Marc Brasset English 338 Christopher Wilkey 10/09/13 Justifying Looking Away There is a great deal happening in Over the Rhine and a large amount of people looking the other way. There are numerous reasons people use in order to justify looking the other away. Everyone has their own reasons. Although we cannot know them all or know what everyone is thinking, what we can acknowledge are some of the normal fears and excuses that we have built into our own heads. Originally this thought came to mind when I was shopping in a local Meijer store. An announcement came on that they had a special that included buying a ten dollar gift to donate to a local food store and Meijer would double it. After hearing this advertisement, several thoughts regarding the issue starting running through my head. I began to think of all the little reasons I used to justify not engaging in such a deal to help someone less fortunate than myself. Most of the reasons were standard for me including: I do not have the money, other people will buy it, or they already get so much for free why do they need more. I managed to talk myself out of it after a very long struggle with the thought of not passing up a good charity and deal. After I went home I began to wrestle with the idea even more and I tried to remind myself that I just needed to forget about it and it would be okay. After a day or two I thought about what if everyone had the same thoughts as I did, would anyone donate anything to these people? Though I do believe many people think this way, not because they do not want to give, but more because the fear that they are wasting their time and money. Most people have had someone approach them at one point or another and ask for money. That is where most of the fear comes from. I believe after years of watching our parents refuse to give money to people and then proceed to tell everyone what they really wanted were drugs or alcohol has had an effect. This has conditioned us to not be trust giving money to anything that has the labels homeless or poor attached to it. Most of us have experienced this ourselves at one point or another and it is hard for anyone to get that image out of your mind, but what I would encourage everyone to ask themselves is, would the dollar they are asking for hurt you to lose? One thing I asked myself days later was would that ten dollars have hurt me more than it would have helped another person. Yes, many times they are seeking money for something other than food, but many have problems we only hear about on T.V. and hope that we never have to endure. They use alcohol as a self-medication or just to kill the pain. They need help. Sometimes we forget that people need help and we use one of the most hurtful excuses, that I already gave so why do you need more. There will never be enough time or money to help anyone, but for those of us that have even 5 dollars we do not need, giving it to someone or something that would help others is the only excuse you need. You do not need to justify spending it or think that you have spent too much. It is worth more than a new pair of shoes and more rewarding then finishing any video game. Remember that even if that money is used for a problem you gave something strong to them not just a drink, but compassion for your fellow human being.
When I think about community, I think about relationships among neighbors and the role of family within it. The connections formed among the people are what build and strengthen business, support public programs, encourage participation in local government, foster the establishment and achievement of common goals, as well as develop a base for community outreach. It is then up to the community, with its citizens participating in decision making by voting, to utilize their established connections at the family and broader community levels to make the changes to their own community as they see fit. To have these changes brought about by an outside force doesn’t mean much, I imagine. In fact, it seems that such outside involvement goes a long way in weakening a community. In the case of Over-the-Rhine, the swift overhaul and expansive redevelopment efforts, while beautiful, have negated years of developmental engagement and emotional bonds constructed by families, organizations and businesses. And what are these community members left with? Some within the community are answering this difficult question with a resounding “Hope.” Hope that their community will in some way once again reflect the histories of those who have lived and participated in a way that is unique to all the residents of Over-the-Rhine and inherently their own. The Pleasant Street Vision Study is one such example. A group of about 50 community residents, developers and church and business leaders have worked with a local architecture firm within Over-the-Rhine in order to devise a plan for a section of the community that is yet to be re-developed. The plan supports the vision of community members for a preserved space that is occupied by a people who are diverse in income, race and culture. The area is one of the main connector routes between Washington Park and Findlay Market, located between Race and Elm, and West 15th and West Liberty streets. The plans include the preservation of the historic buildings in the area and the construction of new buildings of a similar design that would complement the older spaces. Aside from residential space in the form of townhomes, multi-family apartment buildings and senior living facilities, there would also be space devoted to commerce and parking.
(second half of post is below) The plan has been submitted for consideration to the OTR community council and Cincinnati City Council, however the final determination will be made by 3CDC as to how much or how little of the plan will be used. Residents and other organizations now hold their breath to see what 3CDC will do with the plans and ultimately what the area will look like upon completion. But many questions come to mind with the presentation of this process and in consideration of the stakeholder groups who wield the most power and say-so on the matter of design for the community. The aesthetics of the community, while an important issue, seems to hold more value, meaning and interest to those who actually live and do business in that community. The question surfaces, why does the project pend on the approval of 3CDC who has little to no long-term interest in the area? The community-based group invested in affecting the eventual plans for the study area have a legitimate interest in the design of the area in that it is largely comprised by home and business owners as well as leaders of organizations that have worked and thrived in Over-the-Rhine for years. Further, the efforts of residents and other community members, however insignificant or unsuccessful they have been viewed historically, are in need of recognition and validation for ensuring that such efforts are continued, the community continues to prosper, grow and develop, and it continues to do this at the hands of the people and groups who comprise the community at its core. Further, it is worth considering, once their work is done in Over-the-Rhine what role will 3CDC play? Moreover, what will it have meant for such change to have come to a community at the hands of such a disconnected, outside organization? Without giving heed to those community members with ideas and visions of their own or without consideration for those who long to leave a lasting mark on the community in which they participated, from aesthetics to broader social and economic improvements that hold the ability to strengthen the community for generations to come, the work of 3CDC will go unfavorable in the account of Over-the-Rhine’s history. However, a unique opportunity does exist for the non-profit to engage the working plans of those members who would willingly engage the community in this way, and for their work to assume a certain amount of respect and lasting appeal among the community who will continue the traditions of Over-the-Rhine. 3CDC should consider the Pleasant Street Vision Study in their resolve to improve the city of Cincinnati.
Meili Price Street Vibes revision Forgotten History in Over-The-Rhine: Who Deserves to be Remembered?
For better or worse, Over-the-Rhine is changing. Developers like 3CDC are interested in keeping Over-the-Rhine in the public eye to draw new investors, new businesses, and wealthier residents to the area. If all those people choose to “live, work, shop and play” on these streets, development will progress more quickly, offering untapped wealth for the City of Cincinnati and other major corporate players. Though there is much good that comes from such development - a falling crime rate, filled storefronts, and crowds at events – one must also see that attracting people with money and convincing them to spend it in a neighborhood that has struggled with crime, poverty, drugs, and homelessness, naturally results in groups deciding how they will choose to tell the history of Over-the-Rhine. Most of these entities focus on the 19th century origins of the neighborhood. On 3CDC’s website, the story begins with the German immigrants who built the place and crossed the canal, homesick for the Rhine River. It goes on to say how, “OTR became the port-of-entry for German immigrants. Residents spoke German, published German newspapers, worshipped in German churches, and socialized in German beer halls.” Fast forward to the 21st century, and the story shifts to an OTR that was “becoming Cincinnati’s urban center for crime, poverty and a large concentration of social service agencies.” They hint that low income people populated the area, but do not mention who those people were, how they got there or why. They do not mention the generations of poor Appalachian workers who began to populate OTR during the Great Depression, leaving failing farms to take industrial jobs. They do not mention how the neighborhood slowly shifted to a mostly African American demographic when the construction of the interstates displaced them from surrounding neighborhoods. Instead, they focus on how things have “turned around” today. They encourage onlookers to “stay tuned, as more restaurants and condominiums will begin to populate Elm Street, 14th Street, Race Street, Republic Street, and other cross-sections between the Park and the entertainment districts.” What do people who will not benefit from the expensive condos, restaurants, and entertainment have to look forward to? It’s true that some things have turned around, but that does not mean struggling people have disappeared like 3CDC’s edited timeline might leave one to believe. To quote William Lund, “We study the past to understand the present; we understand the present to guide the future." History is a vital tool to help humanity understand both the victories and tragedies of the past. It gives us the opportunity to examine our actions today to avoid repeating past mistakes. How will we break patterns of injustice in our society when we only tell the partial history about a place? How do we alter our approach to development – to do it better for more people – if the complete story isn’t being told? In the words of George Santayana, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." Repeating the cycles of displacement will never solve the issue, leaving us with a missed opportunity to make positive change. There is no doubt certain kinds of people will be removed from the “image” of Over-The-Rhine if the popular approach to development is not reconsidered. Poor people, homeless people, people of color – these are the ones who get erased, who find themselves being written out of the story or pushed out of the neighborhood they call home. The displacement of poor people is a real social issue. Providing adequate affordable housing during new development means neighborhoods can actually be diverse and mixed-income, rather than just saying they will be.
What will it take for a person to change an attitude that they have been attached to, a feeling or thought that is just as essential as the blood that flows through their body? When do our ideals, our preconceived notions keep us from speaking out on what we know is wrong or keep us from the urge to understand another’s way of life? When do we take off the proverbial blindfold and not let preconceptions and personal boundaries define our surroundings? While question like these are extremely hard to answer and will take more of a personal inventory to figure out, they do have a pivotal role in Over the Rhine’s past, present and future. The identity of Over the Rhine in its recent past has come to define it in the last forty or so years and that identity has been cocooned in a combination of media reports, personal perspectives and truth, with the ladder being in abundance. Over the Rhine has always had the negative labels of dangerous, rundown or beyond help, when I was younger but the interesting thing about the labels where that they never came directly from the people who lived in Over the Rhine, they were primarily from the media and non residence of Over the Rhine. In the TED talks video Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: The danger of a single story, chimamanda talks about the “single story” which is when a person has an atypical (single) understanding of a different person or culture based on preliminary and/or limited knowledge. This single story that all people are hardwired with growing up influences peoples thoughts/actions when presented with a new environment. She goes on to say that these “ stories” don’t in any way make people insensitive but misinformed and should 1) make us think on the “single stories” we develop from our own experiences and 2) help us to then teach ourselves and others to not rely on the there single story when defining our surroundings. Being a resident in over the rhine for this short period of time has helped me to understand the many “single stories” I and many of my peers have been told about this community and how easy it would be to let those stories continue to blind me to the underlying problems of the neighborhood. With a new found perspective there is also a realization, if the new and current residence of this community don’t come to an understanding of each others “single stories” and continue to try to change them there will be no unity. Over the rhine will gain a fleeting beauty that is hollow, pleasing to eyes fixed with blinders and lose the character, depth, stories, and faces that create a permanent beauty that feeds the soul.
When considering the recent development of Over-the-Rhine, it is important to look at exactly who is reaping the benefits of the revitalization that 3CDC so adamantly promotes. One of the goals on 3CDC’s website is to “create diverse, mixed-income neighborhoods supported by local business,” and, while the end result is supposed to look like a melting pot of sorts, the reality of Over-the-Rhine is that it appears quite homogenous. While 3CDC and similar organizations advocate for the common good, there seems to be a different story told on the streets of Over-the-Rhine. As trendy new shops enter the area and bring different crowds into Over-the-Rhine, new employers are tending to overlook local residents during the hiring process and hire from specific social classes and groups. The displacement that is seen in the gentrification of Over-the-Rhine is apparent in the employment system, as residents struggle to find jobs within their own community. Walking up and down Vine Street, it is easy to see the segregation between who is working and shopping within these shops as opposed to who is walking the streets. Although hiring is done specifically by the employer, organizations like 3CDC perpetuate the problem by marketing new projects toward a particular group of people: young white college students and wealthier white families. This type of indirect racism and segregation excludes the actual members of the community, the people who have lived here all their lives and are watching their home change before their eyes. Many of the new businesses in Over-the-Rhine do little to help the community members in need of jobs due to the stereotype that the local residents are criminals, drug addicts, or uneducated. However, there are a few businesses that help to feed workers back into the system. Venice on Vine works with community members in attempt to get them into the job market and contributing to their community. They offer programs for their workers that include career services that assist employees with resumes, GED classes, and job opportunities. The entire premise of the restaurant is geared toward getting people back on their feet and back into the world of employment. After a year of working at Venice on Vine, people leave with real-world work experience, career development, and confidence that they can become a contributing member of society. It is this type of organization that Over-the-Rhine needs more of, one that feeds directly back into the community and that helps to teach and train those who are eager to learn. Streetvibes is another example of an organization doing similar work to Venice on Vine. Their distribution program is designed to help underprivileged people get back on their feet as well as form friendships and networks with people they meet on the street. This organization helps by giving them a fresh start, while at the same time informing their readers of real issues in Over-the-Rhine. Venice on Vine and Streetvibes are great models for the kind of employment this community needs. Equal opportunity employment should not be an after thought in the redevelopment of an area. It becomes a matter of inclusion. Who is part of this community and who is not? Are people being pushed out of their own neighborhood? If organizations promise jobs and development, why not create jobs and development that benefit everyone? Real development would not only bring in business from surrounding areas, but also be using the resources that Over-the-Rhine already has available in the form of its residents.
Collyn Greenhill Streetvibes Submission 16, October 2013
Parting the Red Sea
Over the Rhine. Hipster. Trendy. Modern. Three words that describe the promotion and the forward development of the city. Although Over the Rhine has some beautiful Italian architecture and truly is ideal for business growth, there are some serious problems that are being suppressed and ignored throughout the expansion and change of the city. Those problems revolve around the suppression and quenching of the residents’ voices throughout Over the Rhine. The developers of the city are pushing this “false illusion” towards people of what they want the city to become, while at the same time ignoring the wishes and voices of the people that live there. Although the progress of the city is not in itself a negative thing, I believe that different approaches should be made… approaches that include and involve the residents’ opinions and give them the opportunity to voice it and make it heard. A specific example of this is the developers buying out the apartment buildings in Over the Rhine and turning them into modern and chic flats. This gentrification makes the cost of living in those apartments to high for the residents that live there to afford, and it forces them out of their homes. Instead of developing the city by starting with the heart of the city, developers are just expecting everything to fix itself on its own instead of dealing with it. The developers are not only pushing the current residents out of the city by taking over their homes, but their jobs as well by taking over local businesses. Here’s a thought, why don’t the residents that already live there become employed by the local businesses? That way they are being involved in the development of the city, and they have a sense of ownership of OTR. Here’s another thought, why don’t the developers actually listen to the peoples’ voice instead of ignoring it and pushing it aside? The development and gentrification of the city is not necessarily a negative thing. However, when it’s hurting the people that live there, then it does become a negative thing. There is this desire to make Over the Rhine appear as a “trendy” city; however, it cannot truly progress until it deals with the root and soul of the city, the people. Like I said earlier, involve the people! Make their voices be heard! Involve them in the local businesses! Create affordable housing for them so that they won’t be forced on the street. Work with the residents instead of against them. In my opinion, the solution to these problems is quite simple. Let’s part this Red Sea and promote local involvement.
Ashley Hyden Streetvibes Submission What is Freedom? C. Wilkey On the banks if the Ohio River there is something very special. A symbol to many of the past and how far we have come. The Freedom Center is an embodiment of resurrection from a past that is unspeakable.
The Freedom Center is a symbol of how everyone should be free. Free to choose where they want to live. Free to live the life they pursue. Free to not be kicked out of their homes.
Freedom is a complicated thing. With freedom comes great responsibility. We have the choice, with freedom, to live our lives as we please or so some do. Freedom is something we are told to cherish and cling to. What about those without freedom? What do they have to cling to? What do the residents of Over the Rhine have to cling to when their neighborhood is being taken over?
What is freedom? Many Over the Rhine Residents are deprived of this freedom. With such an iconic center in Cincinnati that embodies these ideals why are the residents deprived of these basic freedoms? Where is their freedom? Freedom should include the choice of where you want to live, not someone taking over your home. Freedom is having some say in the development of your neighborhood. Not being pushed aside and ignored.
In a country founded on life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, where is the resident’s of Over the Rhine? Doesn’t everyone deserve these parts of freedom as well? A home. Food. Adequate space. Where is that? Where is their freedom? Lost in translation of a “new” neighborhood that is victim of gentrification. Or succumbing to 3CDC and a gauntlet of boutique shops. Over the Rhine served as a haven, now it is slowly becoming anything but.
