Letter to Phoenix Residents

Dear Residents of Phoenix,

            What an exciting time it is to be living in South Phoenix.  There is an atmosphere of energy, excitement and confusion that comes from rapid change, but this is also a community of wonderful opportunity.  I have learned much about the area south of the Salt River from the Learning from South Phoenix course taught by Arizona State University professor, Kristin Koptiuch.  This is an area that I was very familiar with before the course.

Everything looks different now, starting with the murals that I admired, but did not really understand.  The mural artist Martin Moreno helped our class become aware of the symbols and representations of the designs.  He also directed the class to some out of the way locations that we were able to view after the lecture.   Many murals captured the complexity of life and the motion of South Phoenix.

Getting around Phoenix in style was the topic of William Calvo’s presentation, Low riders on the South Side: redesigning Urban Culture/Social Space.  We learned that the intricate designs on cars more a reflection of the artist’s inspiration than the car owner’s style.  I also came to understand that when edgy cultural manifestations appear on the scene, the dominant cultures immediate reaction is to apply some kind of restriction, in the form of laws or codes.  The Low riders clubs reacted with demonstrations that thwarted the constraints, but I wondered if smaller groups of artists, eccentrics or other creative types would be able to flourish under the admonishments of a dominant culture.  We need them.

At times parts of the valley seems awash in a sea of beige with red roofs. We need the ingenuity that comes with creative thinkers to help the neighborhoods of Phoenix recognize the value of each neighborhood’s distinctive characteristics; the value of each neighbor. 

There are many who are working hard to shape the future of South Phoenix.  During this course, students were able to meet and hear how some of these community leaders envision the future substance of the village.  George Young explained the workings and vision of the South Mountain Village Planning Committee.  Danielle Taddy, Rio Salado Park Manager described the riparian restoration and recreational opportunities of the Beyond the Banks project.  Steve Brittle, environmental activist, presented concerns about the air and water quality of the area and described court battles to combat polluters.  Elvia Diaz, editor of the Extra! Section of the Arizona Republic explained the political workings, legislative agenda, and some history of South Phoenix. 

We also saw the results of the hard work to address the needs of struggling residents at the South Mountain Community Center, Habitat for Humanity, and Unlimited Potential.   Each organization had a different perspective on the future.  If we could get away from the need to be right or to have one definitive view and focus on the need to creatively include something from everyone’s vision.  South Phoenix could show Phoenix, how diversity should be a sought after component of a vibrant urban experience, not something to be homogenized.    

Sincerely,

Darlene Wright                                                                                                                                                                                        

 

           

 

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