The Weekly Newspaper of Inglewood
Herald Publications - El Segundo, Hawthorne, Lawndale & Inglewood Community Newspapers Since 1911 - (310) 322-1830 - Vol. 70, No. 20 - May 20, 2021
An Outdoor Roller Disco Comes to Inglewood
Crenshaw Imperial Plaza in partnership with Soul Roll and Our Piece of the Pie hosted a Roller Disco and Market last weekend. Everyone enjoyed music, games and art with their families while supporting the community at the craft market. What a fun day. Photo courtesy
Crenshaw Imperial Plaza.
Robert Strock from front page
Strock considers this idea to be a bias that
is part of a larger misconception that the less
fortunate are lazy, less motivated, and less
intelligent. He sees this as a symptom of a
greater societal illness, which he refers to as
wealth addiction.
“There’s an illusion,” he writes, “that intention,
lack of effort, and inferiority dominantly cause
homelessness, rather than a combination of systemic
barriers and less fortunate circumstances.”
This belief that hard work is the only thing that
stands in the way of financial success “eliminates
variables like birthplace, social connections,
race, and lack of opportunity, education, medical
care, and alternative places of living.”
Currently, he does not believe that enough
viable options are being offered to unhoused
citizens, and he is working on trying to
remedy that situation.
To purchase or renovate a hotel for an
affordable living currently costs between
250-400k per living unit. According to quotes
from tiny home manufacturers, units with a
full bathroom, bedroom, and kitchenette run
about 20-25k. The impermanent nature of the
motel and shelter model can leave occupants
feeling unstable and does not provide a strong
foundation of trust and ownership.
Strock proposes separate communities based
upon the needs of the unhoused individuals,
with access to medical professionals best
suited to help with specific problems. According
to him, this would help build a better
community for those struggling with similar
problems. This might look like small families
moving into a community or veterans living
in a neighborhood with specified counselors
at the ready.
So how can you help? The first and biggest
step is to recognize your own personal
biases and educate yourself. This can look
like reading Strock’s white papers or reaching
out to him directly at the Global Bridge
Foundation, which is 100% a nonprofit (he
and his partner David Knapp fully fund
themselves, along with a nonpolitical “friend
board”). It can look like consuming content
sponsored by his foundation, such as Community
First! and their podcast “The Missing
Conversation.” It can also look like writing
a letter to your local representative asking
for positive change.
Having been a featured speaker at the UN,
writing a book, and continuing to learn every
day, Robert Strock hopes to speak soon
with governor Newsom and mayor Garcetti
about solutions to the current growing crisis.
Homelessness is a complicated and deeply
human issue requiring more education and
reading than one article can provide.•
An example of a home in a newly housed community like Strock proposes, located in Austin, TX. Another example of a tiny home located in the Community First! Village in Texas.