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Project 2: Developing an Advocacy and Action Plan for Positive Change

Erica Grizzelle

Pasadena City College

HED 051: Health and Social Justice

Professor Apiafi

January 26, 2021

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Project 2: Developing an Advocacy and Action Plan for Positive Change

Unfortunately, my community is experiencing a turnaround and headed in the wrong

direction. With COVID-19 being a trying time, our law enforcement and medical responders

have decided to answer extraordinarily dire calls. Unfortunately, our law enforcement has

announced this change as well. As you can imagine, it is not the community I moved into just

under two years ago. In the last ten months, I have seen more homeless in my area. There has

been an increase in littering around the neighborhood as well. On top of these changes, there is a

noticeable lack of law enforcement presence.

Homelessness, littering, and lack of law enforcement presence are three significant issues

that can change a community's appearance and how the community feels society cares about

them. Homelessness can be a little tricky to fix. I cannot force someone to seek help. However,

with the community’s help, we provide resources such as providing information about where

there are other shelters. We can inform them of other programs that offer clothes, food, and

shelter for these people. Littering is something everyone in the community needs to be aware of.

If we show we care about our community, visitors and those passing through will do the same.

We could put together groups that go out and pick up trash once a week. Probably a Saturday or

Sunday and hit different locations where the littering is excessive.

Additionally, due to law enforcement picking and choosing when to come out to calls in

our neighborhoods. We could put together a Neighborhood Watch and take different shifts.

Posting signs that there is a Neighborhood Watch may deter criminal activity and make the

community feel safe again. Lastly, I think all three solutions are great, but I think the fourth

solution needs to be the community coming together as a whole and wanting change for our
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community that is being overlooked. I could use a photovoice design to bring awareness to the

things going on in our community. The overall experience of coming together as a community

has made me realize I am not the only one who cares about the community I live in. I am

optimistic that our community can make a turnaround before it’s too late. Sometimes it just takes

one person to bring everyone together.

The photovoice design I designed for my community: