Emerson Unitarian Universalist Church is located in Canoga Park at the west end of the San Fernando Valley, a suburban region of Los Angeles with a population of 1.5 million.  Our address is 7304 Jordan Avenue, Canoga Park, CA 91303.

Emerson UUC is one of three UU congregations in the San Fernando Valley.  There are five more congregations within a 25 mile radius.

There are a couple of major roads in Canoga Park that predate the suburban boom of the 40s and 50s.  One of them is Sherman Way.  It was a thoroughfare that travelers took to get from one end of the Valley to the other in the early 20th century.  Three townsites developed along this route cutting through orchards, barley fields and ranches.  Of them, one was Canoga Park (formerly known as Owensmouth).

Some of the homes in the area are over 100 years old.  Our post office, located a block away from Emerson UUC, is the original structure and a historical landmark.  Inside is a WPA New Deal mural, painted by renowned Western artist, Maynard Dixon.  Canoga Park was one of ten cities in the country that received the All-America City Award ten years ago.  There are active citizen groups comprised of business leaders, residents, civic leaders, and nonprofit leaders that work together to strengthen and protect the community:  Canoga Park Improvement Association, Main Street Canoga Park, the Canoga Park Neighborhood Council, and the Canoga Park/West Hills Chamber of Commerce.

Canoga Park was once a blighted community but received a makeover over 10 years ago when the California Redevelopment Agency invested a considerable amount of money to improve business facades, street furniture, signage and palm trees. These improvements helped reduce the amount of crime, graffiti, and gang activity in the area, but of course has not eliminated them entirely.  Most of the children and youth who attend the public schools in Canoga Park are Hispanic and live at or near the poverty line.  Many come from immigrant families who speak primarily Spanish.  Today, the demographics are 50% white, 31% Hispanic, 10% Asian, 3% Black, and the rest “Other”.  It’s a very diverse neighborhood.

There are two major events every year in Canoga Park that attract people from throughout the San Fernando Valley – the Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) festival and the Canoga Park Artwalk.  Sherman Way is closed off for a street festival in early November for Day of the Dead, attracting 25,000 people.  On the third Thursday evening of the month during the summer, a portion of Owensmouth, a short block away from Emerson UUC, is closed off for an arts festival every year.  Emerson UUC participates every year in the Artwalk by opening up the sanctuary for open mic nights, community jams, art shows, and family art events.

The Orange Line, a major regional public transit line, is within walking distance from Emerson.  We are located near many religious and service organizations, including a senior center as our neighbor and a Sikh temple down the block.  There is a battered women’s shelter a few blocks away and a number of charities that serve the local immigrant population.

A couple of blocks to the west of Emerson UUC is Topanga Blvd, a major road that will take you 2 miles south to the 101 Freeway and another 12 miles to the beach, or 5 miles north to the 118 Freeway, which connects to the 405 Freeway after 7 miles.  Both the 101 and the 405 are major freeways that cut through the San Fernando Valley and take you in and out of the city of Los Angeles.

The San Fernando Valley is surrounded by the Santa Monica and Santa Susana Mountains, with various hiking and camping destinations within a short distance from Canoga Park.  The Los Angeles River begins in Canoga Park, extending 51 miles throughout Los Angeles.  It is undergoing a huge makeover right now, with bike trails and recreational spots up and down the river.  On some days, you can ski in our local mountains and drive to the beach for surfing on the same day.  Spend a half a day in the car and you can visit several different state and national parks, San Diego, Mexico, the desert, the mountains, or wine country!

There are many world-class museums and cultural centers in Los Angeles, major universities and colleges (there are three community colleges in the San Fernando Valley, the closest one is Pierce College 3 miles away).  The closest university is California State University, which is located in Northridge five miles away and houses a new state of the art Performance Hall!