Initially, I didn’t want anything with my name tacked to it printed in this publication. ‘Why,’ you ask? Of course this would be a great opportunity for an aspiring non-profit writer with a habit for obsessing over injustice. And, just over the two short months I’ve spent in this class, it has become clear to me that Over-the-Rhine has and continues to see plenty of injustice. But that’s just it. I’m an outsider with limited knowledge on the area. I’ve gotten what I can from news articles and the very helpful text we’re reading in class—Econicide: Eliminating the Urban Poor—but I remain separate and disconnected from the community itself.
I tried placing myself in the shoes of the average OTR citizen (which felt equally blasphemous, but I had to humor the thought) to better grasp how it might feel to see these inexperienced twenty-somethings try to take a stance on the issues I faced every day. How would I feel if a stranger came to my hometown of Florence, KY for no reason other than to point their finger at what they believed our issues were? Maybe they’d read a few pieces of literature on the excessive spending on renovation of Mall Road and it’s various plazas. Maybe they looked into the school systems and saw the gap in budgets of the four different high schools. But they wouldn’t know what it felt like to play kickball on crumpled asphalt while Mall Road’s already decent plaza was turned over and beautified. They wouldn’t know what it felt like to have to complete all homework assignments in class because the high school didn’t have enough textbooks to let the students take them home.
Maybe that’s why it’s difficult for me to express how I feel about the many injustices occurring in OTR. Who am I to say that the city is irresponsibly spending money? Who am I to say that the citizens already living there should be priority when it comes to making decisions and providing new housing?
If you ask me, the renovations and increase in commercialism are great for the neighborhood itself. But for the people who live there, not so much. If you ask me, affordable housing initiatives should be top priority. OTR natives and current residents should take precedent over any business plaza plan. Yes, flourishing business is crucial to economics in an urban area, but I cannot emphasize enough that these are people here. Should they be set aside to increase business volume?
If you ask me, great things could happen in OTR. I’ll even spring to say that great things ARE happening in OTR, begrudging as I may be. But I’ll also throw in the idea that these great things are happening to the wrong people, for the wrong reasons.
Erika Strong Professor Dutton & Wilkey ARC 405/ENG 338 October 14, 2013
Beauty in the Struggle: “Our lives are a collection of stories, truths about who we are, what we believe, what we come from, how we struggle and how we are strong.” –Dr. Brené Brown You never know a person’s situation or the story of what they have gone through, so it’s always important to show kindness and respect to every single individual no matter who they are. While living in Over-the-Rhine I have had many conversations with people who have shared their story with me. One meaningful conversation I had was with a man who was struggling with the disease of addiction. Within my simple, casual strike up of small conversation, I was moved and impacted by beauty and simplicity of the words he spoke to me. He told me, "Life is hard, and you need to respect the dark times. Respect the dark times for not just yourself, but for others. I can't tell you how to live your life, because that's not my place and you are who you are, you know and I respect that. But I do hope above all else, in whatever you may do, that you remember my words and respect others as I respect you." That moment made me realize something very important within my own life. Although, life may seem difficult at times it is important to find the beauty in the struggle and not only learn to respect it, but also learn to Love it. In such a short amount of time I have not only learned how to walk side by side with the people of this community, I have learned to love them. Prior to living in this community, the only thing that came to my mind when someone mentioned Over-the-Rhine was drugs, alcohol, crime, and violence. However, the stereotype that I once had about this place has forever been changed. Through my experience of living and engaging within this community I learned there is so much more beauty that resides here than what is most commonly known. Where some would say the only beautiful attributes of this area are the detailed facades and Old Italian and German architecture, I would disagree. Although the old historical buildings do make this area aesthetically appealing, it is the people who live in this community which hold the real beauty. It is each and every person, and each and every story that makes it beautiful. I’m so happy I had the chance this semester to stop, sit, and simply just listen to others stories. It not only allowed me to see things from a different perspective and appreciate people who may appear different from me, it also allowed me to learn to respect, embrace, and love my own story.
When I think of the word struggle, I think of everyday life for those native to Over the Rhine. I see pieces of a struggle in just about every aspect of what goes on. My time now, living in OTR has revealed very similar situations that many here face, that I have faced in my past. The thing about struggles however, is what to do when faced with one. What to do, when faced with adversity. I faced many forms of adversity in my life thus far. Most notably during service to the country I so love. I feel a lesson I learned during that service, would be applicable to the question of adversity or a struggle. More importantly, what to do when faced with a situation that is difficult to comprehend or get through. In the Army, we had what was called a “battle buddy”. A person that was either assigned by the leadership, or someone that you were already friends with. This was the person that was supposed to be attached to your hip, wherever you went. You ate together, slept in the same room, and performed all your daily duties, with this person present usually. On deployments, this person was to watch your back, and you his or hers. I feel that our society, could benefit from the concept of a “battle buddy”. The person to your left, right, front, and back, should always be someone you can depend on. There is no more important person in a soldier’s life, than his or her battle buddy. When adversity hits, or a struggle is presented to you, dealing with it is always easier, with another person to strengthen you. Another person to help you up, dust you off, and let you know that you’re not facing this alone. Knowing you’re not facing adversity or struggles alone, just the knowledge, can be powerful. The Over the Rhine people’s movement, I feel, has a piece of this concept down. Through working together, planning together, acting together, they are stronger. They’ve taken the concerns of the people, and made them heard through many voices acting as one. It’s harder to be put aside or ignored by the difficulty in front of you, when you are backed by so many. This is so very important for many reasons, but the main among them is simply a person feels stronger and empowered. A person that has this feeling of empowerment is driven to face the struggle and overcome it. Showing full well the strength that comes from others helping.
There is never a more important time to become aware of your environment than the current moment you are living in. No such thing as “too late” exists as long as the realization occurs that there is so much more to this world than living for your own well-being. Of course, it is necessary to ensure you and your family has the basics covered: nutritious food, a stable shelter, and clean water. But once these basic needs are met, I believe one is perfectly prepared to begin to reach out to their neighbors and bridge the gaps between communities to raise each other up in physical, mental, and social well-being. One of my earliest memories, probably from the age of 4, was an evening my family spent serving dinner to the residents of a homeless relief center. From that point to the very present, I have had almost zero contact with anyone who is homeless, aside from seeing these downtrodden souls on the streets. Without mentioning any involvement with this class I am taking in Over-The-Rhine, my mother, with no previous hints and completely random, suggests for this upcoming Thanksgiving, we volunteer at a homeless shelter to help feed those in need. This brief utterance shot a spark of realization through me. Despite how many stresses we as a family are currently going through (as I have reason to believe our list is longer than most, with respect to SES) my mother still is the same thoughtful and caring person she has always been and has raised her children with the same values. She showed me time is no matter and that indeed, there is no time like the present to make a positive impact in another person’s life. I have struggled for the longest time with identifying myself as a part of the family my mother has reared because her and I differ in so many ways with so different ideals. Through showing random acts of kindness, my mother showed me that indeed, we are very much the same after all. This class, Writing for Social Change, gave me the resources to fulfill our deep-seated desire to show empathy, caring, and compassion towards friends, family, neighbors, and strangers. I am now fully equipped to show those individuals, both homeless and in trying times, that people out there are thinking of them, hoping for their safety and future successes, and willing to volunteer their own valuable time in a hectic world to guarantee these basic rights that belong to all human beings alike.
Having lived in the Cincinnati area for my whole life there is somethings you know that outsiders will never know. Where the best shortcuts are, what restaurants are the best and never get too excited when a Cincinnati sports team gets in the playoffs because it won't end well. There is however something that is very terrifying that the locals in and around Cincinnati has became willing to accept, that OTR is a hopeless neighborhood and should be avoided at all cost.
How could a neighborhood that is just blocks away from the new Banks project, Great American Ball Park, Paul Brown Stadium, Fountain Square and many office buildings just be wrote off and forgotten? We have all been in this position where we are talking to either friends or strangers and eventually OTR gets brought up and someone is always guaranteed to comment on how afraid they are about the neighborhood and how it is dangerous? But why? Why does so many people around the area still see OTR as a crime invested area whose residents are bad people?
A lot of the blame has to fall on the local media around here that does its job better at scaring people than actually reporting the facts. OTR is in the middle of a lot of major rebuilding project but if you ask anyone outside the neighborhood about the last story they have heard it always seems to be about crime. The news is almost gleeful about putting out the most negative and damaging stories about the neighborhood. The real question is not why but why we as readers and Cincinnatians accept this?
