His work emphasizes the intersections between racial identity, urban space, and cultural representation. Author of Popular Culture in the Age of White Flight: Fear and Fantasy in Suburban Los Angeles, Avila has recently completed research for his upcoming book, The Folklore of the Freeway: A Cultural History of Highway Construction. He explores these themes in Highland Park's history for Departures with significant attention toward the building Arroyo Seco Parkway, housing, and pan-Latino identity.