Communities Speak
Los Angeles
Project Title: From Generation to Generation: Making a Life in South Los Angeles, 1940-2005Sponsor: Southern California Library for Social Studies and Research
Project Director: Alexis Moreno
“From Generation to Generation: Making a Life in South Los Angeles, 1940–2005” sought to strengthen the South Los Angeles community by correcting misconceptions about the area and increasing understanding of its history and changing demographics. “The media has stigmatized the area by portraying it as completely crime-ridden,” said former Project Director Alexis Moreno. “We wanted to give residents, particularly young people, a sense of how the community has come to be the way it is, and help engender a sense of community pride. They need to see that history is made by people like them and that they can change things.” Events included a four-part film series on L.A. youth culture and a series of community forums on various aspects of South L.A.’s history.
Findings from audience surveys revealed that almost 98 percent of respondents plan to tell others what they learned at project events and that 95 percent said they planned to become more involved in their community. Focus group participants reported that they believed the project had an impact on the community because it made people realize the importance of history. And they said further that they think the project helped empower people who don’t normally feel that their life story is important.