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Liska Mendoza: Director, Oakwood Recreation Center

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The only public green space in the highly dense neighborhood of Oakwood is the Oakwood Recreation Center. A decade or so ago, before curfews and injunctions were put in place, the park was a haven for drug peddlers and prostitutes. Today, the center is turning its face back to the community, providing services and creating a neutral zone for residents, dog handlers and RV's alike.

Liska Mendoza - The Center

The Center
"About 90 per cent of my staff is from the community - they work here and grew up here. That's very unique."

Liska Mendoza - Build Community

Building Community
"The respect that you give is the respect that you receive."

Liska Mendoza - For the Children

For the Children
"I take pride in making sure that teens, and the children of the community, always have something to do and a place to go; that it's actually a functioning place that's consistent."

Liska Mendoza- Teena Marie

Teena Marie
"We actually had the same piano that she used to play as a child... She can come back and say, I was here and I played the piano here."

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