City Hall doesn't work in OTR favor either, since there is no neighborhood representative since they are elected as a whole not by individual districts they have even less of a voice.
Miami University’s community is a bubble: it is both geographically and demographically removed from urban issues. It is easy to forget about the bubble while a part of it, but being removed has helped me learn about what is really wrong with it. While there are many students who claim to be from Cincinnati, from my personal experience, their understanding of the city’s current issues go as far as how well the Bengals played on Sunday. Since my arrival into OTR in August, I have made weekend trips up to Oxford to visit friends and professors. I have had the same conversation numerous times with peers back in the bubble: “So you live in OTR now?” “Yes, I am doing Miami’s Residency program down there, an-“ “Awesome! It has gotten so much safer and cooler now that people aren’t getting shot all the time. Have you been to (Insert bar or trendy eatery here)?”
The typical Miami graduate is exactly the correct demographic that the city and 3CDC are trying get to live and work down in OTR. I too am included in this demographic, and I too find myself enjoying the burgeoning class of hip youngsters migrating out of the suburbs; I am not a saint by any stretch of the imagination. However, I am gaining valuable firsthand experience of the struggles that social service centers face in the 21st Century American City, and the vibrant community the services support. I have worked weekly at Our Daily Bread, Peaslee Neighborhood Center, and the Inner-faith Worker’s Center. Each service site is different in their clientele and work, but each place has enabled me to gain valuable knowledge on a broad spectrum of issues. While technology has enabled greater access to information, it has also made people more detached from the communities around them. In order to shed the technological complacency that plagues America’s youth, active engagement is required. . Programs such as Miami’s should be encouraged over other more traditional “study abroad” experiences: there is much to discover and learn about within our nation’s own cities. While there is value in learning about European Culture, there are more important lessons to be learned within the changing face of the urban environment in America. If we as students wish to help make the US a greater nation for all, then an understanding of all aspects of society are necessary. Perhaps if more urban immersion programs were offered, or even required, younger generations would start to view poverty and poor people themselves not as a “problem” that needs to be fixed, but rather people left behind by the system itself. If we, as young people, forget the challenges that our society faces at home, the divide between the haves’ and have-nots’ will continue to widen. Miami University is known for its Luxemburg Campus and the large number of students who go there, and I applaud that. Yet, how useful will an experience in one of the wealthiest Western European city-nations be in context to solving the problems at home?
The OTR Community Must Question and Sell Itself as a Whole
Part 1
The Over-The-Rhine People’s Movement needs to seize mainstream acknowledgement through interviews, installations, and media presence. OTR must sink hooks into tools that can spread awareness, knowledge, and pride. In the twenty-first century, there are more methods available than ever to achieve these goals. Media presence can benefit the organizations in countless and often unquantifiable ways; and it must be mastered to achieve the dream of a sustainable neighborhood.
It is extremely difficult for non-profits and volunteer organizations to give up resources to focus on marketing and public relations; yet, it could lead to helping more residents through systematic changes. Weighing whether to spend time working with individuals or to spend resources on marketing is tremendously difficult, but using propaganda to reach the media and community can be equally important. It can help people with little to no information on the subject become immersed in the messages and ideas of the Movement, and could eventually lead to more people physically or financially helping.
A city must be heterogeneous, diverse, and fully active to attain sustainable, livable, and charismatic qualities for its inhabitants. For this vision to be possible, there must be people of all types and economic classes. I feel that organizations that comprise the Movement market for the lower end of the economic spectrum, while 3CDC campaigns for the upper end. The group that rests between the two doesn’t seem to have a voice in most conversations, and it must be brought to light.
My experience with many suburbanites through the Ohio area is that they still believe that OTR is highly dangerous and should be avoided. Conversely, many think that it is “up and coming” and should be taken over by new development. Once again, it comes to lack of interaction or information to a group that threatens to hurt an area. 3CDC can afford to market to the higher class and arguably achieves more accomplishments in terms of buildings than any other group. For the Movement to compete, it must consider competing with 3CDC in terms of marketing.
Competitive marketing can be achieved through a variety of ways, many of which are not time consuming and can even add to the architectural and urban fabric of the area. Beginning with the more vague suggestions, it seems that the organizations need to develop a better relationship with local and national media outlets. Another strategy is to campaign for coverage of each new renovation that OTRCH oversees and publicize it. I think that Peasely does a great job of capturing local history, but it can go much further.
We could focus on more documentaries outlining history and current residents in OTRCH homes. Posters, signage, and videos must be updated to make the issue stay at hand, current, and interesting. If things are not updated and made to be innovative, they will lose interest and support. One possible step would be to contact local design, advertising, and PR firms to help with pro bono work.
Lastly, the Movement needs to focus on long-term, physical signs that improve the neighborhood. I suggest, as a starting project, a plaque or similar apparatus that provides a symbol of recognition on each building operated by OTRCH. Visible signs that can easily and quickly reinforce or inform the accomplishments of ReStoc and other organizations to others may lead to unquantifiable consequences.
I briefly mentioned the middle class earlier, and wish not to undermine their importance. I believe that the middle class is the glue of our society that truly holds an area together. I think that outreach and interaction to the middle class can only be beneficial to Over-The-Rhine if the neighborhood truly decides it wants to be part of a true city. The current problem is that the information has not saturated all classes within the city from all sides. I feel that the most important action would be to set up a series of conference-like meetings for the community, reminiscent of TED and TEDx conferences. A center within OTR that invites speakers to speak about their ideas of urbanism and social justice would be an invaluable resource to the community. Rather than formal government meetings, a lecture-like environment with guests from all viewpoints and areas should be invited to share their views and hear concerns from the audience. Both ends of the economic spectrum must work in conjunction with each other to portray and project their messages, goals, and accomplishments to society as a whole.
R. Cantor October 9, 2013 ARC 405Z Street Vibes Article: As a whole, Over-the-Rhine is depicted in the media as a problem that is being or needs to be solved. The solution varies, but is consistently very intricate. There have been many articles in recent years, online and in print, about all the action going on. One example of this is in the article, “A Tale of Two Neighborhoods” from the WCPO Hamilton County Online News. It is hard to tell what the purpose of the article really is if someone from the outside was to read it. As someone learning and living in this community, the truth is much clearer. It seems that the writer is someone from the outside who has joined the community very cautiously, enjoyed it, and it telling other outsiders that they could and should try the same thing. For this audience, the rhetoric is very effective. It comes off as honest, simple, factual and easy to relate to. For anyone like the author, this will work, but for anyone else they will see right through it or learn the hard way that there is a lot more going on here. What is put at stake is safety vs. a new and interesting way of life. You can live on the edge and give this “risky” neighborhood a try. The most telling part of this article is the title, “A Tale of Two Neighborhoods”; this is the least affective rhetoric as well. The article claims that by coming to this area you will be joining something that is becoming “more and more of a community”, but the title implies that these are two separate communities that have no sign of becoming one. This article is only effective temporary, with the speed of change that has continued to take place and if readers were to really experience this, the rhetoric will only be so effective. What might be more effective would be, not only to retitle this article, but to also include information about how these “two communities” come together as one along with how they do not. Articles like this do not help to create awareness of all sides and situations. Very specific sources and facts were included to guide the reader in a specific direction. The writer made it seem like coming to this area meant that you had to pick only one of the communities to join, and even with that it seemed very geared to joining one specifically. In the long run it makes the most sense to encourage awareness of the whole situation by stating all the facts so that genuine decisions can be made. This is better than giving only some of the facts, having people make decisions that aren’t well thought through and having them learn quickly that they didn’t truly understand the situation.
