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Instructions for Maywood Community Mapping Exploration on August 30th, 2021

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Instructions for Maywood Community Mapping Exploration on August 30th, 2021

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Please upload a picture of a site, location, individual, artifact, etc. that has special meaning and insight for your community mapping pair or triad (group).  With your group, write a short narrative of why this picture has special significance for your group/triad.  In the context of community mapping, what will it remind you of moving forward? Does it have any cultural or historical significance?  In what ways does this picture contribute to your understanding of the people of Maywood?  What personal connections do the members of your group have to what is represented in the picture?  What questions do you still have about the picture you are sharing?

*Include the name of each group member in your post.

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Closed Slauson Mini-Mart on E Slauson Ave, Maywood, CA

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This area and closed mini-mart held significance for our group. It symbolized to us the decline of small, family-owned businesses that provided services and goods to a thankful community, and then ushered in an era of Corporately owned, locally franchised businesses that provided those same goods and services on a larger scale, but did not provide the exact same personal community touch that the mini-marts had.

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This area and closed mini-mart held significance for our group. It symbolized to us the decline of small, family-owned businesses that provided services and goods to a thankful community, and then ushered in an era of Corporately owned, locally franchised businesses that provided those same goods and services on a larger scale, but did not provide the exact same personal community touch that the mini-marts had.

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Brannon Andrews and Shaquille Manley

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Some of the beauty of the homes in Maywood. Don't really see fountains with running water too often. 

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Our group found that the homes in Maywood showed much without saying anything. Most homes were beautifully kept with impressive lawns, plentiful trees and greenery, and many were gated off. As we talked to individuals, one group of men shared their story that Maywood has been experiencing criminal activity and the desire to leave the city for a better opportunity. Despite the bad (a tendency for those we interviewed to lead when describing Maywood), the residents still took pride in their homes. Their familial capital was to provide some sort of comfort in a space that may not be one's dream home. Their homes may not be the biggest or best, but creating a space for your family was the goal. We all connected with the idea that you have to make the best of your circumstances and lean on your capital, such as familial, for support. Our group consisted of Angel, Cesar, and Nelson.

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Albin and Victor taking a picture with La consentida banda santa rosa

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For our Maywood Community Mapping Exploration, me (Albin) and Victor explored Riverfront Park. There, we came across a group of students and adults practicing various musical instruments. Upon inquiry, we found out that they were called La consentida banda santa rosa, a community/church-organized band within the City of Maywood. This picture has special significance for us because it highlights the importance of community and a sense of belonging for these individuals. In the context of community mapping, it reminds us moving forward how impactful community support is as they informed us that they come together to play music and act as a form of accountability for the kids as it is required for them to excel academically in order to participate. This activity has allowed different generations to interact, learn, and share with one another with music being a core component of their culture. Hearing the adults inform us how much they want to give back and teach the kids of Maywood contributed to our understanding of the people within this community. A personal connection was the student's linguistic capital and acting as a translator for the adults when we approached them in English. Further questions we have about the picture are the difference and impact of learning music within the community versus within their schools.

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Myself and Mason visited a local church in Maywood that has the words inscripted on it “Dedicated to the Glory of God in Honor of Saint Rose of Lima”. When we started doing our Maywood Community Mapping Exploration, we noticed that there was a beautiful church and a catholic bookstore across from it. We visited the bookstore first and in order to break the ice with the wonder and local there I bought a small artifact that had the picture of the Virgin Mary. I approached the owner and told them that my mother’s birthday is approaching and that I would most likely visit the shop again to buy her something. Talking about my mother and her upcoming birthday really hit home for both elderly women in the store. They started talking about other items I could buy my mom in the store, they started to talk about their own children and nephews and they even told me to write a prayer for my mother in their prayer book.  This personal experience that myself and Mason had with the elderly women in the bookstore really showed us how the community of Maywood values religion, family and love. It is a constant theme for people of color and to be more specifically Latinx people to hold the cahtolic religion close to their hearts. Speaking from personal experience, religion for my own parents and community resembles hope, perseverance and love for your family. The Virgin Mary especially has been a significant symbol for hope for people who identify as Catholic and working class. That is why I chose this artifact to approach and talk to the elderly women. This helps us understand that the community of Maywood values family, love and religion above all and is willing to support one another. This will help us remind us that the Maywood values religion and is a close knit group. Some questions I still have are the demographics of the population of Maywood. What percentage of people are from Mexico? How many are from Central America? What is the percentage of Black people in Maywood? Do they have any churches or are there any Black-Owned businesses?

