Once a vibrant and thriving community, years of segregation and divestment dramatically changed the NW corner of Pasadena due to historically harmful Federal policies: racially restrictive covenants, the 1949 Federal Housing Act (which funded “slum clearance” aka “Negro Removal),  predatory banking, eminent domain, and more. The 1956 Highway Act, which released federal funding for highways across the US, has sliced through African American neighborhoods and thriving Black business districts across the US, and that was also true of NW Pasadena with the 210 freeway.

 

Due to “red-lining” by banks, Blacks were prevented from obtaining home loans, so they opened their own bank to obtain mortgages, called Family Thrift, today called One United which was on N. Lake and Washington. Once the Fair Housing Act was passed in 1968, allowing Blacks to live outside of North West Pasadena, those with means moved to other parts of the city. This divestment vacuum opened way for gentrification in the NW, where homes were still affordable.

 

Today, over 25% of African Americans in Pasadena have been displaced. They have either been priced out or have cashed out due to increased property values. Black churches have become commuter churches. One African American church has 8 members left.

 

This community has been deeply wounded by these unjust policies.To help prevent further displacement and reweave a once thriving community, Jill Shook began a listening campaign in 2010, resulting in 150 surveys within a five-block area on N. Fair Oaks. Simple questions were asked like, how long have you been in the area? What are your dreams and concerns for the community? Most of the 10 churches, 18 businesses in this five block stretch participated, as did a number of the residents. The results were telling.

 

Some felt it was a waste of time to imagine an improved community because they felt the city would never agree to make any changes. We needed to resurrect hope.

 

In 2015, the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance (IMA) voted to allow Jill Shook, who was a long-time member of the IMA, to plan the employment fair that year, with and by the community. So she chose the area that was being surveyed to host a fair. The planning team decided to close down Treemont Street with booths representing all the local businesses, and churches, local resources, employment opportunities, and featured the skills within the community with local barbers providing free haircuts once people applied for a job, then free dress shirts and ties. Even Judy Chu, our local congressional representative, and Mayor Terry Tornek showed up.

 

Over 500 members of the community in this N Fair Oaks corridor, from Washington Blvd to Woodbury, attended this NW Jobfest. Hope for change began to emerge. The community met to unveil the results of the survey. The biggest concern was the street, not feeling safe due to the traffic, cars speeding by, the lack of lighting and good sidewalks. Others were concerned with economic development, wanting coffee and ice cream shops and thriving businesses. 

 

Members of the community partnered with the Complete Streets coalition to create focus groups that visually imagined what they wanted, and they identified 15 specific items they hoped the city could address. Today, seven of these requests have been placed in the city’s budget to be completed, including signage, more trees and sidewalk repairs.  As recently as 2017, the Pasadena City Council unanimously voted to put a $268,000 traffic signal to help slow traffic and bring safety. Seeing this signal in place has resurrected more hope.  

 

There is still much more work to be done. We would value your partnership.  Contact us today to find out how you can participate in our efforts to revitalize North Fair Oaks!

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