PICO-UNION : Leaders-in-Training Take a Field Trip

A dozen participants in the Pico-Union Neighborhood Leadership Program took the first step in their three-month training course last week by taking a step outside their neighborhood.

They spent a weekend studying the political, economic, social and spiritual institutions and activities of Little Tokyo before launching an examination of how to improve life in their neighborhood.

“We wanted to get them out of their comfort zone,” said Joanne Baltierrez, a program associate with Coro Southern California, the educational foundation conducting the program. “If we challenge them to explore a different environment, they learn to see new things they might have missed in a familiar setting.”

The participants were selected this month from among more than 20 applicants. They will meet at least once a week with the Coro staff to polish their leadership, research and communication skills.

The goal is to develop effective community leaders who can analyze problems in their neighborhoods and identify solutions.

Coro, a nonprofit institution, has been involved in public affairs education, research and training since 1942. It has offices in Los Angeles, San Francisco, St. Louis, Kansas City, Mo., and New York, and is supported by contributions from corporations, foundations and individuals.

In its report on Little Tokyo, the Pico-Union group looked at the history of Japanese-Americans in the district, the influence of corporations, the power of developers, the housing crunch, small business, homelessness, and the strength of cultural institutions and values.

Based on a brief examination of small businesses in Little Tokyo, Juan Cristales said he saw at least one lesson for Pico-Union. “I noticed that the profits from the businesses go back into the community,” said Cristales, who works at El Rescate. “In Pico-Union, some of the people who own stores spend their money elsewhere.”

“Most of the members of the group are Latinos and work with agencies that we’ll be working with in the future,” said Sophia Park, a communication specialist with the Korean Youth and Community Center. “The contacts I make will make it easier to work together later on.”

In addition to Park and Cristales, the group members are: Roberta Kornegay-Davis, Juan Flores, Mariana Francisco, Thelma Garcia, Rafael Gonzalez, Marino Minino, Sushma Raman, Landy C. Rosales, Gloria E. Soto and Noe M. Mendez-Vides.

Information: (213) 623-1234.