Investigating Where We Live

Visitor comments from IWWL: Three Communities in Focus (March Update)

2011-04-14T14:14:00.000-04:00

“Excellent exhibit! Thanks so much for listening to the voices and appreciating the artistic ability of youth. Thanks also for showcasing neighborhoods that are often ignored.”

“Enter your film into ‘Our City Film Fest’!”

“The kids have done a terrific job. May they be an inspiration to their environment and other kids. I love the poems. All are terrific, imaginative, and creative. Cierra – I’ve copied your poem. Keep up the good work you all.”

“This was a great exhibit! I love that the community was brought into the museum! Thanks for the experience.”

“I was moved by the poem ‘loneliness’ by Al’Asia. Seek it out the back wall.”

“Great job about Trinidad. I might consider properties over there.” – a SW DC resident

“What a super project! I was astonished to discover there is a neighborhood in DC called Trinidad. I just moved to DC area from Trinidad, West Indies. Thank you!”

The Petworth Tree is Blooming!

2011-03-08T11:50:00.000-05:00

One very cool aspect of the "A Stroll Through Petworth" section of the 2010 IWWL exhibit is the flower planting interactive. Visitors can write comments on flower petals made of construction paper and pipe cleaners. They take their comment flowers and plant them in the flower boxes beneath a large tree that our students painted on one of the exhibit walls and decorated with construction paper leaves. The tree and flower pots mirror a picture in the exhibit taken by one of our students. Over the last seven months we have watched visitors turn the leaves on the tree into their own comment book. Our visitors have used the flowers for sharing comments and posting their thoughts about the IWWL neighborhoods. Many have tucked their flowers into the tree's leaves, so we followed their lead and started gluing them onto the tree! Check out the images and comments below and see the Petworth tree come to life!

Visitor Comments from IWWL: Three Communities in Focus (February Update)

2011-02-28T14:19:00.000-05:00

“Great exhibit and fantastic photos. I’m glad you were able to share your thoughts, reflections, and observations.”

“This exhibit made my day. Great photographs. I especially liked Southwest.”

“Brilliant exhibit and art project. You’ve introduced me to parts of Washington I knew nothing about and took me on your journey of discovery. I loved the crabs with the questions and answers, the maps, the models, the poetry, the video, the photos, everything!”

“If the children’s work represents our future, then the USA will come out ahead. Amazing work! Totally impressed! Well done.”

“Very nice, I lived in Trinidad for a few years. It’s nice to see how it is viewed through a different set of eyes.”

“A lovely surprise. The exhibit makes me want to explore a far more than near. Thanks!”

“I’m so happy I’ve been a part of this. It will always stay with me” – Jasmine, IWWL participant

“The girl whispers love. Yellow music follows me. Imagine Ruby.” – poem from IWWL visitor

Visitor Comments from IWWL: Three Communities in Focus (January Update)

2011-01-14T15:13:00.000-05:00

“I really enjoyed the depth of emotion that was captured throughout the exhibit. Thanks!”

“This is amazing work. Just wonderful. I am a past resident of Petworth (1930-1946) – Roosevelt High School & Barnard Elementary.”

“Amazing! Congratulations on a job well done. You all should be very proud! I have lived in DC for 14+ years and your exhibit allowed me to see the city through fresh eyes. Bravo!”

“We should give cameras to more kids more often.”

“All the way from Los Angeles, CA. We LOVED this exhibit.”

“Really great concept & I loved the exhibit. It’s amazing how talented these kids are and it’s great that they were given this opportunity to share their talent with others.”

“Thank you for giving this New Yorker a taste of the real Washington DC. Beautiful work!”

“Wonderful exhibit – exactly the kind of images it is important to preserve. I am glad that these students took these photographs and glad that the Building Museum lets us see what they saw.”

Visitor Comments from IWWL: Three Communities in Focus (December Update)

2010-12-17T11:13:00.000-05:00

"I really got a feel for the neighborhood and for the very talented teenagers who put this project together."

"I enjoyed the poems about Trinidad and it's buildings. All of the exhibits make me curious about meeting the people who live there."

"What a creative and collaborative effort from young minds. Thoroughly enjoyed the different ways you displayed your explorations. Bravo!"

"I was in this program and looking back on it, we did an amazing job" - Jasmine M.

"We are awesome!" - Sherve B.

"Great exhibit! We live in Southwest and you did a great job capturing its spirit."

"This was really inspiring. It is always good to look at a city with a fresh perspective and you have provided me that. Thank you and good luck. Don't stop taking pictures."

"Beautiful photographs and exhibit. Well structured and displayed. Lots of talent!" - visitor from South Africa.

Visitor Comments from IWWL: Three Communities in Focus (Mid November Update)

2010-11-15T11:39:00.000-05:00

"Wonderful photographs - great job conveying the spirit of the three communities!"

"My second time at the exhibit - still just as wonderful as two months ago!"

"Great! Tebrikler!" - visitor from Turkey

"I think everything done here is amazing and I wish there were more activities in the community for all the children to do things just like this to learn and to have fun."

"I am a resident of Trinidad. I was blown away with the projects created by the students. Magnificent work!"

"Excellent exhibit - wonderful work with middle school youth and great insights into community."

Visitor Comments from IWWL: Three Communities in Focus (End of October Update)

2010-11-01T10:47:00.001-04:00

"Wonderful exhibit! The pride and artistic excitement is so apparent on each young person's face. Thrilling!"

"Inspiring - the young voice of these kids, their curiosity, kindness, warms my heart."

"I love the crab!" - editor of the Southwester

"Congratulations to all involved in this project. Students, you did a wonderful job! Teachers, you did too. Thank you for sharing your experience and talents."

"Really creative collaboration & unique design. Keep it up!"

"Great job! You are inspiring a citizen/artist/educator from San Francisco!"

"Great exhibit that reflects a lot of creativity and hard work! What a great way to highlight the neat elements in these neighborhoods. Well done!"

Visitor Comments from IWWL: Three Communities in Focus (Mid October Update)

2010-10-16T08:45:00.000-04:00

"Great! I did this program during the summer of 2001. It has improved a lot since then but still brings back great memories! At that time all we had was a posterboard in the hallway - now a whole exhibit! Congrats!"

"The green city grid backdrop is fabulous! I like how it extends onto the floor. Tape art! I also want a decoupage crab for my apartment."

"Great project! I will take this idea back to Los Angeles. So important to learn and to look!"

"Looks like a great experience for the students at many levels - photography, teamwork, neighborhood exposure, creating the exhibit, and proudly displaying their end product."

"Wonderful, explore more the city!"

"Very good! This is enchanting. I learned a lot about neighborhoods in DC I had not visited. Thanks!"

"It was really inspiring to come back to see all the hard work that my son and his teammates put in this summer come to life."

Visitor comments from IWWL: Three Communities in Focus! (End of Sept Update)

2010-09-30T11:25:00.000-04:00

"The Riverfront approves!!"

"I visit this exhibit each year and I love seeing my city through the eyes of our young people. When my daughter is older, I would want her to participate in this program."

"I am proud that these students have learned the lessons of community and how to be great photographers."

"I live in SW DC and was pleasantly surprised to find an exhibit on my neighborhood. Nicely done!"

"This is most inspirational exhibit I've seen on my visit to DC. Thank you to the creators - the students." -visitor from Florida.

"As a retired teacher from Baltimore, I love this exhibit!! What these children learned! And what talent they brought!"

"Thank you for showing me these three great neighborhoods of DC. We love them and will go looking for them."

"Great exhibition which shows Washington from a very different view from what tourists like me see usually. Thanks for this project." - visitor from Germany.

"We really enjoyed seeing this exhibition. I teach built environment at a high school in Sydney, Australia and do a walk through of neighborhoods with kids. Great display! Love all the details!" - visitor from Australia.

"Every school should do a project like this one!"

Parkview neighborhood

2010-09-21T12:03:00.002-04:00

One of the (many) great things about Investigsting Where We Live is that we often receive feedback and additional information about our neighborhoods from people in the city. We have people who write stories and additional facts in the guest book. People call us to give more information or send us emails. That connection to the communities is something that we really love, and continue to encourage. For example, once the exhibit comes down from the walls in the National Building Museum, we work with community members in each neighborhood to find a place to hang the photos so that they travel back to that community. We like that the process circles back around to the people who welcomed us in the first place.

Several people have contacted us about making a clarification about the Petworth part of our exhibition, and we felt we should make this information available to the public. Some of the photos show places that are actually part of the Parkview neighborhood, which borders Petworth. That's four neighborhoods for the price of three!

Parkview borders. Courtesy Parkview, D.C. blog

We try our best to research neighborhood boundaries before the participants go into the three neighborhoods, but once a group of 15 people hits the ground, you can cover a lot of ground and not necessarily always control the path taken. Over the course of four site visits, each student takes hundreds of photos, and as they are reviewing them, recalling exactly where that one particular photo was shot takes back seat to communicating the exhibit theme and the participants' story about the neighborhood.

That said, we want to make sure we are communicating accurate information about where we were in the city. Below are some of the images from Parkview.

Flower pot house by Diamonte' Jackson

King's Deli by Diamonte' Jackson

Parkview Rec Center by Amira Samiy

While in terms of culture and community there is much overlap between the two neighborhoods, we wanted to make sure we respect the identity of each area. For more information on Parkview, you can visit the Parkview, D.C. blog.

Visitor comments & sketches from IWWL: Three Communities in Focus! (Mid-September Update)

2010-09-15T08:37:00.003-04:00

"I am so impressed with the care you took to really examine these three areas around DC. You each showed a great "eye" for life in your photographs and descriptions of each view. And, to think, at your ages, you've had an art exhibit in a major museum!"

"Really cool, I can tell it took a lot of hard work to put this awesome exhibit together - be proud of yourselves." (visitor from San Francisco)

"I visit this exhibit each year and I love seeing my city through the eyes of our young people. When my daughter is older, I would want her to participate in this program. Congrats to teens & staff!"

"I am impressed with the displays showing diversity, acceptance, pride, and beauty of these communities."

"This was a great show; sometimes stunning in the poetry & photography. The show gives me great hope for the future for these young people and their neighborhoods." (visitor from San Francisco)

"Thanks! I live across the river in Arlington and enjoyed learning more about DC communities."

"This is one of the more amazing kid driven exhibits I've seen. Just goes to show there is such beauty in every part of DC."

"Awesome work. Y'all make your neighborhoods shine! DC is a great city because of all of you." (visitor from Canada)

"Filled with personality, clarity, and truth. It was good to see, hear, and feel the message of the young."

"We enjoyed this exhibit greatly - it tells us to never underestimate the young!"

"Thank you for such a locally inspired and youthful exhibit! The photos and art are wonderful and the poetry was very moving. The crabs appear to have a few advocates!!" (family from Oregon)

Visitor comments & sketches from IWWL: Three Communities in Focus!

2010-08-26T08:52:00.000-04:00

"The images, captions, and poetry blew me away. I am incredibly impressed with all efforts which went into this project! I hope more projects like this will go on in the future. Continue to capture the essence of our city and you will continue to make it a beautiful place to call home."

"Exhibition on Petworth is timely and accurate. A general need of preserving affordable housing not just there but nation/world wide."

"A thoroughly inspiring show. Thank you for putting an idea in my mind for the small town where I live."

"This was really a interesting and very well done exhibit. The project was a great idea & the kids did terrific things - some cool pictures and mixed media deserve to stay here for good!"

"What a great exhibit! I love that the young people involved created an intrinsically multimedia experience that includes film, art, sound, and photography - and combined it all so seamlessly. It creates a larger metaphor that truly shows the importance of place."

"What a great exhibit! I used to live in Petworth so it was interesting to see another take on it!"

"This is excellent! The tree makes me want to make a family tree or scrapbook tree of vacations on the stairway wall at home to liven it up! Great job on the crab too!"

"This is a good way to learn about DC neighborhoods!"

"Job well done. You all put your heart and soul into it and made something beautiful, it shows."

"This looks absolutely amazing! The models and multimedia are so impressive this year. It really looks like you all had a lot of fun!" (from a 2008 IWWL intern)

Visitor comments from IWWL: Three Communities in Focus

2010-08-09T17:11:00.000-04:00

"Excellent artwork! I was moved, as a DC resident, seeing the different side to the neighborhoods. I hope they keep up with photography and poety."

"One of the most amazing kids' programs and exhibits I've ever seen! Great photography."

"Great photos, especialy Petworth Pine" and "Old & Withered". "Greenhouse Effect" - very interesting composition. Talented youth - you are the future!"

"Thanks to NBM & participants. I dropped in to see the lego exhibit but it was sold out. Fortunately, I got more than I bargained for by coming into the 2010 IWWL exhibit. GREAT perspective on our city. What incredible talent & creative eyes, ears, and hands for our benefit."

"Excellent! Talented Kids! Their eyes see DC. They're minds see an even better DC. May their hands and hearts make a better DC."

"As a photographer and someone who has enjoyed teaching children, especially about the environment, I find this exhibit inspiring."

"I swear my eyes are watering right now. This is an awesome project! The artistry of these kids is fantastic! Please keep this project up."

"My 3 kids and I love this exhibit. Seeing these neighborhoods through the eyes of other children. These communities are very different from our community yet the children have so much in common. Love the beauty..."

