What did you learn about community, either Walnut Hills or in general, through your conversations at the meet up? How is the Walnut Hills Redevelopment Foundation striving to both create and foster community and neighborhood revitalization?
When I arrived at the meet up in Walnut Hills, I was really surprised that it was in a place that looked like an old garage or storage space. The reason for this is because there were a lot of people there who were dressed formally in nice sweaters, long-sleeved shirts, and ties. Even though the environment was not what I expected, I was quite relaxed and comfortable. I walked up to the first man I saw and started a conversation about community. The man was a large, African American dressed in a red sweater. This man had by far the biggest impact on me of all the people I talked to. Upon approaching him he immediately told me that he was not from Walnut Hills and that he actually lived in Chicago. He then began to describe how community is formed only by people who have a strong connection. A community is sustained through diversity and progress, but not necessarily by focusing on achieving one or more goals. Engagement in helping or giving back to others is not necessary for a community because a community has everything to do with who is in it. The similarities as well as differences between people offered me many new ideas and perspectives. The African American man went on to tell me that I should not try to save the world, but rather look out for myself, get an education, and become successful in my life. Realistically, there is no way to help everyone because not everyone wants help. There are tons of people today who need help, yet they neither want nor accept assistance to get back on their feet. They do not want to get back on their feet for several reasons; they like the way they live, know nothing different, and/or want free handouts because they know they do not need to anything for them. This is not to say that there is no one who wants help. The man's final words to me were that along my journey in life, I should help out a few people, but only those who want it. I think the reason why this man affected me so much was because his words were from a realistic, rather than idealistic perspective. He saw the world as it is rather than the way people want it to be.
Later on during the night, I met another gentleman who said that he owned the place we were all socializing in. I asked him what he thought were the problems in Walnut Hills, and he told me that the only ones he knew of were the dirty streets and old, run-down look of many of the buildings. He told me that there is a profound sense of community in Walnut Hills that is evident through the events and public places available to people. I found it interesting how he described some of the same things I read in the articles I looked at for class about Walnut Hills and the Walnut Hills Redevelopment Foundation. He mentioned the Street Food Festival which took place along Gilbert Avenue to "celebrate past achievements and future possibilities" (Yung, 1, 2013). During this event, the Walnut Hills Community bonds while eating delicious food from various food trucks that show up for the event. He also mentioned that the Walnut Hills Redevelopment Foundation is "hoping to...look at some of the vacant storefront properties" near the intersection of five distinct alleyways between Gilbert and Copelen street, "build them out and provide a space for new businesses to come in and thrive in Walnut Hills" (Fox19 Digital Media Staff, 1, 2013). The purpose of the biergartens is to take neglected and abandoned areas and transform them into public green space for the Walnut Hills Community. I believe the Street Food Festival and the creation of spaces where the Walnut Hills Community can host public events are great ways to foster and develop community.
Yung, John. "Street Food Festival to Highlight Progress and Potential of Walnut Hills." UrbanCincy. UrbanCincy, 19 Oct. 2013. Web. 22 Nov. 2013.
Fox19 Digital Media Staff. "Five Points Biergarten Has More Volunteer Projects." Five Points Biergarten Has More Volunteer Projects - Cincinnati News, FOX19-WXIX TV. Fox19 News WXIX, 19 Aug. 2013. Web. 22 Nov. 2013.
When I arrived at the meet up in Walnut Hills, I was really surprised that it was in a place that looked like an old garage or storage space. The reason for this is because there were a lot of people there who were dressed formally in nice sweaters, long-sleeved shirts, and ties. Even though the environment was not what I expected, I was quite relaxed and comfortable. I walked up to the first man I saw and started a conversation about community. The man was a large, African American dressed in a red sweater. This man had by far the biggest impact on me of all the people I talked to. Upon approaching him he immediately told me that he was not from Walnut Hills and that he actually lived in Chicago. He then began to describe how community is formed only by people who have a strong connection. A community is sustained through diversity and progress, but not necessarily by focusing on achieving one or more goals. Engagement in helping or giving back to others is not necessary for a community because a community has everything to do with who is in it. The similarities as well as differences between people offered me many new ideas and perspectives. The African American man went on to tell me that I should not try to save the world, but rather look out for myself, get an education, and become successful in my life. Realistically, there is no way to help everyone because not everyone wants help. There are tons of people today who need help, yet they neither want nor accept assistance to get back on their feet. They do not want to get back on their feet for several reasons; they like the way they live, know nothing different, and/or want free handouts because they know they do not need to anything for them. This is not to say that there is no one who wants help. The man's final words to me were that along my journey in life, I should help out a few people, but only those who want it. I think the reason why this man affected me so much was because his words were from a realistic, rather than idealistic perspective. He saw the world as it is rather than the way people want it to be.
Later on during the night, I met another gentleman who said that he owned the place we were all socializing in. I asked him what he thought were the problems in Walnut Hills, and he told me that the only ones he knew of were the dirty streets and old, run-down look of many of the buildings. He told me that there is a profound sense of community in Walnut Hills that is evident through the events and public places available to people. I found it interesting how he described some of the same things I read in the articles I looked at for class about Walnut Hills and the Walnut Hills Redevelopment Foundation. He mentioned the Street Food Festival which took place along Gilbert Avenue to "celebrate past achievements and future possibilities" (Yung, 1, 2013). During this event, the Walnut Hills Community bonds while eating delicious food from various food trucks that show up for the event. He also mentioned that the Walnut Hills Redevelopment Foundation is "hoping to...look at some of the vacant storefront properties" near the intersection of five distinct alleyways between Gilbert and Copelen street, "build them out and provide a space for new businesses to come in and thrive in Walnut Hills" (Fox19 Digital Media Staff, 1, 2013). The purpose of the biergartens is to take neglected and abandoned areas and transform them into public green space for the Walnut Hills Community. I believe the Street Food Festival and the creation of spaces where the Walnut Hills Community can host public events are great ways to foster and develop community.
Yung, John. "Street Food Festival to Highlight Progress and Potential of Walnut Hills." UrbanCincy. UrbanCincy, 19 Oct. 2013. Web. 22 Nov. 2013.
Fox19 Digital Media Staff. "Five Points Biergarten Has More Volunteer Projects." Five Points Biergarten Has More Volunteer Projects - Cincinnati News, FOX19-WXIX TV. Fox19 News WXIX, 19 Aug. 2013. Web. 22 Nov. 2013.