Neighborhood Ethnographic Profile and Paper: The Hispanic Community in Santa Ana

Things to add:
New neighborhoods? Or compare and contrast activities? Or a Scavenger Hunt?
New Questions: What might the implications be for this community based on what you see in terms of more mainstream
businesses moving into this neighborhood? How might that effect their traditional values, family patterns and priorities, or
ways they raise their children?
What expectations did you have that were challenged as you engaged the actual communities? What did these reveal about
your assumptions? How does it correct your prior knowledge?

Field Observation Stage

This fieldwork assignment will take you through some of Orange County’s most historic as well as most Hispanic areas. Your main
goal is to get a fresh “insider’s perspective” on local Latinos, via your keen observations, conversations, and site visits. Plan on
spending 2-3 hours on this field trip. Also, take a friend or fellow classmate! You are free to work together, but each must turn in their
own reflections. Below you are provided with “instructions” on places to visit, see, and experience. The route provided is a suggested
route. Please feel free to go however you think best, or however your GPS takes you.

BEGIN: If you depart from Vanguard, proceed east on Fair Dr. toward Newport Blvd. Stay straight to go onto Del Mar. Ave. Take the
1st left onto Newport Blvd. (Starbucks is on the corner, if you reach Elden Ave. you’ve gone about 0.1 miles too far). Turn left onto
Bristol St.. Make a U-turn at Hotel Way onto Bristol St.

1. First Stop: La Pradera Market, 3047 So. Bristol Street, Santa Ana
(2.29 miles, about 7 min.). Here is a choice Latino grocery. Park and go on in! Please observe the following:
· Food selection and food grouping – What is ‘the same’ and ‘different’ from what you are used to in say a Vons, or other, more
mainstream chains?
· Compare prices to mainstream stores.
· Note the languages that are on the signs and being spoken. What is the ratio from English to Spanish.
•Make sure you do the whole store and not an “in-n-out” experience.
•Ask a clerk or the butcher about a particular spice, or item, you don’t know about. Have a chat with them if it is possible and
appropriate.
•Chose an item to snack on later – something decidedly different. There is a bakery.
•Be prepared to answer these questions:
 •Who was shopping? Were they in families, mostly men or women alone? What were the age groups? What was being
purchased?
•What is the ‘cultural climate’? Get an insider’s feel for the place.
•What can you get at this shop that might be hard to find elsewhere?

2. Second Stop: Delhi Park, 2314 S. Halladay St., Santa Ana and neighborhood.
(2.10 miles, about 5 min.). From La Pradera, continue north on S. Bristol St. toward W. Segerstrom Ave. Take the 1 st right onto W. Segerstrom Ave. (Taco Bell
is on the corner. If you reach Hemlock Way you’ve gone about 0.1 miles too far.) W. Segerstrom Ave. becomes W. Dyer Rd. Turn left onto Halladay St.
(Malone’s is on the corner. If you reach Tech Ctr. You’ve gone about 0.1 miles too far). The park is on the left. Sit in the park a while, then walk the perimeter.
Observe:
•Take note of homes, neighborhood, people. Pay attention to the atmosphere, decorations, building styles, color of paint, etc. of the
homes.
•Check out the park, who is there, and what their activities are doing.
•If it is appropriate and safe, strike up a conversation with someone at the park. If you don’t have a way to introduce yourelf, just
ask them if they know where the local school is:
•Be prepared to answer these questions:
•Describe the neighborhood?
•Who is using the park?
•Are there any physical items in or around the park of note (e.g., graffiti, statues, plaques, community center, businesses?)
•What is the ‘cultural climate’?
•Is there anything particularly different or similar to where you grew up? How do you view it as an “outsider” or an “insider”?
If you were an “insider” how would you view it?
•Is there anything that gives you indications of the cultural values of the people in this community? (Example: If all the homes
have barbeques in the front yard it might indicate a large value placed on family and community time).
•What do you think is the socio-economics of this community?