Marc Brasset
ReplyDeleteEnglish 338
Christopher Wilkey
10/09/13
Justifying Looking Away
There is a great deal happening in Over the Rhine and a large amount of people looking the other way. There are numerous reasons people use in order to justify looking the other away. Everyone has their own reasons. Although we cannot know them all or know what everyone is thinking, what we can acknowledge are some of the normal fears and excuses that we have built into our own heads. Originally this thought came to mind when I was shopping in a local Meijer store. An announcement came on that they had a special that included buying a ten dollar gift to donate to a local food store and Meijer would double it. After hearing this advertisement, several thoughts regarding the issue starting running through my head. I began to think of all the little reasons I used to justify not engaging in such a deal to help someone less fortunate than myself. Most of the reasons were standard for me including: I do not have the money, other people will buy it, or they already get so much for free why do they need more. I managed to talk myself out of it after a very long struggle with the thought of not passing up a good charity and deal.
After I went home I began to wrestle with the idea even more and I tried to remind myself that I just needed to forget about it and it would be okay. After a day or two I thought about what if everyone had the same thoughts as I did, would anyone donate anything to these people? Though I do believe many people think this way, not because they do not want to give, but more because the fear that they are wasting their time and money. Most people have had someone approach them at one point or another and ask for money. That is where most of the fear comes from. I believe after years of watching our parents refuse to give money to people and then proceed to tell everyone what they really wanted were drugs or alcohol has had an effect. This has conditioned us to not be trust giving money to anything that has the labels homeless or poor attached to it. Most of us have experienced this ourselves at one point or another and it is hard for anyone to get that image out of your mind, but what I would encourage everyone to ask themselves is, would the dollar they are asking for hurt you to lose? One thing I asked myself days later was would that ten dollars have hurt me more than it would have helped another person. Yes, many times they are seeking money for something other than food, but many have problems we only hear about on T.V. and hope that we never have to endure. They use alcohol as a self-medication or just to kill the pain. They need help. Sometimes we forget that people need help and we use one of the most hurtful excuses, that I already gave so why do you need more.
There will never be enough time or money to help anyone, but for those of us that have even 5 dollars we do not need, giving it to someone or something that would help others is the only excuse you need. You do not need to justify spending it or think that you have spent too much. It is worth more than a new pair of shoes and more rewarding then finishing any video game. Remember that even if that money is used for a problem you gave something strong to them not just a drink, but compassion for your fellow human being.
When I think about community, I think about relationships among neighbors and the role of family within it. The connections formed among the people are what build and strengthen business, support public programs, encourage participation in local government, foster the establishment and achievement of common goals, as well as develop a base for community outreach. It is then up to the community, with its citizens participating in decision making by voting, to utilize their established connections at the family and broader community levels to make the changes to their own community as they see fit. To have these changes brought about by an outside force doesn’t mean much, I imagine. In fact, it seems that such outside involvement goes a long way in weakening a community. In the case of Over-the-Rhine, the swift overhaul and expansive redevelopment efforts, while beautiful, have negated years of developmental engagement and emotional bonds constructed by families, organizations and businesses. And what are these community members left with?
ReplyDeleteSome within the community are answering this difficult question with a resounding “Hope.” Hope that their community will in some way once again reflect the histories of those who have lived and participated in a way that is unique to all the residents of Over-the-Rhine and inherently their own. The Pleasant Street Vision Study is one such example. A group of about 50 community residents, developers and church and business leaders have worked with a local architecture firm within Over-the-Rhine in order to devise a plan for a section of the community that is yet to be re-developed. The plan supports the vision of community members for a preserved space that is occupied by a people who are diverse in income, race and culture. The area is one of the main connector routes between Washington Park and Findlay Market, located between Race and Elm, and West 15th and West Liberty streets. The plans include the preservation of the historic buildings in the area and the construction of new buildings of a similar design that would complement the older spaces. Aside from residential space in the form of townhomes, multi-family apartment buildings and senior living facilities, there would also be space devoted to commerce and parking.
(second half of post is below)
DeleteThe plan has been submitted for consideration to the OTR community council and Cincinnati City Council, however the final determination will be made by 3CDC as to how much or how little of the plan will be used. Residents and other organizations now hold their breath to see what 3CDC will do with the plans and ultimately what the area will look like upon completion. But many questions come to mind with the presentation of this process and in consideration of the stakeholder groups who wield the most power and say-so on the matter of design for the community.
The aesthetics of the community, while an important issue, seems to hold more value, meaning and interest to those who actually live and do business in that community. The question surfaces, why does the project pend on the approval of 3CDC who has little to no long-term interest in the area? The community-based group invested in affecting the eventual plans for the study area have a legitimate interest in the design of the area in that it is largely comprised by home and business owners as well as leaders of organizations that have worked and thrived in Over-the-Rhine for years. Further, the efforts of residents and other community members, however insignificant or unsuccessful they have been viewed historically, are in need of recognition and validation for ensuring that such efforts are continued, the community continues to prosper, grow and develop, and it continues to do this at the hands of the people and groups who comprise the community at its core.
Further, it is worth considering, once their work is done in Over-the-Rhine what role will 3CDC play? Moreover, what will it have meant for such change to have come to a community at the hands of such a disconnected, outside organization? Without giving heed to those community members with ideas and visions of their own or without consideration for those who long to leave a lasting mark on the community in which they participated, from aesthetics to broader social and economic improvements that hold the ability to strengthen the community for generations to come, the work of 3CDC will go unfavorable in the account of Over-the-Rhine’s history. However, a unique opportunity does exist for the non-profit to engage the working plans of those members who would willingly engage the community in this way, and for their work to assume a certain amount of respect and lasting appeal among the community who will continue the traditions of Over-the-Rhine. 3CDC should consider the Pleasant Street Vision Study in their resolve to improve the city of Cincinnati.
Meili Price
ReplyDeleteStreet Vibes revision
Forgotten History in Over-The-Rhine: Who Deserves to be Remembered?
For better or worse, Over-the-Rhine is changing. Developers like 3CDC are interested in keeping Over-the-Rhine in the public eye to draw new investors, new businesses, and wealthier residents to the area. If all those people choose to “live, work, shop and play” on these streets, development will progress more quickly, offering untapped wealth for the City of Cincinnati and other major corporate players. Though there is much good that comes from such development - a falling crime rate, filled storefronts, and crowds at events – one must also see that attracting people with money and convincing them to spend it in a neighborhood that has struggled with crime, poverty, drugs, and homelessness, naturally results in groups deciding how they will choose to tell the history of Over-the-Rhine.
Most of these entities focus on the 19th century origins of the neighborhood. On 3CDC’s website, the story begins with the German immigrants who built the place and crossed the canal, homesick for the Rhine River. It goes on to say how, “OTR became the port-of-entry for German immigrants. Residents spoke German, published German newspapers, worshipped in German churches, and socialized in German beer halls.”
Fast forward to the 21st century, and the story shifts to an OTR that was “becoming Cincinnati’s urban center for crime, poverty and a large concentration of social service agencies.” They hint that low income people populated the area, but do not mention who those people were, how they got there or why. They do not mention the generations of poor Appalachian workers who began to populate OTR during the Great Depression, leaving failing farms to take industrial jobs. They do not mention how the neighborhood slowly shifted to a mostly African American demographic when the construction of the interstates displaced them from surrounding neighborhoods.
Instead, they focus on how things have “turned around” today. They encourage onlookers to “stay tuned, as more restaurants and condominiums will begin to populate Elm Street, 14th Street, Race Street, Republic Street, and other cross-sections between the Park and the entertainment districts.” What do people who will not benefit from the expensive condos, restaurants, and entertainment have to look forward to? It’s true that some things have turned around, but that does not mean struggling people have disappeared like 3CDC’s edited timeline might leave one to believe.
To quote William Lund, “We study the past to understand the present; we understand the present to guide the future." History is a vital tool to help humanity understand both the victories and tragedies of the past. It gives us the opportunity to examine our actions today to avoid repeating past mistakes. How will we break patterns of injustice in our society when we only tell the partial history about a place? How do we alter our approach to development – to do it better for more people – if the complete story isn’t being told? In the words of George Santayana, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." Repeating the cycles of displacement will never solve the issue, leaving us with a missed opportunity to make positive change.
There is no doubt certain kinds of people will be removed from the “image” of Over-The-Rhine if the popular approach to development is not reconsidered. Poor people, homeless people, people of color – these are the ones who get erased, who find themselves being written out of the story or pushed out of the neighborhood they call home. The displacement of poor people is a real social issue. Providing adequate affordable housing during new development means neighborhoods can actually be diverse and mixed-income, rather than just saying they will be.
