We recently had the chance to connect with Linda Pennington and have shared our conversation below.
Linda, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What is a normal day like for you right now?
I start the day with two big mugs of coffee at my desk, checking emails and looking through the electronic version of the Union Tribune. I forward any information that affects the neighbors out to my community email list. I often get emails with flyers about free family events at Azalea Community Park and Officer Jeremy Henwood Memorial Park so I forward those and post the flyers on Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. As soon as possible, I head out the door and hike a 3-mile loop through the City Heights Canyons Loop Trail, usually through Manzanita Canyon and Hollywood Canyon. I wear nitrile gloves and always carry two grocery bags – one for litter and one for recycling. If my time is limited, I stay on the surface streets where I often encounter neighbors and stop for a chat. I also report any issues to Get It Done. The rest of the day is taken up with household tasks and yard work.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My biggest focus is fire prevention and safety. Like so many Mid-City neighborhoods, my Azalea Park Neighborhood is surrounded by canyons. I formed Project CLEAN back in 1981 to clean up those canyons with volunteers and hundreds of free dumpsters from I Love A Clean San Diego. Fortunately, Ocean Discovery Institute, established in 1999, and San Diego Canyonlands, which spun off of the Sierra Club in 2008, have joined our efforts. The SDCL crew has planted thousands of native plants in the 4 local canyons: Manzanita Canyon, Hollywood Canyon, Swan Canyon and Olivia Canyon and created the Orchid Award winning City Heights Canyons Loop Trail. ODI built their fabulous Living Lab at the entrance to Manzanita Canyon and they are in every City Heights school, working with K through 12 students and teaching them about our environment. Other important partners include the San Diego Police Department and Environmental Services. I also formed the Azalea Park Neighborhood Association in 1993 to create a network of neighbors who look out for each other.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who taught you the most about work?
My parents were extremely hardworking individuals. Both sides of the family are a mix of Native American and Caucasian. Both of them grew up during the depression in rural Oklahoma when most people had very little but they provided a very comfortable middle class lifestyle for my sister and me. They taught us how to work, the value of education, and the importance of community service.
When did you last change your mind about something important?
When I moved to my current home in 1981, I was pursuing a professional career as an artist with the support of my husband. I had spent two years teaching high school art in the Houston area but that was my backup plan. However, my house is on a finger canyon and it was set on fire a couple of times before we caught a five-year-old neighbor down in the canyon with a Bic lighter. I began organizing the neighbors to remove the hazardous brush with free dumpsters from I Love A Clean San Diego. I soon realized I was a community activist and I gave up the idea of being an artist. After getting my finger canyon in shape, I moved on to Manzanita Canyon, Hollywood Canyon, Swan Canyon and Olivia Canyon. This was a good change that I don’t regret as I truly enjoy being outdoors and helping to keep my community safe.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
I’m committed to safety for everyone.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
I will continue on the same path for as long as I can. I cannot do the really hard physical work that I once did but regular maintenance is the key now anyway.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Linda Pennington
- Facebook: Azalea Park Neighborhood Association
- Other: Nextdoor
