A mass shooting in Stockton just after Thanksgiving left four people dead, three of them children. More than a dozen others were hurt. It put the city into national headlines in the most tragic way.
On streets around the scene, neighbors wondered about the decline in violence they had seen in recent years, and what the new shooting would mean for their safety. Online, people looked for answers and found both kindness and cruelty.
To move forward, Stocktonia wants to talk with you. That means talking about what has gone wrong. But we need to highlight what’s right, too. Each of us has something — or someone — in Stockton that we love. So we wanted to talk about our hometown.
Where do you go to find peace? Who has been there for you in a time of need? Where do you see beauty, feel wonder?
Here’s a selection of what you told us. We’ll publish more answers in the weeks ahead. These are the reasons we love Stockton.
Please use this form to contribute your answers. We’ll publish select submissions in hopes that shared thoughts can play even a small part in community healing.
A place that makes things better
It is heart warming seeing so many different volunteers showing up early in the day and throughout the morning to distribute food to those in need at the Stockton Food Bank. From parents and their kids and local company staff efforts, to elected politicians and even religious missionaries, they all show up for Stockton and for our community.
— Steve Morales
After 30 years of living and working in Stockton, I’m continually inspired by the many amazing nonprofits making a real difference here.
— Sue Atkins
Volunteering is very positive for the community and selfishly, for myself. I volunteer at the SJC Historical Museum and that is positive for many third graders with Valley Days. I volunteer teaching at Stockton Institute for Continued Learning (SICL) and that is a positive for many seniors. I volunteer at the Friends of the Library bookstore and that is a positive small business helping to fund our library. But I am just one of many and that is a very good thing.
— David Scheffer
Stockton Service Corps! We provide 4 Service Days a year where we partner with local organizations to provide beautification efforts for their institutions. … Our next SSC Service Day is Monday January 19th on Martin Luther King Jr Day at the Salvation Army. We hope to see our beautiful Stockton community there.
— Maria Lopez de la Cruz
A place of beauty
St. Andrews Lutheran Church — the architecture is phenomenal. I find it is a unique place for peaceful prayer and worship.
— Anicia Hibdon
Stockton Civic Theatre is my haven of beauty and wonder in Stockton. It is a place where, for the last 75 years, has brought artistic talent to our city. We are fortunate to have such a showcase of talent in our city.
— Bill Yee
If I ever feel confused or troubled, I go to the Haggin Musuem. Just stepping inside into that big entrance hall is calming, and connecting with art and history reminds me that “At times like this, it’s helpful to remember that there have always been times like this.”
— Alane K. Dashner
I find beauty in the people that populate our city. I came to Stockton straight out of college to teach science at Edison HS in 1966. I had never seen Stockton before that job, and I was immediately struck by its cultural and ethnic diversity. (I retired from EHS in 2007.)
In my time at Edison, there was never an ethnic majority and kids there seemed to figure out that live and let live was the best strategy.
I soon learned about the diverse culture of Stockton with its celebrated events like the Filipino Barrio Festival, the Mexican Cinco de Mayo, the Greek Food Festival, the Italian Gardeners Society, Stockton’s China Town, the Japanese Obon Festival, the Juneteenth Celebration, and much more later on with the immigration of Southeast Asian groups including Hmong, Cambodian, and Vietnamese.
Stockton for its entire history has been a city of immigrants bringing with them traditions while pursuing the American dream. It is a place where you can experience a different cuisine every night of the week and more, a place where you can live among, work with, and love others from different ethnicities and no one says boo.
Now that is what I call a beautiful city made up of beautiful people.
— Richard Filson
I find beauty in the arts and the culture and the history here in Stockton. I am a photographer, so I see beauty in so many places and things in this town. Downtown Stockton, Midtown Stockton… those two spots especially have such a rich history. The buildings and houses if you really look at them you can almost feel yourself transported back into those eras in which they were built. From the early 1900’s to the 1970’s, it doesn’t matter. It’s just all encapsulated. Yes, we have homelessness, yes we have crime. But so do other cities in other states. What matters the most is how you choose to look at things in the bigger picture. You can choose to look at all the history and the art and the culture that Stockton has to offer, or you can choose to look at all the negatives. In the end, the one you choose to focus on will either make you feel happier or it will make you feel sadder. I choose to focus on the positives. I choose to try to point out the beauty and hopefully others will be inspired to see it too.
— Carrie Walker
If you’re unfamiliar with Gospel Center Rescue Mission, I encourage you to check it out. Take a tour. Volunteer — serve a meal or two (or ten!). Take a moment to meet someone in the program and listen to their story. Buy some Church Street Coffee (it’s so good!), or consider hiring Clean Slate Paint for your next home or business paint project. Church Street and Clean Slate both are thriving GCRM enterprises. Attend a graduation service and hear the testimonies of men and women whose lives have been transformed by Jesus.
My opinion: Unless and until those of us who live in and love Stockton take our eyes off ourselves, stop being offended by every little thing, and begin loving our God first and then loving others in our community — just as Jesus commanded — we won’t see true transformational healing in our city. GCRM models this approach for us.
— Susan Jackson
I absolutely adore the Catalyst arts and wellness center, I am an art teacher and I love to go and draw with local artists. … The art shows are an amazing showcase of our group’s growing skill. It’s open to the public.
— Sydnee Kennedy
A place full of flavor
Stockton has some great food places. Gian’s Deli has been a favorite for years. Their homemade ravioli are the best. We even drive to Stockton just to pick up a batch for our freezer and the people there are friendly and helpful. Midtown Creperie is always good food and friendly service, and Melissa does a lot to help the community. Cast Iron Trading is a favorite for our group lunches, with helpful and friendly staff that make you feel welcomed, and their food is fantastic.
— Heather Fogg
Stockton memories
Of many happy memories living my entire life in Stockton, one that stands out is my dad driving us around Christmas Tree Lane to see the beautiful lights and decorations. Another more recent memory is from several years ago when an article in the newspaper shared that the Emergency Food Bank had very few turkeys for Thanksgiving. Within days, the Stockton community really stepped up to help the less fortunate. That’s what Stocktonians do. There are so many people doing good in the community: nonprofits supporting the less fortunate, neighborhood groups creating fun and inviting spaces, restaurants serving amazing food reflecting our cultural diversity, and all the arts groups. Every day, I see someone doing something to make our community better. I’m proud to be a Stocktonian.
— Suzy Daveluy
I don’t have family in Stockton anymore, and at times, that can make me feel a bit low about not having a built-in support system. But then I remember that I’ve spent my whole life here, surrounded by so many kind, caring, and generous people in every part of my life. Most of all, my church — where I look around and see people that know my life story. Stockton truly is a special place with special people.
— Bonnie Centers
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