Candido Garcia
ReplyDeleteDesign/write
October 15, 2013
Blind no more
What will it take for a person to change an attitude that they have been attached to, a feeling or thought that is just as essential as the blood that flows through their body? When do our ideals, our preconceived notions keep us from speaking out on what we know is wrong or keep us from the urge to understand another’s way of life? When do we take off the proverbial blindfold and not let preconceptions and personal boundaries define our surroundings?
While question like these are extremely hard to answer and will take more of a personal inventory to figure out, they do have a pivotal role in Over the Rhine’s past, present and future. The identity of Over the Rhine in its recent past has come to define it in the last forty or so years and that identity has been cocooned in a combination of media reports, personal perspectives and truth, with the ladder being in abundance. Over the Rhine has always had the negative labels of dangerous, rundown or beyond help, when I was younger but the interesting thing about the labels where that they never came directly from the people who lived in Over the Rhine, they were primarily from the media and non residence of Over the Rhine.
In the TED talks video Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: The danger of a single story, chimamanda talks about the “single story” which is when a person has an atypical (single) understanding of a different person or culture based on preliminary and/or limited knowledge. This single story that all people are hardwired with growing up influences peoples thoughts/actions when presented with a new environment. She goes on to say that these “ stories” don’t in any way make people insensitive but misinformed and should 1) make us think on the “single stories” we develop from our own experiences and 2) help us to then teach ourselves and others to not rely on the there single story when defining our surroundings.
Being a resident in over the rhine for this short period of time has helped me to understand the many “single stories” I and many of my peers have been told about this community and how easy it would be to let those stories continue to blind me to the underlying problems of the neighborhood. With a new found perspective there is also a realization, if the new and current residence of this community don’t come to an understanding of each others “single stories” and continue to try to change them there will be no unity. Over the rhine will gain a fleeting beauty that is hollow, pleasing to eyes fixed with blinders and lose the character, depth, stories, and faces that create a permanent beauty that feeds the soul.
Equal Opportunity Employment
ReplyDeleteWhen considering the recent development of Over-the-Rhine, it is important to look at exactly who is reaping the benefits of the revitalization that 3CDC so adamantly promotes. One of the goals on 3CDC’s website is to “create diverse, mixed-income neighborhoods supported by local business,” and, while the end result is supposed to look like a melting pot of sorts, the reality of Over-the-Rhine is that it appears quite homogenous. While 3CDC and similar organizations advocate for the common good, there seems to be a different story told on the streets of Over-the-Rhine. As trendy new shops enter the area and bring different crowds into Over-the-Rhine, new employers are tending to overlook local residents during the hiring process and hire from specific social classes and groups. The displacement that is seen in the gentrification of Over-the-Rhine is apparent in the employment system, as residents struggle to find jobs within their own community.
Walking up and down Vine Street, it is easy to see the segregation between who is working and shopping within these shops as opposed to who is walking the streets. Although hiring is done specifically by the employer, organizations like 3CDC perpetuate the problem by marketing new projects toward a particular group of people: young white college students and wealthier white families. This type of indirect racism and segregation excludes the actual members of the community, the people who have lived here all their lives and are watching their home change before their eyes.
Many of the new businesses in Over-the-Rhine do little to help the community members in need of jobs due to the stereotype that the local residents are criminals, drug addicts, or uneducated. However, there are a few businesses that help to feed workers back into the system. Venice on Vine works with community members in attempt to get them into the job market and contributing to their community. They offer programs for their workers that include career services that assist employees with resumes, GED classes, and job opportunities. The entire premise of the restaurant is geared toward getting people back on their feet and back into the world of employment. After a year of working at Venice on Vine, people leave with real-world work experience, career development, and confidence that they can become a contributing member of society. It is this type of organization that Over-the-Rhine needs more of, one that feeds directly back into the community and that helps to teach and train those who are eager to learn.
Streetvibes is another example of an organization doing similar work to Venice on Vine. Their distribution program is designed to help underprivileged people get back on their feet as well as form friendships and networks with people they meet on the street. This organization helps by giving them a fresh start, while at the same time informing their readers of real issues in Over-the-Rhine.
Venice on Vine and Streetvibes are great models for the kind of employment this community needs. Equal opportunity employment should not be an after thought in the redevelopment of an area. It becomes a matter of inclusion. Who is part of this community and who is not? Are people being pushed out of their own neighborhood? If organizations promise jobs and development, why not create jobs and development that benefit everyone? Real development would not only bring in business from surrounding areas, but also be using the resources that Over-the-Rhine already has available in the form of its residents.
Collyn Greenhill
ReplyDeleteStreetvibes Submission
16, October 2013
Parting the Red Sea
Over the Rhine. Hipster. Trendy. Modern. Three words that describe the promotion and the forward development of the city. Although Over the Rhine has some beautiful Italian architecture and truly is ideal for business growth, there are some serious problems that are being suppressed and ignored throughout the expansion and change of the city. Those problems revolve around the suppression and quenching of the residents’ voices throughout Over the Rhine. The developers of the city are pushing this “false illusion” towards people of what they want the city to become, while at the same time ignoring the wishes and voices of the people that live there.
Although the progress of the city is not in itself a negative thing, I believe that different approaches should be made… approaches that include and involve the residents’ opinions and give them the opportunity to voice it and make it heard. A specific example of this is the developers buying out the apartment buildings in Over the Rhine and turning them into modern and chic flats. This gentrification makes the cost of living in those apartments to high for the residents that live there to afford, and it forces them out of their homes. Instead of developing the city by starting with the heart of the city, developers are just expecting everything to fix itself on its own instead of dealing with it. The developers are not only pushing the current residents out of the city by taking over their homes, but their jobs as well by taking over local businesses. Here’s a thought, why don’t the residents that already live there become employed by the local businesses? That way they are being involved in the development of the city, and they have a sense of ownership of OTR. Here’s another thought, why don’t the developers actually listen to the peoples’ voice instead of ignoring it and pushing it aside? The development and gentrification of the city is not necessarily a negative thing. However, when it’s hurting the people that live there, then it does become a negative thing.
There is this desire to make Over the Rhine appear as a “trendy” city; however, it cannot truly progress until it deals with the root and soul of the city, the people. Like I said earlier, involve the people! Make their voices be heard! Involve them in the local businesses! Create affordable housing for them so that they won’t be forced on the street. Work with the residents instead of against them. In my opinion, the solution to these problems is quite simple. Let’s part this Red Sea and promote local involvement.
Ashley Hyden
ReplyDeleteStreetvibes Submission
What is Freedom?
C. Wilkey
On the banks if the Ohio River there is something very special. A symbol to many of the past and how far we have come. The Freedom Center is an embodiment of resurrection from a past that is unspeakable.
The Freedom Center is a symbol of how everyone should be free. Free to choose where they want to live. Free to live the life they pursue. Free to not be kicked out of their homes.
Freedom is a complicated thing. With freedom comes great responsibility. We have the choice, with freedom, to live our lives as we please or so some do. Freedom is something we are told to cherish and cling to. What about those without freedom? What do they have to cling to? What do the residents of Over the Rhine have to cling to when their neighborhood is being taken over?
What is freedom? Many Over the Rhine Residents are deprived of this freedom. With such an iconic center in Cincinnati that embodies these ideals why are the residents deprived of these basic freedoms? Where is their freedom? Freedom should include the choice of where you want to live, not someone taking over your home. Freedom is having some say in the development of your neighborhood. Not being pushed aside and ignored.
In a country founded on life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, where is the resident’s of Over the Rhine? Doesn’t everyone deserve these parts of freedom as well? A home. Food. Adequate space. Where is that? Where is their freedom? Lost in translation of a “new” neighborhood that is victim of gentrification. Or succumbing to 3CDC and a gauntlet of boutique shops. Over the Rhine served as a haven, now it is slowly becoming anything but.
Initially, I didn’t want anything with my name tacked to it printed in this publication. ‘Why,’ you ask? Of course this would be a great opportunity for an aspiring non-profit writer with a habit for obsessing over injustice. And, just over the two short months I’ve spent in this class, it has become clear to me that Over-the-Rhine has and continues to see plenty of injustice. But that’s just it. I’m an outsider with limited knowledge on the area. I’ve gotten what I can from news articles and the very helpful text we’re reading in class—Econicide: Eliminating the Urban Poor—but I remain separate and disconnected from the community itself.
