SHALIMAR NEIGHBORHOOD - COMUNIDAD UNIDA
Comunidad Unida (United Community) was the first Neighborhood Action Committee (NAC) established by Mika CDC in partnership with the Shalimar neighbors. Comunidad Unida is committed to identifying and establishing projects and programs that lead our neighborhood to our five values: Security, Cleanliness, Respect Among Neighbors, Sharing Among Neighbors, and Good Homes- both structurally and relationally.
The Shalimar neighborhood is comprised of three streets- James, Wallace, and Shalimar Dr., in Westside Costa Mesa. The streets are blocked off on three sides creating a great atmosphere for sharing together in the street. In the small block area there are 64 apartment buildings housing approximately 1200+ people. While the neighborhood has a reputation in the city for crime and violence, there is also a history of neighbors working together. In this context Comunida Unida has established neighborhood traditions such as Hoops- a weekly block party, holiday parties, and neighborhood clean up days. This group of neighborhood leaders has also worked with city leaders to fix lighting in the alleys and park, landscape shared areas, and report gang activity. Our efforts to grow together as a community have resulted in weekly children's Bible classes, English courses, and the annual C3 Basketball Tournament in partnership with local police and churches. Looking ahead, Comunidad Unida anticipates growing in their capacity to raise funds, organize a neighborhood communication network, and establish small businesses that benefit our community.
Center Street - Manos a la Obra
Center Street is a neighborhood filled with residents committed to the values of love, honor, and respect as they continue to grow closer to God, their families, and their neighbors. Located one block south of 19th Street, the Center Street Neighborhood Action Committee, Manos de la Obra, has been meeting since January 19, 2006. Most participants live in the block between Placentia and Monrovia.
It's a family oriented neighborhood with a large population of children under the age of 16. The community identified wanting to establish a safe place for their children to get help with homework as their first project opportunity. Through months of hard work their dream became a reality in December 2006 when they opened a community center in the heart of the neighborhood. They have named it "Centro de Esperanza vision hacia el futuro" meaning "Center of Hope a vision for our future". In January 2007 the center opened to tutoring groups for children grade 1 – 12. Tutors consist of volunteers from local church partners as well as the local community. Adult classes began in March 2007 covering such topics as English, health and mental health with plans to add parenting, personal finance, and safety classes in the fall of 2007. The neighborhood leadership of Manos a la Obra is currently working thru program development, funding, and management. As they learn about both the work and reward involved in servant leadership they continue to inspire a sense of hope for their community.
Maple Avenue
Located between the streets of Hamilton and 19th the Maple Neighborhood brings to Costa Mesa a great sense of personality and charisma in a multifaceted environment. With a combination of neighbors who have recently moved to Maple and residents who have been in the area for some time, Maple offers diverse and welcoming surroundings. For over 6 years, The Crossing Church has partnered with the community impacting the lives of numerous children through the Maple Learning Center. An after school program, the center is designed to assist students with their homework that provides tools to enhance their math and reading skills.
In May 2007 a group of neighbors began meeting to discuss their ideas for the neighborhood forming the Maple Neighborhood Action Committee. They have been actively working with the Learning Center Director on the fall schedule, begun ESL classes, and have planned several community wide events this fall.
Baker Avenue
Mika is currently partnering with Harbor Trinity and Mariners Churches to select a new neighborhood in which to begin our community building process. This fourth neighborhood will be located in north Costa Mesa. Our Neighborhood Advisor and volunteer team are currently getting to know residents and community leaders as we seek to develop a new Neighborhood Action Committee.
The Opportunity to Impact Costa Mesa
The rapid demographic changes in Costa Mesa in the last two decades have generated challenging social issues in the areas of education, housing, gangs and healthcare. The effects of these issues play out in neighborhoods in ways that lead to neighbors living in fear and isolation, uninformed, and living in survival mode financially. In 2000, 37 percent of adults over 25 years of age did not have a high school diploma (Community Outreach Partnership Center, 2005). There are currently 7 known gangs in Costa Mesa and 45.8% of the city is considered low income.
While these statistics can be overwhelming, they can also be viewed as an opportunity to impact Costa Mesa positively.
Mika is committed to connecting low income neighborhoods in Costa Mesa to resources they might not otherwise have access to. We continue to see community businesses, local churches and caring individuals give of their time and resources to act on the unique opportunity we have for impact.
Community Building Program: The Core Strategy
Community building is the strengthening of the capacity of neighborhood residents, associations, and organizations to work individually and collectively to foster and sustain solutions to poverty (Kubisch et al. 1995). Mika CDC uses a community building strategy to develop the skills and a sense of ownership of local leaders to design, finance, and manage sustainable initiatives.
The program's aim is to equip leaders in low income neighborhoods to build communities of VISION. We work to equip neighbors by partnering with local churches to identify, connect, organize and build the capacity of neighborhood leaders. By 2009, our goal is to equip the leaders of six neighborhoods of Costa Mesa.
To accomplish this goal Mika CDC works through our unique Community Building Process:
Mika currently works in four neighborhoods in Costa Mesa: