LA HABRA : Painted Tiles Point to Pride in Community

Ten-year-old Michael Jacobs painted a picture of a school on a ceramic tile to show how proud he is of education in the city.

David Puga, 11, drew a picture of a Mexican flag, showing pride in his background.

And about 200 other children and teen-agers from La Habra and Buena Park painted their ideas of community pride on six-inch-square tiles as part of a community project aimed at combatting graffiti and inspiring pride in the cities.

The tile painting got underway after the project participants, mostly Boys & Girls Club and Job Training Partnership Act members from both cities, painted over graffiti on walls at La Bonita Park in La Habra and a vacant commercial building in Buena Park.

Hundreds of tiles were painted, and organizers of the event hope to get city approval to place the tiles on walls at parks. The tiles will be glazed and made graffiti-proof so that if they are scribbled on, the markings can easily be washed off.

“This gives kids pride in their community,” said Kay Jacklin, La Habra’s supervisor of community services. “The tiles will go up at a park and will express community pride. It becomes physical evidence that you have pride in the community.”

The tiles in La Habra displayed pictures of the La Habra Boxing Club, the Boys & Girls Club, peace signs, a Raiders emblem, anti-gang, anti-crime and pro-environment messages and some of the names of the painters--Johnny Lucero, Noelle, Ernie Jimenez, Remigio Garcia, Lucy Licona.

In Buena Park, similar themes were evident.

“We got a lot of good kids out there who really want to get involved in their community, and this project made them feel more community-oriented,” said Barbara Baiz, the Buena Park Police Department’s gang prevention adviser.

Chris Smith, 17, agreed.

“I’ve learned that if everyone works together, we can clean up the city quick,” he said.

Monique Perez, 13, said she is tired of the gang violence and graffiti she sees in her city and drew a picture of flowers and the word “peace” on it to promote peace in La Habra.

Celia Orozco, 18, wrote her daughter’s name on her tile.

“I want everybody to know I’m proud of my daughter, and I’m proud of this city,” she said.