The South Park Neighborhood Association (SPNA) added three members to the executive board in September. The SPNA board now consists of nine volunteer members who all live in South Park and are devoted to furthering the three core elements of SPNA’s mission: (1) community building, (2) support for local businesses, and (3) political advocacy.
We would like to extend a warm and heartfelt thank you to John Nilsson for the time he has dedicated to SPNA. John stepped down from the SPNA board to devote more time to another board on which he serves. Over the years, he has made invaluable contributions to SPNA and the neighborhood, and continues to volunteer his time by assembling this monthly South Park Scene newsletter and providing photography for the newsletter and many of our events.
Our new board members are Jenn Henson, Michelle Morehead, and Rosemary Orellana. They join existing board members: Debra Shrout (Board Chair), Marty Goldberg, Jeremy Masys, Michael Robleto, Mike Foley, and Mike Fullerton.
Jenn Henson
When did you move to South Park? October 2024
Why did you choose South Park? In the summer of 2024, I received a new client assignment. Their offices are in the Bunker Hill neighborhood, and I was tired of commuting by car. Making the choice to move here gave me back 3–4 hours a day to live, play, and work.
Occupation/Profession: General Manager at Wolfgang Puck Catering
Why be a part of SPNA? To get to know the community and be a part of leaving this place better than we found it.
What would you like others to know about South Park? It has been an amazing place to rediscover the fun and beauty of DTLA!
Michelle Morehead
When did you move to South Park? February 2019
Why did you choose South Park? I was looking for a 24-hour community that is walkable, has great access to transit, and feels safe. I wanted to be able to take long walks with my dog, run all my errands, and have fun places to shop, eat, drink, etc., without getting into a car.
Occupation/Profession: My career has included architecture, design, finance, and community development. I’ve spent the last eight years developing mixed-use, mixed-income, transit-oriented communities in Los Angeles.
Why be a part of SPNA? I want to be a part of building the community that I want to have. I am also passionate about supporting our local businesses. Earlier this year, I started getting involved with SPNA by writing profiles for this newsletter about small businesses and community members. I love learning the stories of people in the neighborhood and sharing them. I am also the kind of person who sees things that could be better, and I want to be a part of improving them. I love how passionate the other SPNA board members are about the neighborhood and DTLA in general. With more than 10,000 residents in South Park and 90,000 in DTLA, our collective voices can accomplish great things!
What would you like others to know about South Park? It has so many great small businesses and a community vibe, with people who care a lot.
Rosemary Orellana
When did you move to South Park? November 2022
Why did you choose South Park? We were primarily looking for a dog-friendly neighborhood, ideally where we could walk to coffee shops and restaurants and grab some groceries to make the most of our busy schedules.
Occupation/Profession: I work in the cosmetics industry overseeing training and sales revenue in the greater Los Angeles region.
Why be a part of SPNA? I found myself complaining about things and decided to be part of the solution. Residents create great neighborhoods, and nothing changes without advocacy. Our city is home to over 3.8 million people living in more than 100 neighborhoods, and each neighborhood has its own distinct needs. I wanted to be part of the team advocating for our neighborhood partly because I live here, but mainly because I love LA. I was born and raised here, and I believe that if DTLA thrives, the entire city thrives.
What would you like others to know about South Park? It’s a great little diverse community with friendly people. It feels like a quaint neighborhood in this amazing metropolis.
Looking to get more involved or meet more of your neighbors? Attend an upcoming SPNA event:
· 10/31, Howl-O-Ween – shorturl.at/umcdo
· 11/7, Community Planting Day – spna-dtla.org/11th-street-plants
· 11/17, November Monthly SPNA Meeting – email spna.dtla@gmail.com to request the meeting link
Follow us on Instagram @spna.dtla to stay up to date
By Michelle Morehead