We had the good fortune of connecting with Joanna Rosales Stefanie Garcia and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Joanna Rosales, what inspires you?
We are inspired by the history of this cemetery and the opportunity to bring awareness to this hidden gem. The cemetery only has 13 headstones, passersby’s don’t realize it’s a cemetery. However, we have more than 500 people buried on the grounds but few identifying markers. Everyone buried there deserves to be recognized. Our goal is to bring awareness to this quirky historical site, beautify the cemetery and honor the souls that have made this cemetery their final resting place.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
As volunteers, we have limited funds for projects and limited time due to our full time jobs. We have done our best to create fun and successful fundraising events with the limited resources we have. A lot of our work can be physical, as there is a lot of raking and running around at this 3.8 acre cemetery. It has not been easy, but our determination to bring recognition to the cemetery is what drives us. We’ve learned many lessons, one of them being, we can’t do this all by ourselves. It is very difficult finding volunteers that are passionate about local history however with all the outreach we’ve been doing this year, we’ve been able to spark some interest within our community.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Some of the best places are the ones that can satisfy many senses. Visual stimulation, auditory stimulation, and physical stimulation. Los Angeles has a lot of really cool places to see and explore. We have some of the best restaurants in specialty cuisine of anywhere in the world. Southern California is one of the greatest areas anywhere. A visit to the mountains, the desert, and the sea can be achieved all within the same day! A full week could be spent in the San Fernando Valley visiting all the various historical sites and museums. We might be a little biased though. Studio City has some of the best sushi restaurants in the world outside of Japan. We are also conveniently located near Universal Studios and City Walk. Summertime in The Valley brings lots of outdoor events, movie nights, and night markets with dozens of food vendors serving up delicious cuisine. We are also just minutes from Hollywood which still boasts a vibrant music scene. If the valley heat becomes too much for you, we can take a trip south along old Topanga Canyon Road, stopping at the many quaint little shops along the way to PCH where you can dip your toes into our beautiful beaches, listen to the sound of the waves as they crash along the shore, and let the smell of the salty air fill your lungs. Are you sure you only have a week to visit?

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
We would like to dedicate our shoutout to the San Fernando Valley Historical Society.

Website: https://www.sfvhs.com/

Instagram: @pioneer_cemetery_sfvhs

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064691286244&mibextid=wwXIfr

Other: Note: We are more active on our Instagram!

Image Credits
Joanna Rosales

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