New PNA Board Ushers in a New Era of
Community Activism and Involvement

A newly elected PNA Board has ushered in a new era of community engagement in the Pico Neighborhood. Many in the community are excited about the increased level of activism that has brought important improvements to the quality of life in the Pico Neighborhood. "We are focused on providing a family-centered approach to leadership in our community," stated newly elected PNA Board member Maria Loya.

The new board is made up of Pico Neighborhood residents Maria Loya, Irma Carranza, Mike Jackson, Ana Jara, Belinda Ramos, Marc Sanshagrin, Wes Thompson, Gina de Baca and Berenice Onofre-Mendez. Together they bring more than 60 years of experience in addressing neighborhood concerns. This experienced group of leaders is needed in a City such as Santa Monica that has a history of neglecting the needs of the Pico Neighborhood.

In planning meetings the newly elected PNA Board has prioritized the following issues as vital to supporting the working class families that make up the majority of Pico Neighborhood residents:

• Advocating for affordable housing options to sustain the economic and ethnic diversity the makes Santa Monica a vibrant community.

• Addressing the crisis of youth violence through prevention programs and by working with law enforcement to develop a neighborhood-centered approach to community policing.

• Ensuring that the renovation of Virginia Avenue Park is completed expeditiously and that an interim plan is implemented by the City to ensure that park services are offered to our youth and senior citizens.

• Working with youth-serving agencies such as the Pico Youth & Family Center and the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District to provide our youth after school programs, job training and a positive alternative to gangs and crime.

• Working to create job opportunities for youth and residents through development agreements and attaining a commitment from City staff to meet this need.

The newly elected PNA Board of Directors invites all to join them in a movement to improve the quality of life of our families and community. PNA Board meetings are held on the second Thursday of every month at 7pm at the Ken Edwards Center in Santa Monica. For further information on meetings please call PNA Co-chair Ana Jara at (310)