Arna Valley:
Redefining Their Community

By Louie Estrada
Washington Post Staff Writer
September 3, 1994

On the grounds of Arna Valley, a modest apartment complex of three-story brick buildings in south Arlington County, stands a brightly painted mural with Latino themes of birth, growth and hope, a collage of symbols and beliefs for its many immigrant residents.

The mural was painted by visiting Nicaraguan artist Jorge Somarriba with the help of Arna Valley residents. The pre-Columbian pyramids, corn fields and rainbows lead to the offices of a community health clinic, which is scheduled to open early next year. Both the mural and the clinic were created by the Arna Valley Civic Association and represent a chance to redefine a community faced with increasing crime and other problems.

"We are working together to make this a better place to live," said Theodore H. Hicks, president of the civic association and a seven-year resident of Arna Valley, a sprawling collection of 66 garden-style apartment buildings constructed in 1941. "We aren't saying it'll be easy. It certainly won't happen overnight, but we are taking steps that we think will lead us in the right direction."

While the mural was a way to involve residents in a community project, the clinic is viewed as an important step in improving the quality of life for Arna Valley's 2,000 residents and neighboring communities, Hicks said.

When it opens, the clinic will focus on infant mortality, prenatal care and immunization. To help pay for the project, the association is getting help from an Arna Valley neighbor, the National Hospital for Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation. All of the proceeds from the hospital's 12th Annual Golf & Tennis Classic this month at the Army Navy Country Club in Arlington will go toward the clinic.

"The hospital was approached by Hicks and {Arna Valley manager} B.J. Jimenez, and they shared with us a vision they have of Arna Valley, and how the clinic fits into the plans," said Karin Rudolph, tournament director. "We hope that our involvement will draw others in showing their support for the clinic. But above that, we simply saw this as an opportunity to enhance our own community."

Rudolph said the goal of the event is to raise $65,000. It's the first time that proceeds will be donated to a project not directly tied to the hospital.

"We believe the clinic will help in the transformation of the community," she said.

The civic association also has raised about $3,000 at community fairs, and is working to get state grants and business contributions to keep the clinic running.

In its earliest days, Arna Valley, which is located off South Glebe Road just east of Shirley Memorial Highway, was the first large-scale rental project in Arlington designed to accommodate the defense workers who flocked to the area during World War II. The family of the original developer and owner, Paul Stone, inherited the property when he died in 1980. Part of Arna Valley later was sold to Ruckers Properties, which manages 13 of the buildings.

The plain brick buildings of mostly one-bedroom apartments have wood-framed windows and doors and are divided by paved roads, which are lined with late-model cars.

Sylvia Sierra, who has rented a one-bedroom apartment at the complex for a year, said a clinic in the neighborhood would save her time spent traveling to other centers for her 8-year-old son's health care.

She said she first heard of Arna Valley from compadres, lifelong friends from her native Guatemala, who had been living in the area for years. Most of the complex's residents come from Central America.

"I've seen some improvements made over the last few months, improvements to the apartments, to the communal areas with trash pickup," Sierra said. "It's good to see the manager, Mr. Jimenez, work so closely with the community."

Mark Pruitt, who runs a county-sponsored community center in Arna Valley that provides classes in English, sewing and computers, said most residents arrive in the United States with minimal formal education.

"Many didn't have the benefit of education in their home countries and find it difficult to adapt to new surroundings and the high cost of living," Pruitt said.

Cecil Sorto lives in Arna Valley with her two children, Virginia, 4, and Ashley, 2. On most days she walks through the complex, visiting with friends.

"I've met people of all nationalities," Sorto said. "I feel safer now with the police coming around more."

During the night, Arna Valley becomes more sinister, Hicks said. Parents prefer to keep their children indoors.

On a bridge near Arna Valley, the words "La Mara Loco Intocables" are spray painted in black. The graffiti, which means "the crazy untouchables" is the calling card of a youth gang that operates in Arna Valley, according to authorities.

"We are realistic, Arna Valley has its problems," Hicks said. "But what community isn't touched by crime?"

As Esmeralda Gmaya walked to a bus stop with her son Sergio, 7, she said, "It's not as bad as a lot of people think. Most people here just want to work and improve their lives."

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