3. Third Stop: 1322 East 3rd Street.

(2.77 miles, about 8 min.). Start out going north on Halladay St. toward E. Warner Ave. Turn right onto E. Warner Ave. Turn left onto S. Grand Ave. (S. Grand
Ave is 0.1 miles past S. Hathaway St. If you reach Brookhollow Dr. you’ve gone about 0.2 miles too far). Turn right onto E. 3rd St. (E. 3rd St. is just past E. 2nd St.
If you reach E. 4th St. you’ve gone a little too far). The Church will be on the right at the corner of Grand and 3rd Street.
Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish was founded in 1938 and is one of the older Catholic churches in Santa Ana, specifically dedicated to
the Latino population, particularly catering to those from Mexico. The Virgin of Guadalupe, in Catholic tradition, is the patroness of
Mexico, and very revered as one of the apparitions of Mary after her ascension into heaven.
She is called the “Queen of Angels” as well as the “Mother of God (Christ)” and holds a very dear place in the history of the Mexican
nation. You are to visit the Parish, noting:
•Internal architecture, decoration, “saints”, and anything else you see or observe that is of interest.
•Pick up any literature you think may help you (one per group, please). Catholic churches often have these by the entrances.
•Pay attention to what the people are doing inside the church.
•Be prepared to answer these questions:
•Is there a choir singing or a sermon? Are people all coming in and leaving at the same time, or do they come and sit and then
leave whenever they want? What purpose does the church seem to serve with the parishioners you saw there?
•Note what the people are doing outside the church as well. Do you see any indication of the church’s relationship with the
broader community?
•What is the tone of the church? Festive, celebratory, reverent, repentant,
•Does this church differ from other Catholic churches you’ve seen? How?
•Are there signs (evidence) of veneration to Guadalupe? What are they?

4. Fourth Stop: Fourth Street Shopping District, 201 E. 4th St. in Santa Ana
(0.93 miles, about 4 min.): This will be fun! Start out going west on E. 3rd St. toward N. Grand Ave. Take the 1st right onto N. Grand Ave. (if you reach N.
Hathaway St. you’ve gone a little too far). Take the 1st left onto E. 4th St. (7-Eleven is on the corner. If you reach E. 6th St. you’ve gone about 0.1 miles too far).
On E. 4th St. & N. Bush St., you’ll find a parking entrance, and park! Fiesta Marketplace was inaugurated a few years ago as the first Hispanic shopping center.

Your assignment is to visit the shopping center. Please go into at least two establishments and walk around a bit. Be ready to answer
these questions:
•How is this mall similar or different than any other mall?
•What are the shops about?
•Who is shopping and what do they seem to be shopping for?
•If there are eateries, what do they sell and who is eating?
•What is the “cultural climate” like?
If you are hungry, this may be a good place to stop and grab a bite to eat. Trying out food is another good way to investigate this
community.
5. Fifth Stop: Fourth Street, east and west of Main St. in Santa Ana
This is considered the central shopping and eating area for Latinos in Santa Ana. This is another area that has several eateries you can
try. Your assignment here:
•What shops and what specialty shops are in this area?
•Who is “window shopping” and “real shopping,” and what are they buying?
•Go in to some shops, look around, notice items for sale and ask yourself who is buying.
•Notice the “names” of the shops. If you don’t know Spanish, later try to find one or two translations.
•What is the “cultural climate” like in this area? How does it differ from Fiesta Marketplace?

6. Sixth and Last Stop: Willard Intermediate School (neighborhood), 1342 N. Ross St.
(0.94 miles, about 3 min.). Get back to your car. If you are not on 4th Street, get yourself to it. On 4th Street, go west toward N. Bush St. Take the 2nd right onto
N. Main St. (N. Main St. is just past N. Bush St. Wells Fargo Bank is on the corner. If you are on W. 4th St. and reach N. Sycamore St. you’ve gone a little too
far). Turn left onto Civic Center Dr. W. (Civic Center Dr. W. is just past W. Santa Ana Blvd. Burger King is on the corner. If you reach 8 th St. you’ve gone a
little too far). Turn right onto N. Ross St. (N. Ross is 0.1 miles past N. Birch St. Aladdin Bail Bonds is on the right. If you reach N. Van Ness Ave. you’ve gone a
little too far). Willard Intermediate School is on your left.
•Spend some time observing the neighborhood in an inconspicuous way. Attend to the kind of housing there is and what the
people around the neighborhood are doing.
•Seek to observe the details of life that tell about the world of this community. Be ready to answer these questions:
•What do you notice about the neighborhood?
•What are the people doing?
•Are there many people outside?
•What is the ‘cultural climate”? How does it differ from the Delhi Park neighborhood?
•What is different? What is similar? How do you view it as an “outsider.” If you are an “insider,” how do you view it?
•What do you think is the socio-economics of this community?

