4. Journey to Unidad Park

The Press:

Alvarado Park.  A park in the city with a lake!  Skyline view of Los Angeles and a lake view!

In my Mind:

It is sad.  I want to cry. The poverty is more and more as we near downtown and travel east. The park is dirty with trash.  People live in the park.  Drugs?  Alcohol?  Workers get on at this stop and for the most part, they are Latino/a janitors, handymen, day workers with heavy lifting belts.  This is a day worker bus stop.  The working poor are visible.   The park between Westwood and Beverly Hills has no lake but no trash or residents either.  At that bus stop were workers with uniforms and professional business attire.  Are they paid more or dressed better in that place of wealth?

5. Walk to Unidad

The Press: The City is working to to promote their cultural, economic and political development. Although there is a vast Filipino population, they are still over-shadowed by the Hispanic and African-American population.

In my mind: There really isn’t anyone walking around. It’s probably because it’s 1 in the afternoon, but everyone I see is Hispanic or African American. I wonder why. It does feel a little sketch and isn’t as fabulous as Beverly Hills. It’s crazy how the same street can be so different in span of a few miles. 

6. Walk to Unidad  

The Press:

Historic Filipinotown showcases the largest Filipino mural in the United States. The largest concentration of Filipinos in Los Angeles live in this community, approximately 10,000.

In My Mind:

Where are the Filipinos?  Mostly I see Latinos and a few African Americans.  Mural is impressive and living as it is updated to capture current events happening in the Filipino community.  Definitely this is a politically made Filipino community.  Does not appear to be naturally settled but feels artificial and forced.  I do not have the feeling of being in a community  that truly belongs to its people. Let’s walk thru and try to figure out why?

7. Walk into Unidad

The Press: The park is a popular place for children to play, people to barbeque and students to hang out at.

In my mind: This park is so small. But dang that mural, whoever walks into this park will, no matter what, be touched by culture and history. The kids run around on the playground and seem to not even notice it, but I know for sure every single person has wondered or looked at it. The Filipino community must be super proud of this park