In Our Skid Row, a resident driven neighborhood vision for a vibrant and equitable skid row led and facilitated by dept of places, a series of guiding principles emerged that outlined a thriving and equitable neighborhood, six major categories of improvement, from the design solutions workshops.

“Creativity and self expression” is one of the principles of thriving and equity and means for Skid Row residents (1) resources to develop existing artist network and creative economy of Skid Row (2) public venues to share the arts (3) Skid Row residents tell their own stories (4) promote neighborhood identity and social connections.

In Making the Case for Skid Row Culture: Findings from a Collaborative Inquiry by the Los Angeles Poverty Department and the Urban Institute, cultural participation is brought in as cultural assets. Inclusion of arts and culture in the interpretation of community conditions and the formulation of community improvement strategies may catalyze new, better, and expanded ways of thinking about neighborhood transformation processes and desired outcomes by both Skid Row insiders and outsiders.

Cultural participation includes (1) active and passive participation at amateur and professional levels in a wide range of venues. (2) builds and strengthens social networks in the community that potentially lead to increased social capital and collective efficacy (3) provides residents with a range of emotional, intellectual and social experiences important for personal development (3) is essential in helping to create a healthy environment and normative neighborhood.