What We Have Learned

Last week after reading everyone's blog post, I'm so glad I choose this course. Everyone's project seems to be going in a positive direction and having great affects on their communities.

This week has been a rap up for me and Jessica. We have started working on our scrapbook of the Robledo family. We have also started our presentation. I'm excited to present this book to the Robledo family in memory of Mr. Robledo. I'm working on the project right now so see you guys on Monday.

Holly Street Oral History Progress

After meeting with my group on Monday we decided to divided our group's project between the four of us. Since the family we were interviewing for the Holly Street Oral History has ran into some health problem regarding one of it's family members we are waiting patiently to interview another family member to continue our family history tree.

We decided to give the family a book with the following things included:

1. a family tree
2. photos of the families properties
3. photos of the family
4. a map of the neighborhood is the past
5. a map of the neighborhood in the present
6. a brief history of Holly St.
7. a brief history of the family
8. ways that this family has impacted their community

We are also doing a power point presentation to include the following: 

• the definition of gentrification
• the history of Holly St.
• How Holly St. looked in the past
• How Holly St. looks now
• photos of homes in the past and now
• photos of the newer homes
• The property values in the past and now in the present
• what Holly St. will look like in the future
• methods to help the Holly St. community preserve the original state
• presentation of the family book

Jessica and Alex will be in charge of the family book elements and the interviews. Kevin and I will be responsible for taking photos, gathering information, and the presentation.

Gentrification Here and Aboard

When looking at all three of these communities Holly Street Neighborhood, Marlo Heights, and Mueller Development in terms of the long-term effects on the original (mostly low to moderate income) residents, they are all affected by gentrification in East Austin but in different ways and a lot of the outcomes overlap. In comparison all of the neighborhoods are in the process of under going gentrification but in different waves. In the long run all of the low to moderate income residents in two of these areas will soon be pushed out of their original neighborhood and forced to live else where. In all areas effected new homes are being built which leads to higher property taxes for residents already there.

The Holly Street community is being affected the most by gentrification. In this area there is major home development because of the distance from Downtown Austin and the demolishment of the power plant that will open up a beautiful view of the Colorado River. New homes are being built which next to and cross from older homes. In the end the new home construction causes will cause older residents to sell out because they cant afford to keep their homes and the original community will completely evolve into a new community.

Marlo Heights at the present moment is the least affected right now. The changes that are happening in that community are slower but the new homebuilders are taking into consideration the older residents and trying to prevent higher taxes for existing residents. As time goes on if this trend continues the older residents want be forced out by newer homes being built but maybe by the modern new apartment complex that will built right on the edge of their community.

The Mueller Development is a completely different story within itself. The community isn’t like the others. Mueller is a new community that is being built with very nice homes and their own amenities. The issue here is that if they are allowed to have their own amenities such as their own elementary and middle school along with their own shops and even recreation area. In the end Mueller may become sort of a gated community, which will limit the surrounding communities from those resources.

After reading the articles about gentrification in Johannesburg I found something’s to be similar to the U.S. and others to be different. Facts that were similar to the U.S. were the side effects that come along with gentrification such as residents being forced out of their homes because of the change in the community. Another similarity was that the changes where happening in areas where it was considered bad and low income and it was being transformed into a modern new area with less crime and attractive homes and shopping stores.

The interesting things that were different was that residents were actually being forced out of their homes immediately, where here in the states there is process that goes along with long term residents being forced to move such as being bought out, selling out or moving because of high property taxes. Another interesting fact that was different was how the developers where actually trying to blend areas together that are separate. Here in the United States in most communities that are undergoing this type of change, the community that is being redeveloped isn’t usually being blended into the existing community.

Some possible projects ideas that UT can accomplish through student efforts and the Longhorn Center for Civic Engagement will be to establish a SAVE OUR HOMES committee. This committee’s goal will be to prevent current residents from having to move away from their homes because of gentrification. The long-term goal would be for the committee to not so much prevent the gentrification but to allow it to be more natural like it is in the Marlo Heights community. While making the process more natural the amount of property taxes could be lowered to reflect current residence status. The committee will be having members of the community and the city at large. The committee will gather once a week to discuss new properties, old properties, and future developments

AUSTIN 1928 GENTRIFICATION

(Downtown Austin in 1940)

I've only lived in Austin about four years now and I've never known the history behind this weird but exciting city. After reading the articles "Austin, Texas: The East Austin Neighborhood", "The Empty Stairs: The History of East Austin", and "What is Gentrification?" there were three things that caught my interest. 

(The construction of I-35 at Airport)

The 1928 Master Plan called for all African Americans to move out of West Austin into East Austin. The city developed a master plan and suggested moving all blacks to East Austin. The Master Plan legally segregated African American citizens into their own community East of East Avenue. The City of Austin decided not to provide the Freemen Settlements of Clarksville and Wheatville with sewer lines and paved roads, further forcing African Americans to move to East Austin. A result of all blacks living in East Austin created a "Negro District" with all city services provided. Also, city leaders pushed the relatively few Mexican immigrants out of Downtown by relocating their churches and building Santa Rita Courts, the nations first federally funded housing project to East Austin. 