Looking back and looking forward

2010-08-04T13:28:00.000-04:00

Reading my colleagues’ latest entries, everyone is amazed at how quickly the summer has passed. My reaction is no different. July is always such a whirlwind, but each year I turn around and the participants have produced another great, innovative, creative show.

This year the Trinidad team had to endure a long journey even to get to our neighborhood. We took the Metro and walked 20 minutes each way; we took the X2 bus and were crammed up against strangers; we even took school bus that broke down on our way back to the Museum. We did all this in order to accurately document and understand the neighborhood and talk to the residents in it. Everyone was a trooper as we trudged through the heat and humidity, and I appreciate their dedication!

The exhibit brainstorming and planning process, which is always a long process, went really well. All of the students had strengths that added to the final product. Cynthia and Josephine made some amazing mural paintings on our wall. Al’Asia and Bryant produced some fantastic writings. Malik and Kareem used their collage and interview skills to produce a neat station about our journey to and from Trinidad. Lindsey. Arianna, and Cierra used their steady hands to help cut photos for the interactive, and mattes for the photos and writings. Zac and Keenan painstakingly represented some of the buildings in Trinidad through models for our 3D map. Everyone functioned as a team and created a great exhibit.

I always look back fondly and a little sadly at the time in IWWL. It is crazy and busy, and it leaves you no time to rest, but it creates such a wonderful sense of camaraderie and friendship that I am sad to see go. Fortunately I am in the position to experience this program each summer. We can never recreate the same experience year to year, but each one stands alone, a unique and special moment in time.

Thanks again to all the participants, Team Leaders, and volunteers. You did a fantastic job!

Is It Really the End?

2010-08-04T12:06:00.004-04:00

It's weird to think that IWWL has ended for the summer. The exhibit though, is up in the gallery and will be running until mid January. Three Communities in Focus has drawn so many visitors that we even needed to place a gallery attendant in the gallery space! It was great to experience the exhibition opening this past Friday with a large crowd consisting of family and friends of our participants and even community members.

IWWL has been such a great experience for me. I was able to meet such a variety of people from NBM staff members, volunteers, local photographers, and our teens. I learned a lot about communication and leadership while working with my neighborhood group. To think that in 12 days, as a group, we explored, brainstormed, designed, and created the amazing exhibit that exists today. There were some challenging moments, but in the end I am so proud of our accomplishments! I am also grateful to know more about D.C. and it's unique neighborhoods. I've become more curious about my surroundings and find myself exploring areas I wouldn't necessarily have prior to my time in IWWL.

I encourage everyone to visit the exhibit or even our facebook and flickr page if you aren't near by.

Looking Back...

2010-08-04T11:43:00.002-04:00

Taking a look back on the past month, I can't believe how quickly time flew by! It is unbelivable the amount of work and dedication it took on the part of the students to complete such an involved undertaking as: documenting a site with mulitiple forms of media, developing as a team an exhibition design, and also installing the entire show in two days. I have experience working in groups of young, established artists to mount an exhibition - trust me, it's no easy task. This experience, by contrast, was marked by the ease of transition from design to installation. The students came up with original and engaging ideas for the display of the photography and writing as well as for the interactive elements. This involved mounting writings behind corresponding photos which flipped up, using paint and vinyl to make a map of Petworth that went from the wall onto the floor, and allowing visitors to write on flowers that could be "transplanted" to another section of the exhibition. The exhibition as a whole looks fantastic, and I believe it to be a sophisticated conversion of documentation and design to exhibition display.

I greatly enjoyed by experience working on Investigating Where We Live. I learned a great deal about working in teams in a leadership capactiy with different people of different ages. I also was able to learn more about the history of D.C. and some of its often looked-over neighborhoods. IWWL has re-emphasized to me that art has a unique power to create change, both personally and socially. Best wishes to everyone and always remember to remain critical of your surroundings!

Thoughts on IWWL

2010-08-04T10:15:00.003-04:00

Participating in IWWL this summer has been a great experience. Not only has it been a joy teaching the students, I learned so much from them as well! From teaching me how to use a drill to telling me what TV shows are popular, I learned a great deal from the students. I also enjoyed learning more about Washington, D.C. If I had not done this program, I probably never would have gone to the Southwest Waterfront. However, I’m so glad I had the opportunity to learn about this fascinating community. I loved getting fresh seafood at the fish market, walking along the Potomac River, and discovering some of the oldest buildings still standing in D.C.

I had so many wonderful moments with this program, it’s hard to pick just a few to share. Every day the creativity of our students amazed me. I loved hearing the great ideas the students come up with when we were brainstorming for the exhibit. I was also touched to see how dedicated our students were. When we gave them activities to do, such as building houses out of recycled materials or creating tourism posters, the students poured themselves in the projects, often asking for more time to work so they could do their best. After our site visits I loved looking at all of the great photographs the students took. Although they only got to have two or three photos in the exhibit, they took hundreds of amazing photographs. To see more check out our flickr account at http://www.flickr.com/photos/nationalbuildingmuseum/sets/72157624217222339/

So come see the results of IWWL by checking out our exhibit at the National Building Museum. I assure you that you won’t be disappointed!

Yay Southwest Waterfront!!!

Opening Night!

2010-07-31T09:19:00.001-04:00

Last night the 2010 IWWL exhibit officially opened to the public. The National Building Museum is open open Monday through Saturday, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, and Sunday, 11:00 am to 5:00 pm. Come see the results of all our hard work! Below are some pictures from the big night-

Congratulations Everyone!

Jamee gave every participant a certificate

We had a big crowd in attendance

At 6:30 we opened the gallery to the public!

Visitors watching Sarah-Guyton's great video

Levi and I- yay Southwest Waterfront!

Vinita shows off Trinidad's great interactive

Vinita, and Sarah-Guyton and I- go interns!

I love my job!

2010-07-30T09:42:00.002-04:00

I title this "I love my job," because no other place would I be helping to paper mache a giant crab one day and painting a mural the next. But it's not all arts and crafts. Yesterday I was on my hands and knees scrubbing paint off the gallery floor and sweeping- happily of course! :) But I've never had a job of which my responsibilities include everything from curriculum writing, teaching, mentoring, and getting my hands dirty. Thank you NBM!

The fourth week of IWWL is probably the most hectic of the program, but it's the most exciting as it's the week of the big reveal. Tonight we'll finally see all of the students' creative ideas and hard work make the gallery space come alive. I look forward to spending this evening with the IWWL participants, staff, volunteers, and members of the NBM community. I apologize for the lack of photos in this post, but I don't want to give too much away- you'll have to come see it for yourself!

Pulling Together the Exhibit

2010-07-27T15:00:00.000-04:00

Today the IWWL students continued to work on their projects for the exhibit. The exhibit opens this Friday, July 30th, at 6:00!

When reflecting on today James, from the Petworth group, wrote,
"Today I had a great experience. I learned more about painting and cutting. I also learned more about making flowers. All I have to say is that it was a constructive day."

Levi wrote,
"What I like about IWWL is working on the exhibit and making the paper mache crab for the wall. It is super fun because I’m working with friends and doing my favorite thing which is tearing up paper and letting out my anger on the paper. I don’t know why I need to be angry because IWWL is funnn!!!!!!!!"

Thanks for all your had work everyone!

Josh: Reflections on IWWL From A Volunteer

2010-07-22T16:02:00.000-04:00

Working with the IWWL this summer has been a very rewarding experience. I have enjoyed making new friends and working as a team with the other leaders and students. I was very unsure what to except as a volunteer, but my experience has far exceeded anything I could have expected. IWWL is an amazing program, unlike anything I have expected. I am sad that our time together is almost over, but I am so anxious to see the fruit of all the students hard work! I can't wait for the IWWL exhibit opening on Friday July 30th, at 6:00!

Southwest Gets Creative

2010-07-22T15:55:00.001-04:00

Southwest worked hard today to pull together our exhibit. They put in a ton of effort, so we wanted to share some of the great projects they completed today.

Denae created a beautiful model of Southwest Rowhouses. Other group members helped her throughout the day. Here they are hard at work:

Denae and Sherve'

Denae works away

All finished!

Rachel and London worked on the map with our volunteer Josh:

For our interactive we pasted fun facts on crabs and rubber fish and put them in a crate to represent the fish market. Levi did most of the work on the interactive, here he is posing with it-

Imani made a model of the Southwest Waterfront Safeway. Josh, Keana, and Sherve helped her out. Here they are with their great model-

Sherve' made "pop art" with her photo of a duck-

Yay Southwest!!!

Imani: Reactions from the Jurors

2010-07-22T15:34:00.000-04:00

Today the panel suggested captioning our pictures. The advice they gave us will help people understand our pictures and why they are there. They liked what we had so they really didn't suggest that we change anything.

Cierra: Juror Feedback

2010-07-22T15:32:00.000-04:00

I am in group Trinidad. The panelists told us that we did a good job but they also gave us a few suggestions. They said that we should make sure that our exhibit is clear to the viewers. So if there are photos grouped in any kind of way the viewer will notice that. The jurors also wanted us to makes sure that our title fit in or will describe the exhibit. The panelist giving us suggestions helped us go back and fix things that we didn't see before.

Denae: Finalizing Our Exhibit

2010-07-21T16:05:00.000-04:00

Today I had fun. SW Waterfront, Trinidad, and Petworth got to do hands on artwork and make different ideas. I got to make a model of row houses. My group members in Southwest Waterfront had lots of other great ideas. We also talked about how we were going to design the exhibit to show the families from other places what we have done. We also picked out pictures that were very strong for the exhibit.

Bryant: Exhibit Work Day

2010-07-21T16:00:00.000-04:00

Today my Trinidad group members and I did various tasks that needed to be completed, in order to get our exhibit ideas finalized. First, we made our final decisions on which photos we were going to include in our exhibit. Our final photo selection process was very simple because we all had a good idea of what we wanted to show in our exhibit. Next, we worked on giving our exhibit a title. This task was also very simple because my group as a whole came together to decide on our title. Finally, our group separated into small groups, where each group had a different task to work on. My small group had to come up with the writing piece we each wanted to put in the exhibit. This was the most difficult task of all because instead of doing it as a group, we had to complete it individually. Today, we completed a lot of things that needed to be done in order to pull our exhibit together.

Leia: My thoughts on the Exhibit Design

2010-07-20T16:45:00.000-04:00

After three weeks of site visits and helpful workshops, it's finally exhibit construction time! In the Petworth group we noticed that many of our pictures were simply of things you would see as you took a walk through Petworth. So why not have "a stroll through Petworth" as our theme? We also noticed that there was a lot of construction, or "rebirth" in Petworth. So we are trying to decide which one of these themes to use for our exhibit. We are thinking about ways to make our exhibit eye catching, like using bright colors and catchy titles. We also want to include interactive pieces in our exhibit, like maybe comment books where people could express their feelings on our exhibit and Petworth, or maybe even a little section where we give the people a picture and they have to construct that building or house out of legos. We're thinking and planning hard, and I look forward to seeing what our final presentation will look like.

Shervé and Brianna: Ideas for the Exhibit

2010-07-20T16:38:00.001-04:00

"My ideas for the exhibit are to make a giant paper-mâché crab and to make pop art. Hopefully these will be assets to our exhibit." - Shervé, Southwest Waterfront

"I want the Petworth exhibit to have a hands on part. We can have a picture of a building in Petworth and have people build it with legos."
- Brianna Morgan, Petworth.

The Clock is Ticking...

2010-07-20T15:09:00.002-04:00

...and there is not much time left. Even under the time contraints, I was very impressed with all of the ideas and work done today. In the Petworth group we were able to: make a final decision on our theme/title, decide on a final photo layout, make plans to incorporate a map of Petworth on the exhibit wall (and floor!), as well as begin work on our interactive piece. A great deal of work got accomplished, but that does not mean that there is any slowing down for the group. As we move forward, there will be more work done on writing captions/titles for each of the photos and determining their sizes, finishing up on the interactive work, and doing a writing piece for each team member for one of their photos in the show.

Next week will be the installation of all our hard work and preparation! I hope that everyone in Petworth is ready to have a hands-on experience with installing an exhibition. In my mind, it is aguably the most fun aspect of the process. There is nothing more amazing than seeing one of your concepts be put into form and made visible for others to see. Countdown til the 30th....(!)

It's a bird, it's a plane, no, it's Superhero Day!

2010-07-16T09:53:00.001-04:00

Once a week we have a theme day. Thursday's theme was Superhero Day! The photos below show how creative the staff and students got with their costumes-

Superhero Students and Staff!

Cat Woman and Ninja

Garden Woman, J Tel. and Ninja

Superhero Staff

Human Alphabet!

2010-07-16T09:42:00.001-04:00

Here at IWWL it isn't all work and no play. On Tuesday we played an icebreaker game called the human alphabet, where participants create letters with their bodies. Then we all came together to spell IWWL. Here are some photos showing the fun-

Sketch by Jasmine

2010-07-16T09:37:00.001-04:00

Here is a beautiful sketch done by Jasmine, of the Petworth group:

Josh: Museum Visit and Exhibition Design

2010-07-15T16:49:00.000-04:00

We went to two exhibits yesterday at the Smithsonian American History Museum. One was about the Apollo Theatre, and the other was about the history of a house called "Within these Walls". I liked the house exhibit much better. It had A LOT more color than Apollo, and also had more interactive things. I also noticed that Within these Walls had a temperature that was just right. It was not too cold or too hot, it was perfect.

