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CHRISTMAS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD

Ministry Group: InnerCHANGE
Location: Los Angeles, USA
Team Members: Paul Smith

When the InnerCHANGE team moved into the Pico & Union district of Los Angeles, they found themselves facing a difficult challenge. The immigrant neighborhood was overrun by drug dealers and gangs.  Crime and violence controlled the streets. As they built friendships, they began to look for ways to bring the message of hope to their neighbors.

The Cambria Apartments became an important part of their presence in the district. With the support of the InnerCHANGE team, the local residents organized themselves against their slumlord and gained cooperative ownership of the building.

"When we first moved into the neighborhood," says InnerCHANGE team member Paul Smith (who still lives in the Cambria building), "people were too afraid to have parties or put up Christmas lights.  Now we have nine full nights of parties in the courtyard during the week before Christmas with music and games and food."