(The future Mueller Development)

A mixed use of redevelopment project at East Austin's former Robert Mueller Municipal Airport will add 2,400 multifamily units and 2,200 single family houses is one of Austin's strategies to increase the supply of affordable housing and mitigate gentrification displacement of low-income households East Austin. 

(The old Robert Muller Airport)

East  Austin has a rich African American history such as Perry Rhambo, who owned the first barbershop in East Austin. Johnny Holmes opened the Victory Grill which was a place for black soldiers and the community to come dance to live music and have a good meal.

(The Victory Grill)

James and Gladys Reed operated the Deluxe Hotel where they helped people in need of food, clothes, and money. 

(Deluxe Hotel)

 

(Colorado River Bridge and Austin Skyline 1942)

CRAFT Model

The CRAFT acronym in "Beginner's Guide to Community-Based Arts" stands for; 

C - contact  

R - research  

A - action   

F - feedback  

T - teaching

The research that would be important to our project would be as follows:

1.  Learn how to conduct an oral history report
2. Interview Robelo/Toress Family. 
3. What are the Holly Street boundries
4. Get addresses to family houses in the community that were owned or lived in.
5. Find out what issues the community is having.
6. Identify why the coming is in the state its in.
7. Research Holly Street history.
8. Map how Holly Street look 15 years ago vs now.
9. Find data on property changes such as taxes, land prices, housing rates, and  crime.
10. Find geographical changes in the community 

 

Three important points I have gained so far from research and the "R" in CRAFT are; 

• Gather information accurately 
• Know how to use databases
• Know this history and present issues of your project

Touchful Stories

    After reading the book, "Beginner's Guide to Community-Based Arts" the story that influenced me the most me the most was Rhodessa Jones from San Francisco.

    In Rhodessa's story, in the beginning she was hired to just be an aerobics teacher at the San Francisco County Jail at San Bruno. The jail population was majority African American and Latino American women. Rhodessa did more than just teach aerobatics she taught the women in the jail how to express themselves about there dreams, hopes, fears, ambitions, and feelings. The women who where leading conversations and teaching the other women to read and write.  Rhodessa learned that if we can maintain a relationship....a partnership with the jail. Rhodessa is currently training other artists and ex offenders to do what she has already done at San Bruno. 

    This story effected me in many different ways. First, I have had a very close family member of mines go to federal prison and if it was not for programs like Rhodessa's she may not have survived those three years being incarcerated. Secondly, being an African American young lady and knowing that the incarceration rate for minority women is increasing it really becomes a concern of mines. Last but not least, Rhodessa's story has inspired me to look inside myself and make more meaning out of the things I do. My career goal is to be a family social worker and this story has inspired me to find more meaning in my profession in a way that is more beneficial to my clients and myself.

"BLACK PRIVILEGE"

In class we talked about White Privilege, I am an African American young lady so I can't really say i know what it is to have "White Privilege". The things I have listed are not aimed to be offensive toward my culture or race nor anyone else. I apologize if any of these items offend anyone but this is a blog and to be honest these are the only things I could think of, some are good and other or bad.

My privileges are as follows:

1. more athletic schoarships 
2. overly praised for giving back to my community 
3. permisson to "keep it real"
4. can get away with saying "you people" and "n-word"
5. use racism as a reason to do unlawful and socially unaccpetable things
6. more financial assistance given in college
7. overly praised for being successful
8. affirmative action 
9. use of Black History to surpress other ethnic groups
10. more likely to be mentally strong due to hardships
11. less likely for skin cancer 
12. survivors spirit 
13. sense of community 
14. verstile hair styles
15. acceptable to be on public assistance
16. "                        " unemployed 
17. "                        " incarcerated 
18. acceptable to not finish high school 
19. "                         " attend college

Cultural Items

The items that I picked to represent my cultural identity is:

1. Pink Longhorn Basketball- the pink in the ball represents my gender as a female but the longhorn symbol represents that I attend the UT-Austin. Being a young women and attending UT-Austin has definitely structured my personality and goals.

2. High School Diploma- my diploma represents my social economic status. I grew up in the lower-income area of Houston and the high school I attend was also in that area. I reached my kinder-garden through 12th grade education is what you may call the "ghetto" or "hood".

3. A Cross- my cross represents my religion. My represents my life struggle which I know has shaped my beliefs and the person that I am. My religion is Christian I try my very best to walk accordingly

4. My Drivers License- my drivers license represents my age. I'm 22 years old and counting. Being young in today's society does have a major affect on my cultural beliefs.

5. A Phrase About Being Short: this phrase represents my height. "Things About Being Short: When People Hit You in the Face with Their Arm". I'm 5'0 and my entire life people have always called me "shortie" from family and friends to my peers at school. Growing up my nickname was "Lil Mama". Being short has become who I am, shortness is apart of me.

Introduction

I'm a Social Work major and this is my senior year. I'm from Houston, Texans (GO TEXANS!!). I haven't really had any previous experiences with community development besides the volunteer project I do every year with my Horns Helping Horns Program. One of the two reasons I added this class was because I saw a presentation on the Mart, Texas project in one of my SW courses last year and it really caught my attention. Second, is because their is a lot of bad transformation going on back in my home and I want to learn how I can change that or at least where to start, while combining my Social Work skills.