I have several ideas for the Southwest Waterfront exhibit design. The first thing is that I don't want the room to be too hot or cold. I think it would be cool to incorporate a temperature (or fan) that makes you feel near the ocean. We need LOTS of interactive things so its fun for kids and it's not just reading. When we were in the exhibit "Drawing Towards Home" a man and two boys came in. The boys were about eight and ten. While the dad was looking around, I noticed that the kids were playing and that they were obviously bored. I don't want that to be the case with our exhibit. I want kids five and up enjoying it and actually paying attention.

Janelle: Exhibit Design

2010-07-15T16:43:00.001-04:00

Today was day eight of IWWL. We didn't go on any site visits today. In the morning, we came up with ideas, titles, and themes for our exhibit. Later, a curator from the National Museum of African American History & Culture visited us and gave us tips for creating our exhibit. After lunch, we all went out to museums to see different types of exhibits. I have some ideas for the IWWL Petworth exhibit. It would be called "Petworth: Changing Community." There would be some pictures of construction, churches, gardens, and, well, all of the types of pictures that we took. But those are just my ideas and I'm sure there are others.

Team Trinidad - Writings from Day 9

2010-07-15T10:39:00.004-04:00

"Diversity, historic, and community. Just three little words that mean a lot toTrinidad. Whether it's through the gardens, the houses, or the people, Trinidad is the place to be."

"Trinidad. A historical community with diversity like no other neighborhood. A colorful town that at times is opposite of itself. A place where neighbors are as close as family."

"Trinidad offers a close and friendly community, a diverse collection of buildings, places and people. There is evidence of history that still shows today. Walking along the tranquil streets in the residential community, present are an array of widely colored houses, one after another, including unique gardens in front of each. People are friendly and welcoming, and each of their houses represent different personalities and character. Trinidad shows through its residents' homes and buildings that it is reshaping into a much more active community."

"Trinidad is a place people misinterpret as a bad neighborhood before but over the yeas it has changed for the better. Trinidad has a big community with friendly people and lots of pets. The people in Trinidad are nice."

"Welcome to Trinidad - a diverse community, bundled with color, plants, and history. Friends and family are cherished and loved. Gardens and lawns are well taken care of. There are friendly faces and colorful life inside the Trinidad community."

"Trinidad is a nice neighborhood. There used to be a lot of crime but not anymore. A lot of the houses in Trinidad are brick. In some parts of Trinidad there are a lot of houses painted bright colors. There are a lot of flowers and gardens in the neighborhood. Trinidad is building a new school which is really good for the neighborhood. Trinidad also has two rec centers for kids. A new fire house is also being built. The people of Trinidad are very friendly and humble. Trinidad is a unique place!"

Cynthia: What I want People to Know about Trinidad

2010-07-14T15:46:00.001-04:00

The thing that stood out to me the most about Trinidad were the gardens in almost every yard, the houses themselves, and the people that live there.

In the rows of houses almost identical in structure, the residents have planted flowers, trees, and interesting plants including cacti and bamboo. It shows how each resident personalizes and expresses themselves in the neighborhood.

Not only are the gardens unique to each house, but the brick homes themselves are painted in an array of colors, from blues to yellows; it really makes Trinidad a diverse community. Not only are the homes diverse, but also the people that live there. There are younger families and older residents, and they are all very friendly people, which makes the community even closer. Trinidad is a humble, friendly, and unique environment.

Here are some pictures Cynthia has taken in Trinidad:

Gianni: Interview Day

2010-07-14T15:42:00.001-04:00

From the interviews I learned that the neighborhood of Petworth wasn't what I thought it was. I thought it would be a quiet suburb but now that I see and hear what it's like my view has changed. I also learned that there are 3-4 schools and lots of construction so they can improve the neighborhood of Petworth.

Here is a photo Gianni took in Petworth-

Max: What Community Means to Me

2010-07-14T15:40:00.000-04:00

Community is all about the people in a neighborhood interacting and working together. Many things make up communities. People, houses, schools, and recreation centers are all important parts of a community. I have observed that communities can be very diverse. In Petworth, there are a lot of historical sites and green areas, but there is also a lot of new development. Instead of clashing, these two themes work well together in making the community very interesting and different. There are large old churches preserved in the area, and also new shops opening up. This diversity is part of Petworth's community identity.

Rachel: What People Should Know about Southwest Waterfront

2010-07-14T15:34:00.001-04:00

I want people to know that the Southwest Waterfront is one of the most neighborly and welcoming areas in Washington, D.C. Not only is it filled with beautiful settings, but it also has a hidden allurement found in the people living there. Every resident I've talked to clearly believes that the waterfront is the most charming area in the District, because it offers something for everyone. Like Seafood? Run down to the fish market for a very unique but entertaining lunch or dinner. Like boating? Get your permit and rent out a boat with some buddies. Southwest also offers many recreation centers for children and teens, as well as the pride and support given by all of the gracious people living in Southwest. Southwest has a story of its own and I'm thankful for being able to witness it.

Here are some photos Rachel has taken in Southwest Waterfront-

Ria: Volunteer Instructor

2010-07-13T16:55:00.001-04:00

Volunteering for IWWL is a lot of fun for the instructors. The students are wonderful, personable, and engaged. I love seeing the sketches and photos, and talking with them about their thoughts and design process. I like to hear about what they see through their photographers' eyes. The museum staff are terrific and have made me feel very welcome. Volunteering at NBM is a rewarding experience.

Amira: Petworth Reflections

2010-07-13T16:53:00.003-04:00

After our last site visit and particularly the interview with Prince of Petworth, I gathered that Petworth, for the people who live there, has a strong a sense of community. People sit out on their porches and talk to neighbors. When you walk down any of Petworth's residential streets people are greeting each other and pitching in to help someone carry their groceries. Many people support Georgia Avenue's new development, but some hope for less chains, shops, and restaurants, and more local businesses. Petworth is also considered a place of work and pleasure. People commute from other neighborhoods to go to work and bring their children to the new water park. In fact, most people getting off the Georgia Avenue-Petworth Metro stop aren't residents. To sum up, Petworth is an appealing neighborhood for its residents and its visitors.

Here are some photos Amira took in Petworth:

Keenan: Thoughts on Trinidad

2010-07-13T16:48:00.002-04:00

Last week, in week two of IWWL, I had a lot fun making new friends, doing educational activities, and traveling to my respective neighborhood, Trinidad. I learned a lot about Trinidad, and the people that live there, during my site visit.

Here are two photos Keenan took in Trinidad:

Community Identity Lesson

2010-07-13T00:23:00.004-04:00

During the 2nd week of IWWL Breck and I led our community identity lesson we collaboratively planned. We got the ball rolling by a group discussion by asking the students what community means to them. Through a word map I asked them to identity different elements that make up a community. We discussed how each of the elements work together and also the affects of internal and external factors.The students had strong perspectives about the importance of community and the relationship between the various parts. I was pleasantly surprised at how vocal the students were during the lesson. We have a lot of really bright kids.

The highlight of the lesson was the neighborhood specific activity, the "tourist attraction poster". Each neighborhood designed and created a poster with a slogan that best characterizes the essence of their neighborhood. The activity was aimed to get the participants thinking about their neighborhood identity and interpretation. The poster was also an introduction to visual communication and design processes that will later be used in the exhibition design portion of the program. The groups had an opportunity to walk around, observe, and discuss each others poster in a mini critique fashion. I was very impressed with the turnout of the posters, collaborative efforts, and the creativity our students have.

After the success from the poster activity, I am even more excited to see what our students have in store as we start the 3rd week/exhibit design portion of IWWL.

Group Posters

Petworth
Trinidad

Southwest Waterfront

Beyond the Fish Market in SW

2010-07-09T19:23:00.012-04:00

These last two weeks have flown by. It's hard to believe that by the end of next week everyone will shift their focus to getting the exhibit ready!

This week the SW Waterfront group had the opportunity to learn a bit more about SW beyond the the famous Fish Market. They interviewed community members who live, work, and/or volunteer in Southwest. On Thursday, the coolest day of the year by far, we split into three groups. One group met with J. Nickerson of the Gangplank Marina, one group met with Rachel Swan of Arena Stage, and the last group met with Paul Taylor who volunteers at the King-Greenleaf Recreation Center. I accompanied the group of students who visited the community center to meet Paul Taylor, which ended up being an enlightening and insightful experience for all of us.

Paul grew up in Southwest and though he now lives in Northeast he is in the SW community several times a week at King-Greenleaf Recreation Center working with various grass roots projects he has started. He recently became the executive director of the non-profit Southwest Comm-UNITY organization and founded a program for pregnant teens and a youth basketball league for young men 18 and older. Not only is Southwest UNITY day, which takes place on July 24th this year, a celebration of SW pride for its residents, but also serves as a memorial to remember those community members who have passed away in the last year. 2,500 to 3,000 people are expected to come out this year to celebrate their community with food, music, and games and to remember those that they've lost.

Paul feels that the work that he is doing in SW is his way of giving back to the neighborhood in which he grew up. Many of the friends he grew up with still live in SW and have started families of their own. When asked about the new plans for revitalization of SW he felt that it was a positive move, but a lot of residents are afraid that it will become too expensive and they will be pushed out of the neighborhoods and communities. I am glad he said this because I think it is essential for the teen participants to understand that while a neighborhood may be in need of improvement, some times it can have a negative impact on the community members that are the most vital to it and who are deeply woven in the fabric of its history.

Here are some photos from Thursday's site visit:

Rachel (not pictured) interviews Paul Taylor as Levi films and Josh takes notes.

Please consider attending the Southwest Unity Day on Saturday July 24th. It's a side of SW and DC that I'm looking forward to being a part of. It's an all ages family event. King-Greenleaf Recreation Center, 201 N St. SW (Waterfront Metro).

View Larger Map

Part of the SW team collapsed in the Great Hall at NBM after a hot and steamy day on site. You guys were troopers!

Finally, a huge thank you to J. Nickerson, Rachel Swan, and Paul Taylor for taking time out of their day to meet and share with our students.

Keana: What is Community

2010-07-09T09:39:00.000-04:00

Keana wrote:

To me a community is a group of people, working together to make their neighborhood a nicer place. If and when a community works together they can all be aware of events, news, and other things. The people of a community help each other out, just like one big family.

The students of IWWL made collages illustrating what their own communities are like. They were all hung up in the classroom to make one giant community collage. Here is a photo of that collage-

Al'Asia- Photo Review Pointers

2010-07-07T16:11:00.002-04:00

Al'Asia learned the following from the photo review-

From the photo review today I learned that when taking a photo you have to make sure you don't take a photo of empty space, but more of what your focus is. I also learned that when taking a photo you have to think about the story behind it. You have to think about what made you want to take a photo of your subject. I will use this by making sure I take my pictures from different angles. This also teaches me to not be afraid of communicating with people so that I can get a closer shot. This is what I've learned from the photo review.

Here are some of Al'Asia's photos of Trinidad-

Kareem: What I learned from Photo Review

2010-07-07T15:26:00.000-04:00

On Tuesday students went through a photo review with professional photographers and the IWWL staff to get feedback on their work so far. Kareem, age 12, wrote that he learned the following from this process:

I learned texture, rule of thirds, and how to shoot in different angles. I also learned how to use vertical lines.

Here are two photos Kareem took in Trinidad-

Jasmine: First Impressions of Petworth

2010-07-07T15:19:00.001-04:00

My first impression of Petworth was that it was quiet and peaceful. People weren't in a hurry; everything was slow and calm. I also thought that Petworth was being modernized. It seemed like someone was doing construction on every other street. Petworth is also green and environmentally friendly. Everywhere you go you see so many plants and trees and flowers. Everything is so colorful and bright, it almost makes you want to move there. I really like Petworth and I am looking forward to going back soon!

Here are some photos Jasmine took of Petworth-

Levi: Creative Writing Response

2010-07-07T15:17:00.000-04:00

Levi, age 11, is part of the Southwest Waterfront group. He wrote a creative response to some of the photos he took of the Fish Market-

Some fishermen went fishing once and cought some red fish and they caught something weird. It was a weird fish. So a fisherman named Bob took it to the fish market to check it out. The fish market didn't know what it was. Bob said "I'll name it Bobby Jack." They played together. Bobby Jack pinched Bob's nose. Bob said, "Bobby Jack you're in danger, don't do it again." One day the power went out and Bob was hungry. His generator came on and he got a big pot, and put it to boil. He grabbed Bobby Jack and said sorry old buddy. Bob cooked him and steam fried him and ate Bobby Jack joyfully.

The Best Way to Spend the Summer!

2010-07-07T07:18:00.000-04:00

Hello everyone! My name is Jamee and I am the Outreach Programs Coordinator for the National Building Museum. This summer I'm the lead instructor for Investigating Where We. I've worked at the Museum since 2005. I am originally from a small town in Oklahoma but have called DC home for the past five years.

