The story of one neighborhood -- Boyle Heights | Al Padilla | TEDxBoyleHeights 2014

Diversity is good for the soul.
An oral history of one of the oldest neighborhoods of Los Angeles.
Al Padilla recalls his childhood, career, Boyle Heights' cultural richness of diversity of all its residents, and its sadness when his friends, Americans of Japanese descent - school friends were taken to internment camps.
It was and is a "friendly neighborhood". It is where so many of Los Angeles' leaders of business and government have their roots.
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)

[@frankn.5439]

My grandfather moved to Boyle Heights in 1910 relocating from Durango Mexico at ten years old. He'd tell me about how it was once a safe community covered in fruit trees, oranges, lemon's, tangerine, apples, pears, and figs. That was back when kids grew up and got married and raised their children in Boyle Heights. My mom was born there in 1933. It was nice hearing this man speak about the experiences of this community especially knowing my mom, aunts, uncle's, and cousins were teenagers during his time.

[@rcb2418]

I grew up and still live in Boyle Heights. I'm now raising my kids here. By the time I entered high school Roosevelt was no longer considered a good school so I was sent to Garfield High School instead. I worked at Roosevelt some years ago and it hurt me deeply to see many teenagers not care about their future and not feel pride in the school. Up to the point that many people in the community were happy that the R building was getting demolished. Although I'm in favor of upgrading schools, it is sad that a historical building was demolished as well as the beautiful Japanese garden that was built in honor of the one destroyed in WWII. Many did not understand how much history was destroyed together with the building.

[@trym3cwrd18s.9]

Boyle Hieghts will always be engraved in my heart it's the roots of my great great grandparents who migrated here before there was freeways 😋

[@AlexEs63]

🕊 My Russisn great Grandparents were Novikoffs. We grew up in church, along Lorena St and Boyle Heights. The Mexicans were our family, too. Yes, The 3 fwys, were right in our neighborhood, we moved to HP. The A & Z nut wagon man was the best treat for us kids, good times. 🎢

[@tommccrady4069]

I am happy to have been raised in BH. I went to Our Lady of Talpa School-great Education.I rememberer having a milkman with glass bottles. Me & my mom were chosen to appear on the Japanese American Museum "Images' page 21. I went to Viet Nam with the Marine Corps. About 20. years ago I developed Epilepsy and no longer drive but I am happy-49 years married!

[@NewFlyer56k]

My Father came to Boyle Heights in the early 60's from Mex. He graduated from Roosevelt and volunteered to serve vs being drafted to Vietnam. He still lives in Boyle Heights. One thing people get wrong is that they confuse Boyle Heights and East L.A., big mistake! Lol

[@Dats_dope]

What’s the difference

[@NewFlyer56k]

@@Dats_dope Boyle Heights resides within LA city boundaries, ELA is located on incorporated part of Los Angeles, which means it's under the control of the County of LA

[@Ozker9120]

Boyle heights is full of history. RUSSIAN, CHINESE, MEXICAN.I love my city...straight put boyle heights on the map....2019 AND FOREVER CITY OF DREAMS

[@rickuyeda4818]

My Grandfather immigrated to Los Angeles from Japan at the turn of the century. His older brother was already here and had a Grocery Store. My Grandfather went to work for his brother until he could save enough to open his own Store. He wrote to his Mother to send him a bride, so she sent my Grandmother. My Grandparents opened up a Chop Suey House which they operated until WWII. My Grandparents had to close their restaurant and my Grandfather sold his car. The family was shipped to Heart Mountain. From Heart Mountain, the Family was shipped to Chicago to work the factories. My Father's Mother operated a barber shop in Hollywood. They were shipped to Chicago to work in the factories. My parents met in Chicago, married when the War ended and came back to Los Angeles. They settled in Boyle Heights. I was born in 1951 at the Queen of Angels. We lived at 113 1/2 S Soto. Eventually moving to 119 S Soto. After College, 1971, I moved to North Hollywood.

[@hueyjmedina0]

Mr. Padilla, you may know my maternal great-grandfather, Richard "Dick" Simonian, Roosevelt High School Class of circa 1946. He played tight end at Roosevelt and played for East Los Angeles College and Saint Mary's College. He spoke to me about the flats where he lived and the Russian Molokan's and their tradition of dairy consumption during Christian fasts.

[@whitestone951]

I was born in Boyle Heights in the 40s I went to Andrew Jackson hi school if anybody remembers that some of us made it some of us didn’t 🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@normalgaming2326]

Do you remember the Mora family?

[@josindee91]

I grew up in pico gardens projects joined CUATRO FLATS NITEOWLS every one that new me called me NACHO went to roosevelt and hollenbeck jr high I love the city of Boyle heights and its stories

[@salakerz324]

East La / Boyle heights has been 99% Mexican since the 70’s I was born and raised in East La with with all my family being from East Los and Boyle heights. I can say it felt like living in TJ and I knew what a gangster aka “cholo” was at 3 years old, that was the culture… East LA was and still is 99% Mexicans. It’s such an enormous barrio it’s fascinating and influential even to the rest of the world 🌎. I’m 32 by the way, I lived on Olympic and kern . My family lived on gless

[@olguinenrique1]

Amazing!

[@jorgejrcastro1008]

I love Boyle heights I was born at Lincoln memorial off soto

[@reallymad8096]

I was born in Boyle heights imy name Eddie Razo ,I was born on 5-10-1952 my friend pepe was born 5- 10- 1951 we were teenagers in 1064 to 1970 very. Different generation ,one day we rode our bikes to Venice beach stright down Washington Blvd,we were riding like 12or13 of us we all went to belvedere Jr high school. ,then to Roosevelt and Garfield high.

[@vudoo142023]

I remember this coach. He never presented himself in this manner. There was always an air of entitlement when having to deal with this man and I never said much to him as a result. He has great memories of Boyle Heights.

[@salakerz324]

When referring to Boyle Heights make sure you state it’s in East LA.

[@olderolderman4603]

I lived in East Los Angeles. 1955 to 1980 Michigan St in back alley Brooklyn show . Than Cummins st than on Sheridan St in Andy Russell home My last Home State and Pennsylvania . I was know blonde hair blue 👀 wet back .😅

[@heavencent6231]

kicking knowledge

[@tamusbaby]

aliso village 73-94. respects.

[@guillermoflores5511]

3rd street or hazard

[@SuperRip7]

If he is talking about diversity in Boyle Heights, it no longer exist. It is gone.