ReplyDeleteI tried placing myself in the shoes of the average OTR citizen (which felt equally blasphemous, but I had to humor the thought) to better grasp how it might feel to see these inexperienced twenty-somethings try to take a stance on the issues I faced every day. How would I feel if a stranger came to my hometown of Florence, KY for no reason other than to point their finger at what they believed our issues were? Maybe they’d read a few pieces of literature on the excessive spending on renovation of Mall Road and it’s various plazas. Maybe they looked into the school systems and saw the gap in budgets of the four different high schools. But they wouldn’t know what it felt like to play kickball on crumpled asphalt while Mall Road’s already decent plaza was turned over and beautified. They wouldn’t know what it felt like to have to complete all homework assignments in class because the high school didn’t have enough textbooks to let the students take them home.
Maybe that’s why it’s difficult for me to express how I feel about the many injustices occurring in OTR. Who am I to say that the city is irresponsibly spending money? Who am I to say that the citizens already living there should be priority when it comes to making decisions and providing new housing?
If you ask me, the renovations and increase in commercialism are great for the neighborhood itself. But for the people who live there, not so much. If you ask me, affordable housing initiatives should be top priority. OTR natives and current residents should take precedent over any business plaza plan. Yes, flourishing business is crucial to economics in an urban area, but I cannot emphasize enough that these are people here. Should they be set aside to increase business volume?
If you ask me, great things could happen in OTR. I’ll even spring to say that great things ARE happening in OTR, begrudging as I may be. But I’ll also throw in the idea that these great things are happening to the wrong people, for the wrong reasons.
But then again, who am I?
Erika Strong
ReplyDeleteProfessor Dutton & Wilkey
ARC 405/ENG 338
October 14, 2013
Beauty in the Struggle:
“Our lives are a collection of stories, truths about who we are, what we believe, what we come from, how we struggle and how we are strong.” –Dr. Brené Brown
You never know a person’s situation or the story of what they have gone through, so it’s always important to show kindness and respect to every single individual no matter who they are. While living in Over-the-Rhine I have had many conversations with people who have shared their story with me. One meaningful conversation I had was with a man who was struggling with the disease of addiction. Within my simple, casual strike up of small conversation, I was moved and impacted by beauty and simplicity of the words he spoke to me. He told me, "Life is hard, and you need to respect the dark times. Respect the dark times for not just yourself, but for others. I can't tell you how to live your life, because that's not my place and you are who you are, you know and I respect that. But I do hope above all else, in whatever you may do, that you remember my words and respect others as I respect you." That moment made me realize something very important within my own life. Although, life may seem difficult at times it is important to find the beauty in the struggle and not only learn to respect it, but also learn to Love it.
In such a short amount of time I have not only learned how to walk side by side with the people of this community, I have learned to love them. Prior to living in this community, the only thing that came to my mind when someone mentioned Over-the-Rhine was drugs, alcohol, crime, and violence. However, the stereotype that I once had about this place has forever been changed. Through my experience of living and engaging within this community I learned there is so much more beauty that resides here than what is most commonly known. Where some would say the only beautiful attributes of this area are the detailed facades and Old Italian and German architecture, I would disagree. Although the old historical buildings do make this area aesthetically appealing, it is the people who live in this community which hold the real beauty. It is each and every person, and each and every story that makes it beautiful.
I’m so happy I had the chance this semester to stop, sit, and simply just listen to others stories. It not only allowed me to see things from a different perspective and appreciate people who may appear different from me, it also allowed me to learn to respect, embrace, and love my own story.
Brandon Wood
ReplyDeleteARC 405.Z
Streetvibes Draft (Revised)
Struggles
When I think of the word struggle, I think of everyday life for those native to Over the Rhine. I see pieces of a struggle in just about every aspect of what goes on. My time now, living in OTR has revealed very similar situations that many here face, that I have faced in my past. The thing about struggles however, is what to do when faced with one. What to do, when faced with adversity. I faced many forms of adversity in my life thus far. Most notably during service to the country I so love. I feel a lesson I learned during that service, would be applicable to the question of adversity or a struggle. More importantly, what to do when faced with a situation that is difficult to comprehend or get through.
In the Army, we had what was called a “battle buddy”. A person that was either assigned by the leadership, or someone that you were already friends with. This was the person that was supposed to be attached to your hip, wherever you went. You ate together, slept in the same room, and performed all your daily duties, with this person present usually. On deployments, this person was to watch your back, and you his or hers. I feel that our society, could benefit from the concept of a “battle buddy”. The person to your left, right, front, and back, should always be someone you can depend on. There is no more important person in a soldier’s life, than his or her battle buddy. When adversity hits, or a struggle is presented to you, dealing with it is always easier, with another person to strengthen you. Another person to help you up, dust you off, and let you know that you’re not facing this alone. Knowing you’re not facing adversity or struggles alone, just the knowledge, can be powerful.
The Over the Rhine people’s movement, I feel, has a piece of this concept down. Through working together, planning together, acting together, they are stronger. They’ve taken the concerns of the people, and made them heard through many voices acting as one. It’s harder to be put aside or ignored by the difficulty in front of you, when you are backed by so many. This is so very important for many reasons, but the main among them is simply a person feels stronger and empowered. A person that has this feeling of empowerment is driven to face the struggle and overcome it. Showing full well the strength that comes from others helping.
Matthew Ruiz
ReplyDeleteWriting for Social Change
10/15/2013
Now Is the Time
There is never a more important time to become aware of your environment than the current moment you are living in. No such thing as “too late” exists as long as the realization occurs that there is so much more to this world than living for your own well-being. Of course, it is necessary to ensure you and your family has the basics covered: nutritious food, a stable shelter, and clean water. But once these basic needs are met, I believe one is perfectly prepared to begin to reach out to their neighbors and bridge the gaps between communities to raise each other up in physical, mental, and social well-being.
One of my earliest memories, probably from the age of 4, was an evening my family spent serving dinner to the residents of a homeless relief center. From that point to the very present, I have had almost zero contact with anyone who is homeless, aside from seeing these downtrodden souls on the streets. Without mentioning any involvement with this class I am taking in Over-The-Rhine, my mother, with no previous hints and completely random, suggests for this upcoming Thanksgiving, we volunteer at a homeless shelter to help feed those in need. This brief utterance shot a spark of realization through me. Despite how many stresses we as a family are currently going through (as I have reason to believe our list is longer than most, with respect to SES) my mother still is the same thoughtful and caring person she has always been and has raised her children with the same values. She showed me time is no matter and that indeed, there is no time like the present to make a positive impact in another person’s life.
I have struggled for the longest time with identifying myself as a part of the family my mother has reared because her and I differ in so many ways with so different ideals. Through showing random acts of kindness, my mother showed me that indeed, we are very much the same after all. This class, Writing for Social Change, gave me the resources to fulfill our deep-seated desire to show empathy, caring, and compassion towards friends, family, neighbors, and strangers. I am now fully equipped to show those individuals, both homeless and in trying times, that people out there are thinking of them, hoping for their safety and future successes, and willing to volunteer their own valuable time in a hectic world to guarantee these basic rights that belong to all human beings alike.
Streetvibes Submission
ReplyDelete16, October 2013
The Ghost Neighborhood
by: Corey Foister
Having lived in the Cincinnati area for my whole life there is somethings you know that outsiders will never know. Where the best shortcuts are, what restaurants are the best and never get too excited when a Cincinnati sports team gets in the playoffs because it won't end well. There is however something that is very terrifying that the locals in and around Cincinnati has became willing to accept, that OTR is a hopeless neighborhood and should be avoided at all cost.
How could a neighborhood that is just blocks away from the new Banks project, Great American Ball Park, Paul Brown Stadium, Fountain Square and many office buildings just be wrote off and forgotten? We have all been in this position where we are talking to either friends or strangers and eventually OTR gets brought up and someone is always guaranteed to comment on how afraid they are about the neighborhood and how it is dangerous? But why? Why does so many people around the area still see OTR as a crime invested area whose residents are bad people?
