Rozzell Sykes facts for kids

Rozzell Sykes (born December 25, 1931 – died December 18, 1994) was an American artist. He lived and worked in Los Angeles, California. He is most famous for starting St. Elmo Village. This project helped improve a neighborhood and create a special art space.

Early Life of Rozzell Sykes

Rozzell Sykes was born in Aberdeen, Mississippi. He moved to Los Angeles in 1961. Before that, he lived in places like St. Louis, Missouri and San Diego, California.

Building St. Elmo Village

In the mid-1960s, Rozzell Sykes was a painter. His art was even shown in Life magazine. In 1969, he and his nephew, Roderick Sykes, bought some small houses. These houses were in the 4800 block of St. Elmo Drive in Los Angeles. They wanted to save the homes and make the area a creative place.

St. Elmo Village officially became a non-profit in 1971. It showed the Sykes' dream of a colorful art space. People from many different backgrounds could come together there. Rozzell Sykes painted many large murals for the community. He also got help with money from Tom Bradley. Bradley was a city councilman at the time. He later became the mayor of Los Angeles.

Tom Bradley once said about Rozzell Sykes: "He was a man of uncommon vision." He also shared Sykes' belief that "it didn't matter whether you lived in a shoe box or a mansion, you can be all you want to be."

Rozzell Sykes also started the yearly St. Elmo Festival. This event helped people learn about the project. It also celebrated art and creativity in the community.

Awards and Recognition

In 1971, Rozzell and Roderick Sykes received an award. The Baha'is of Los Angeles County gave them a Human Rights Award. They earned it for their important work at St. Elmo Village. This award was given on United Nations Human Rights Day.

His Family and Lasting Impact

Rozzell Sykes was married to Erma Sykes, who was a nurse. They had five children together. One of their children is the music producer Benny Medina.

Rozzell Sykes passed away in late 1994. He was 63 years old. His funeral was held at the First African Methodist Episcopal Church of Los Angeles. Today, St. Elmo Village is still an active art space. Roderick Sykes continues to lead the project.