My job is fun, challenging, and rewarding. I work with teens. The best part about my job is that we, the Museum, see students grow up with us, right in front of our eyes. They spend two years to seven years with our programs. This Museum is a place where teens hang out, they know the staff, and they are made to feel welcome all the time.

Students who come through NBM programs leave with a better understanding of how they can help create positive change in their communities and also how their communitiy contributes to the overall health of the city. It's really cool to see students have such ownership of their city but also be able to discuss ways in which it can improve. I think Jasmine, a participant in Outreach Programs for three years, explains the experience well.

“At first (three years ago), IWWL was simply a cool summer camp. Now that I have learned more about the city where I live, the areas such as Brookland and Columbia Heights are not just places on the Metro map to me. I have learned what makes them a big and important part of the DC landscape.” Jasmine – age 15

This summer I look forwad to meeting new students as well as working with our returning students in IWWL. My favorite moment is when we open the gallery to a group of teens and let them go to work - painting, framing, hanging photos, laughing, singing, etc. It's the moment where they connect their work during the last three weeks to the greater importance of what they have the chance to communicate to the public. It's an empowering moment. A moment that I, along with our IWWL staff, am fortunate to be a part of each summer.

Props to.....
This program is successful each summer due to the fantastic teens as well as the AMAZING staff. You've met the 2010 staff from blog posts below and can see their enthusiasm and interest in working with our teens. We also have an awesome group of photographers working with our students - thanks to a collaboration with the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Joining this group are a handful of design professionals that spend each day mentoring our students and sharing how their professional paths intersect with what the students are doing at the Museum this summer.

If you are still reading, I hope you continue to follow our updates, post your comments, and share with others. We tell the students that it is important to learn from one another - to share freely, to provide feedback constructively, and to be open to change. We hope that you find these messages in their posts and that you learn a lot from a small group of teens.

-Jamee

Josephine: First Impressions of Trinidad

2010-07-06T16:08:00.002-04:00

On our site visit to Trinidad, I saw a few things I had never seen before. On the way there, I noticed a lot of construction and noise. I also heard a lot of sirens. While walking towards Trinidad, there weren't many poeple.

However, once we entered the neighborhood the first thing I noticed was the style of the houses. All of the buildings were very old fashioned, but also very colorful and different. There was a lot of plant life and a lot of flowers and trees.

Overall I felt the outcome of this site visit was suprising. The neighborhood had a lot of color and plants and it was very quiet. I hope to see a different side of Trinidad on our next site visit.

Below are some of Josephine's photos of Trinidad:

Joshua: Beauty and the Beast

2010-07-06T15:10:00.007-04:00

Josh, age 12, took this photograph is Southwest Waterfront-

Today Josh wrote a poem about the photograph in his sketchbook:

"Beauty and the beast/where beauty's at its least/ where beauty and ugly/can be mixed to form busy/this picture i took/is ugly at first look. But looking closer, something dull/could be something with great potential./ That is why I call it beauty and the beast/ because around this is beauty, and this, is the BEAST!"

Diamonte': What I learned about photography

2010-07-02T15:37:00.005-04:00

I learned that there is alot more to a photo then just a picture. The rule of thirds helps you balance out your picture. Also you can use leading lines to help guide you from one image to another image in the photo. Another unique thing about photos is the variety of framing you can fit into a picture. This is most of what I learned at this camp. I am looknig forward to learning more about what is in store for the camp.

Here are some of Diamonte's IWWL photos of Petworth-

Team Trinidad: Week 1

2010-07-02T13:52:00.000-04:00

The first week has already passed, which is hard to believe. Before I know it, the exhibit will open and the summer will end. Taking care of the basics for the program, like learning about the classroom and getting to know names, is always a little stressful and time consuming, but we’ve transitioned to thinking about our neighborhoods and getting to know each other better. That’s the enjoyable part of the program.

The Trinidad team consists of: Bryant, Josephine, Cynthia, Keenan, Kareem, Lindsey, Al’Asia, Cierra, Zac, and Arianna. Their first site visit to Trinidad went well. We survived the walk from the New York Avenue Metro , mainly because it was not as hot or humid as it had been in past weeks. Next week, we are going to take the X2 along H Street to get to the neighborhood. The group primarily focused on the southern part of the neighborhood this time. We’ll visit the other parts on the next few site visits. We even had a chance to go to Conner Contemporary Gallery of Florida Avenue and explore some of the artwork on display. Overall, the team’s first impressions of the neighborhood are that it’s historical, unique, friendly, and a little noisy.

I continue to be amazed at how friendly and open people in Trinidad are. In three years of doing this program, I’ve never had so many people actually ask to have their photos taken. Usually, I feel like we are hunting people down to get their photographs. I can tell that the residents care about their community because they are so aware of who is in it.

I’m looking forward to exploring more of the neighborhood with the rest of the team!

Jasmine: What I'm looking forward to in IWWL

2010-06-30T15:48:00.002-04:00

I'm looking forward to taking a lot of photos, having fun, and making lots of new friends. Even though I have been doing IWWL for three years, each and every year I meet new people and make good friends. IWWL is the best time I have during the summer.

Zac: What I'm looking forward to about IWWL

2010-06-30T15:44:00.004-04:00

During this year of IWWL, the thing that I am most looking foward to is the week of exhibition preparation. I enjoy that week the most, because I absolutely love to design and create things. Since I personally work better under stress, knowing that lots of people will see our exhibit forces me to work harder and do my best.

Tourist Theme Day!

2010-06-29T15:26:00.005-04:00

Today was the first day of Investigating Where We Live. I think I can speak for all the staff when I saw we were very happy with how well the first day went, and excited that we got to meet all of the students. We are looking forward to working with everyone!

For our first day we had a "tourist theme". As we explore our neighborhoods, we need to think like tourists. We need to be inquestive, take lots of pictures, and be ready to learn about what we see. Also, mostly tourists will be seeing our exhibit once it is completed, so we need to keep our audience in mind. To convey this idea to the students all of the staff decided to dress up like tourists. We wore "I love DC Shirts" and Jamee had a snazzy red visor. We even wore the classic fanny packs!

Thanks for a great first day everyone!

Team Petworth

2010-06-29T07:32:00.001-04:00

Hey!! My name is Sarah-Guyton Runnels, and I am an intern with Investigating Where We Live. I was born and raised in a small, southern town in Mississippi. When I was a senior in high school, my family moved to Kansas City, Missouri. I am currently a senior at the University of South Carolina in Columbia studying Visual Communications and Hospitality, Restaurant, Tourism Management. I plan to pursue a career in photography and design. This is my first time ever living in a big city, and I am quickly learning my way around. The metro and I recently became friends and I am determined to keep this relationship strong. HA!

When Breck and I visited Petworth I was really surprised how quiet it was. This area really is a "porch community." There are literally hundreds of porch homes where the people of this community can sit and take in this amazing area. The colorful flowers, birds chirping, children playing, and beautiful homes really makes this a hidden treasure within DC. I can't wait to further explore this area with my team!

I am looking forward to meeting all of you!!

Sarah-Guyton

Meet the Petworth Team Leader

2010-06-28T12:46:00.016-04:00

Hey there, my name is Breck Furnas and I am the Team Leader for the Petworth group. I moved back to D.C. last December, having left for Chicago in 2005, and I'm constantly amazed at how quickly the city is changing. In the not so distant past, Petworth was not on the map of places to visit. I honestly was not sure what to expect on my first foray into perusing Petworth. Maybe I would find a neighborhood exclusively composed of older homes? Would there be very many businesses? What was the seemingly isolated Rock Creek Cemetery, dating back from 1719, going to be like?

My first and second visits answered some of these questions for me. I was fairly shocked to walk out of the Metro to find large-scale condos and new construction work going on along Georgia Avenue. While walking up Georgia Ave, I found a handful of restaurants, shops, and the lovely Qualia cafe (highly recommend the coffee!). The area along Georgia felt very much in transistion. There seemed to be some businesses closing down, some very old, and some that had just opened. Heading east deeper into the neighborhood, I was struck by how quiet it was: no traffic on the residential streets, few people on the ubiquitous porches that are apart of nearly every home, and only a small number of young people. The quiet allowed me to focus on the beautiful and often historic architecture:

It was also hot, hot, hot. For everyone on all teams - be sure to bring your water bottle!

Some thoughts on Southwest Waterfront...

2010-06-28T09:09:00.002-04:00

I have visited SW Waterfront three times now, and each time I find something new that greatly interests me. The neighorhood is truly diverse. Located right on the Potomac, SW Waterfront has beautiful views of the water. A thriving marina and houseboat community is located right off shore. Walk into the community a little further, and it becomes entirley different. Shady tree lined streets are filled with wonderful examples of mid-century modern architecture. Lauren and I found a rowhouse complex called River Park that is decorated with aluminum trim, and towering apartment buildings with funky facades. The east side of the community is steeped in history. On our last visit we found Randall Jr. High, where Marvin Gaye attended. Now vacant, there are plans to develop it as a hotel/art gallery. Syphax school, operated from 1902 to 1994, has been remodeled as condos, a great example of the historic preservation technique of rehabilitation and reuse. I can't wait to share what Lauren and I have found with our students.

Meet the Southwest Waterfront Team Leader

2010-06-25T08:35:00.010-04:00

Hello! I am Lauren Wilson the Team Leader for the Southwest Waterfront group. I'll be working with the Waterfront Writer, aka Mary Cameron, to lead our group of teens on an exploration of this diverse neighborhood. I led the Columbia Heights team last year, and I am excited to return to IWWL this year.

I grew up in Maryland and have lived in the DC area for 3 years now and this week was the first time I actually walked around the waterfront in SW. It's very quiet, the water is beautiful, and the architecture is rather unique. I'm looking forward to exploring this neighborhood's fascinating history and learning more about future redevelopment plans.

Here are some pictures I've taken this week:

If anyone knows how I can live on a house boat, please let me know.

Mid-morning during the week is a great time to visit the Maine Ave fish market.

River Park Apartments on M Street.

Mural on the Randall Junior High School building.

Meet Team Trinidad!

2010-06-24T21:43:00.006-04:00

Hey there. My name is Vinita and I am one of the interns for Investigating Where We Live. I'm working with team leader Andrew where we will explore Trinidad with the IWWL participants. I am studying Interior Design at Virginia Commonwealth University and have always been curious with how people interact with their environments. When I visited Trinidad with Andrew we saw a lot of residents relaxing on their porches who greeted us back as we passed by. I was also impressed to learn the neighborhood uses gardening as an outlet to beautify and encourage the growth of the community.

As we get closer to the start of the program, I get more and more excited to work with the teens and share the experience of environmental exploration. Now, if only Mother Nature cooperates....

Some of my first shots:

Interesting contrast between these two developments

Capital City Diner on Bladensburg Rd. NE

Meet the Trinidad Team Leader

2010-06-24T16:58:00.001-04:00

My name is Andrew. I've been a Team Leader for Investigating Where We Live three times now - in Deanwood, in the U Street Corridor, and now in Trinidad. Each summer I learn more about the city I've called home for over four years, and more about how to explore it with a group of teens and middle schoolers. I've enjoyed seeing Trinidad because it has such a great neighborhood feel that I don't necessarily always experience where I live in Columbia Heights. If you live in the neighborhood and see a sweaty group of teens and adults, say hi!

Who is Waterfront Writer?

2010-06-24T13:26:00.006-04:00

Hi my name is Mary Cameron aka Waterfront Writer. I am interning with the National Building Museum this summer. During the school year I am a grad student in Art History at American University. I am working with Lauren Wilson on exploring the Southwest Waterfront. We have already visited the neighborhood twice, and I am looking forward to taking the students there.

Here are some pictures I've taken in Southwest so far-

The Evolution of Petworth- Photographic Comparisons

2010-06-14T11:28:00.020-04:00

See how Petworth has changed. The color photographs are from Google Map streetview. The black and white photos date from the 1920s, and are courtesy of the Washington, DC Historical Society.

New Hampshire Avenue (L) and Rock Creek Church Road , 2010

New Hampshire Avenue (L) and Rock Creek Church Road, 1927

New Hampshire Avenue and 8th Street NW, Washington DC, 2010

New Hampshire Avenue and 8th Street NW, Washington DC, 1927

Intersection of New Hampshire Avenue (R) and 7th Street, 2010

Intersection of New Hampshire Avenue (R) and 7th Street, 1927

Kansas Ave NW and Shepherd St NW, 2010

General view east down Shepherd Street NW across Kansas Avenue. Includes the Petworth Public School at 834 Shepherd Street, the Henry Taft house at 4021 Kansas Avenue., 1895-1900

4021 Kansas Avenue NW, 2010

Henry Taft house at 4021 Kansas Avenue NW, 1900-5

Southwest Waterfront- From Alley Houses to Condos

2010-06-11T16:14:00.008-04:00

The Southwest Waterfront area is bounded by Interstate 395 to the north, Washington Channel to the west, the Anacostia River to the south, and South Capitol Street to the east. Southwest is the smallest of Washington's four quadrants, and Southwest Waterfront is one of only two residential neighborhoods in the quadrant; the other being Bellevue. Southwest Waterfront lies in Ward Six and is represented to the D.C. council by Tommy Wells.

