Looking to the future
“The way [the South Bronx] has built up and up and better through the years is a plus. But you can’t build up new buildings without building up the people. You have to get to the people. The people make their neighborhoods, not the buildings. You have to build up the people.” -Mike
Mike believes that visually and in terms of infrastructure, the Bronx is improving, but more work must be done to “build up the people”. He is heartened by the fact that organizations like Dreamyard are reappearing in his community, but he would only like to see more of it.
“As far as the crime and all of that, you’re gonna find that everywhere.” Mike says. “But if the more you give the youth to do to take away that idle time and give them focus on music, acting, and some of the attributes within themselves that they don’t even know they have, it’ll spread. Just like gangs spread. Just like bad stuff spreads. Bad attitude, bad, bad, company and all of that. You don’t need that--here’s an outlet for you to come in and have something that people appreciate from you. People show you that you are important. That you have some purpose. And when you feel that way--when a child feels that way--they straighten up. They straighten themselves up. You can’t straighten nobody up if they don’t want to straighten up. And a lot of them, when they come here, I see it in their eyes. I see it in their enthusiasm.”
Dreamyard's efforts have made huge strides for community building in the neighborhood. In the photo above, children are helping in Hayden Lord Park, a Dreamyard initiative meant "to serve as a safe and beautiful communal space that lends itself to the development of strong community ties. Part of this goal is to engage children and adults from this community in the development and construction of the park, so that their artistic visions are incorporated into the design. There will be checkerboard tables, mosaic benches and an organic garden that will encourage interactions among residents. The park will serve residents of all ages from 0 to 100 years plus."
Despite the challenges Melrose has faced over the past decades, the spirit, hope, and ingenuity of the community remains strong. For organizations like Dreamyard, the work is difficult and can’t be finished overnight, but the changes they are making in individual lives and within the community is immeasurable. They are living proof that changing the face of a neighborhood doesn’t arise only from technocratic evaluation or legislation passed down from officials who haven’t lived or understood a neighborhood’s issues--lasting change often comes from inside the community, and from the tireless effort of people who really know, love and cherish a place.