Social Networks

The many senior adult facilities and centers likely provide social networks for the adult and senior communities.

The presence of a skate park and a skate shop in the Highland Park area highlights the informal network available for the high amount of teenage skateboarders we witnessed in the community. Skating is an activity that creates a community on its own, providing an alternative to gangs or drugs.

It seemed that most parks were being used by all ages and most families seemed to go to their local community center for local resources. For instance, many kids were at the Highland Park Recreation Center.

During our tour of Highland Park, we encountered many different types of Christian-based churches with signage in English, Korean, and Spanish. We also saw a Buddhist temple. These religious institutions that can connect to a diverse population likely serve as social networks for people in these communities.

Two residents we spoke to informed us that while they don’t feel they interact too much with their neighbors, their main social network was within their families. Both shared that much of their family also lived in the area and that they spent the most time in the community with their family. It is important to note that both these residents were Latin-American, so this may be a commonality due the high value Latino culture places on family.

While eating at Antigua Bread, we noticed that this restaurant had a resource shelf with information on their city. This shelf included advertisements, flyers, and brochures regarding parenting classes, counseling, and job training.

There is a small Weaving Studio along Lincoln Avenue. Mid-aged man and woman run the studio and also sell cultural objects such as clothes and house decorations. It is open for anyone who wants to learn weaving. Of course, visitors are always welcome, and the owners greet them with a friendly conversation. The man is a teacher and can teach any kind of style of weaving, such as Indian or Native American. They do not have large advertisements, but hobby schools and websites inform prospective students about their classes. Currently, five students take the classes and will become artists.