History

Captain John Smith was the first European to explore the Southwest waterfront area, when he sailed up the Potomac in 1608. He encountered Native Americans living on the river. Native Americans chose to live in this area for farming and for easy access to the Potomac and Anacostia rivers. Unfortunately the Native Americans were displaced by white settlers, who laid out plantations along the Potomac. White settlers used slaves brought from the Caribbean and Africa to farm. Thomas Addison built a plantation in 1735 called Gisborough, on what is today Bolling Air Force Base. Notley Young had a mansion and 265 slaves by 1791. His home stood near what is today Banneker Circle.[1] One of the few existing examples of architecture from the 18th century in Southwest is the Thomas Law House. The house was built in 1794 and occupied between 1796 and 1800 by the real-estate speculator Thomas Law and his wife, Eliza Parke Custis, granddaughter of Martha Washington. The home was also called the Honeymoon House, as they young couple spent their honeymoon here. The Law House was used to entertain a number of notable guests soon after it was built. Visitors included the king of France Louis Phillippe and the French writer Volney. Today the Law house is part of the Tiber Island Cooperative complex built in 1965. It is pictured below. Joseph Johnson, a Bladensburg Maryland native, built a home on Buzzard Point in 1800.[2]

Southwest Waterfront served as a vital transportation link. Wharves and docks were built along the water to allow for the shipping of freight and passengers. From the 1790s on travelers could book passage on local ferries and ships bound downriver for Alexandria and points beyond. Fishermen brought catches into SW for sale. Unfortunately slaves were brought to the SW docks to be sold.[3] Below is a photograph from 1900-9 of a steamboat docked at Southwest Waterfront 7th Street Wharves.

Early land speculators, such as the Greenleaf Syndicate, tried to take advantage of the newly planned city by buying up land and building brick row houses. For example, Greenleaf built Wheat Row, 1315 to 1321 Fourth Street, around 1794. The row took its name from John Wheat, who once lived in 1315.[4] Wheat Row is still standing today, as it was incorporated into the Harbor Square Complex in the 1960s.[5] Early developments such as Wheat Row were unsuccessful as the city grew slowly, impaired by the swampy land of the Southwest.[6] However in the 1830s and 40s a new group of developers began to construct buildings on the site of what is today Fort McNair.[7] Southwest mainly consisted of small farms and scatterings of row houses. Fourth and Half Street (Now 4th street) served as a commercial corridor. It was lined with saloons, coal yards, and fuel supply warehouses.[8]

After the 1790s Southwest became a neglected and unfashionable area, when development moved to higher ground in Northwest and South East. The Washington Canal was constructed to provide a water route between Georgetown, downtown, and the Eastern branch, cutting Southwest off from desirable parts of the city.[9] The neighborhood became known as “the island” as it was isolated from the rest of Washington.

The Southwest waterfront has a long history of serving as a military site. In L’Enfant’s original plan he called for a military site on the southern tip of Greenleaf’s Point, at what is today Fort McNair. The Washington Arsenal was completed in 1822, and located at the intersection of Fourth and P Street. It was strategically placed to protect the city from potential invasion. Here munitions and arms were manufactured for local military companies.[10] It became a major manufacturing site of munitions and arms during the Civil War. In June 1864, fireworks drying in the sun on the lawn ignited and flew through the window of the main workroom, where 108 women were working making rifle cartridges, killing 21 workers.

The lands of the Washington Arsenal were eventually combined with those of the Washington Penitentiary, which was constructed in 1826 and designed by Charles Bulfinch.[11] The Penitentiary was enlarged in 1831, partially razed and rebuilt between 1867 and 1869, and then partially razed in 1903. It was originally built to accommodate 160 prisoners in confining cells measuring only two and one half feet by seven feet in length. Openings faced alternatively north and south to prevent prisoners from passing items to one another. The prison was expanded in 1831 to accommodate more prisoners, with more cells, kitchens, and a wharf for the arrival of inmates transported from other states.[12] In 1865 it would become the location of the hanging of Lincoln assassination conspirators. In 1903 President Roosevelt laid the cornerstone of the National War College, which replaced the old arsenal building. [13]

During the 19th century a diverse community of African Americans and Italian, Jewish, German, and Greek immigrants lived in the Southwest Waterfront. The neighborhood grew rapidly, expanding from 10,000 to 18,000 residents from 1860 to 1870. African Americans had made up ¼ of DC’s population since before its founding, and by 1830 more than ½ of all African Americans were free. One leading African American resident, Anthony Bowen, lived on E street between 9th and 10th street. Bowen established a mission and day school for youth and helped with the Underground Railroad. He met runaways at the sixth street wharf and then assisted their journey northwards.[14] Lewis Jefferson, a leading African American entrepreneur, was based in Southwest Waterfront. He owned excursion steamboats, a shipyard, a fertilizer business, real estate, and an amusement park.[15]

In 1848 a group of Washington slaves attempted unsuccessfully to escape by leaving on the schooner Pearl from the Southwest. The captain of the schooner was Daniel Drayton, and the owner and co-captain was Edwin Sayres. Two local freed African Americans, Thomas Ducket and Daniel Bell, organized the escape of the fugitives. Unfortunately the escape was betrayed, and a steamship was used to re-capture the slaves. The next day a white mob rioted in front of the anti-Slavery Washington Newspaper the National Era. Drayton was found guilty; he was sentenced to twenty years in prison and fined over $10,000. President Millard Fillmore gave Drayton a pardon four years later.[16]

In the 1860s German Jews began emigrating to Southwest Waterfront. Then the 1880s saw a wave of Eastern European Jews arrive, increasing the Jewish population from 30 to 90 families. The Jewish community operated many small businesses along 4 ½ street (now 4th street), such as tailoring, butchery, baking, and dry good shops. They built two synagogues, one of which was the Talmud Torah.[17]

Besides shop keeping, the residents of Southwest Waterfront were employed by farming, governmental jobs such as clerks and janitors, and by the burgeoning dock work on the waterfront. Wealthy occupants lived in large houses, while the poor lived in alleys. Fourth Street acted as a racial barrier between Caucasians and African Americans, but it was also a commercial corridor that welcomed all races to its shops, taverns, and businesses, owned by diverse merchants. The community was home both to the D.C. Morgue and an incineration plant, but it was also the site of fine restaurants and early tourist steamboat travel.[18]
1895 to 1903 was the period of greatest growth for the Southwest Waterfront. In 1905 the population peaked at 35,000. Between 1900 and 1903 more than two dozen houses of worship, a variety of voluntary associations, social agencies, schools, and activities were provided for all. Southwest was like a self-contained small city, providing work, service, and entertainment.[19]

Sadly after 1903 Southwest Waterfront began to decline. Federal agencies such as the Bureau of Engraving and Department of Agriculture spread into residential areas, replacing homes with office buildings. The construction of additional warehouses, markets, and freight yards increased noise and congestion, making the area less desirable to live. Absentee landlords reduced property maintenance, diminishing the quality of low-income housing. The area acquired a reputation for being a shabby, dirty, and crime-ridden slum. The population fell to 32,000 in 1920 and 24,000 in 1930.[20]

The alley houses of the poor truly demonstrated the difficult living conditions of Southwest Waterfront. The houses consisted of compacted rows of buildings sandwiched between streets of better houses. The alley houses were concealed within interiors, shielded from view behind high fences and rickety wooden sheds. Houses were two stories high, made of brick or wood, and were cramped and dark. Most had four small rooms- a living room, a kitchen, and two bedrooms upstairs. Often two families shared a dwelling. As recently as 1950 more than 20% of the 5,600 alley dwellings had no electricity, and more than 70% had no central heating. Residents used oil lamps for light and woodstoves for warmth; indoor plumbing was rare.[21] However, while the residents were impoverished, the alleys nourished strong protective institutions and rich African American folk traditions.[22]

Godfrey Frankel discovered these alley neighborhoods when he documented them with his camera in the 1940s. A reporter for the Washington Daily News, in his spare time he was a photographer. One day when he was riding his bike around the city he discovered the neighborhood. He saw people coming and going from a narrow passageway between two buildings. He followed them down a path, and when he emerged onto the other side he found a maze of alleys. Frankel recalled, “I was amazed when I first saw these alley houses- monotonous, drab, two-story brick dwellings stretching a block long, and people spilling out of the doorway into the street.”[23] Frankel found the area intriguing. He felt as if he had entered another world “inside someplace and between someplace.” He explained, “There was specialness to it. Because of the physical nature of the place, it carried a different character.”[24] Frankel recognized that despite the harsh conditions it was still a community. Frankel was most drawn to the children who played in the streets. He loved how they used their imaginations to turn an alley, unsightly and strewn with trash, into a castle, fort, or battlefield. He explained, “As I stood and watched them play, I couldn’t help but think of how the innocence of childhood somehow has a way of protecting them from a brutal environment. I felt the dignity and strength of these children, and I tried to show it in my photos.”[25]

Frankel saw the alleys as studios. He learned where light emanated from at different times of the day, and how the late afternoon sun modeled the brick pavement and house fronts. Frankel had minimal equipment, just a medium format camera and a few extra rolls of film. Frankel was not concerned with “making art” but rather revealing the drama of everyday life. Working informally, Frankel did not set up shots. Instead he would wait patiently for the right moment. Often he would stand in the background while children played around him. He explained, “Sometimes you just come upon the right picture. It’s there! And you shoot without waiting. You shoot again, and you just know you have it. Everything is right- light, subject, mood, composition.”[26] Frankel grew close to his subjects, and the kids looked forward to his visits. He described how, “When I missed a week, they would say, we were looking for you. They greeted me when I came into the alley. Even their parents would ask, ‘Where are you? The kids have missed you.’”[27] The relationships Frankel forged with subjects give his photos a sense of intimacy. As Frankel eloquently put it, “Art and beauty can be everywhere.”[28]

Southwest Waterfront underwent a massive transformation in the 1950s and 1960s. Federal and local officials became concerned about the living conditions of the neighborhood. The area was labeled as an ugly and dangerous eyesore, unseemly as it was so close to the capitol. Federal officials decided that something had to be done, and Southwest was chosen as a laboratory for new theories of urban renewal. In 1946 Congress chartered a new city office, the Redevelopment Land Agency, or RLA. It was given ample powers to condemn, redesign, and rebuild whole neighborhoods. With the National Housing Act of 1949 Congress offered subsidies for slum clearance. More than 2/3rds of Southwest residents were African American, with little political clout. They were unable to stop the RLA when it decided to raze the entire Southwest Waterfront neighborhood.[29] These displaced residents lost their homes and livelihoods. Businesses, commercial structures, and a majority of the religious houses of worship were all destroyed. The commercial corridor Four-and-a-half Street was razed and replaced with the Waterside Mall.[30] Federal officials saw this widespread destruction as an opportunity to rebuild the community on a clean slate, using modern materials and concepts to provide housing for a massive urban population. Private developers saw the potential for an economic boom, as they were able to buy land acquired through eminent domain well below market rate in exchange for promises to build. Sadly most of the poor had to move permanently from Southwest, as they could not afford the new housing.[31]

Special Attractions

Banneker Circle and Banneker Park are located at the end of L’Enfant Promenade, immediately south of 395. The circle and park are named after Benjamin Banneker, a freed black slave. Banneker was an expert astronomer and mathematician. Banneker helped Major Andrew Elliott survey the land that would become Washington, D.C. in 1791. Banneker was also the author of a 1795 almanac for the region, the cover of which is pictured to the right. A champion of African American rights, Banneker wrote to Thomas Jefferson voicing his concerns about racial equality in the emerging republic.
The Maine Avenue Fish Market, also known as the Fish Warf, is one of DC’s historic attractions. It has been in continuous use in various forms since the early 1800s. Beginning in 1815 and lasting into the 1900s, steamboats bringing people up and down the Potomac made stops at what is now the fish market near 1100 Maine Avenue, Southwest. The waterfront never managed to become a bustling port because tidal fluctuations made the stretch of river passable only for small boats. However, merchants were able to take advantage of its dependable foot traffic. After the Civil War, local fisherman and farmers set up makeshift shops and booths and began to sell fresh local seafood and produce from the farms of Maryland and Virginia. In the early 1900s the area was a popular shopping destination for Washingtonians from all over the city. In 1916 the city constructed a new indoor market space that would replace an unsanitary row of individual fish markets. The new market space was designed by the architect Snowden Ashford and located on Maine Avenue, between 11th and 12th streets. Called the Municipal Fish Market and opened in 1918, it included 24 merchant stalls and office space for the Department of Weights, Measures, and Markets. Unfortunately, the city planners of the 1960s and 70s destroyed the Municipal Fish Market building. The developers wanted to push the fish market out of Southwest completely, but the vendors found a loophole in their contract, which said they were entitled to space in the market for 99 years. Since the developers couldn’t completely destroy the market they pushed it as far west of the waterfront as they could, which was directly underneath the I-395 overpass. A new outdoor market was constructed as a cluster of floating barges moored to a concrete pier.[32]
Despite the developers’ best efforts, the Fish Market is still thriving today. The 200 year old market is open 365 days a year, through hurricanes and blizzards. Clayton Taylor, whose family owns Jessie Taylor, has been working at the market since he was 15. His father and two uncles, natives of Smith Island, Maryland, began the business sixty years ago. Taylor explains, “Thirty years ago, everything they did in D.C. was a flop. This is the only thing that got left alone.” Now, “people, they come around taking those tour buses, they discover this place by accident, but they say this is the best thing they’ve seen.” [33] A picture of the fish market can be seen below.