BACK TO Vanguard
(7.58 miles, about 17 min.): Start out going south on N. Ross St. toward W. Washington Ave. Take the 1st right onto W. Washington Ave. (if you reach Lime St.
you’ve gone a little too far). Take the 3rd left onto N. Flower St. (N. Flower St. is just past N. Gamsey St. If you reach N. Olive St. you’ve gone too far). Turn
right onto W. Segerstrom Ave. (W. Segerstrom is 0.1 miles past W. Central Ave. If you reach W. Alton Ave. you’ve gone about 0.2 miles too far). Turn left onto
S. Bristol St. (S. Bristol St. is 0.1 miles past S. Rosewood Ave. Taco Bell is on the corner. If you reach S. Spruce St. you’ve gone about 0.1 miles too far). Turn
right onto Newport Blvd. (Newport Blvd. is 0.1 miles past Bear St.) Turn right onto Fair Dr. (Fair Dr. is 0.2 miles past Mesa Dr. Arco Service Station is on the
right). Vanguard is on the left.

Total miles: 16.61 miles (round trip)

 Neighborhood Ethnographic Profile Reflection Paper

Please write up an Ethnographic Profile for the neighborhood that you encountered in Santa Ana. You’ll want to write at least two
paragraphs for each stop, or at least one paragraph for each of the two sections below:
1. Observations made at each site (based on the questions provided or through one’s own keen observation skills). You will want
to use more clinical, formal language at this stage, observing as an anthropologist-in-training. Give details that are specific to
things you see going on in an objective fashion before drawing any conclusions.
2. A reflection on the implications that your observations might have for members of the community and therefore, their
schoolchildren. This can include the array of their life experiences, opportunities and challenges, their relationship with the
broader culture and the school system. What might be some of the advantages and disadvantages of this community and their
children? Reach for an understanding of both.
See rubric for further guidance (below)
 Neighborhood Ethnographic Profile Rubric
Field Insufficient Poor Satisfactory Good Excellent Total
Observation
s 11.9 and below 12-13.9 14-16.9 16-18.9 18-20

Stop #1 Lack of observations that Limited level of Somewhat insightful Insightful, detailed Keenly insightful, detailed, 16
failed to note aspects of observations that noted observations that noted observations that noted descriptive observations
the community and few aspects of the aspects of the unique aspects of the that noted unique aspects 16
Stop #2 culture, with no community and culture, community and culture, community and culture, with of the community and
references to with few to no references with references to references to interpersonal culture, with references to 16
Stop #3 interpersonal interactions, to interpersonal interpersonal interactions, forms of art such interpersonal interactions,
forms of art such as interactions, forms of art interactions, forms of art as music and visuals, forms of art such as music
Stop #4 music and visuals, such as music and visuals, such as music and language, customs, and and visuals, language,
16
language, customs, and language, customs, and visuals, language, distinctions from the customs, and distinctions
Stop #5 16
 Stop #6 distinctions from the distinctions from the customs, and mainstream culture. from the mainstream 16
mainstream culture mainstream culture distinctions from the culture.
mainstream culture.

47.9 and below 48-55.9 56-63.9 64-71.9 72-80

Reflection Failure to identify
on cultural strengths or
challenges or to apply
Observation them to supporting
s students in the classroom.
Identification of a few Adequate identification Meaningful identification of Richly meaningful 64
cultural strengths and of cultural strengths, and cultural strengths, and identification of cultural
challenges and little challenges and their challenges and their strengths, dynamics, and
application to the implications for students implications for students and challenges and their
classroom. and meeting some of meeting their needs in a implications for students
their needs in the Universal Access classroom and meeting their needs in
classroom. that can be put into a Universal Access
supportive practices. classroom that can be put
into profoundly supportive
practices.