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Kaytlyn Matsuda, Jimmy Nguyen, Angel Padilla, Maria Rivera
Our group chose this photo because it was significant to us. One of the reasons why we chose this photo was the fact that we appreciate how on a Monday night, there were a lot of people attending the park. This showed us a sense of community. Through an interview with a worker, from La Michoacana, we learned that a lot of the community enjoys spending time at this park. If you look behind the basketball courts, you can see a soccer (futbol) practice that was going on. Through engaging with an interview with some parents, we learned that not only do residents from Maywood attend this park but also other residents from neighboring cities such as Bell Gardens. During our time at the park, we interviewed another citizen, who was with her young daughter, from Maywood. She expressed that even though she has lived in Maywood for 10 years, she did not engage with others from the community. We also asked her what she thought about the schools in Maywood and if her daughter attended school. She shared that her daughter did not attend school because she was 4 and that she did not know too much about the schools in Maywood. From this interaction, we were curious as to why some people did not want to engage with their community. Another question was how informed parents are of schools and what the different types of schools are like such as their curriculum. Last but not least, a personal connection that one of us had was being reminded of when they used to have basketball practice at the park.

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Community members enjoying their evening

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Connie & I(Hedrick) decided to go to the Maywood Riverfront Park for our community mapping assignment. Upon us perusing the area, we noticed that members of the community were playing and connecting with one another in outdoor spaces such as this park. We saw kids play soccer on a makeshift field. We saw a mom and her son eating pizza at a bench as he did his homework on a LAUSD issued laptop. The mom was wearing her nurses outfit as she may have gotten off of work prior. As a child, I think we always went to our neighboring city parks to play and enjoy ourselves, yet as we get older these little moments of serenity become scarce. In particular, we noticed a young student playing with her bunny. She told us her dreams about going to college and wanting to become a veterinarian. She told us that Riverfront Park was one of the largest and most central parks in Maywood. When speaking with folks of the community, we gained a mixed bag of responses whether they believed Maywood was a good community or not. Despite this, the residents of Maywood are still willing to spend time outdoors and go to the park for an hour or two. Witnessing all the joy and connections made reminded us that many indivudals in the community have dreams and aspirations. We wonder if there are other community spaces where Maywood residents engage in play and joy.

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Alejandra Huerta, Andrea De Alba, Isaura Peña

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As the sun was setting, the residential streets in the city of Maywood were full of residents taking their evening walks. It was a heartwarming experience to take a walk in the community and have a few conversations with residents who have been at Maywood since the 1970s. They shared their memories of Maywood and how the community has changed over the years. The warmth and familiarity we felt with the señoras reminded us of the women in our lives and community. Doña Guadalupe opened her gate to us- to share fresh guavas from her tree as she remembered her family's story in Maywood. On the other hand, Doña Mary stressed her concerns about the recent changes in Maywood and the increase of weed dispensaries. She was also eager to connect her granddaughter with one of us to learn more about college, as she was transitioning into her first year in college.

It was a pleasure hearing their stories and experiences as residents of Maywood. We are excited to return and hope to reconnect with them to share updates about the Maywood Education Fair.

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My group (Cassandra, Rosalba, and DJ) found these local stores that were located near other smaller businesses. These small locally owned businesses represented community to our group because they offered a warm and welcoming environment. We went into the collectable store (pictured) and were greeted as soon as we walked in. We spoke to an employee and learned that they were from a nearby city but enjoyed working in Maywood. Additionally, the streets and sidewalks were busy with commuter, joggers, and families, however did not feel busy and rushed like many other cities in California. Overall, our group felt welcomed and a sense of community as we walked the sidewalks of the Maywood area. Questions we still have: why so do many folks commute to Maywood to work at the local shops?

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Betsy Peña, Jeff Costales, and Jose Rivera

Our group chose this picture because it displays representation. The cashier at the donut shop explained that Yum Yum Donut operates in franchises and that the owner behind this franchise decided to add pan dulce and buñuelos to their menu because of their community. She explained how the busiest time was in the morning when everyone stops by before heading to work. We all thought about how something as small as a menu item can make you feel seen and represented in your community. This was a pattern throughout the businesses - adding their own regional touch. For example, a mariscos restaurant had a huge Mazatlan mural on the side. By exploring the main area of Maywood by foot, we caught a small glimpse into the rich cultural structures that contribute greatly to the community culture.

We noticed how the Maywood community relies on their small businesses for services and products which was something we found very surprising since we're closer to the Orange County area. A question we had regarding small business, is how sustainable are small businesses in this community? How can it be improved for the sake of Maywood residents? As we walked, we noticed small businesses frequently but there were also numerous that seemed unfinished or closed down. All this ultimately impacts the local economy of Maywood residents.

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This photo, other than being a work of art, provides a lot of insight into the political leanings of the Maywood community. Obviously, it would not be wise to assume that this graffiti art represents how everyone in the Maywood community feels about COVID, but it definitely provides some context. This has significance for our group because the pandemic in many ways has brought people together as much as it has divided them. The message, "Stay at Home Save Lives" is a rather optimistic outlook about quarantine and the general new normal when it comes to living in the pandemic. It's also a very direct statement and it happened to be next to another art piece of a young boy getting vaccinated. Some questions we still have is who is the artist? Was this a community project? How do Maywood community members feel about this particular statement? Has the pandemic brought Maywood community closer?

