A suggestion to those who will "Rebuild L.A." (Focus on Education)

The juggernaut of good will being built by Peter Ueberroth and Company is in danger of steam rolling the very problems it was designed to address. The mammoth size of the current efforts to save our city almost guarantees the usual bureaucratic unresponsiveness and brings with it intimidation factors all its own. Before we rebuild LA, we need to build what was lacking in the first place: permanent bridges of access between the power elite and the power bereft.

Learning Resource Centers (LRCs) are being proposed as multi-use facilities that will become integral parts of enterprise zones and serve as permanent bridges between government, education, business and inner city people. The idea behind LRCs is to provide a centralized and empowering method of building continuing dialogue between government, at all levels, and the people it serves. First and foremost, LRCs will serve as tangible proof of the willingness of all parties to solve our mutual problems.

LRCs should be permanent and well-designed structures that become focal points for the exchange of views, programs and cooperation between all interested groups. They augment and solidify the efforts of churches, schools, government programs and many free-wheeling agencies that often miss their mark by not being accessible, localized components of the community.

The actual buildings in which LRCs are housed are designed and built by a consortium of local bankers, developers, architects, government agencies, and corporations, and employ local people in their construction. LRCs are staffed by local professionals and a large number of volunteers from all walks of life in the local community.

Financing comes from minority banking interests, federal and local government, corporate grants, donations, retail sales and fundraising drives. The idea of incorporating LRCs into commercial shopping centers ensures that they can also function as profit centers where some kind of profit sharing, further enhancing the sense of ownership, is also possible. The idea is to make LRCs an integral part of various proposals to create "enterprise zones" - thus making them immune to political attack. You walk into an LRC because you need to develop a skill or find your way into a program that will give you that one little boost you need to take control of your life. For instance, LRCs might agree to find day care for your children if you sign a contract to learn word processing in six months. LRCs would seek to fast-track you into a new job if you contract to learn better language skills and interview techniques in a one-month workshop. LRCs might make you a carpenter if you work at minimum wage to remodel run-down inner city housing for six months. And whenever an LRC provides an education service, there's always a contractual agreement that stipulates an extensive amount of community service. Whether in building, counseling others, teaching or providing other services, a contract with any LRC means putting something of yourself back into your community. But most importantly, LRCs must become the forum for a continuing exchange of ideas between communities and those in power. CEOs, politicians, role models, and those who can inspire and teach must agree to continually make appearances at LRCs. Personal involvement and hands-on grappling with the issues on the part of civic leaders is all-important. Ownership and individual responsibility--coupled with corporate and government sincerity--are the fuel and life's blood that can make LRCs work.

The physical presence of a Learning Resource Center does not guarantee a solution to our inner city problems. The physical structure does signify a tangible commitment which represents a real effort to bridge the gap between the 'have-lots' and the 'have-less'.

David Peevers is a writer and photo journalist who works with colleges throughout the Los Angeles area.