The Green Light Victory Celebration Was a Huge Success for a Divested and Often Neglected Part of Pasadena

I'm pleased to report that the “Green Light Victory Celebration” that took place on Saturday, October 21. was a success. Over two hundred people gathered at the New Hope Church parking lot to celebrate. Among them were pastors,  enthusiastic volunteers, activists, and community leaders such as City Councilman Tyron Hampton. There was a Hat Fashion Show, music, free hot dogs, cake, snacks, bike repair, haircuts, a really free market with seeds, plants, clothes, etc  a raffle (including a piano), complete streets and bike safety demos, health fair, and more, as you can see from this poster. 

Why is this community celebrating? Jill Shook, one of the founders of the North Fair Oaks Initiative, explained that this event is the culmination of three years of community organizing.

“A community that has felt isolated and voiceless now has found its collective voice by successfully asking and receiving what they want,” Shook explained. “Several years ago, when we surveyed over 150 people, including the 18 businesses and 10 churches in the North Fair Oaks area, we found that one of the biggest concerns is traffic, noise and feeing safe. Many who initially never dreamed that this problem could be addressed, have shown up at 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 Quaker Meeting, Impact, and Hannah’s Descendants

“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 crime, safety and beauty.”

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”

For me, one of the highlights of the day was the "Hat Fashion Show," organized by Bertha Downs. Such fun!