Jackie Robinson Park Stories

The story of Sun Village, California is one of incredible self-determination, and Jackie Robinson Park is at the center of this community’s civic life. A green oasis forged in the midst of the Antelope Valley desert by mostly African American women, the park became one of the key places where village elders built a tight-knit, loving, inclusive community, and raised generations of diverse young leaders. In honor of this inspiring history, the County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) has partnered with arts organization Clockshop, Kounkey Design Initiative, and artist April Banks to design and develop permanent artwork and an interpretive exhibition on site at the park. As part of the community engagement and design process leading up to the installation of this work, Clockshop commissioned photographer Stella Kalinina to interview generations of villagers and make their portraits at the 2022 Juneteenth Festival in Jackie Robinson Park.

Geraldine Robinson

May 26, 2023
Everyone was considered family; whether by blood or by love. We had to show respect to everyone. It didn’t matter if they were related or not. We had to respect everyone in our community; they supported and cared for us. It was a family here; so you felt secure and safe. We didn’t have any real problems out here during that time. Read More

Janice Banks

May 26, 2023
Set within a community that can feel isolated from the hustle and bustle of greater Los Angeles county, the park helps local residents connect, play, and thrive under the desert sun. Growing up, “there wasn’t a whole lot out here,” Banks notes. “I just remember that anytime they had any functions here at the park, there were always large gatherings of people from the community that came here to the park. We would socialize. Read More

James Brooks, Jr.

May 26, 2023
In terms of imagining a new piece of public art in the park, Brooks is open to many possibilities.  “I’m not sure. It would be nice if it’s something that…you can kind of engage with somehow, or that’s reflecting or interacting with the environment in some way, or that you can go through or move around.” What he is certain of, however, is that the piece must connect to the park’s origins. Read More

Naima Moore

May 26, 2023
Her favorite memory of time spent there? Witnessing the community’s enthusiastic response to its milestone event: the annual Juneteenth celebration. “My aspiration is to see it come back in terms of the liveliness of it, with the excitement.” For Moore, strong civic engagement is key to activating optimism in any community. And she believes deeply that this engagement must be a collective effort that includes residents of all ages – especially children – working alongside developers, local businesses, and other community-based organizations. Read More

Daria Jiles 

May 26, 2023
Jiles was crowned “Miss Sun Village” in 1971, advancing to the Miss Antelope Valley pageant where she competed alongside beauty queens from neighboring Palmdale, Lancaster, Antelope Acres, and Lake Hughes. “I really didn’t have a town that I [could] tout about and say…we have this here, and that there, and you want to come and visit because we’re famous for this. We weren’t famous for anything. For my platform, I went on the strength of the people, and the love and the respect that we had for one another and the community. Read More

Bishop Henry Hearns

May 26, 2023
For Hearns, Jackie Robinson Park heralds back to a time when “people cared about their community” and “houses…really represented home.” “My kids grew up around here,” he recounts. “One of the things that I remember that was very precious to me — my kids could come here to the park, and everybody was their parent. So, talking about taking a village to raise a kid, well, everybody here helped to raise my children.” Read More

Alexis Brooks and Saren Scott

May 26, 2023
Brooks expands on this definition of community to include not only those in Sun Village now, but also those who came before. “The Black community really built Sun Village, and it’s changed over the years, but…it still has that presence and that spirit. I would want [the art] to definitely reflect the people who live here and the people who have built it up. I would like to see a mural somewhere in the park…[something that communicates] the whole experience of what Sun Village” is, complete with imagery depicting historical figures, music, sports, local agriculture, and food. Read More

Lila Beldo 

May 24, 2023
For Beldo, life in Sun Village is warm and loving in a way that sets it apart from anywhere else she’s been. “I’ve had the privilege of traveling a little bit, you know, in different countries, but I always want to come back here…it’s a grand land, a grand place to live, especially to bring up your children.” Read More