Identity

Having the opportunity to visit with the Pacoima and Panorama community allowed us the privilege to verbally communicate with them on a very personal level. For example, at SEA school we met with students individually. When meeting with them we learned many of the students have been in the foster system, Camp, and or juvenile hall for several of years and or have been expelled from their local home schools due to unacceptable behaviors. We asked them what were the most challenging perspectives they have been faced with. The answer was staff. According to the students, staff whom they have encountered with do not view them as humans, they saw them as a chart and created bias towards them because of the information on their chart. However, the students want to be seen and dealt with as humans and not a piece of paper. Also, when meeting with the youth in the community whom are very involved in making their community a better place, mentioned that they would like for people to see them and their community as humans and not by what statistics show.

It was interesting to visit the community because words such as "ugly" and "dangerous" have been used to describe this community for years, but as we got to see the community on a personal level we were able to realize that it is filled with so many positive factors. The community knows they have a lot to deal with on the outside, and know they have been viewed as a community with issues of gang violence, graffiti, poverty and so fourth, but will never stop their efforts in changing how their community is viewed. It was an eye-opening experience to meet with people of the community on a personal level to see them for what they were on the inside and who they really where as individuals. The several agencies in the Pacoima and Panorama City community are striving everyday to make the outside reflect what really is on the inside, and their hard work and effort really goes to show that you really cannot judge a book by its cover.