.

We met Joanne, a middle-age woman originally from England, and Mike, a white store manager who commutes 24 miles to work each day. Additionally, while at the local Wal-Mart, we interviewed a young Latino family of four, a young Asian mother and her two children, and an elderly white woman who has been a resident of Anaheim for over fifty years.

As one can see it is sufficed to say that Anaheim is home to many different populations with a variety of different backgrounds, issues, and concerns. Despite this melting pot effect, as several of our interviewees pointed out, the community has a strong Latino cultural influence. The Caucasian long-time Anaheim resident noted above, said that in her neighborhood, most of the new families moving in were Latino, a change from the original demographic of her neighborhood.

community assets & risks

On day one, we started walking down Wilshire Street, and noticed a lot of graffiti and walls that had recently been repainted to cover the vandalism. In addition we noticed a lot of residential security systems, community watch signs, windows full of bars, cages, gates and fences. Parts of the neighborhood looked secluded, secure and very demilitarized.

Along our route were two churches. There was a Chinese Mennonite and Church of Latter Day Saints. Which we found odd since the neighborhood appeared to be predominately Latino.

On the second day, we decided to meet with the Pastor at the First Presbyterian Church. The entrance of the church was located in the basement and we met with the pastor who had been at the church for about a year. He had been living in Nebraska for most of his life before moving to Anaheim. The pastor noticed a big difference between the communities in Anaheim from that of Nebraska. The pastor mentioned that the community in Anaheim does not make an effort to learn and practice the word of God. He also discussed how the Latino community is disintegrated and lacks the cohesiveness of Latino communities from South American countries. The pastor noted that every day, he carries 7 dollars with him to hand out to people who are living on the streets. He mentioned that homelessness has increased and he sees more people living in poverty.

Before we left the First Presbyterian Church the girls decided to participate in the annual, “Princess Week Festival”.

For lunch, we located a Mexican restaurant called Sahuaros located on 615 S. Euclid Street. The woman taking our order was not fluent in English and its clientele is mainly Latino. Because business has been slow, the managers have a special deal on Thursdays: the tacos are 85 cents all day. We dined on chips, salsa & guacamole, chicken flautas, beef and tongue burritos.

As we walked back across the street we found a business called Deportes y Perfumeria Rabadan. The business sells soccer gear and perfumes and is owned by a Latino Family. The establishment has been there for 3 years. But was previously a Karate / Martial Arts studio. At the time of the visit, the wife (co-owner) was present and she mentioned that business is slow. While talking about the community, she mentioned that she has lived in Anaheim for the past 27 years and feels safe. She does not believe that gangs are a problem in the community. Instead, she stated the people in the community fear the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Most importantly, she also stated that she thinks that the Latino Community living in Anaheim do not help each other out and are very apathetic. She noticed that some parents do not try to get involved in the extracurricular activities that their children are involved in. For instance, she said that soccer coaches are in charge of picking up their players before practice/games because parents are uninvolved. Coaches feel that it’s their responsibility to help adolescents remain active so that they do not get involved in gangs.

While we were at the soccer store we noticed a lot of police and fire department activity that was 1 block away. As we walked to the commotion we noticed that an elderly man had mistakenly placed his foot on the gas pedal of his car and slammed into the front doors of the McDonalds. The employees asked that we not photograph the store since we were not official press. Instead we have included a picture of the police and fire department vehicles on the scene.

Located down the street near the McDonalds was a gated apartment complex for seniors aged 62 and older. This privately owned building was built in 1990, with the specific intention of being senior housing. Although they accepted section 8, there was no waiting line to get an apartment.

As we walked backed we realized many parts of Anaheim are incredibly diverse and multi-cultural and that is its greatest strength.

insider perspective

Anaheim consists of many people who proudly reside in the city and whose families have lived in the city for generations. When the Anaheim residents were asked about their city, the majority had many positive comments to make, seemed to be completely satisfied with living there, and were giving back to their community on a voluntary basis. However, there were also individuals who were living in Anaheim on a temporary basis or were planning to move out of the city in the near future.

Beyond the walls of the Roman Catholic Church Saint Boniface, beholds a congregation full of genuine warm hearted giving individuals. We stumbled upon these individuals by chance, as we strolled down the sidewalks into the local neighborhood community of Anaheim. While passing the Saint Boniface church, we noticed what appeared to be a small historic home perched in the center of the adjacent parking lot. We knocked on the door and met a woman who introduced herself to us as Amelia. She must have been in her mid fifties and had the energetic youth of a twenty year old. Her smile had so much warmth that gave a sense of peace within. As she spoke to us, a small little boy perched beside her, eager to discover who had come to the door. She introduced us to her grandson, and we noticed large boxes stacked beyond the door. Amelia explained that they were a food distribution center and not a residence, and that she is the director of a non-profit organization of which is made up of volunteers who want to give back to their community. Most of the volunteers are retired individuals donating their own time, and they reach out to families in need within the Saint Boniface Church boundaries. The food distribution center began 30 years ago as part of the Saint Boniface Catholic Church and many items are donated through the Society of Saint Vincent De Paul charity foundation within the church. Items are donated by local food vendors such as: Vons, Ralphs, the government, and various private entities. We learned that there are several churches and organizations that participate in reaching out to the communities in need and each is in charge of assigned perimeters within their own congregation. The Saint Boniface Food Distribution Center not only gives out food but they also assist with many other needs of the families, such as assistance with rent, utilities and temporary shelter programs.

