Washington Neighborhood Center, on the corner of 16th and D streets, was established in 1956 and has held strong over the years, staying open and serving a diverse community that keeps coming back to participate in the many activities offered there. Many great people have benefitted from the Center, including boxers, renowned artists, business owners […]
Old backboards, leaky roof, no wins — and joy
Basketball has always been my favorite sport to play. I like to play baseball and football, too. But basketball has always been the sport I find myself yearning to do. Whenever I watch basketball, I get the itch to go to the court. I always remember my childhood at the Washington Neighborhood Center, where I […]
Normal guy wants stricter gun laws
Guns don’t personally affect me. I’ve lived in rough neighborhoods, but never experienced losing anyone to gun violence. I’m not saying it’s not a problem, but it’s a problem that seems out of my control. I do my best to stay out of situations involving guns. I’ve never shot a gun. I’ve held a few […]
Same me, just healthy
When we were given the assignment to document our eating habits, I was not thrilled. I’m already aware of how bad my eating habits are and the last thing I wanted to do was document it. I didn’t need to do that to tell myself I am unhealthy. But as I thought and contemplated the […]
Uprooted, missing my kitchen
Ever since I moved to the Greenhaven-Pocket area not long ago, I am surrounded by neighborhoods filled with trees. A stark contrast from my previous neighborhood, which was in the Fruitridge-Franklin area and brimming with businesses big and small. Greenhaven has a Grocery Outlet that we frequent, and that’s about it. I was very fond […]
Schools bells ring hip-hop
At Sacramento City College, there is a budding movement to combine hip-hop and education. At the forefront are a professor and a counselor from the Extended Opportunity Programs Services, Kenneth Times and Adam Freas, affectionately known as KT and Freas. They teach a college success class at City College with a hip-hop emphasis. They are […]
In defense of Hip-Hop
I have been a big fan of Hip-Hop music and culture for most of my life. For as long as I can remember, Hip-Hop has always been a constant. As a kid, I preferred it over cartoons. Some would frown upon a young kid being allowed to listen to the music I was allowed to […]
Fruitridge-Franklin Health: Step over the tracks
For the past four years, I’ve been fond of the neighborhood I live in. A neighborhood considered to be bad – or “ghetto” – because it’s in the middle of the Franklin and Fruitridge neighborhoods. Yes, there’s often a helicopter in the sky, hovering around looking for who knows what. The neighborhood’s health looks sketchy […]
Resiliency in uniform
My brother Raymond has always been the most resilient person I’ve ever known. His resiliency is an inspiration. He was a knucklehead in his early teens, especially during his freshman year of high school. I was a grade above him and I always felt it was important to at least graduate high school to improve […]
Outsider earns trust
Sacramento City Councilman Jay Schenirer visited Sacramento Voices community journalists and gave insight into what he thinks are interesting stories relevant to the South Sacramento neighborhoods Voices represent. “Young people have been most important to me,” Schenirer says. He speaks of how he got funding to help rebuild McClatchy Park, a notoriously troubled place. Now […]