Case Study: Building Community in My Neighborhood

In our Church in Mission class, we have been exploring what the kingdom of God looks like in churches, organizations, families, and more. My case study is an exploration of how to build community within the context of my neighborhood, specifically along Los Robles Avenue between Orange Grove and Villa. The neighborhood is very ethnically diverse and there are a number of homeless people living in the area. Since moving here in September, I’ve witnessed multiple arrests, heard search helicopters more nights than not, awoken to the fights and yelling matches of neighbors, and heard rumors of drug houses and a shooting. I’ve also been warned that I shouldn’t be walking on this side of the 210 after dark by myself or with only women, because it’s not safe. The cost of living in the Pasadena area makes adequate housing impossible for many of my neighbors. Although many races are represented on my street, there is not much interaction between them beyond an occasional greeting. Most of the buildings have gates around them preventing the typical interactions of neighbors when they’re outside.

In thinking about how Jesus would approach my neighborhood, I envision him reaching out to the marginalized and including them. He would use the gifts and skills that he has to serve the neighborhood and would champion the rights of the underprivileged. I think the basis of a transformation within my neighborhood would be relationships. More lengthy interactions would occur between the poor and the privileged and between the races. Forgiveness would take place on a broader level, with those who are the oppressors seeking forgiveness and the oppressed forgiving the oppressors. This neighborhood could become an example of a contrast-society by mutually serving one another and working together to clean up the neighborhood. Peacemaking and reconciliation would be key components of a kingdom-like change within our neighborhood because of the level of conflict and the amount of tension that is currently present.


In order to foster a change in this environment, a good first step would be to organize various forms of outreach. Our apartment complex is preparing for a Day of Mercy during which we will be picking up trash up and down Los Robles. Last quarter, we did a swap, where everyone brought out items to the front of the building to give away to our neighbors. These ways of serving have already produced friendships with neighbors on our street. Other ideas would be to organize a summer Bible school for neighborhood kids, a food or blanket drive for the homeless, or a neighborhood party to get to know more people. We could also be very intentional about shopping at the local grocery store, going to the public laundromat, and walking to class to provide more opportunities to start conversations and build friendships.

The primary obstacle to overcome would be the fear many have of crossing over racial or socioeconomic lines and initiating contact to begin the relationship-building process. Using Jesus’ life as a model, one can see how building bonds with those who are marginalized can start a process of transformation within a community.