Question: A 1988 Cal State Northridge study...

Question: A 1988 Cal State Northridge study of census data called Cerritos the nation’s most racially diverse city. Does this result in a cohesive single community or many separate communities?

LAURA RICO

President, ABC Federation of Teachers, Local 2317, which represents educators in Cerritos and neighboring towns

Cerritos is so diverse that it’s absolutely great. I’m not saying there aren’t problems, but they aren’t so major they can’t be overcome.

I once was asked to facilitate a problem between a Latino and an Asian. One said something to the other at a community event. It was subtle but was so offensive to one of them.

In a coffee shop we all talked. There was a lot of tension between the two of them until one said: “You know, in my culture here’s the way we [deal with one another].” That’s all it took. I am glad to say these two people are still talking to each other. And I felt enlightened by the experience.

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GRACE HU

Mayor and owner of two real estate companies

I don’t hear about problems between different ethnic groups. They each have their own religious ways, own lifestyles. They have Chinese school on Saturdays or Chinese church, or Korean church and Korean school on Saturdays.

Every year, the city will have a multicultural festival so we can all get together. We have all kinds of ethnic groups that go to the same schools.

Most of the buyers of real estate, 80% to 90%, are Asian. I don’t want too many Asians here because then all the Caucasians might move. I hope the city stays diverse like it is, balanced.

I’m Asian. I was born in China and came from Taiwan 25 years ago. I’ve lived in Cerritos 19 years. Asian people need to be involved in the community more, like the PTA. I know the new immigrants are busy and have to make a living--they work night and day. Another problem is the language. They don’t feel comfortable to be involved, but I know in their hearts they want to be part of the community.

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ANGELO MADONI

Owner of jewelry store and 1994 businessman of the year

I’ve been here since 1971. New people tend to shop with their own people. I was an immigrant twice in my life so I understand that feeling. I went to South America from Italy in 1953, then came to this country in 1964. My first instinct was to go talk to people who were Italian.

Instead of saying you’re Chinese or Korean or Filipino or whatever, we should say: “We are here in Cerritos. Let’s work together.”

We all have to do the job, each of us. Sometimes we can’t communicate with each other. So we laugh, we joke, we smile and we do business. We go next door to the doughnut shop and we talk to them, the new people who come here. We ask them to come see our business. If they see you are trying, that’s enough. You have to be the first one to say, “Come in. Welcome.”

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ALEX BEANUM

Caltrans official and former Cerritos City Council member

I take Cerritos too much for granted in terms of how free of racial problems it is compared to what exists in other communities. When I get into another setting out of Southern California, even just up north, wow, you see a difference.

We are basically very free of prejudice. You can say we’re almost colorblind, even though we have lots of color here.

I’m black. My wife is white. People here are tolerant of mixed relations or mixed marriages. It’s not uncommon to see young adults in inter-ethnic relationships in a theater or the mall.

--Interviews by Berkley Hudson.