As the Southwest Waterfront again undergoes redevelopment, plans include tearing down parts of the market. However, developer PN Hoffman promises, "Washington’s historic Fish Market will be preserved and renovated and the maritime heritage of the site promoted.”[34] We can only hope that they stay true to their word.
Arena Stage has long been a vital component of the Southwest Waterfront. Founded in 1950 by Zelda Fichandler, Thomas Fichandler and Edward Mangum, Arena Stage was one of the nation’s original resident theaters, and not-for-profit theatres. It was first located in the Hippodrame Theatre, a former movie theatre. In 1956, Arena Stage moved to the gymnasium of the old Heurich Brewery in Foggy Bottom, but this building was demolished to make way for the Theodore Roosevelt Bridge and the Kennedy Center. The theatre moved to its current location in 1960, located at 1101 Sixth Street, SW. Arena Stage is currently undergoing a major expansion project, costing $125 million. Bing Thom Architects of Vancouver, British Columbia Canada are the designers for the project. Plans include demolishing the theatres connecting structures, including lobbies and offices. The two remaining stages are currently being surrounded by a glass curtain wall and incorporated into a larger building. A new “black box theatre” called “The Cradle” is also being added to the theatre, and will serve as a venue for debuting experimental pieces. The new complex will be named “The Arena Stage Mead Center for American Theatre in honor of supporters Gilbert and Jaylee Mead.[35]
Another interesting site in the Southwest Waterfront is the Titanic Memorial. The Titanic Memorial was sculpted in 1929 by Whitney Gertrude Vanderbilt and sponsored by the Women’s Titanic Memorial Association. The memorial is located on P Street SW next to the Washington Channel near Fort Lesley J. McNair. The sculpture is of a male figure, representing Self Sacrifice, standing with both arms outstretched to the side in the symbolic form of a cross. A garment is draped over his arms, back and side. His head is slightly raised and his eyes are closed. The inscription reads, “TO THE BRAVE MEN/WHO PERISHED/IN THE WRECK/OF THE TITANIC/APRIL 15 1912/THEY GAVE THEIR/LIVES THAT WOMEN/AND CHILDREN/MIGHT BE SAVED/ERECTED BY THE WOMEN OF AMERICA (Back center of base:) TO THE YOUNG AND THE OLD/THE RICH AND THE POOR/THE IGNORANT AND THE LEARNED/ALL/WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES NOBLY/TO SAVE WOMEN AND CHILDREN”.[36] It is pictured below.

[1] Williams, 11.
[2] Williams, 14-15.
[3] Keith Melder. “Southwest Washington where History Stopped.” Washington at Home. Kathryn Schneider Smith, ed. (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2010): 88-90.
[4] Williams, 12.
[5] Williams, 126.
[6] Williams, 9.
[7] Williams, 9.
[8] Williams, 9.
[9] Melder, 90.
[10] Williams, 23.
[11] Williams, 25.
[12] Williams, 26.
[13] Williams, 23.
[14] Melder, 90.
[15] Melder, 94.
[16] Williams, 19.
[17] Melder, 91.
[18] Williams, 69.
[19] Melder, 94.
[20] Melder, 95.
[21] Laura Goldstein. In the Alleys: Kids in the Shadow of the Capitol (Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1995): 9.
[22] Melder, 91.
[23] Goldstein, 4.
[24] Goldstein, 9.
[25] Goldstein, 15-18.
[26] Goldstein, 22.
[27] Goldstein, 23.
[28] Goldstein, 23.
[29] Melder, 96-7.
[30] Williams, 127.
[31] Williams, 111.
[32] "What's With the Fish Market?". Washingtonian Magazine. October 30, 2008.
[33] Tara Bahrampour. “On D.C. Waterfront, a Feast for the Senses.” Washington Post: 2005.
[34] Taken from PN Hoffman website- http://www.wdcep.com/retail_record.php?retailId=54
[35] Taken from Arena Stage website- http://www.arenastage.org/
[36] Smithsonian American Art Museum Inventory of American Painting and Sculpture Database, http://siris-artinventories.si.edu/ipac20/ipac.jsp?&profile=all&source=~!siartinventories&uri=full=3100001~!317632~!0#focus

Trinidad...The One in DC

2010-06-11T16:08:00.006-04:00

Trinidad is bound by Gallaudet University, Mount Olivet Road, Florida Avenue and Bladensburg Avenue. The community consists of 700 two-story, brick row houses with porches, including about 350 government-subsidized houses and apartments located in the eastern section of the neighborhood.[1] Trinidad is located in Ward 5, and is represented by Harry Thomas, Jr. The neighborhood was primarily a residential community until the mid 1970s, when a commercial development boom created a hodgepodge of retail stores, used car lots and waste facilities.

History
Trinidad got its name from James Barry, a nineteenth century land speculator who had once lived on the Caribbean island.[2] Barry sold his land to the banker William W. Corcoran. The land was bought in 1888 by the Washington Machine Brick Company, which hoped to use the 65 acres of clay rich soil for brick making. They subdivided 100 acres of the area into homes. An 1888 advertisement proclaimed that the “The natural grade of Trinidad is very beautiful," and that "in the centre is a high knoll.”[3] The builders constructed homes that are still standing today, porch-front rowhouses that drew mostly working and middle-class residents.[4]
In a 1997 Post article Flava Conley, 89, explained what it was like growing up in Trinidad. When the article was written she had lived in Trinidad for 47 years. She explained that the neighborhood had “green lawns and beautiful rose bushes and clean streets. I was very active in the community. We had different types of activities that brought the community together. We used to have Christmas parties, block parities…In the early days people enjoyed living here and they kept up their property.”[5]

Trinidad was once a vital part of the cablecar system. The Trinidad car house, located at 15th and H Streets NE, housed a cable car power plant. It was erected in 1895 to replace a horse-car barn. The mechanism consisted of a stationary steam engine that continuously propelled a steel cable beneath the streets for the full length of the line, pulling the cars at about 6 miles per hour. A huge wheel-like drum moved the cable. The cars attached to the cables with a fist-like grip, which was released by the operator when he wanted the car to top. The Trinidad car house was part of Washington’s cable system, which carried 170,000 riders a day. However, beginning in 1889 cable cars began to be replaced by electric street cars. The Trinidad barn was used by electric streetcars until 1942, when it was converted to use by buses. It was abandoned by D.C. Transit in the late sixties and was then sold to a redevelopment agency, which razed the building. D.C. Transit used the money to pay off some its debts.[6] Below is an image of the car barn-

Trinidad has suffered from its fair share of problems. Like the rest of D.C., the neighborhood suffered when many families chose to move to the suburbs. The 1968 riots further propelled the decline of the neighborhood. Trinidad suffered from a real estate scandal in the mid-80’s. In hopes of benefiting from a wave of gentrification, real estate speculators bought up about 90 rent-controlled properties in the neighborhood. To lower their risk, the investors got Federal Housing Administration loan guarantees, and qualified for the program by submitting phony information about the stability of the buyers and the homes. Once they got the properties, investors were able to dodge rent-control ceilings and jacked up the rents, driving out longtime residents of the neighborhood. But even then the owners could not make the payments of their government-backed mortgages. By 1989 almost half of the homes had gone into foreclosure, becoming vacant. These vacant properties devolved into crack houses.[7]

The crack epidemic of the mid-1980s was devastating to Trinidad.[8] The drug kingpin Rayful Edmond III operated nearby, and Trinidad became a battleground for warring gangs. Due to Trinidad’s prime location and slow deterioration, it provided a prime environment for dope dealing.[9] In a five-month stretch in 1988, police estimate that the drug gangs of Trinidad and an adjoining area were responsible for twenty homicides. Dorthea Richardson, a 27 year resident and the owner of Montello Avenue day-care center, explained in a 2008 Post article how in the 1990s she often had to order kids to lie on the floor when they heard daytime gunshots. She placed a steel grate on the center’s front doors and metal bars on the windows.[10] Rayful Edmond was convicted in 1989, but Trinidad still went on to become one of the biggest crack markets in the city.[11]

Wilhelmina Lawson moved to Trinidad at the height of the crack boom, in 1990. She described it saying, “It was as if I’d moved into the devil’s bowels.” Lawson explains that on an average day 75 to 80 people would be drinking, smoking pot, and playing cards the embankment across from her house. When her family visited her, they would complain of having to wait in their car for 15 minutes to get down her street while dealers and buyers completed transactions through car windows. [12]

In 1988 Mayor Marion Barry began a 30 day crackdown, part of Operation Clean Sweep, in order to fight the massive sales of drugs. The crackdown included police roadblocks and increased patrols. Police aggressively monitored vehicles from Maryland and Virginia, where many of the drug customers lived. The police also teamed with neighborhood organize crime watch teams to report suspicious activity. Sadly innocent bystanders often suffered from the drug violence. For example, in 1988 a ten year old named Tiece Ruffin was shot and wounded in her left leg as she played outside her home.[13]

Trinidad is slowly but surely recovering from this devastating period. Rising home prices across the city and low interest rates attracted a group of middle and upper-income buyers into the neighborhood. Ralph Lee, an agent with Murrell Realtors explained, “The property values in the past two years have tripled. But two friends coming out of school can still buy a house in Trinidad for $275,000 or $300,000, and that’s far less than what they can get a downtown condo for.”[14] Mark Thorp, 38, a bar owner, saw Trinidad as a shrewd investment. He recognized that developers were pushing east across the city, and that real estate was comparatively inexpensive. In 2003 Thorp sold his rowhouse in Shaw and used the profit he made to buy four properties in Trinidad, including a rowhouse where he now lives. Montgomery Gray, a 25 year old real-estate agent, last year paid $620,000 for Trinidad’s only detached house. It was once owned by a physician who treated neighborhood patients for decades, but who is now deceased. Gray plans on razing the house the building duplex condos. [15] Elise Bernard, a 27 year old George Washington University law student, bought a 1,600 square foot house on Florida Avenue for $150,000 in 2003. She keeps a blog about the neighborhood called “Frozen Tropics”, where she discusses tough issues of race, class, and gentrification. Alex Hasting grew up in McLean but left the Washington area for college at the University of San Diego. Hastings took a job with the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and began looking for housing in D.C. He searched in Capitol Hill, but prices were sky high. Last August he found a $330,000, three bedroom home on a corner lot In Trinidad and bought it.[16] Four years ago Tony Golden, 30, moved into a house his “great-grandaddy Hawkins” once owned. The house had long been vacant. Golden explained, “it was completely dilapidated. There were three holes in the roof and old furniture piled up inside. No flowers, no trees. There was nothing in nobody’s yards.” However, Golden worked to restore the house. An artist and a hairstylist, Golden created a showcase house with two kitchens, antique claw-foot tubs in the bathrooms, and two bay windows in his bedroom.[17]

Long time residents have also banded together to improve the neighborhood. For example, a group of neighbors formed a gardening club. The club has revitalized Trinidad’s tree boxes, the green space between curbs and sidewalks, and cleaned out alleys. The organization GrowDC gave the group a grant of spring-blooming bulbs. Resident Aaron Cox, whose family owns Cox Farms in Virginia, brought two truckloads of planting supplies.[18] Children are encouraged to get involved as well. Yamilee Dambreville explains, “we keep them busy. Finally, they see that their hands are into something, and it’s beautiful. One little boy always knocks on my door and asks ‘Can I water? Can I plant?’”[19]

The Trinidad Neighborhood Association (TNA) is another community based, volunteer-driven organization that is working to improve the neighborhood. Founded in 2009, the Association “works to identify and address community concerns, and to promote opportunities for economic development by engaging community stakeholders.”[20] TNA aims to build community and promote harmony, improve the use of public and private properties in the neighborhood, reduce crime, and to help neighbors voice their interests to DC government agencies.
Trinidad Concerned Citizens For Reform, Inc. (TCCR) is a Washington, D.C.-based private, nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization established in 1994. TCCR works to create a sustainable life for residents of Ward 5 neighborhoods of Trinidad and Ivy City. The organization provides out-of-school time tutorial, mentoring, and recreational programs for area youth and their families as well as employment resources. TCCR facilitates neighborhood clean up and landscaping programs and works to inspire and improve the education, economy, and environment of Trinidad. Their mission is to change Trinidad from a drug community to a garden community. One of TCCR’s most successful projects was the Youth Investment Project, an after-school tutoring and mentorship program that ran during the school year and summer. More than 110 of the area’s youngest residents aged 5 to 21 participated. The program was so successful that it was in part absorbed by D.C. Public Schools. TCCR has also solidified funding that helped place “Welcome to a Garden Community” banners along the perimeter of Trinidad. [21]
Despite these improvements, Trinidad still struggles to overcome its legacy of violence. In 2008 police again implemented police blockades in response to a crime wave. D.C. police choked off access to several streets, forcing drivers to pass through an anti-crime checkpoint. Motorists were questioned about their reasons for being there and were asked to provide identification.[22] Most residents were perturbed by the check points. Some complained that city officials had not given residents advance notice, others said the checkpoints gave Trinidad a bad name and inconvenienced the working-class community.[23] As Trinidad struggles to rebuild, we can only hope that it will once again become a thriving community.

