Social / Cultural / Spiritual Life in Glen Park

Last week I went to Glen Park to interview people on the street about the neighborhood. I had seven questions I asked and I definitely noticed some trends. I will go out again tonight, my goal is to get a sample of 20 people at least, from all walks of life. I've listed a few of the interviews here.

The seven questions are as follows:

1. What impression do you get of the ways people practice spirituality/faith in this neighborhood?
2. Do you consider yourself a spiritual person? If so, what faith?
3. What is your impression of ethnic diversity in this neighborhood? In your immediate vicinity?
4. What kind of social activities are most common in this neighborhood? In the park?
5. What kind of cultural activities are most common in this neighborhood? In the park?
6. How long have you lived here?
7. What impression do you get of community here?
   

Interview #1
Jim and Anna O'Keefe
Filipino couple, late 50s to early 60s

1. Mostly a variety of Christian faiths
2. Catholic
3. Mostly white, but more Asian in the last few years
4. Sports, block party, Halloween (trick or treating), holiday events, events at St. Johns, crabfest. Residents volunteer to clean park, dog walking.
5. Not so many cultural activities
6. Since 1964
7. Strong community feeling, Glen Park Assoc very active, meetings in immediate neighborhood for Neighborhood Watch other issues related to immediate neighborhood

Interview #2
Ian
31 years old, British

1. No idea
2. Agnostic
3. Not many African Americans, mostly white/Asian
4. He is outside social circles in this neighborhood. Visits the park occasionally to take a walk, but says it's generally quite sparse, not much activity.
5. Didn't know of anything
6. 1+ year
7. People are out and about a lot, at restaurants and cafes

Interview #3
Ralph
Caucasian, 60s, homeless

1. Middle of the road Christian (religious but not too invasive)
2. Considers himself the same ("laid back Christian")
3. Pretty diverse, but white middle class is most prominant
4. Social activities including eating and drinking out (La Corneta, Glen Park Station)
5. Live music
6. 10+ years
7. He likes the neighborhood

Interview #4
Linda
Filipina/Chinese/White, 50s

1. Catholic
2. Christian
3. Latin, Filipino, Caucasian, African American, Asian - It's a mix, but less African American
4. People gather to watch sports (baseball, soccer, basketball)
5. Filipino, Asian, Latin activities, church bingo, bus trips to other places, park
6. 30 years in this neighborhood, SF native
7. Good community, people watch out for each other