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Victor Felix: Eastside Stories
If the soul of Los Angeles is Latino, then the heart of that soul is, arguably, East L.A. — the neighborhoods just across the Los Angeles River, east of downtown. It is often considered by Latinos and non-Latinos alike as a traditional barrio, the historic epicenter for a proud, vibrant and authentic culture.
Victor Felix
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Any community needs champions, organizers, even historians, to keep the place's sense of purpose and character alive, and no one does more to promote this special enclave than Victor Felix and his wondrous Facebook page Who Remembers in East L.A.?
Felix, who grew up in the neighborhood, owns a party entertainment company and takes evening classes in photovoltaic and home technology at East Los Angeles Occupational Center. Before that, he worked for years at a subprime auto bank as a dealer account manager, until the recession torpedoed that job.
He started the Facebook page in mid-February 2010 to gather memories of East Los Angeles from those who grew up in the area. He also wanted to show outsiders the beautiful, historic buildings and amenities and to highlight the impressive list of great citizens who have come from there.
"Many people may think that East Los Angeles is dangerous to walk around in and everyone is a gang member," says Felix, an amiable, upbeat guy. "That really makes me laugh, because 99 percent of the people here are hardworking and want to make a decent living and have huge dreams. The negative 1 percent is what the outsiders and the media focus on."
His page currently has about 9,500 fans and gets an average of 12,000 to 15,000 daily visitors. Felix posts an image or a topic and then watches history roll out as fans of the page post to it. "I usually pick a location that I remember as a child that my parents would take us to. Then, everyone else shares their story."
Felix's business, VICC Entertainment, also provides free outdoor movie nights at parks throughout Los Angeles during the summer. "I wanted to be able to provide something positive that today's youth can talk about 20 years from now, to their children."
Felix shares East L.A. stories effusively, including when the community raised $18,000 in one day for famed Stand and Deliver teacher Jaime Escalante to get medicine to battle his cancer; when neighborhood residents caught "Night Stalker" Richard Ramirez and beat him with brooms and sticks; and how boxing champ Oscar De La Hoya built a high school for the community and pays for breast cancer treatment for women at White Memorial Hospital in memory of his mother.
"This page is very time-consuming and well worth it," Felix says. "I think that if the media did a little less nit-picking on the negativity of the area and showed the positive instead, you would have more businesses still open today and historic buildings open and not torn down."
Click here to see all our Best of L.A. People 2011 profiles.
And click here for more photographs of the Best of L.A. People 2011.
9 comments
"Many people may think that East Los Angeles is dangerous to walk around in and everyone is a gang member," says Felix, an amiable, upbeat guy. "That really makes me laugh, because 99 percent of the people here are hardworking and want to make a decent living and have huge dreams. The negative 1 percent is what the outsiders and the media focus on."
Well said!!!
Ralph Rivera Constantforce. Hey Victor, Nice piece. I've known Victor and his family for what seems to be forever and he has always been a great guy. A very well deserved write up.GREAT JOB Victor!!!!
GOOD JOB, VICTOR.,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,HAPPY TO BE BORN IN --EAST L.A..........CHOWWWWWW.
I met Victor in the late 80's through a friend,Lina Reyes, his cousin. I lived in Hancock Park and my family lived in East LA. I later moved to East LA myself a year later and attended Stevenson Jr. High and Garfield High. Victor was very quiet. I've enjoyed looking at Victor's work. Very proud of you Victor for everything you've done! Great job! East LA is not what everybody thinks to be. I proudly tell people I went to school and was brought up there! I live in Yorba Linda now and I take my kids to the places that I remember best and tell them all about the good times I had growing up in East LA. It's an honor to know Victor...thanks my friend and keep up the good work!!!
Outstanding article and soooo true about Victor and his dedication to the community going back as far as the 20's and 30's.
I agree 100%.. I know Victor when he would come into our shop and bought DJ gear (at Pro Gears Alhambra and Global Audio East LA). lA has a great neighbor called Victor Felix.. Proud to be his friend.
"If the soul of Los Angeles is Latino, then the heart of that soul is, arguably, East L.A. — " Yes, absolutely so true! The real heart of ELA are the parents that raised their children to walk the line, continue their education and reach for stars. I was raised in ELA, along with 4 brothers, 1 sister and my parents. One of my brothers is a doctor, Board Certified in Geriatrics. The rest of us are all very successful also, own our homes and have a great life with our families. All your actions through life stem from home. Some parents work extremely hard to make sure their children succeed in life. Our parents did and it is something that you can never ever repay. We show our gratitude with respect and admiration for our parents. Our grandparents also made us walk the line and we have such great memories of them. My brother wrote an article about my grandmother which was featured in Slice, a magazine in Oklahoma where he lives. I would love to share it with you,Victor Felix or Adam Gropman if you provide your e-mail address to me. My e-mail address is isalpez6@yahoo.com.
Signed,Very proud to be from ELA...
Unfortunately there is a bad stigma to the few mentioned as for me, I grew up near East Los Angeles College what was once Brooklyn Avenue, (and still is to a few of us) down the street from the Long Beach Frwy. I'm recently back from a visit to the "Barrio" where I saw almost everything and everyone, (Missed Calle Olvera) and cannot wait to get back! ~~ PANCHO ~~
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