The Valley has seven hospitals.  Our sports teams are the Lakers, the Clippers, the Kings, and the Dodgers.  And of course, Los Angeles is home to several theme parks, Hollywood, Santa Monica, downtown LA, Pasadena, great beaches, bustling nightlife, and talented people who have moved here from around the country seeking a career in music or film.  The San Fernando Valley itself was previously not known for arts, culture and an active night life, except in the far east of the Valley in the NoHo Arts District, but that is changing.  Emerson UUC fills a need in the west end of the Valley by offering progressive theatre and concerts open to the public.  In June of 2013, we staged three nights of Dustin Lance Black’s play, “8”.  On opening night, the plaintiffs in the Prop 8 case, Jeff Zarrillo and Paul Katami, did the talk back with our minister.  This happened a week before the Supreme Court’s ruling on Prop 8.

People from all around the world live in Los Angeles.  You can visit pieces of the world by driving to China Town, Korea Town, Little Tokyo, Little Armenia, Thai Town and many more.  We have a big African American population in southern Los Angeles with lots of history.  Mexican and Central American culture are peppered throughout all of Los Angeles, with the many immigrants who have moved here. We have year round cultural festivals and great food throughout the city.

Valley Overview
Valley Economic Alliance Valley of the Stars

Homes
The West Valley is divided up into city sections such as West Hills, Canoga Park, Winnetka, and Woodland Hills. Home prices tend to go up the further south and west you look.

Homes for sale in West Hills, CA
Homes for sale in Canoga Park, CA
Realtor with expertise in West Hills and Canoga Park – Esperanza Butler

Public Schools
Recommended Elementary Schools
Welby Way Elementary
Woodlake Elementary
Woodland Hills Elementary
Pomelo Community Charter
Serrania Elementary

Recommended Middle Schools
Hale Middle School
Woodland Hills Academy

Recommended High Schools
El Camino Charter
Taft High School
Ivy Academia K-12
Los Angeles Unified School District

Private Schools
Woodland Hills Private School
Chaminade College Preparatory

To see how parents have rated a school you’re interested in, check out Great Schools.

Higher Education
California State University Northridge
Pierce Community College
Los Angeles Valley College
UCLA
USC
Cal Arts
Pepperdine University
Art Center College of Design

Libraries
Canoga Park Branch
West Valley Regional Branch
Platt Branch
Woodland Hills Branch

Shopping
Westfield Topanga Mall
The Village
Fallbrook Mall

Recreation
Santa Susana Mountains
Beaches (more)
Los Angeles Recreation and Parks

Golf
Braemar Golf Club
Woodland Hills Country Club

Entertainment
Valley Performing Arts Center at Cal State University Northridge
Valley Cultural Center Concerts in the Park
Third Thursdays in Canoga Park (Emerson is a participant)

Movie Theatres
AMC Promenade 16
AMC Fallbrook 7
Pacific Winnetka 21

Tourist Attractions
Disney Concert Hall
Farmers Market and The Grove
Ford Theater
The Getty Center
Griffith Observatory
Greystone Mansion and Park 
Hollywood Bowl
Hollywood Forever Cemetery
Hollywood Walk of Fame
TCL Chinese Theatre
La Brea Tar Pits and Page Museum
Los Angeles County Museum of Art
Malibu Wine Tours
Mountain Resorts (30 miles to closest ski resort)
Hotels

Restaurants
The Valley has every type of cuisine you could ask for, including lots of great sushi, Vietnamese, Mexican, Chinese, Mediterranean, Thai, Italian, vegetarian and vegan, BBQ, French, Brazilian, etc.  Nearby Woodland Hills features a number of high end restaurants.

Transportation
LA Metro Orange Line
Metrolink
Amtrak
Bob Hope Airport
Los Angeles International Airport

Chambers of Commerce

Canoga Park Chamber of Commerce
West Valley Warner Center Chamber of Commerce

Civic Organizations
Canoga Park Neighborhood Council
West Hills Neighborhood Council
Woodland Hills Warner Center Neighborhood Council
Councilman Bob Blumenfield
City of Los Angeles

Nonprofit Organizations
Valley Interfaith Council
West Valley Boys and Girls Club
Haven Hills
Pet Adoption Fund
Grandparents as Parents
Assistance League of the SFV
Christmas caroling in Canoga Park nursing homes
West Valley Food Pantry

Newspapers
Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Daily News
LA Weekly