Point Chart: Comments: Final

180-200 A Score:
160-179 B
140-159 C
120-139 D 160
119 and below:
Failed
 La Pradera Market

The first stop was La Pradera Carniceria which was located in a corner and looked relatively small compared to a Vons or an

Albertsons. When entering, the smell was also different from mainstream markets listed. The overall color gradient of the market was

relatively bright colored. Observing the prices of the items, especially the meat, I noticed that it was definitely cheaper compared to

other markets. Labels were also bright and many handwritten with marker rather than printed tags. The labels also had Spanish written

on top and English written as the second language. Another different but interesting observation was how they also had an express

grill and also a bakery within the supermarket. Although mainstream markets have bakeries, the pastries were mainly brown colored

differing from the usual frosting covered donuts, muffins, or cakes in a local Albertsons. Women were primarily shopping and several

had children. The climate is very home-like even though it is not as organized or clean compared to an organized and individualistic
 feeling at mainstream markets. The main things that would be hard to find in an Albertsons is an authentic and delicious salsa,

guacamole, or tortilla chips that are handmade.

The community seems close-knit and friendly which will have a good effect on their children. Prices are also low and would be good

for low income families to provide for their children. If their children grow up going to butcheries like this store rather than a

mainstream market, this might slow their English Language development because even if labels are written in both Spanish and

English, the brands that are sold are mostly in Spanish and also the spoken language. A disadvantage could be lack of exposure to

different cultures because they are surrounded by only their culture so they could have trouble adjusting within their classroom if it is

not primarily Hispanic/Latino.

Delhi Park

It was a fairly quiet day during school hours when I went so there were not a lot of people at the park. I noticed several homeless

people throughout the park. There was a playground, basketball courts, a handball court, and a baseball field which seemed fairly

maintained. The overall atmosphere of the park was peaceful yet unsettling at the same time. Looking at it from an outsider point of

view, it felt a little unfamiliar because the park that I normally go to is Mile Square Park and this park did not make me feel as

comfortable. The ethnic population was mainly Hispanic/Latino people which differed from the park that I normally experience. In

terms of socio-economics, I would say this community is family and friend oriented and is relatively humble compared to other

neighborhoods. The houses were smaller and roads looks more packed compared to the usual areas I am around.
This area would seem like it would be packed on the weekends so that families can have barbecues at the park and spend time together

playing sports. This would benefit schoolchildren because their relationship with their families could be good. On the other hand, this

area could be dangerous at night, especially if there are many homeless people lurking around so children would experience more

unsettling events living in these areas. I also heard about gang activity within these areas so this would heavily affect a child growing

up because of dangerous situations that could arise within the neighborhoods.

1322 East 3rd Street- Our Lady of Guadalupe Church

I also came here at a relatively quiet time so there was no Mass at the time. From the outside, the church had an earthy tone which

resembled missions and a simple design. Walking in, the inside of the church was a lot bigger than I had thought and had many statues

of saints inside as well as outside. There were various candles in front of the pictures and statues of saints or Jesus. There were

colorful stain glass windows that were very beautiful to the eye. Something interesting that I noticed was that Mary was in the middle

of the altar rather than Jesus. Normally in churches that I go to, the crucifix would be at the center of the altar so this was a difference

that I noticed. There was also a bigger statue on the left which was either of Jesus or John the Baptist which caught my attention. On

both sides of the Our Lady of Guadalupe statue, there were Spanish Bible verses. There were a few people praying within the church

and the atmosphere was reverent, quiet, and peaceful. There are definitely signs of veneration to Guadalupe because there are various

statues of her with candles and people bow before her or pray with her.
 Growing up within this environment would be good for the child because they will learn to help within their community and gain

more relationships through this. They could also have a safe place to turn to if they grew up with the value that religion and family are

important. Some downsides are English Language Development because this is primarily a Hispanic/Latino community and mostly

uses Spanish as the main language. Students would not be exposed to English often within this environment because Mass, prayers,

and environmental print will all be in Spanish.