The Lights Program provides services by providing temporary shelter for the night in a RV for inmates being released from jail at the midnight hour. Amelia explained that usually individuals released from jail at midnight have a hard time finding a place to stay at that time of night, so an RV is provided for them to sleep for the night. They also provide referrals and resources available to the inmates to assist them through their transition into the community.

Amelia explained each family or individual asking for assistance through their program is asked some basic questions to qualify and be assessed for various resource needs. If they are not able to assist the family, they are given referrals and directed to other resource programs that may possibly assist them. We were fortunate enough to be given an inside tour of the facility. Although it was a home at one time, presently each room has now been converted into its meant purpose for the food distribution center.

The food distribution center relies on donated items and volunteered services and has a positive impact beyond the limits of its own community. The organization of the facility is superb, and it provides a clean environment with neatly labeled sections of all stocked areas. As we walked to the back we were informed of the well-known bologna sandwiches that are made fresh and given out to people in need. In fact, we were told that even though these sandwiches are made with the simplest ingredients, they are well known and savored throughout the neighborhood community. We all concluded that the primary reason these sandwiches may have become so famous is because they are made from the heart of these volunteers.

As we continued to walk to the rear area of the center, we saw that people had begun to line up for food. They seemed to all know each other and were conversing and laughing together while children were prancing around the grounds playing. It was so cute to see the excitement on a particular young child’s face as he eagerly looked through the box of items that had just given to his mother, reaching fast for any sweets he may unravel. The gratitude of what was received was expressed with a smile from ear to ear. There was absolutely no monetary gain from all of what was given by the volunteers and that was made clear from the beginning. As we looked into the eyes of each person there was an obvious reward being received: the glow of happiness stemming from all the families they touched.

Jan Harp Domene is the Past National PTA President for Anaheim. Our group met Mrs. Domene in front of Anaheim High School on our exploration through the city and kindly gave us her view of Anaheim. Mrs. Domene grew up in Anaheim and is an alumna of Anaheim High School. She raised her family in Anaheim and her three children attended Anaheim High School. When her children where in grade school, she began her work with the PTA and is still currently involved. Mrs. Domene is a wealth of knowledge and gave our group insight into the school systems of Anaheim and the population that makes up the area. She explained that Anaheim consists of a large transitory population due to the tourism of the city. Due to this population, there is a large turnover in the school system. This turnover of students is due to student drop outs and families in and out of the city due to work.

The population is about 95% Hispanic and many cultures make up this community. The school accommodates the diversity by printing all school material in 58 languages and students are encouraged to get involved in sports and school activities. Mrs. Domene explained that there is a lack of parental involvement in the school system. She attributes this to language barriers and the need for parents to work. As a PTA president she said her job is to get out into the community and reach out to the parents, and the PTA seeks out the community in churches and on the soccer field. The parents in this community are more likely to get involved when it directly affects their children. Mrs. Domene continues to make a difference in her community and works to continue to make Anaheim a wonderful place to live and raise a family.



As we entered the 7th floor office in the Anaheim City Hall building, we were greeted by Karen, a City Hall employee. When we asked her about her life in Anaheim, she was very friendly in sharing some information with us. Karen has been living in Anaheim her entire life and has been working with the city of Anaheim for 4 to 5 years. She expressed that she really enjoyed living in Anaheim because the city was in the middle of everything. It is easy for her to get everywhere with many accessible freeways and there were a variety of things to do, like going to the beach. She also mentioned that she feels Anaheim handles tourism pretty well, given that Disneyland brings in so many people. When asked if there was anything she disliked about Anaheim, Karen said that she personally did not see any negatives to Anaheim, except for how strong earthquakes are felt.

