Editor’s Note: A community that has felt isolated and voiceless, and found its collective voice by successfully asking for and receiving what they want, is now celebrating!
COMMUNITY EVENT
Green light (Photo – Tomasz_Mikolajczyk).
The residents of North Fair Oaks, a divested corner of Pasadena and Altadena, are inviting everyone to take part in their “Green Light Victory Celebration” gala on Saturday, October 21, 2017.
There will be fun for all, including a Hat Fashion Show, a raffle (including a piano), complete streets and bike safety demos, health fair, auditions to perform on the stage, free hot dogs, cake, and snacks. Additionally, fun senior activities will take place at Rosewood Courts.
This gala event will take place from 10 am to 3 pm at 1787 N Fair Oaks Ave., in the New Hope Church parking lot.
Repair Café
The Repair Café will take place next door from 10 am – 1:00 pm at 1781 North Fair Oaks. At the Café, people will be available to repair the following for free: bikes, small items like lamps and toasters, jewelry, and folks on hand to sharpen knives, sew, do free haircuts. There also be a Really Really Free Market with seeds, plants, clothes and whatever else you wish to take or contribute.
Why is this community celebrating?
“To say thank you,” says Jill Shook, one of the founders of the North Fair Oaks Initiative. She explained that this event is the culmination of three years of community organizing, with very encouraging results.
Shook explained:
A community that has felt isolated and voiceless now has found its collective voice by successfully asking for and receiving what they want. Several years ago, when we surveyed over 150 people, including the 18 businesses and 10 churches in this North Fair Oaks stretch from Howard to Woodbury, we found that one of the biggest concerns is traffic, noise and fleeing safe.
Many who initially never dreamed that this problem could be addressed, have shown up at the City Council and other public meetings. As a result, seven of fifteen items that the N. Fair Oaks Empowerment Initiative has requested have been approved, including a $268,000 traffic signal by Pasa-Alta Manor and New Hope Church.
Although the signal won’t be installed until 2018, a green light is already on, hope is resurrecting. A number of organizations have contributed to this event: Day One (a community-based nonprofit, igniting change), Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance (IMA), AARP, Complete Streets Coalition, Orange Grove Friends Meeting, Impact, and Hannah’s Descendants.
There will be a tour of each spot where the City of Pasadena will be helping to make the street safer and more beautiful.
“This is just the beginning,” said Shook. “Other items on the community’s wish list include economic development (such as an ice cream and coffee shop), affordable housing, more youth engagement, and other initiatives to address equity, crime, safety and beauty.”
The North Fair Oaks Empowerment
The North Fair Oaks Empowerment Initiative was birthed out of the IMA, the oldest association of African American Churches in the greater Pasadena area. Its vision derives from Zachariah 8: 4-5: “Old men and old women will again sit in the streets of Jerusalem each man with his staff in his hand because of age. And the streets of the city will be filled with boys and girls playing in its streets”.
This project has been supported by non-religious as well as religious people, and all are welcome to share in the celebration.
Parking
You can park at the Health Center (1972 N Fair Oaks Ave), and at Bethlehem Church (1550 N. Fair Oaks Ave.) and Bethel Church (1972 N. Fair Oaks).
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