The Garment & Citizen has always had a special name for the individuals who work hard to make a productive and peaceful life for themselves in the heart of Los Angeles: They have been, and will continue to be, the Local Heroes of our city.
It has been our great honor and privilege to designate one or more dedicated persons as Local Heroes as a regular feature in our issues over the past 10 years.
Our Local Heroes have come from all ethnic backgrounds and stations in life, but they’ve had at least one circumstance in common: They’ve made a difference for Downtown and surrounding districts.
Some of our Local Heroes lived in modest quarters Downtown, while others resided in bungalows in Echo Park. Some owned homes in Westlake or South Los Angeles, while others kept chic places in Silverlake or lived in lofts high above the city’s streets.
Our Local Heroes spanned the scale when it came to making a living—laborers and entrepreneurs, property owners and skilled trades people, creative professionals and youngsters just getting started.
All of them have shared common ground at the heart of our city. They’ve chosen to work hard to make a life for themselves and their families. They’ve inspired others in quiet ways, doing the work that makes our city work, and making the gestures that bring a sense of community.
Here are some of our Local Heroes. We thank them, and all the rest of the hundreds who have been featured, for helping the Garment & Citizen present the human face of what’s best about the communities we have covered.