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Group memebers: Alex Ramirez Ruiz & Gabriel Amaya

Yosso (2001) reminds us that each community has a unique cultural wealth. A collection of shared cultural, linguistic, social, and familial capital can come together to develop a shared identity. For the great majority of residents in the City of Maywood, the center of this shared collection of cultural wealth can be found in their shared religious faith. Like many cities in the State of California, Maywood is home to a large Catholic community composed of mainly Hispanic/Latinx congregants. Saint Rose of Lima Catholic Church and its adjacent bookstore serves as a brick-and-mortar representation of their faith. As our cohort moves forward with the planning and implementation of the Maywood Education Fair, we must acknowledge and utilize this pivotal community center to spread information about the fair. It is important to understand that in many community mapping assignments; religious centers can serve as important centers for the distribution of resources and information.

For 55% of the Hispanic/Latinx community living in the United States, their Catholic beliefs and traditions are a very important aspect of their cultural identity and rich history (U.S Census Bureau, 2019). The employee of the Catholic bookstore located across the main Church provided us with a very insightful perspective into the community. Mrs. Lolita, the only employee of this Catholic bookstore, claimed that every Sunday dozens of Catholic believers congregate in this church. A clear example of their shared identity and history.

The picture above represents a focal point of this community and the shared identities of its residents. This picture can allow us to understand the fact that this community is in deep connection to its cultural roots. Having a private Catholic school attached to the church also allows us to understand that these shared cultural identities are multi-generational. As we outreach to students in this community, we must appeal to their unique identities and community cultural wealth. Both of us can speak from personal experiences as we too identify with some of these cultural identities. We also grew up in cities with similar demographics and environments. As we move forward with this amazing event, we continue to wonder how we can better utilize the community cultural wealth that already exists in the City of Maywood?

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Kassandra (who is from the Maywood area) had talked about a group of friends that use to play game together like chess and dominoes outside of Yum Yum Donuts. As we were walking around, we found them! This group of friends have been coming together and hanging out for 20 years! One thing we've noticed is that they get together in a COVID safe manner such as sitting socially distance, some wearing mask and choosing to be outside. This small gathering is a prime example of the value of community and friendship in Maywood.

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This the local barbershop and to us it means inspiration! Alex the barber is a native of Maywood and came back and saw a need for his community and fixed it. He did not wait for others to solve a problem he went out and did it! As a man, his work ethic and willingness to let go of his past to create a better future are the values we hope students take away this year at the event. This image resembles a piece of Maywood to us, a local spot where you can get serviced but be in good company. We do not have any questions about the image?

Porshe and Nonzenzele

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Group members: Lorena Castellanos, Emily Martinez, Itzel Marin

Our Community Mapping Action Plan Goal is to "contribute to developing a supporting environment for LGBTQ+ youth in Maywood." Our group decided to focus on the religious aspects of Maywood, as the presence of religion usually affects the amount of queer visibility an area has. Once we began exploring the city, we quickly realized how important religion is to the Maywood community. We came across so many different churches in a short amount of time. We noticed that the majority of the churches had their own schools and were actively enrolling students. This made us realize that a lot of students in Maywood are attending a faith-based school. While we did not see any LGBTQ+/Pride flags, stickers, etc. while we explored the city, we did acknowledge the importance of religion in this city, especially to the Latinx community. While we checked out the churches and the surrounding houses, my group would share positive memories of when they were involved in their church as children and how attending church played a huge role in their (Latinx) culture. While some of us grew a part of the church, being an active member in the past was a memory we remember kindly. Moving forward, one question we had was, "What physical LGBTQ+ spaces does Maywood offer?" We googled it, and it did not have any. The closest space would be the LA LGBTQ+ Center that is about 14 miles away.

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Group Members: Andrea Frausto-Zamora, Melissa Neustein, Rika Yano

We decided to drive around the city of Maywood. To our surprise, we stumbled across an Elementary school which was a juxtaposition from the MeCES school. The elementary school resembled a prison with barred windows and dull building colors. In stark contrast, the MaCES school has a beautifully manicured campus with colorful buildings. Driving around the neighborhoods of Maywood, it appears that all students residing in Maywood would benefit from the resources provided at the magnet school. However, MaCES only accepts a small number students. One of the questions we had was: why other schools in the area are not funded like MaCES?

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This is the Black Owned Barbershop located in Lynwood. Aniesa and Jake teamed up to seek out possible Black community members that could participate in Maywood. Hair within the Black community is sacred. Hair brings us all together as well as used to bond with each other.  Many barbershops and Black beauty salons are not only for grooming, but for gathering, celebrations, elders passing wisdom, children gathering and other communal activities. This is a very personal connection to myself and Jake, as we have spent many years in either a barbershop or Black beauty salon engaging with our family, friends, and meeting new people. The questions we still have with this photo is where can we find more Black businesses in neighboring communities.