Spatial Justice: Resource Site for Gentrification of Highland Park

Karen Romero Estrada

The Critical Theory and Social Justice (CTSJ) 352: Spatial Justice course was one of the most radically different classroom environments that I had experienced at Oxy. I chose to take this class because of my desire to understand the power dynamics that exist in the creation of the material and social space and the state’s power of their control of resources. As an Oxy student, I had studied and learned about urban policies through my major, Urban and Environmental Policy, but the CTSJ 352 course took my academic knowledge further by connecting my knowledge to actual lived experiences and personal narratives. For instance, although I had previously explored local Los Angeles organizing issues, such as environmental health and labor rights and examined the implications of those movements, CTSJ 352 took my academic knowledge connected my knowledge to lived experiences through community murals, to community members themselves, and to community organizers from the North East Los Angeles Alliance (NELAA).

The course allowed me to see instead of simply reading ideas or observing ideas; it allowed me to feel instead of simply having superficial sympathy; and, most importantly, it allowed me to be critical of my positionality as an Oxy student. Although I am a first generation American citizen, first generation college student, intersectional ecofeminist, and Me[Xicana] born and raised in Anaheim, California and with family roots from Toluca, Mexico and hold some identities similar to many of the residents of Highland Park, Highland Park is not my neighborhood. I am in Highland Park because I had the privilege to study at Occidental College, and over the course, I had the opportunity to examine that privilege in every context. In terms of seeing, my idea of gentrification, previous to this course, was limited by capitalistic measures that the state, academics, and other researchers use such as home values, incomes, rent, and socioeconomic status. Such metrics conform to a culture of commodification where land is used as a material good to consume, produce, and create wealth. This begged the question, what gives land its value? Before taking the course my thoughts were limited to the quantitative measures, but this course helped me see what is not captured, which are the residents’ experiences and social networks to name a few. In terms of feeling, every interaction that I had with community members on or off Oxy’s campus helped me see the human cost of gentrification. Indeed, the most grappling question was asking what the human costs of gentrification, which are hidden most of the time?

My most memorable experience came as a result from forming community partnerships.  The North East Los Angeles Alliance (NELAA) organized a walking tour of resistance that was called, “A People's Hystory: Decolonized Narratives walking tour.” About forty people gathered to walk around Highland Park with signs that portrayed why gentrification was a form of colonialism. Our physical presence in the neighborhood challenged people to see, read and listen to peoples whose identities are being erased in Highland Park. There, I witnessed community members’ reclamation and their testimonies to Highland Park. On that day, I listened and cried to peoples’ stories as they shared what made their community special and what they have lost through gentrification. This made me revisit my privilege as a college student. However, because of our community partnership, I had the honor to take part, contribute and witness the community event, which I am grateful for. Overall, I am finishing the course with an eye-opening impact and I hope to apply this gained knowledge and understanding of understanding the creation of the urban and built environment in my future endeavors.
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Bio
Karen Romero Estrada is a graduating senior, majoring in Urban and Environmental Policy (UEP). She is first generation American citizen, first generation college student, intersectional ecofeminist, and Me[Xicana] born and raised in Anaheim, California and with family roots from Toluca, Mexico. She chose to take this class because of her interest in understanding the power dynamics in the creation of the material and social space and the management and control of resources. This class taught her to be able to think critically of the power dynamics of space and to be able to connect the legacy of the white-cishetero-patriarchal-white supremacy that shapes United States’  urban planning, which she has studied as an UEP major.