Just as in years past, Pearl again wants the club to reach out to young people, using the connections via the local high school as the first step. Much of the staff are students or recent alumni of the high school and their enthusiasm, whether it'd be in answering phones or showing their eagerness to work or their knowledge with computers make life for Pearl a pleasure. The Fun Zone should draw a huge crowd of kids. They'll come here. The greatest good the Ash Grove gives to the community is Angelenos from all parts of the city, and nearby suburbs learn not to dwell on differences by race, culture, or ethnicity but discover all of us carry common feelings of loneliness, love, pain, and happiness.
Music expresses that uniquely and unequivocally in a way all can relate.
As aptly said by Ed, we show people s cultures in full flower . . . without making it pretty or without ignoring it. The author wishes to thank Joel Amromin and the Folk Music Center in Claremont, CA whose assistance was invaluable to this article.