First published in the Oct. 1 print issue of the South Pasadena Review.
It has been Hispanic Heritage Month and there are lots of ways to find out about what the Latino community has faced and has contributed to South Pasadena.
One way would be to look at the website of the Vecinos de South Pasadena, a group of 50-100 members who are dedicated to bringing together Latinos and non-Latinos alike to form a stronger community while sharing the richness of Latino culture.
“Vecinos” means “neighbors” in Spanish, and this translates into everything from hosting a Dia de la Muertos gala to developing a mentoring program at the local high school and providing scholarships for graduating Latino students.
Meanwhile, at South Pasadena High School, the Latinx Student Union (which uses the gender-neutral term that is finding some contemporary use) is committed to the empowerment of Latino students and it strives to build community and fill gaps that exist in society, according to Annalee Pearson, the group’s adviser. The club also donates items to places that are committed to helping the Latino community.
Graduating seniors from SPHS have benefited from about $37,000 in scholarship money awarded by the Vecinos since 2015, including $10,000 given that year.
That’s a lot of support toward building a better future for Latino students.
The South Pasadena Public Library is another institution that has caught the feeling of supporting the Latino community. The library has funds to add to its Spanish-language books and e-books collection, according to head librarian Cathy Billings. She noted that the library has gotten suggestions for titles from the school district’s Spanish language immersion program and compiled a booklist for children to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month.
All of this is wonderful progress for the Latino community in South Pasadena, which until the Fair Housing Act of 1968 was prohibited, alongside other minorities, from homeownership through housing covenants. Author James Loewen, in his book “Sundown Towns,” quoted historian Fred Rolater about how Professor Manuel Servin at the University of Southern California was the first Latino to buy a home in South Pasadena around 1964. Rolater said that city officials thought Servin was Native American, while in actuality Servin’s family was from Mexico and had been in the U.S. since the 1920s.
“Thus, the anti-Mexican restrictive covenant was broken by a Ph.D. American Indian who happened to be Mexican,” Rolater explained.
The United States Census report compiled last year indicates that the approximately 5,584 residents who describe themselves as Hispanic comprise 20.7% of South Pasadena’s population, an increase from 18.6% in the 2010 report.
So, progress has been made and the Vecinos are determined that more progress should be in the future for Latino high school students in South Pasadena.
“I do think there is more awareness about issues with the Latino community,” said Pearson, who is a social studies teacher at SPHS. “Because of that awareness, people are more receptive to dialogue about concerns.
“I do think in South Pasadena, in particular, the number of educators of color are few and not necessarily proportionate to the number of students of color,” she added. “I do think it is imperative for students of color to see themselves represented in all areas of life, especially successful people and educators.”
Vecinos President Janna Philpot posted on the club’s website an article in ProPublica regarding the disparity of Latino students in Advanced Placement classes. The article noted that Latinos and Black students were less likely to be selected for AP classes than their counterparts. Philpot — a South Pasadena resident for 20 years — also posted her own ideas about how to navigate the AP system.
“Although we have a great school system, navigating AP enrollment is difficult, period,” Philpot said. “There’s a lot of engagement that’s needed. Latino representation in AP needs examination. It’s better than it was years ago, but it still needs work. You have to know what to do. Enrolling in the classes is kind of a jigsaw puzzle.”
“Yes, the percentage of white students taking AP coursers is higher, but the percentage of white students overall at the high school is higher as well,” said Christiana Gervais, assistant superintendent of instructional services at SPUSD. “The SPUSD Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee is reviewing AP course participation and will be developing recommendations in policies and practices that may remove some barriers to AP course and exam participation.”
Philpot was also concerned that the progress of the dual-language immersion program — which begins in kindergarten and has extended grade-by-grade through elementary school, teaching Spanish and Mandarin — will not be carried forward far enough into middle school. She would like to see more of a chance for dual immersion to continue through 8th grade and also regular Spanish classes for more elementary school students as an option.
“The dual immersion program is great,” Philpot said, “and it would be great to continue to all three years of middle schools. There are so many benefits to being bilingual — including being empathetic and being a better world citizen.”
She noted that a lot of the older Vecinos members did not speak Spanish because as youngsters, they were shamed for speaking the language both in school and in public.
“Every year, SPUSD refines the [dual immersion] program to include additional cultural celebrations and opportunities to learn and interact with each other,” Gervais said. “At this time, SPUSD will continue to focus on the Spanish and Mandarin dual immersion program. The current 6th-grade language students are offered two courses in Spanish. When Mandarin dual language students join the middle school, the program will expand to include Mandarin course offerings.”
The Vecinos have also launched a mentoring program to help seniors who are going to junior college. South Pasadena resident Genoveva Cortes, who oversees the program, said she did not see a push by counselors to make students aware of the program.
“It is special for have mentors who look like you and who can say, ‘I did it and you can, too,’” Cortes said. “There is a real a real bolstering of the spirit when you have this kind of program.”
Gervais said that the program is designed for Pasadena City College students and that they are not in regular contact with those students who have graduated.
“Now that the counselors are aware of the program, they will be working with current seniors to identify those who are eligible and interested in the program when and if they attend PCC next year,” she said. “I often hear from various civic or religious organizations that they are looking for speakers. Why not try someone from one of the groups representing either the Latino or Chinese communities? Wouldn’t it be a great way to celebrate this month — and throughout the year — by getting to know our neighbors better? After all, Vecinos does means “neighbor.”
Editor’s note: The website for Vecinos de South Pasadena is vecinosdesouthpasadena.org. The reference to the first Latino buyer in South Pasadena is from “Sundown Towns” by James Loewen. There is a wealth of material of interest from the South Pasadena Public Library. “Teaching Books,” one of the library’s online resources, can be searched for Latino authors, titles and books of distinction. Billings said that librarians look for reviews and purchase materials that showcase Latino culture, authors and characters.