Continuing on our journey to discover the heart of Anaheim, we met a vendor working her booth at the local street market named Linda. Linda has lived in Anaheim since her birth in 1947 in the same home, which has been passed on in her family for generations. When asked about her viewpoints of her community, Linda expressed her concerns about the recent cuts on bus transportation. She explained to us since the budget cuts, the bus schedules have changed and busses are not available as often as they once were. This could cause a great deal of issues for those who have no other means of transportation and who are dependent on bus transportation. The other concern Linda talked about is that some people may be cautious walking about at times during certain areas of Anaheim because of the possibility of crime. However, Linda expressed us she has been walking the same streets all her life and would continue to walk down them at any hour of the day without hesitation or fear. Linda had a positive attitude towards her community while speaking to us, and her determination to always reside there, showed her divine loyalty and admiration of her community.

Upon entering Anaheim’s local farmers market, located in the downtown business district, we approached a local vender, Karolin. Karolin has been a resident in Anaheim for seven years and has been advertising her privately owned jewelry business at the farmers market for roughly two months. When asked about her feelings regarding Anaheim she expressed that although the city looks nice and may be safe during the day, she felt the city to be unsafe, especially at night. Karolin spoke openly about her feelings regarding the schools in Anaheim. She feels as though the Anaheim schools have poor curriculum and lazy teachers, and because she cannot afford private schooling for her children, she plans to move to the city of Irvine within a few months. Karolin expressed her concern stating that she did not want her two daughters growing up in Anaheim. Karolin felt the assets of the neighborhood were the available public services, however stated that access to these resources is limited. She also said that residents must be actively involved to access these various programs and resources. Karolin said that her local business does well in Anaheim. Although she feels the famers market is not that popular, her local jewelry store is successful and it provides the extra income needed for her children’s activities.


While waiting at a crosswalk, we met a young lady named Emily. Emily was coming from the local laundry facility and she had her freshly cleaned laundry in stow. Emily explained to us she was here on her own completing an educational program with Disney and was getting ready to return home to Hawaii. Emily explained to us that the Disney program’s mission was to teach valuable business tools for a successful future. In her short time residing here, she expressed that she felt Anaheim was very touristy and that it tended to hide what California is all about. She felt people come here to stay, but in order to really know California they needed to venture out to the other cities as well. She was very eager to return to her homeland of Hawaii but enjoyed her time and the people she met here in Anaheim. Overall Emily had a positive viewpoint towards the community of Anaheim as with others who were in fact permanent residents of Anaheim. Besides being homesick Emily enjoyed her stay.

outsider perspective

Anaheim includes a small population whom commutes into the city for work during the day and leaves the city at dusk. This population helps create revenue in the city of Anaheim but chooses to reside in neighboring communities. We spoke with three individuals on their lunch hour while they enjoyed the weekly farmers market. The farmers market is held every Thursday from 11:00am to 8:00pm in the business district. These individuals were able to give us an outsider’s perspective on Anaheim.

Cherye (Lakewood resident) explained that she comes to Anaheim for work and fun. Cherye enjoys the events the city holds such as carnivals, chili cook-offs, biker events, and the weekly farmers market. She explained that the events are great and free to the public which is great in the current economy. Cherye feels the crime is low in Anaheim but would not want to live here because Lakewood offers her the environment she is accustomed to.

Joan (Orange County resident) explained she has worked in Anaheim for many years as an Office Technician for the State. Joan enjoys working in Anaheim and the convenience of freeway access that is available. Joan said she feels that Anaheim is a safe city and would live here if she had the chance. She explained that the majority of people in her office reside in Anaheim and speak highly of the community. Joan felt that Disneyland is Anaheim’s greatest asset because of the revenue it brings to the city, and that she enjoys spending time with her family and friends at Disneyland and in the city of Anaheim.

Brett (South Orange County resident) was currently in Anaheim to help a friend with a grand opening of his local coffee shop. Brett explained he does not frequent the city of Anaheim often, usually for entertainment, bars, and activities. Brett enjoys going to Angel’s baseball games and watching the Anaheim Ducks hockey team.

Jesse (El Monte resident) was stationed as a vendor at the farmers market, advertising his business for landscape. Every Thursday, he drives into the farmers market from the city of El Monte to promote his business of landscaping, to what he referred to as the financial district of Anaheim. Jesse explained that the variety of clientele is due to the big businesses that surrounded the district. He said that the businesses draw people from inside and outside the community to stimulate businesses.

An asset of the community Jesse enjoys is the outwardly friendly people. However, although he says that when people see him as a vendor, they tend to shy away from him because they think that he is just trying to sell something. Jesse’s favorite part of Anaheim is Disneyland; Jesse is an annual pass holder and said that he goes to Disneyland at least once a week. In regards to risks of Anaheim, he was concerned about the halfway houses located around the farmers market, one in particular that was directly behind his business booth.


Jesse concluded by expressing his concern for his business. He explained that the suffering economy has slowed business down drastically because the last thing people want to spend money on is landscaping. He said that his business has suffered greatly, and hopes that his advertisement at the farmers market will improve his sales. Overall, Jesse stated that he would love to live in Anaheim and considered it to be a great community.