Spatial Justice: Resource Site for Gentrification of Highland Park

Magda Wittig

The meaning of this work in our spatial justice course has definitely been amplified by the experiential component. While studying gentrification processes and displacement, keeping the analysis within solely a critical realm does not allow one to fully grasp the interpersonal, cultural, and emotional elements of these issues. We were able to use postcolonial theory and community reports to build a foundational knowledge about the discourse surrounding gentrification, particularly in Highland Park. However, being able to see these macro issues materialized on such a micro level, right in the neighborhood we are living, gave our projects and studies an urgency that demanded a more empathy and commitment than other classes, particularly other theory class I have taken. The guest speakers to our class, such as Celestina Castillo and John Urquiza, selflessly offered up their stories and experiences with displacement in the area which helped us as a class understand more deeply the far reaching and insidious implications of gentrification. To understand a mode of institutional injustice at a theoretical, economic, as well as interpersonal level, complicates your relationship to the issue and how you see your self implicated and embedded within it. 

The NELA Alliance’s Gentrification is Colonization performance, which was programmed by a group within the class, perfectly exemplified this need to see oneself within an evolving historical relationship of colonizer and colonized. This performance not only enacted these complex and multifaceted issues in a relatable and accessible context, but after the performance the alliance members also fostered a community building discussion with the audience about displacement, gentrification, and Occidental’s role within these processes. These post-performance discussions were frank and honest, and it was very refreshing and eye opening to see these injustices interpreted from the perspective of community members and activists rather than simply my classmates. Having the space to have one-on-one conversations with folks outside Occidental about what we are discussing in class feels vital to what our class is trying to learn.  Often times in CTSJ when we only have a text to dissect, and only our classmates to mull it over with, we can start to fall into an unproductive echo chamber. Having community members and outside voices enter the discussion is important and underutilized by every other department I’ve taken classes with.

I learned a lot about the census and how mapping these kinds of housing data sets generally works through this course. Although I’m useless with technological and have zero spatial awareness, it was very interesting to see how comprehensive and complex these systems of quantifying and illustrating these population statistics are. It was also really valuable to know that this kind of data is accessible when you know what tools are needed, the sheer amount of data that is already out there to use was eye-opening as well. I also learned so much about the mural culture in Highland Park, I always noticed the beautiful work around the neighborhood but I didn’t realize the extent of Highland Park’s role as a center of artistic production for LA artists.  

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Bio

Magda Wittig is a senior Critical Theory & Social Justice major and Studio Art minor. She chose to take this class because of her interest in issues of space and body, as well as her desire to stay in northeast LA. She is very thankful for the involved community partners as well as Professor Maeda and Professor Kim’s work in generating this archive and dialogue.