A lot of the blame has to fall on the local media around here that does its job better at scaring people than actually reporting the facts. OTR is in the middle of a lot of major rebuilding project but if you ask anyone outside the neighborhood about the last story they have heard it always seems to be about crime. The news is almost gleeful about putting out the most negative and damaging stories about the neighborhood. The real question is not why but why we as readers and Cincinnatians accept this?
City Hall doesn't work in OTR favor either, since there is no neighborhood representative since they are elected as a whole not by individual districts they have even less of a voice.
Breaking the Bubble: Studying Abroad at Home:
ReplyDeleteMiami University’s community is a bubble: it is both geographically and demographically removed from urban issues. It is easy to forget about the bubble while a part of it, but being removed has helped me learn about what is really wrong with it. While there are many students who claim to be from Cincinnati, from my personal experience, their understanding of the city’s current issues go as far as how well the Bengals played on Sunday. Since my arrival into OTR in August, I have made weekend trips up to Oxford to visit friends and professors. I have had the same conversation numerous times with peers back in the bubble:
“So you live in OTR now?”
“Yes, I am doing Miami’s Residency program down there, an-“
“Awesome! It has gotten so much safer and cooler now that people aren’t getting shot all the time. Have you been to (Insert bar or trendy eatery here)?”
The typical Miami graduate is exactly the correct demographic that the city and 3CDC are trying get to live and work down in OTR. I too am included in this demographic, and I too find myself enjoying the burgeoning class of hip youngsters migrating out of the suburbs; I am not a saint by any stretch of the imagination. However, I am gaining valuable firsthand experience of the struggles that social service centers face in the 21st Century American City, and the vibrant community the services support. I have worked weekly at Our Daily Bread, Peaslee Neighborhood Center, and the Inner-faith Worker’s Center. Each service site is different in their clientele and work, but each place has enabled me to gain valuable knowledge on a broad spectrum of issues.
While technology has enabled greater access to information, it has also made people more detached from the communities around them. In order to shed the technological complacency that plagues America’s youth, active engagement is required. . Programs such as Miami’s should be encouraged over other more traditional “study abroad” experiences: there is much to discover and learn about within our nation’s own cities. While there is value in learning about European Culture, there are more important lessons to be learned within the changing face of the urban environment in America. If we as students wish to help make the US a greater nation for all, then an understanding of all aspects of society are necessary. Perhaps if more urban immersion programs were offered, or even required, younger generations would start to view poverty and poor people themselves not as a “problem” that needs to be fixed, but rather people left behind by the system itself. If we, as young people, forget the challenges that our society faces at home, the divide between the haves’ and have-nots’ will continue to widen. Miami University is known for its Luxemburg Campus and the large number of students who go there, and I applaud that. Yet, how useful will an experience in one of the wealthiest Western European city-nations be in context to solving the problems at home?
The OTR Community Must Question and Sell Itself as a Whole
ReplyDeletePart 1
The Over-The-Rhine People’s Movement needs to seize mainstream acknowledgement through interviews, installations, and media presence. OTR must sink hooks into tools that can spread awareness, knowledge, and pride. In the twenty-first century, there are more methods available than ever to achieve these goals. Media presence can benefit the organizations in countless and often unquantifiable ways; and it must be mastered to achieve the dream of a sustainable neighborhood.
It is extremely difficult for non-profits and volunteer organizations to give up resources to focus on marketing and public relations; yet, it could lead to helping more residents through systematic changes. Weighing whether to spend time working with individuals or to spend resources on marketing is tremendously difficult, but using propaganda to reach the media and community can be equally important. It can help people with little to no information on the subject become immersed in the messages and ideas of the Movement, and could eventually lead to more people physically or financially helping.
A city must be heterogeneous, diverse, and fully active to attain sustainable, livable, and charismatic qualities for its inhabitants. For this vision to be possible, there must be people of all types and economic classes. I feel that organizations that comprise the Movement market for the lower end of the economic spectrum, while 3CDC campaigns for the upper end. The group that rests between the two doesn’t seem to have a voice in most conversations, and it must be brought to light.
My experience with many suburbanites through the Ohio area is that they still believe that OTR is highly dangerous and should be avoided. Conversely, many think that it is “up and coming” and should be taken over by new development. Once again, it comes to lack of interaction or information to a group that threatens to hurt an area. 3CDC can afford to market to the higher class and arguably achieves more accomplishments in terms of buildings than any other group. For the Movement to compete, it must consider competing with 3CDC in terms of marketing.
Competitive marketing can be achieved through a variety of ways, many of which are not time consuming and can even add to the architectural and urban fabric of the area. Beginning with the more vague suggestions, it seems that the organizations need to develop a better relationship with local and national media outlets. Another strategy is to campaign for coverage of each new renovation that OTRCH oversees and publicize it. I think that Peasely does a great job of capturing local history, but it can go much further.
Part 2
DeleteWe could focus on more documentaries outlining history and current residents in OTRCH homes. Posters, signage, and videos must be updated to make the issue stay at hand, current, and interesting. If things are not updated and made to be innovative, they will lose interest and support. One possible step would be to contact local design, advertising, and PR firms to help with pro bono work.
Lastly, the Movement needs to focus on long-term, physical signs that improve the neighborhood. I suggest, as a starting project, a plaque or similar apparatus that provides a symbol of recognition on each building operated by OTRCH. Visible signs that can easily and quickly reinforce or inform the accomplishments of ReStoc and other organizations to others may lead to unquantifiable consequences.
I briefly mentioned the middle class earlier, and wish not to undermine their importance. I believe that the middle class is the glue of our society that truly holds an area together. I think that outreach and interaction to the middle class can only be beneficial to Over-The-Rhine if the neighborhood truly decides it wants to be part of a true city. The current problem is that the information has not saturated all classes within the city from all sides. I feel that the most important action would be to set up a series of conference-like meetings for the community, reminiscent of TED and TEDx conferences. A center within OTR that invites speakers to speak about their ideas of urbanism and social justice would be an invaluable resource to the community. Rather than formal government meetings, a lecture-like environment with guests from all viewpoints and areas should be invited to share their views and hear concerns from the audience. Both ends of the economic spectrum must work in conjunction with each other to portray and project their messages, goals, and accomplishments to society as a whole.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteR. Cantor
ReplyDeleteOctober 9, 2013
ARC 405Z
Street Vibes Article:
As a whole, Over-the-Rhine is depicted in the media as a problem that is being or needs to be solved. The solution varies, but is consistently very intricate. There have been many articles in recent years, online and in print, about all the action going on. One example of this is in the article, “A Tale of Two Neighborhoods” from the WCPO Hamilton County Online News. It is hard to tell what the purpose of the article really is if someone from the outside was to read it. As someone learning and living in this community, the truth is much clearer.
It seems that the writer is someone from the outside who has joined the community very cautiously, enjoyed it, and it telling other outsiders that they could and should try the same thing. For this audience, the rhetoric is very effective. It comes off as honest, simple, factual and easy to relate to. For anyone like the author, this will work, but for anyone else they will see right through it or learn the hard way that there is a lot more going on here. What is put at stake is safety vs. a new and interesting way of life. You can live on the edge and give this “risky” neighborhood a try.
The most telling part of this article is the title, “A Tale of Two Neighborhoods”; this is the least affective rhetoric as well. The article claims that by coming to this area you will be joining something that is becoming “more and more of a community”, but the title implies that these are two separate communities that have no sign of becoming one. This article is only effective temporary, with the speed of change that has continued to take place and if readers were to really experience this, the rhetoric will only be so effective.
What might be more effective would be, not only to retitle this article, but to also include information about how these “two communities” come together as one along with how they do not. Articles like this do not help to create awareness of all sides and situations. Very specific sources and facts were included to guide the reader in a specific direction. The writer made it seem like coming to this area meant that you had to pick only one of the communities to join, and even with that it seemed very geared to joining one specifically. In the long run it makes the most sense to encourage awareness of the whole situation by stating all the facts so that genuine decisions can be made. This is better than giving only some of the facts, having people make decisions that aren’t well thought through and having them learn quickly that they didn’t truly understand the situation.