Hoops

Last week I invited my friend Zack to try some Mexican cooking from the neighbors that meet at the Shalimar Park for Hoops, their weekly block party and food sale. I felt a little uncomfortable for a second when he asked, “Are you sure? Isn’t Shalimar the street with shootings and drugs?”  I felt good to be able to share with someone else the work that Costa Mesa residents are doing in their community- I said “Yes! That’s the street, but it’s different now. The street used to be rough back in the day but now the neighborhood has changed, and it’s all driven by the neighbors – they have been making a difference.”

I felt as if he was not convinced or was interested in coming so I drove to Hoops thinking to myself “maybe next time.”  I was about to drive onto Shalimar when my phone rang. It was Zack. Before I could say “hi” he asked me “you think if I drive over there immediately there will still be food?” Feeling ready to show him what the Shalimar neighbors have done to improve their community and way of life, I patiently waited for him. To my surprise not only was it my friend Zack but his sister as well eager to eat some homemade Mexican food.

Zach was able to see first hand what can happen when neighbors join together with a common vision for their community.