The Work of a Community: Oral History Reports from the Sherman Park Neighborhood
Mentor 1
Arijit Sen
Location
Union 260
Start Date
5-4-2019 12:00 PM
Description
The transformation of American cities caused by urbanization and gentrification has created an outlet where foreclosure and eviction have become sources of capital. Housing policies implemented in the past, such as redlining, have created areas within American cities where poverty is highly concentrated. This research presents a vivid century long pictorial, structural, and economic transformation of the transformation of homeownership, resources, and living through the struggles of not having a place to call home. This research identifies the work being done in the Sherman Park Neighborhood to make it a more livable place. This multi-faceted story exposes barriers such as eviction, foreclosure, economic decline, and safety hazards. It exposes the hope community residents have to take back their communities despite difficultly and reclaim the way they live. The findings from this research suggest that despite the systemic dismantlement of the community over time, residents and community organizers are resilient and determined to sustain the culture and structure which will allow their neighborhood to thrive. This research provides a historical perspective of the Sherman Park Neighborhood, as well as details that are being used for revitalization. The results broadly provide insight to challenges that are disabling impoverished communities from becoming stable—economically and socially.
The Work of a Community: Oral History Reports from the Sherman Park Neighborhood
Union 260
The transformation of American cities caused by urbanization and gentrification has created an outlet where foreclosure and eviction have become sources of capital. Housing policies implemented in the past, such as redlining, have created areas within American cities where poverty is highly concentrated. This research presents a vivid century long pictorial, structural, and economic transformation of the transformation of homeownership, resources, and living through the struggles of not having a place to call home. This research identifies the work being done in the Sherman Park Neighborhood to make it a more livable place. This multi-faceted story exposes barriers such as eviction, foreclosure, economic decline, and safety hazards. It exposes the hope community residents have to take back their communities despite difficultly and reclaim the way they live. The findings from this research suggest that despite the systemic dismantlement of the community over time, residents and community organizers are resilient and determined to sustain the culture and structure which will allow their neighborhood to thrive. This research provides a historical perspective of the Sherman Park Neighborhood, as well as details that are being used for revitalization. The results broadly provide insight to challenges that are disabling impoverished communities from becoming stable—economically and socially.