[1] Chris Nguyen. “In Trinidad, Memories of Glory Days Mix with Efforts at Renewal in DC.” Washington Post (May 10, 1997).
[2] Paul Schwartzman. “Reality Checkpoint.” Washington Post, July 8, 2008.
[3] Marianne Kyriakos, “Gardened and Glowing in Trinidad: Residents Turn Around Their Front-Porch NE Neighborhood” Washington Post, June 17th, 2006
[4] Schwartzman. “Reality Checkpoint.”
[5] Chris Nguyen. “In Trinidad, Memories of Glory Days Mix with Efforts at Renewal in DC.”
[6] Jack Eisen. “Last Vestige of Cable Car Era Soon to Disappear from City.” The Washington Post, Times Herald: June 1, 1970.
[7] Amanda Ripley. “ChronicTown: Profitable, stable, and impossible to sop, marijuana dealing would be the perfect industry for Trinidad-as long as no one had to live there.” Washington City Paper, October 30, 1998.
[8] Schwartzman. “Reality Checkpoint.”
[9] Ripley, “ChronicTown.”
[10] Schwartzman, “Reality Checkpoint.”
[11] Ripley, “ChronicTown.”
[12] Ripley, “ChronicTown.”
[13] Tom Sherwood. “Mayor Targets Trinidad Area for Drug Crackdown.” Washington Post: December 3, 1988.
[14] Marianne Kyriakos, “Gardened and Glowing in Trinidad.”
[15] Schwartzman, “Reality Checkpoint.”
[16] Marianne Kyriakos, “Gardened and Glowing in Trinidad.”
[17] Marianne Kyriakos, “Gardened and Glowing in Trinidad.”
[18] Marianne Kyriakos. “Gardened and Glowing in Trinidad.” Washington Post: June 17, 2006.
[19] Kyriakos, “Gardened and Glowing in Trinidad.”
[20] Trinidad Neighborhood Association- http://trinidad-dc.org/joomla/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1
[21] Trinidad Concerned Citizens For Reform, Inc.- http://www.tccrinc.org/blog/?page_id=2
[22] Allison Klein and Elissa Silverman. “Police Close Streets In Trinidad to Steer Drivers to Checkpoint.” Washington Post: June 10, 2008.
[23] Sarah Abruzzese. “After Capital’s Checkpoints, Gratitude that Police Acted, but Deep Skepticism.” New York Times: June 16, 2008.

An Introduction to Petworth

2010-06-11T15:52:00.006-04:00

Petworth is a residential neighborhood in the Northwest quadrant of Washington, D.C. It is bounded by Georgia Avenue to the West, North Capitol Street to the East, Rock Creek Church to the South, and Kennedy Street NW to the north (see map). The neighborhood is primarily residential, with a mix of townhouses and single-family homes. Petworth is part of Ward 4, which is represented in the D.C. Council by Muriel Bowser. According to Muriel Browser’s website, residents describe Petworth as a charming and historical neighborhood with great neighborhood attractions, such as the Petworth Library and the Petworth Recreation Center. One resident describes the neighborhood as a “a typical Ward 4 community that is slowly developing into a diverse neighborhood. Young families are frequently spotted strolling through the neighborhood visiting each other or eating dinner at a local restaurant.”Another resident explains, “In downtown Petworth, [visitors] will find a neighborhood under construction and revitalization, making lots of changes for the better, making things look cleaner and newer. In Petworth north of the Metro, they will find a very friendly neighborhood, increasingly diverse, where residents are proud.” This secure and stable community is quickly becoming one of the most popular in the Ward thanks to its combination of urban access and neighborhood feel. Over $380 million is being invested in new development around the metro station over the next several years, including more than 1,000 residential units and nearly 80,000 square feet of new retail opportunities.[1]

History
Petworth has undergone many transformations. John White, who lived from 1715 to 1801, once owned the land that is today Petworth. In 1755 John White married and settled in the White Homestead, a log cabin located on what is now the southern half of the block between Georgia Avenue and 13th Street, on Longfellow Street. In 1772 James White received a direct grant of an additional 536 acres, where the Soldiers’ Home is located today. After having lived in the area for a time, James White built a new home that incorporated his original log cabin. When repairs were done on the house in the twentieth century the carpenter found large wooden pegs that were part of the original log cabin. At the time of the Civil War the house was used as a headquarters for the Massachusetts Regiment during the Battle of Fort Stevens. Unfortunately the home no longer stands.[2]

The White family sold their large property holdings to Captain Balch. When Captain Balch died in 1803 he sold his property to Colonial John Tayloe of Mount Avery, Virginia. During Tayloe’s life the estate extended from Rock Creek Cemetery to Piney Branch Road. Col. Tayloe erected a rail fence of made of cedar along Rock Creek Church Road that was three-fourths of a mile, unfortunately done by slave labor. Col. Tayloe loved horse racing. He kept a stable of thoroughbreds, and laid out a track on his farm. He named the farm Petworth after the English Sussex town and estate.[3]

The construction of what is now known as Georgia Avenue was the first step towards the urbanization of Petworth. In 1808 the construction of a turnpike was authorized, and the Columbia Turnpike Company was chosen as the contractor. However, the company delayed the work, so it was taken up by the Rockville Turnpike Company. The road was dirt, so it must have been very muddy when wet, and dusty when dry. The situation was slightly improved when planks, trees split in half and laid with their rounded sides down, were added to the road in 1853.[4]

In 1852 Tayloe sold a portion of his land to a group of families to settle. This group of families was led by Benjamin Summy, who brought twelve families with him from Buffalo, New York. The group bought 137 acres. Each family got a site for their house and four acres of woodland. The first home was in this new settlement was built by Summy in 1853. The first concrete house built in Washington D.C., known as the Octagon house, was built soon after. In 1887 Tayloe’s heirs sold the 250 remaining acres of Petworth to a syndicate represented by B.H. Warner and Myron M. Parker for $1,000 an acre. In 1892 Horace C. Cummings bought 205 acres for $2,500/acre. The land was graded, a plumbing system installed, and tree lined streets were laid out.[5]

Petworth really began to develop when the streetcar was extended into the neighborhood in 1890, making it a “streetcar suburb”. Grant circle was constructed at the center of Petworth, a 1.8 acre park lined with fifty year old trees, hedges, and benches and with a statue of Ulysses S. Grant in the center. Two story brick row houses were built from 1910 to 1920, which provided affordable housing for working people, families, and senior citizens. Many of the homes are built in the functional, simple Arts and Crafts style, a movement that flourished from 1900 to WWII.[6]

Petworth was certainly a vibrant community in the early 20th century. A 1940 Washington Post article describes the active Citizen’s Association. As of that year the Association had over 1,350 paid members. Their successful projects included the construction of McFarland Junior High School, Iowa Avenue, Upshur Street Northwest, Roosevelt High School, and the branch library at Upshur and Georgia Avenue. The Association held an annual banquet.[7]

Margaret M. MacGill grew up in Petworth in the ‘20s. She describes her house as having “two stories and [a] basement with a front and back porch and many steps down to a long back yard. A good-sized wooden, picket fence ran the length of the yards separating the neighbors from one another with a wooden gate to the alley…we…had an alley running between the yards of the houses located on the next street where they backed up to one another. Up this alley came the trash man, garbage man, ash man, ice man, umbrella and knife sharpener man, rag man and the beggars.”[8] MacGill describes Petworth as being a close community. She describes how, “all the families on the same block seemed to know each other- those who lived across the street and those who lived in back of us and even some of those on 5th Street and New Hampshire Avenue. All the children played together and we would have our arguments, but it always got straightened out, either by the kids or their parents.”[9] MacGill relates how, “in those days we were still able to raise chickens in our back yards- in fact, I even had a pet grey “Plymouth Rock” hen which we used to bring in and put in her box under the kitchen table to lay eggs.”[10] The residents of Petworth came together to celebrate holidays. MacGill explains, “The 4th of July was a big day on which we celebrated our independence of the original 13 Colonies from Great Britain. When I was small we used to have a parade in Petworth where we marched up New Hampshire Avenue, N.W. starting at about Randolph Street and ending at Grant Circle. As most of us were small we couldn’t walk too far. I have a picture of me wheeling my doll buggy which my mother had decorated using red, white and blue crepe paper, with her walking beside me. On this day we also had the big Police and Firemen’s Parade and baseball game. The parade came down Pennsylvania Avenue with the fire engines drawn by horses and a Dalmatian Dog sitting on the seat with the driver.”[11] Below is a photo of the 4th of July Parade from 1922:

While Petworth began as a largely white neighborhood, African Americans also began to move to the area. In a 1990 Post article Lucille Winn, then 83, described how she was a “block buster”. She explained how, “I was the first colored person to move here, I think it was 1924.”[12] The 1930, 40, and 50 censuses show that the neighborhood was mostly white. However, by 1960 3/4s of Petworth was African American.

Unfortunately Petworth experienced a period of decline beginning in the sixties. Like the rest of Washington D.C., the neighborhood suffered when many families chose to move to the suburbs. The influx of drugs further compounded the problem. For example, Grant circle, with its lack of lighting, provided cover for drug dealers. Parked cars were routinely broken into.[13] Valerie Taylor, who still lives in her childhood home on Taylor Avenue and is now in her fifties moved with her family to Petworth in the mid 1960s. In a 2008 Post article she explained that by the late 1960’s things had really gone downhill for the neighborhood. She described it saying, “It was terrible. A lot of shootings out in the open.”[14] Petworth struggled against the drug problem throughout the seventies, eighties, and nineties. In a 1988 Post article Lt Chris Dinisio, of the 4th District police station described that the drug problem as being fairly serious. He explained that “It’s mostly street sales on corners. The residents have been active. They are very interested in correcting the problem.”[15]

The neighborhood was again vastly changed with the opening of the Georgia Avenue/Petworth metro station, on the green line. The addition of the metro station to the neighborhood was greatly controversial. Many residents of Petworth were opposed to the construction of the stop. They were worried that Metro would use eminent domain to take away their homes and businesses in order to construct the station. They were also concerned about the noise, dirt, and interrupted traffic that would result from five years of construction.[16] On March 16th, 1992, protestors marched in front of the Metro transit agency headquarters to protest the stop. Many threatened to sue, which would greatly slow down overall completion of the green line. Metro managed to avoid demolishing any homes and businesses. However, one casualty of construction was the Petworth Fire Station, which had to be torn down in order to construct a turnaround behind the station. Some residents reacted angrily against the demolition, arguing that the fire station was a vital landmark of the community. However, metro offered to build a brand new fire station for the community, which the firefighters argued they desperately needed. As a result, the plan was approved by the Commission for the Fine Arts and the old fire station demolished.[17]

The metro stop had a transformative affect on the neighborhood, resulting in a wave of gentrification.[18] Gentrification is a phenomenon where people with high incomes buy housing property in less prosperous communities, changing the socio-economic make-up of the area. As a result rents, housing prices, and property taxes all increase, which can make the area unaffordable to the previous residents. Gentrification in Petworth is most obvious on Georgia Avenue. Since the metro stop was constructed new condos, restaurants, and shops have all been opened.

The low cost of housing, combined with Petworth’s proximity to downtown, has attracted a new group of residents. For example, Dan Silverman moved to Petworth in 2003, when he bought a bungalow for $220,000. He renovated the home, increasing its value. Silverman started a widely read blog, called the “Prince of Petworth” about his experiences of living in the neighborhood. Silverman explained that he writes the blog to “Share with people what Petworth is. When you live in Petworth, you become part of that community.” [19] Another new resident is Marianne Bakia, 38. Bakia invested $150,000 in her home, greatly increasing the value. She explains, “When I first moved here, I heard gunshots all the time.”[20] Her corner experienced a triple homicide in 2004. However, now she almost never hears gun shots. She asserts that “over the last two years, it’s just been better and better.”[21]

Despite the influx of new occupants to Petworth, there is still a large population of long time home owners. Many of the residents have lived in Petworth for over thirty years. For example, Mary Walker bought her rowhouse on Varnum Avenue in 1972 for $22,500, or $110,000 in today’s dollars. She worked in human resources while her husband was a mechanic, and the couple raised two children there.[22] Joan Thomas moved to Petworth over forty years ago. She was drawn to convenience offered by the area, as it provided easy shopping and major transportation thoroughfares. She explained, “I had two children at the time. I was looking for a place that was convenient to everything. The school and the store were right at Georgia Avenue and Longfellow. There was a department store you could go in and get anything you needed, from stockings to thread, or you could pick up a wedding gift. Anything you needed you could get it up there at Ida’s.”[23] The long time residents have a close bond. Sandra Butler-Truesdale, who grew up in the neighborhood, loves the closeness of Petworth. She describes how, “The neighbors, they know each other. They are friendly. In a time of need or trouble, they came forward to help you out, but they don’t meddle.[24]

Petworth has seen vast changes, transforming from a farm into a densely populated neighborhood. Gentrification is the latest trend in the long history of Petworth. Hopefully it will serve to improve the neighborhood, and not drive out long time residents.
Special Attractions

Petworth has several historic attractions. One such interesting site is the Rockcreek Cemetery, which was established in 1719. It is 86 acres, and is meant to be both a cemetery and a public park. The most famous gravestone is the Adams Memorial. It was commissioned by Henry Adams to mark the grave of his wife Clover, who had committed suicide. It is pictured below. Erected in 1891, it was designed by Augustus St.-Gaudens. The official name of the memorial is The Mystery of the Hereafter and The Peace of God that Passeth Understanding, but it is also known as Grief.

