I live in the city of Highland Park, home to 57,566 residents, predominantly of Latino descent

by the 1970's. Highland Park is a historic neighborhood in Northeast Los Angeles. It is inhabited

by a variety of ethnic and socioeconomic groups and it is with in these groups that drugs, gangs

and violence run rapid. Since the year 2010, Highland Park has seen some revitalization in its

neighborhood; due to tougher gang injunctions and restoration of craftsman home. A company

who has seen the highs and lows of this community is Optimist Youth and Family Services.

Optimist Youth and Family Services opened their doors in 1906 when Mr. & Mrs. Jacob

Strickland took in an orphaned nephew to their farm just outside the northern city limits of Los

Angeles. Another boy - a ward of the court - arrived in the same year. By 1908 there were 13

boys living on the farm. The Strickland's supported the home by selling dairy products and

chickens raised on their farm. He purchased the five-acre Strickland Home for $15,000 and

leased it to the Home, planning to deed it to the Home if it proved successful. The farmhouse

was enlarged and a dormitory built in 1911.

             In 1916 the State licensed the Home to care for 25 boys; this number was increased until

it reached 57, which was the capacity for quite a few years. In the late 1920's, the Home and

local Optimist Clubs began discussing working together. Increasing interest and important

financial support from the Optimist and Opti-Mrs. Clubs resulted in changing the name to the

Optimist Boys' Home and Ranch in the mid-1930's. During the 40's and 50's, a dining room,

kitchen, administration building, chapel, gymnasium and additional dorms were built. During the

60's and 70's, because many of the youngsters in care were victims of divorce, abuse and neglect,

it was determined there was a need for a more structured treatment and educational program.

Classes were established on grounds for students having...

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