Interview with Luis Moreno, president of the Neighborhood Association

The following interview deals with the particular vision of an agent of change in Badalona, ​​more specifically in the Llefià neighborhood. Luis Moreno He is the president of the Juan Valera Neighborhood Association where he observes the reality of the neighborhood and proposes solutions to the different problems that exist in the area within his possibilities.

Luis Moreno began in social movements for years and also belongs to a political party to personal title, but when he appears at the events or performs any action he introduces himself as Luís de Juan Valera. He works treating problems of different kinds, helping to give food, solving coexistence conflicts or providing other help. He tries to do whatever it takes to rise to the occasion.

From a psychosocial point of view, Luís is the perfect example of an agent of change who works in a network with different groups and entities to create solutions and provide continuity between neighbors with Projects. From an ecological point of view, he manages to work at different levels, and also, with his political party, he pretends to be able to influence the macro context, where social norms and policies are forged that influence the most nuclear levels of theory from 

Bronfenbrenner.

As psychologists we could work from multiple perspectives, so the ideal in this case would be a work between different professionals in a network and monitoring both individual cases and reports that can be given by institutions such as the town hall, schools, entities juveniles, etc. But what if there are no specialized teams for conflict resolution in areas in need of them?

Luis brings a little light to the subject by reflecting the specific situation in his area and of a particular case in which the neighborhood association welcomed some 120 people so that they could train in freedom in the spaces of the association, in addition to forming a self-managed food bank and alternative to conventional. In cases where it is necessary to work for the environment but also to promote empowerment by means of the participation, interpersonal relationships, promotion of community health and the Personal development.

The neighborhood association as an empowerment tool

What is the function of a neighborhood association?

It has many functions, and they come from afar. When they were created, they were places where neighborhood improvements, problems with neighbors, etc., were claimed. This comes from 40 years ago, and there were four people. Today the skills are even more, from giving food to people who do not have enough to eat, helping people who have been evicted, people with a very low income, and collaborate with the social worker who is also overwhelmed. I have here a huge list with which your soul falls to the ground, they are living badly unfortunately, and since The neighborhood association gives all the support we can, for example, every 15 days we help with the food. And this is the current mission of the neighborhood association in the neighborhood, given the complexities of the area. There is also the issue of paying the neighborhood communities for the maintenance of the building where they live, of course, by not being able to afford the payments and not being able to pay for water, electricity, etc., there are confrontations between those who pay and those who not. And there we try to mediate between the neighbors, sometimes with more or less success. Basically, the neighborhood associations are there to help the people and claim the needs of the neighborhood.

What are the specific functions of the neighborhood association, such as offers of activities or participation in parties?

To give an example, in May, all the neighborhood associations get together to organize the festivities. An orchestra was brought in, we set up activities for the kids, cake and champagne were distributed among the members, etc. But we finished this, because as the situation is what it is and needs prevailed, all that money is used for food and it is distributed among the most needy people.

How do social policies affect a neighborhood association?

Specifically now and in this area, there are none due to the efforts of the town hall and the party that currently exists. People have to seek life as best they can, with the food bank that we have created we try to get the administration to give us a hand but we find many obstacles. They work when the elections come, but day by day they do nothing, and they do not look out for people in need.

And why do you do what you do?

I think that it is something that must be done, I believe that whoever sees the current crisis and helplessness situation has to stand up and say enough is enough. So, those of us who are involved in these actions are unfortunately getting older and we do not see a strong relay, it is that there are things that cannot be allowed. A person who sees what is there cannot allow it, so we do what we do. To try to change the situation of social injustice.

Who or what are the neighborhood agents who are involved in solving problems?

Well, associations, groups, people who without being involved in entities try to collaborate, etc. But I would like people to be more involved, to have a little more understanding with the problems we have. It seems that most only worry about personal problems but forget about collective problems. And in this neighborhood, unfortunately, there are outbreaks of racism promoted by the city council, and we must support those most disadvantaged by current policies.

What is the relationship with the entities of the territory from the neighborhood association?

There is a good relationship, in fact in our district there are 8 neighborhood associations. One of them does not work because the party that is in power in the city council was in charge of closing it. The rest of us work as a team fighting for health, for the culture of the neighborhood, evictions, etc. Regarding the issue of food collection there are some schools that are helping a lot, schools public where the AMPAS also collect food to add it to the bank of the association of neighbors, etc. In general there is a good relationship. The only thing is that there are very few people on the boards of the neighborhood associations and there is no way they can take over from some of them.

Regarding the neighborhood, what types of problems exist in the community?

