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  A Tale of Two Parks: The Stages of Samoan Life in Los Angeles County In the heart of Los Angeles County, two public parks in Carson—James M. Foisia Park and Victoria Regional Park—serve as living, breathing stages where one of the largest Samoan communities in the United States performs the ongoing story of its culture. A significant Samoan community was established in the area after 1951, when the U.S. […]

    Tony Rico is a transplant from Memphis, Tennessee, who is a commercial truck driver living in Downtown Los Angeles. In a conversation with Joseph Fa’avae, a contributing writer for Island Block Radio, he discussed the importance of true green spaces and his dreams of a vibrant, multi-use park filled with trees, community gardens, and active programming that fosters community connection without displacing the very residents it's meant to […]

  Janny Noa serves as the Senior Recreation Center Supervisor at James M. Foisia Park in Carson, California. In a conversation with Joseph Fa’avae, a contributing writer for Island Block Radio, she discussed the significance of park equity, the development of recreational spaces, and the essential role of inclusivity for all residents—highlighting the benefits it brings to families.   Island Block Radio: What could we do or what are we […]

The Heartbeat of Our Community My name is Joseph Gafataitua Fa’avae, and I’m a 47-year-old Samoan American who grew up in Carson, California. To many, Carson is just another city in Los Angeles County, but to my Samoan community, and me it’s home—a place where our roots run deep, where our culture thrives, and where memories are made. And at the center of it all is James M. Foisia Park, […]