STIIIZY LOVES THE MACARTHUR PARK COMMUNITY

 STIIIZY AMA LA COMMUNIDAD DE MACARTHUR PARK 

Just two days after Valentine's Day, four neighborhood councils (“NC”), The Pico-Union NC, Westlake North NC, Westlake South NC, and MacArthur Park NC, came together to facilitate the first “Love My Community” cleanup event in MacArthur Park, one of LA’s most impacted neighborhoods from the war on drugs. 

The love-centric event was organized in front of the historic MacArthur Park Lake, which is designated as a City of Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument #100. Various city government agencies, such as the office of Mayor Bass and Councilwoman Eunisses Hernandez, and half a dozen non-profits, like Mujeres De La Tierra and the Levitt Pavilion, tabled on both sides of Wilshire Boulevard, which divides the 35-acre urban park. 

FIGHTING AN EPIDEMIC

Despite MacArthur Park’s roots as a civic treasure, the recreational site has been fighting a reputation for violence and drug dealing since the 1980s, when crime in the park increased and resulted in hundreds of firearms being disposed of and found in the lake. Things began to worsen during the 1990s Rampart Police scandal when LAPD anti-gang units unapologetically harassed and terrorized surrounding communities. Even more devastating was the 2007 May Day rally that resulted in excessive force inflicted on undocumented immigrants calling for US citizenship. 

Despite the many changes, one thing remains the same. MacArthur Park is a treasure worth fighting for. 

CALL TO ACTION

Locals and families were encouraged to visit the participating booths and learn more about how to become involved in upcoming community projects, such as ongoing beautification and prevention efforts in the neighborhood. 

Community members like Cain Carias, aka Puppetmaster213, came out to support and made a call to action during the cleanup. Born and raised in MacArthur Park, Cain has been puppeteering for over 20 years and consistently organizes community cleanups and cookouts in his neighborhood. Why? Because he believes in positive community outreach and has seen firsthand how community programming changes lives.

If you’d like to learn more about STIIIZY’s social impact work, and difference makers like Cain Carias, check out the STIIIZY Joint Efforts Blog here.