Fourth Street Shopping District

There were many different types of stores here like cellphone services, pizzerias, beauty shops, etc. This was different from an average

mall like South Coast Plaza because the stores were smaller and was not within one building. The area was also structured as more of

a shopping center rather than a mall. There were various businesses, but the ones that caught my attention the most were Food 4 Less

and Marshalls. Food 4 Less had the feeling of a Ralphs and a Walmart combined. It was more clean and structured compared to the

first stop and had proper printed labels instead of handwriting. There were many sales in big letters and the isles had labels which were

similar to mainstream stores. The brands that they sold were also more familiar compared to La Pradera. Marshalls on the other hand

was similar to what I experienced before in another area. There were a lot of clothing and labels for each category in both English and

Spanish. Differing from Macy’s or Nordstrom, the clothing looked more humble and were hung in a closely packed manner. Both of

these stores were populated by primary Hispanics/Latinos. The cultural climate was peaceful and I felt like I was home, but was not as

comfortable as a mall in terms of quality.

 These shopping plazas are mostly discount brands so this could affect a student’s confidence amongst their peers. I have personally

experienced it and if they cannot spend a lot on clothes or going to hang out with friends, this can definitely affect how they think

about themselves. A good advantage would be that they are around various different types of businesses so families can buy what they

need more easily, especially because there are many discounts within these stores. It is also a good area because schoolchildren would

be exposed to both English and Spanish businesses which utilizes both languages.

Fourth Street, east and west of Main St., Santa Ana

In this area, there are a lot of different businesses ranging from currency stores and restaurants to beauty salons. This area felt a little

more unsafe compared to Fiesta Marketplace. It felt lower in terms of socio-economics in comparison to Fiesta Marketplace. Most

people that I observed were just walking and did not walk into the stores. There were several asian food joints as I went further which

I thought was interesting. As an outsider, I felt uncomfortable and unfamiliar around the area because I had not experienced these

kinds of communities. There was a restaurant called El Rincon Mexicano and a beauty salon called Estetica Guadalajara which I saw

and the restaurant was very vibrant looking with its decorations, showcasing Mexican culture. Estetica Guadalajara was more old-

fashioned compared to other salons and was small. The area was more quiet is terms of shoppers and population compared to the other

areas I visited.

Students who grow up shopping or eating in this area would be exposed to Hispanic/Latino culture as well as other cultures through

different businesses. Like I had noticed there were asian stores and stores that used primarily English, children could grow up with a

more diverse mindset. On the other hand, the area has a lower socio-economic atmosphere so schoolchildren that live here in the same
 economic category is probable. Having little money can affect a student and what resources they can attain for learning. If their

parents work in these areas, income would most likely not be as high as other popular shopping plazas which could have an impact on

their children as well.

Willard Intermediate School

The area around the school was nicer compared to Delhi park and the type of housing were a lot of apartments. The school seemed

fairly maintained and it also had a football field and basketball courts. This school felt higher in terms of socio-economics compared

with Delhi including the neighborhood. It felt like there was more space compared to the parking at Delhi and the roads were more

peaceful and open. The condition of the houses also looked more well kept and new. The population is also predominantly

Hispanics/Latinos, but it felt like a regular public school and had little differences. The types of housing were just a little different

because there were apartments that surrounded the school as well as houses compared to the area I live in. The neighborhood was

quiet when I came and there were not a lot of people outside. The climate was nice and peaceful, especially because it was near a

school. As an outsider, I still felt a little out of place even though it was a high school because I had never attended public schools.

I think students growing up within this environment would be better compared to Delhi because it seems like it would be safer. The

school seems well maintained and also has good sports facilities like a football field and courts so students can get access to some

things they need. They would attend class and be around students that live in the same culture. Although this is good, it could also be a

disadvantage because if they are completely immersed in that culture, they will not be able to experience other cultures as much.