An oral history documentary about those displaced by the now defunct 710 freeway extension project will be screened Saturday, April 12, at the Pasadena Convention Center as part of a community workshop for the reconnecting 710 master plan project.
From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Pasadena Convention Center, 300 E. Green St., will host a screening of the documentary, provide information about the restorative justice framework progress, stations about land use, design and transportation mobility and a question and answer session.
The 710 freeway stub was an approximately 50-acre area that spanned from Union Street to the north, Columbia Street to the south, St. John Avenue to the west and Pasadena Avenue to the east. It was home to residences, businesses, schools and the majority of homes belonged to low income and minority communities.
A freeway extension that never happened displaced the people of this area. The restorative justice framework seeks to address that past harm and act as a resource to investigate restoration and repair.
“Amplify,” the documentary being screened at the workshop captures the voices and memories of the people impacted by the freeway construction. Suzanne Madison, CEO of Allegra Consulting, said more than 40 people were interviewed for the documentary.
“It gives voice to a history that shaped multiple communities in Pasadena, including Altadena,” Madison said in an email. “We view the Amplify documentary as a vital platform that uplifts these truths and helps the broader community understand the depth of what was lost—and what still endures. It also marks an important first step toward restorative justice, offering an opportunity to acknowledge past wrongs and commit to being on the right side of history today.”
The workshop is part of the effort to gather input on how the community would like to see the 710 freeway stub transformed.
Last year, the Reconnecting Communities 710 Advisory Group held its first discussion on the restorative justice framework for redevelopment of the area. Pasadena also purchased 17 homes previously owned by Caltrans that the agency obtained for the now defunct 710 freeway extension project.
The event is free and attendees are encouraged to RSVP.