In this specifically there are many and especially coexistence. It is a neighborhood that has always been working-class and now there is a very high immigration rate. In fact, in the next neighborhood there is 25% of the immigrant population of different nationalities, there are all of them. And they are different cultures and ways of thinking, some people do not adapt and the natives sometimes do not. we let not one pass, and there are outbreaks of racism in communities where cases of violence can be found by these cases. We are mediating in many communities, but we cannot dedicate ourselves exclusively to it, because we do it in a disinterested way and we get where we can. But come on, the main problem is coexistence. Like everything, everyone has their norms and beliefs, but we have to have more respect for people and be more tolerant.

And what is the implication of the administration in the problems of coexistence? What about the neighborhood agents? Do the police play a sanctioning or cooperative role?

The police are somehow ordered, and the orders they receive are to fine uncivil conduct, even if they are insolvent. The city council does not collaborate in anything at all. From here we try to make a neighborhood for everyone, that there are no problems because we come from different places, that we all go to one and respect the environment. Being the same without looking at each other over their shoulders, but it is very difficult, since the cultural level influences the perception of the people as well as the level of tolerance, as well as the degree of effort in integration that people from outside can have. Sometimes we are in the crossfire, but we practice the example of tolerance.

Does the administration have specialized teams in the management of these conflicts?

Yes, there is a special body of the local police called UCO who are in plain clothes and act as mediators, as good people. I have a pretty good relationship with whoever takes this issue and does a good job. They go to the sites talking about the problems, etc. And we have achieved good results, although they are less and less. Previously we had in this area a series of mediators hired by the city council, but Since the current political party has been, there has not been any team like that, and we were very satisfied with they. We were progressing very well, but the team disappeared. And these problems are also growing due to the economic situation, but we are working as best we can.

Leaving these conflicts aside now, why are there more than 150 children studying in the neighborhood association?

It turns out that there was a Muslim association that rented a place here next door to dedicate itself to teaching classes to the children because they do not want their children to lose their customs, and they teach Arabic as if they were in their country. There were also indigenous people. But the city council closed the premises alleging that they had done works without permission, and it is false. They asked for permission and had it in hand, although it was already expected that they would close the premises due to the prevailing policies. Because the area in which they were was capable of capturing votes, and now as the elections are coming they are doing well. And demagoguery is present at their expense. Then the people who were in charge of the premises came to the neighborhood association and told me about the problem. The children who were studying no longer had a place to learn. When they demonstrated to protest I was also there, because we must support the causes of the people of the neighborhood, and I offered them a A patch solution that was to give up two rooms in the neighborhood association so that they could give classes until they found another place. And there they are teaching with qualified teachers from their country of origin, and they have been there for two months and there are no complaints, they behave in a very orderly and cordial way. I told them that there would be no problem with the administration for this, what I don't want is to leave people on the street having spaces, and this is the people's house. It is for those who need it. They have offered to collaborate with the neighborhood association in whatever we need, well, very well, and they will be there for as long as they need.

Do they take revision classes of the classes they teach at school?

Everyone is in school and they take revision classes as well, but most of the classes are those that are related to their roots.

What is the opinion of the neighbors?

There are neighbors who see these people for the people they are and others look at them with suspicion. But what is clear is that they will be here as long as they need. Something very big has to happen for them to have to go, but this is for everyone in general. And if there were external pressures for them to leave, I would go with them.

Are they involved in the neighborhood association or in the activities of the neighborhood or has the opportunity not yet been given due to the recentness of the case?

At the moment they have not been able to do anything, but they have told me that if we have parties for the children or activities they will all come to do whatever it takes. In the last plenary session of the town hall they came with me to support local demands, that is, if you need them to be with you, they are there. And that is very important, in fact, they collaborate more than many indigenous people. They are very grateful. It seems that to the people here, if you help them it is because it is your obligation, and it is not really.

Very well, at this point we are finishing the interview. Thank you very much for your collaboration. Would you like to add anything else?

Seeing what is in this area, which seems to be the most needy in the entire city, I believe that many things can be done, but it is a matter of people wanting to work. Look, we did a solidarity concert to collect food and, thanks to that, we spent 4 months distributing food to 120 families. And I would like an alternative food bank to be formed so that those who do not have access to conventional food bank, because it has little capacity, and there is more need than places to receive food. So, for those who are left out, I would like the neighborhood association to be able to cover this need. But in order to carry it out I need people to collect food at different points, and to distribute them, because I have carried all this work only for a long time and there comes a time when fatigue it's huge. I need people to lend a hand to make this self-managed food bank long-term viability. Even if it is to cover 130 people, as far as we can get. The people who receive it really appreciate it, and it is necessary. I want to add that, we must help people beyond the individual problems of each one.