Santa Monica is known around the world, but not everyone knows our Santa Monica. The Pico Neighborhood is a place shaped by generations of families, educators, workers, artists, and community members who built a vibrant culture rooted in resilience, connection, and care for one another.

Over time, the neighborhood has undergone significant change. Rising costs and rapid development have displaced many longtime residents, especially communities of color who helped define the character of this place. As homes, gathering spaces, and familiar landmarks disappear, so do the everyday stories that once connected us.

The Soul of Santa Monica: Voices from the Pico Neighborhood is a community storytelling project created to preserve those memories before they fade. It is an effort to document the lived experiences, cultural history, and collective memory of the people who shaped the neighborhood and carried its spirit forward.

This collection invites contributions from anyone who has been part of the Pico Neighborhood in any way. That includes those who grew up here, families who built their lives here, teachers who served generations of students, neighbors who worked in local businesses, and community members who continue to care deeply about the neighborhood's story.

Through essays, poetry, reflections, and oral histories, contributors share memories of everyday life. Stories may include moments in classrooms, afternoons at Virginia Avenue Park, bus rides across the city, neighborhood friendships, family traditions, and the quiet ways community shaped identity and belonging.

These stories form a living archive that honors elders, celebrates cultural memory, and recognizes the resilience of a community that continues to influence Santa Monica today.

This project is rooted in the belief that storytelling is more than remembrance. It is a way to strengthen identity, build connection across generations, and preserve the history of a neighborhood whose impact deserves to be seen and heard.

Your story matters.

If you have been part of the Pico Neighborhood in any way, we invite you to share your voice and help preserve the story of our community.