research and the neighborhoods

This past Thursday I met Missy at the Brooklyn Enoch Pratt Library. She showed me where the files are for newspaper articles about Brooklyn and Curtis Bay. While she was doing her own research, I looked up various articles about the environmental issues surrounding the area. I found recurring information about Wagners Point, an area where chemical companies were located. At one point there were homes throughout Wagners Point, however, when residents started getting sick the area was considered a dangerous place to live. Many of the articles described the experiences and feelings had by those who had to flee the area. Even though residents were attached to the area, they knew they had to leave for safety reasons. I even came across an article about Betty Welly, a woman I had interviewed last Spring for the Club4100 project. Missy and I discussed the possiblity of me using the research I find for her potential website.

After doing research, Missy and I decided to drive to Wagners Point and see where the neighborhood was once located. I took photos of the area, specifically the construction taking place and the Petapsco Waste Water Treatment Plant. This plant now sits on the location where homes used to be.

We also went to the office for the Bay-Brook organization I will be working with to see if they needed help with anything. Because they were having a slow day it didn’t up being necessary, besides I was going to be there the next morning anyway.

On Friday I found out that Sarah’s husband was in the hospital and she wanted me to call her boss, Carol, to see if I should still come down to the office. Carol wanted me to help organize photos from various events and houses throughout the community. I spent most of the morning creating new files (events, residential neighborhoods, outdoors, and one just for the Polish Home Hall) I re-organized many of he folders and wrote specific descriptions for each picture, hopefully this will make events from the past easier to find. Looking at all the pictures helped me become more familiar with the area and seeing the transformation of the Polish Home Hall was pretty great.

Carol is awesome! She is so interested in her job and excited to have me be around. I was able to talk with one of her employees, Josh, about the photos and I felt like I was a real intern because I spent some time in the office. A few different ladies came through, one being the treasurer of the organization, and I got to meet her as well.

Carol suggested that I change my idea about a vegetarian class into a “Healthy Holidays” class. Even though I kind of have my heart set on the veg class, I said ok because she told me she thinks more people will come that way. She also said I can use the Polish Home Hall which is pretty great. I will still mention the vegetarian lifestyle and have healthy desserts after the class. Carol says that Missy and I can use the Hall for any events we want. She wants to help us in any way she can, I am so grateful.

I was telling Carol that I want to have some projects that I feel are my own and that can be used for my all-around final project. She informed that I should just tell her my ideas and she will see what she can do. I mentioned ‘clean up the neighborhood’ days and she lit up right away because a woman right next door wanted to have regular clean-up days on her block. We decided to go and talk to the woman right away, she goes by the name Chip. The block that she lives on is pretty cluttered with trash, residents who don’t work, and children who are not in school. Carol went right up the house, children were hanging out on the porch. She asked for the owner to come out and Chip came through the door. Carol told her I was interested in helping to clean up the neighborhood and she started talking to me about how much trash was around and that she ideally wants a clean up day three days a week! I told her I can help her start somewhere, and as of now we are planning on cleaning up the block next Thursday. Missy is also going to participate! Meeting a resident of Curtis Bay puts me on the right track for getting to know the community. Carol says becoming a familiar face with one person has a domino effect and I agree.

Hours worked- ten

Words typed- 779