Tenants Lead Effort at Bryant-Vanalden : Angela Aragon

Angela Aragon, 49, a petite woman with a surprisingly strong voice, has spent several of her 12 years in the United States cleaning houses in Encino, Tarzana and Canoga Park, and taking care of the children who live there.

When she heard that apartment buildings like the one she lives in with her grown daughter and grandchildren were deemed unsightly and that the city might make it easier to evict her to clean up the area, she became angry.

“I cannot control what happens on the streets, but my house is clean,” she said. “It is the landlords who do not fix things up. The garbage trucks don’t come all the time.”

Two weeks ago, as she walked up to the microphone during a neighborhood meeting, what was to have been a simple self-introduction as treasurer of Padres Unidos turned into an emotional and moving speech that brought cheers from the crowd.

“We are humble, honorable people,” she said, pounding her fist against her hand, her voice raised. “We are hard workers and we must begin to show that we want to live here in peace. We are not pigs.”

Later, she displayed a plastic tub with change and several $1 bills. It is her responsibility, she said, to use the money to buy trash bags for Saturday neighborhood cleanups.

When asked about her oratory skills, she blushed and said she had never used a microphone before. “It is just my manner when I get to talking,” she said.