In today’s recessionary times, many South Los Angeles residents find themselves scrambling to keep food on the table.

But never fear. The urban garden is taking root in South Los Angeles quicker than Kobe’s famous jump shot. Fresh fruits and vegetables are not being grown down on the farm anymore.
Residents are biting into fresh fruits and vegetables that are sprouting up anywhere from spacious backyards to a tiny window sill.

For a man who has been cited for his community involvement by Presidents Ronald Reagan, George Bush, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton, Dr. James Mays, 67, is a doctor who remains humble and focused on servicing the South Los Angeles community.

Whenever a crisis emerges in South Los Angeles, Dr. Mays is a familiar fixture on the picket lines or speaking at a press conference about the issues of AIDS education, the downsizing of Martin Luther King Hospital, glaring health disparities, or substandard education.