What does it mean to “invest in your neighborhood”?  Instantly, finances probably spring into your mind.  With the talk of money probably comes an immediate defense, “There aren’t any restaurants…”, “I don’t need a dashiki…”, “The best services are [location of your choice]”.  I've spent a few weekends exploring my neighborhood and come to find that investment comes in many forms.  The main one?  Just being in my neighborhood.

Eating:  Food choices are seriously lacking, but they do exist.  Sure, there’s no Chili’s or the much-desired Red Lobster.  (I was saddened by the loss of the excellent Mama’s Place on Crenshaw and, personally, wish for a Golden Corral or for The Spaghetti Factory’s return to Los Angeles, preferably nearby.)  Word on the street is that the food at the year-old Maverick’s Flat is excellent.  Newbie Post and Beam is delicious.

 IHOP’s #3 store on Stocker – yes, the 3rd one in the chain -- has healthful eating choices and the best customer service of any IHOP I’ve ever visited.  Simply Wholesome on Slauson/Overhill maintained the mid-century architecture of the former Wich Stand and serves up flavorful Carribean-styled choices, including Vegan ones.  Earlez Grill on Crenshaw/Exposition also has Vegan choices, but the must-eat at Earlez is the Salmon Burger.

 Food-shopping isn’t as dire as one would expect, thanks in part to the Community Health Council and the FreshWorks Fund which empowered local shoppers to improve their markets by calling attention to stale or out-of-date produce, dairy, and meats.  Albertson’s at the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza has a wide variety of produce normally found in markets on the Westside.  The BHCP also sponsors a Farmers Market, located at the Sears level parking lot on Saturdays 10 a.m. – 3 p.m, abundant with fresh fruits and vegetables.  The Ralph’s at the corner of La Brea/Rodeo is going to expand soon and may become a Fresh Fare, Ralph’s brand that mimics Whole Foods.  This Ralph’s already has a freezer case stocked in Gluten-free choices.

Shopping:  Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza’s remodel is beautiful but the mall is still empty.  Retail stores lease where they can be guaranteed a return on square footage dollars.  Low traffic means either the mall is forced to lease at below-market rates or not at all.  It’s a Catch-22.  Frankly, the Macy’s remodel has returned the former May Co building to its attractiveness of 50 years ago.  Don’t think of the store as “old”, it’s been “restored”. 

 Leimert Park Village continues to struggle.  EsoWan Book Store is one of the few remaining independent book-sellers in the city.  With the recent loss of Borders, and with Barnes and Noble closing stores, brick-and-mortar establishments are falling by the wayside.  Rent drama forced Lucy Florence to the Fairfax area.  Zambezi, Sika’s, a dry cleaners and a couple other stores continue to plod along.  Outstanding festivals bring momentary interest, but the retail malaise in the area has been on-going for decades.

 Renovations on the Vision Theatre bring promise of a new and vibrant Leimert Park Village http://visiontheatre.org/.   Renovation without a subway stop at the Village on the LAX line seems meaningless.  The community has voiced its opinion to a deaf and tunnel-vision’d Villaraigosa and Metro Board, both consistently acting as if the West is the only segment of Los Angeles that matters.

Housing: The unaffordable Westside is looked to as the premier location to live in Los Angeles.  However, Leimert, Hyde and View Parks, Windsor and the Baldwin Hills are now being considered for affordability and value.  The Village Green, the nation’s first community of its type, is wonderfully multi-cultural and magnificently maintained.  Pride and the understanding of historical worth instantly comes across whenever  a Village Green dweller describes the tract.

 Baldwin Hills Estates now schedules a community clean-up on the 2nd Saturday of every month.  View Park is due for a Garden Tour this year.  Other communities do similar events.  Yet, all of our communities are disparaged in the media as being “South L.A.”  (No one’s bothered to point out downtown Culver City is South of the 10.)

 Baldwin Village is striving to improve and it shows.  There are some tenant issues; crime goes up and down.  I don't refer to the area as The Jungle anymore.  It's a conscious decision and I correct people who use the derogatory term.  I see a neighborhood of mid-century apartment homes that, if located in West Hollywood, would fetch well over $2500/mo for rent.  The Jacaranda trees encircling Hillcrest Elementary planted last March continue to thrive, aiding the visual rebirth of the community.

Entertainment:  Every weekend there seems to be something to do.  Area churches sponsor events, Leimert Park Village holds an Art Walk every last Sunday, the Southwest LAPD has a Carnival twice a year.  Maverick’s Flat and La Louisianne host live music; Kenneth Hahn Park is our local oasis.  The World Stage is still hanging in there.

 The Macy’s at Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza houses both The Museum of African American Art http://www.maaala.org/ and The Oasis Center for adults aged 50+ http://www.oasisnet.org/Cities/West/LosAngelesCA/LocationsandContac... .  In addition to childcare and youth programs, the Jim Gilliam Park has an active Senior Center.  KAOS in Leimert Park Village offers computer and video classes, with occasional comedy or poetry events.

 Lotus on the Nile offers Yoga, Crenshaw Yoga offers additional classes in dance and drumming.   There are drum circles, bicycle clubs, amateur athletics for youth and adults.  The Pan African Film Festival will return in February -- after a nearly five-year absence -- to the new RAVE theaters at the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza, which are clean, comfortable, and equipped with terrific sound. 

 Active participation is key to keeping all these and, hopefully, more coming.

 Ultimately, Investment in Community is where we place our hearts and our own considerations.  I can’t imagine living anywhere else in Los Angeles.  My neighbors are diverse and friendly. They are also opinionated, though most don’t know or care what’s going on in this area.  When I mention an event, especially something of political importance, they are astounded.  They are not invested enough to trawl the internet, glean a local paper, or attend community meetings.

 I’ve been to meetings in other neighborhoods where there are children in the audience.  I used to be one of those kids, sitting through a church meeting with my parents chiding me for squirming from sheer boredom.  Funny, now I can sit through hours of Board banter, fascinated by it all.  I am an anomaly; I’m not finger-waggling anyone who can barely make an hour.  An hour at a time eventually builds stamina and, before you know it, you’re there at the final gavel drop.

Invest in your Community:

• Show Interest – spend a little effort in trying to find out what’s going on around you, then spread the word.  Remember:  enthusiasm is as infectious as negativity
• Show Up – attend your city, community, and HOA meetings, make a conscious effort to shop locally
• Show Pride – keep your curb clean, water a random dry plant, respect the facilities where you shop and eat
• Show a Child – we’ve got to teach our youngsters how to become interested, involved and to be phenomenal citizens.  Volunteer at a local school or a child-based organization

 There is so much each individual can do with a Random Act of Kindness.  You may live 15 blocks away from me, but you’re still my neighbor.  Since I’d like to keep you as my neighbor, I’m encouraging everyone to participate in the Redistricting process.  At some point we’re going to bump into each other.  I’d like to think when I say, “Excuse me,” you’ll smile and tell me, “It’s cool”. 

 And we’ll both know our true return.