Another historical site in Petworth is President Lincoln’s Cottage at the Soldier’s Home. The Soldier’s Home was built in 1842-3. It was intended to serve as the home of George Washington Riggs, who established the Riggs National Bank in Washington, D.C. The land was purchased by the Federal Government through the Soldier’s Home Trust Fund in 1851 to establish a home for the invalid and disabled soldiers of the U.S. army. This was the first such attempt to provide for members of the army. Four pre-Civil War structures formed the core of the early Soldier's Home. Abraham Lincoln used the oldest, Anderson Cottage, or "Corn Riggs," as a summer White House. Lincoln and his family retreated here in the summer to escape the heat and political pressures of DC every summer from 1862 to 1864. Lincoln wrote the second draft of the Emancipation Proclamation at the cottage in September of 1862. His second floor bedroom and much of the rest of the house are configured as they were when he was in residence, and original mantels, woodwork, and windows are retained. A copper beech tree under which he read and relaxed is still growing at the site.[25] One day when Lincoln was riding his horse to the Soldier’s Home, an attempt was made on his life. However, when Lincoln described the event, he gave it a humorous tone. He said,
"Last night about eleven o'clock, I went to the Soldiers' Home alone, riding Old Abe, as you call him (a horse he delighted in riding), and when I arrived at the foot of the hill on the road leading to the entrance to the Home grounds, I was jogging along at a slow gait, immersed in deep thought, contemplating what was next to happen in the unsettled state of affairs, when suddenly I was aroused–I may say the arousement lifted me out of my saddle as well as out of my wits–by the report of a rifle, and seemingly the gunner was not fifty yards from where my contemplations ended and my accelerated transit began. My erratic namesake, with little warning, gave proof of decided dissatisfaction at the racket, and with one reckless bound he unceremoniously separated me from my eight-dollar plug hat, with which I parted company without any assent, express or implied, upon my part. At a break-neck speed we soon arrived in a haven of safety. Meanwhile I was left in doubt whether death was more desirable from being thrown from a runaway federal horse, or as the tragic result of a rifle-ball fired by a disloyal bushwhacker in the middle of the night."[26]

Revitilization Efforts
Muriel Bowser and the D.C. Council have undertaken multiple revitalization projects. Two of the projects focus on Georgia Avenue. The Upper Georgia Avenue Plan is part of the Great Streets Initiative, which is a collaboration among the Office of Planning, the District Department of Transportation, and the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development. The purpose of the Great Streets program is to leverage public and private investment to spur economic development along seven major corridors in the District, while making critical transportation and public realm investments that facilitate multiple modes of transportation. The Upper Georgia Avenue plan seeks to re-establish Georgia Avenue as a prominent neighborhood-serving retail corridor by: 1) concentrating development at key intersections; 2) linking development with active, safe, pedestrian-friendly streets; and 3) improving the overall quality of the existing urban fabric through infill development, storefront renovation, and re-use of vacant property. The plan identifies development opportunities and implementation strategies at intersections within 5 development zones along Upper Georgia Avenue: Eastern Avenue Gateway (Zone 1); Walter Reed Army Medical Center (Zone 2); Piney Branch Road (Zone 3); Missouri Avenue (Zone 4); and Arkansas Avenue and Kennedy Street (Zone 5). This plan includes a total new development program of up to 1,000 new or rehabilitated mixed income housing units; up to 150,000 of reconfigured or new retail space, and up to 35,000 square feet of office space. The plan also includes strategies to enhance the streetscape and public realm, and to provide sufficient off-street parking to support the retail uses while protecting the adjacent residential neighborhoods.[28] Another revitalization effort, The Georgia Avenue Storefront Improvement Program, works to assists local business owners enhance their commercial and retail properties and promote the Avenue as a shopping destination.[29] The Kennedy Street Plan targets the Kennedy Street corridor between Georgia Avenue and North Capitol Street NW in Ward 4. The development strategy for Kennedy Street is to improve the economic vitality and overall image of the corridor as an attractive destination for residents, business owners and visitors, by: restoring Kennedy Street as a Main Street mixed-use corridor that maintains the existing neighborhood scale; reconnecting Kennedy Street to the neighborhood by providing opportunities to safely live, work shop and play; revitalizing the existing urban fabric, and focusing new development at the key intersections of Georgia Avenue, 5th Street, and North Capitol Street.[30]
Another great example of revitalization is the Petworth Recreation Center. It was recently renovated and re-opened in August 2009. Work on the recreation center included resurfacing the heavily-used outdoor basketball courts, renovating the roof and interior of the recreation center, and installing a new water fountain. The basketball courts were also given new backboards and hoops. A spray park was added outside, for children to play in when the weather is hot.[31]

[1] http://www.ward4dc.com/nei_petworth.html
[2] John Clagett Proctor. “City Growth as Reflected in Petworth Development.” The Sunday Star. Washington D.C.: April 16th, 1944.
[3] Proctor, “City Growth.”
[4] John Clagett Proctor. “Early Georgia Avenue.” The Sunday Star. Washington, D.C.: April 7th, 1946.
[5] Proctor. “City Growth.”
[6] Stephen C. Fehr. “Grant Circle Warily Eyes Going Green.” Washington Post: Saturday, May 7th, 1992.
[7] “Petworth Citizen’s Association, 2nd Largest in District, Lists Many Successes.” Washington Post: November 10, 1940.
[8] Margaret M. MacGill. Growing up in Petworth in Washington D.C. 1919-50s and beyond. (Martin Lurther King Memorial Library: Washingtoniana), 5.
[9] MacGill, 7.
[10] MacGill, 11-12.
[11] MacGill, 34.
[12] Jonetta Rose Barras. “Petworth Strives to Reclaim its Old Serenity.” Washington Post: May 14, 1990.
[13] Fehr. “Grant Circle”.
[14] Mara Lee. “Preserving Petworth’s Porch Culture”. Washington Post: September 20, 2008.
[15] Jonetta Rose Barras. “Petworth Strives to Reclaim its Old Serenity.”
[16] Fehr. “Grant Circle.”
[17] Stepehen C. Fehr. “Some NW Residents Vow to Stop the Green Line.” Washington Post: March 17th, 1992.
[18] Mara Lee. “Preserving Petworth’s Porch Culture.” Washington Post: September 20, 2000.
[19] Mara Lee. “Preserving Petworth’s Porch Culture.” Washington Post: September 20, 2008.
[20] Mara Lee. “Preserving Petworth’s Porch Culture.”
[21] Mara Lee. “Preserving Petworth’s Porch Culture.”
[22] Mara Lee. “Preserving Petworth’s Porch Culture.”
[23] Mara Lee. “Preserving Petworth’s Porch Culture
[24] DeNeen L. Brown. “Petworth, Where Friendship Has Aged Well.” Washington Post: March 23, 1996.
[25] HABS Report- http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=hhdatapage&fileName=dc/dc0400/dc0445/data/hhdatapage.db&recNum=0&itemLink=r?ammem/hh:@FIELD(DOCID+@BAND(@lit(DC0445)))
[26] - Ward Hill Lamon. Recollections of Abraham Lincoln (Lincoln, Nebraska, University of Nebraska Press, 1994): 267.
[27]President Clinton’s Proclamation- http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=2001_cfr_3v1&docid=3CFR7329

[28] Taken from D.C. Council Report- http://www.dccouncil.us/Bowser/downloads/Committee%20report%20Georgia%20Avenue%2017-792.pdf
[29] Taken from D.C. Council Report- http://www.ward4dc.com/ret_georgiaave.html
[30] Taken from D.C. Council Report- http://www.dccouncil.us/Bowser/downloads/committee%20report%20Kennedy%20Street%2017-781.pdf
[31] http://newsroom.dc.gov/show.aspx/agency/dpr/section/2/release/17789/year/2009

Welcome to IWWL- 2010

2010-06-11T15:43:00.002-04:00

Hello, and thank you for stopping by the IWWL Blog. The 2010 program will begin June 29th. In the meantime, we are going to provide some background on the three neighborhoods we are exploring this year- Petworth, Trinidad, and Southwest Waterfront.

Final Thoughts: U Street

2009-08-14T14:25:00.000-04:00

It’s all about U. It’s time for U. U Street is your street. These were some of the possible titles that my team brainstormed for our exhibition about the U Street Corridor. I had the pleasure of working with nine fantastic young designers this summer in Investigating Where We Live as we explored U Street. While my group was known as the “quiet group”, that never meant that they were short on creative ideas (or puns, as the titles show) or enthusiasm for making those ideas a reality. All that paired with a truly amazing ability to find common ground and work towards including multiple ideas resulted in a great summer for me (and, I hope, for them as well) and a compelling exhibit.

Each student brought something valuable to the team and helped make the program a success. They all took inspired photographs and confidently interviewed people about the U Street neighborhood. Beyond that, however, Bryant was a great compromiser and managed to merge ideas for the exhibit together while still maintaining their integrity. Kealea, Claire and Emily were always willing to speak their minds and share their ideas and helped move the discussion about themes and design along. Justin and Jasmin produced inspiring artwork and writing, respectively, that added immensely to the exhibit. Olivia, Arianna and Kwame took the lead on the interactive elements in the exhibit, and persevered through all the challenges we encountered with them. Together we were a well-oiled machine that moved along surely and confidently to the opening date of the exhibit.

This is my second time in this position, and I continue to learn more each session. One of the things I like most about my job is that it teaches me not to underestimate anyone, especially young people. The perspective that these students bring to taking, analyzing and thinking about photographs and photography in general is always amazing. So often adults can dismiss this age group because of their alleged lack of experience in the world. If anything, though, their perspective is sometimes fresher and clearer than our own. It shows you how fantastic the combination of youthful energy, engaging material and interested mentors can be.

And, of course, I have to mention my fantastic Teen Assistant, James Brown. This is the second time I have had the honor of working with James in this capacity. He dubbed us “Batman and Batman”, because “there was no sidekick this time.” That is completely true. James helped immensely this summer by taking on the planning of site visits and knowing how best to work with the kids when I couldn’t be in three places at once. James also handled all the math of the layout and is about 100 times better at using power drills than I am. I couldn’t have done it without him this summer!

U Street Team: You did a fantastic job this summer. You should all be proud of the exhibit and your hard work. It really is time for you!

Andrew Costanzo, Team Leader

Final Thoughts: Columbia Heights

2009-08-14T14:22:00.000-04:00

Having worked with the outreach programs at NBM in various capacities over the last year, I have to say that I am always amazed by and impressed with the students' final work. IWWL '09 is no exception. Coming into the program as a Team Leader I didn't quite know what to expect other than that somehow I, and the rest of the IWWL team, would get 30 teenagers excited about photography, creative writing, and exhibit design. With the group of students I worked with this summer, these were not hard tasks to accomplish. Not only did each student take wonderful photos, but also took on an active role when it came to selecting the exhibit's theme, the best photos to support that theme, and assisting with its final installation.

To the Columbia Heights (Heeey!) Team, I enjoyed getting to know each of you. Ya'll are a thoughtful, smart, creative, and funny bunch of kids. Thanks for a wonderful summer! Amazing work!

Lauren Wilson, Team Leader

IWWL 2009 Exhibition Photos

2009-08-12T15:23:00.002-04:00

Investigating Where We Live: Communities in Motion

Visitor Comment - 8/11/2009

Introduction Wall

Shaw: Urban Decay or a Brand New Day?

Process Wall, Group DaDa Poem

U Street: Colorful Change, Diverse History

Columbia Heights: Ever Changing...Forever Growing

IWWL 2009 Exhibition Opening!

2009-08-12T15:17:00.000-04:00

Investigating Where We Live: Communities in Motion Exhibition Opening

July 29

2009-07-30T15:25:00.000-04:00

By Janelle, age 12

Hey! My name is Janelle and I'm 12 years old. This is my first year at IWWL and I'm in the Shaw group.

Today seemed like it would never end, not that it was bad. I got there at 9:00, and we started to do more work on our exhibit. 3 people came in to look at what we finished already. They were critics. After they left, is was about 11:30.

Today was the family lunch too. At about 11:45, parents and children started to come in. After lunch, the parents left. When they left, we started working on our exhibit and changing some of it. When it turned 2:00, we listened to Jamee for some announcements, then we headed off for home.

July 29

2009-07-30T15:23:00.000-04:00

By Justin, age 16

This year I have learned a lot about U Street. My mom came to IWWL to eat lunch and meet people today. She went to a play on U Street called "Crowns." She liked the play a lot. She knows that Ben's Chili Bowl is near the theater. She also knew that Richard Lee's flower shop was there for a long time.

July 28

2009-07-29T14:56:00.000-04:00

From Kealea, age 15

My experience with IWWL has been great. I've learned so much from U Street's history and how to work with a team. I feel I'm a better photographer, group participant, and all-around Washingtonian. I know so much more about U Street and the surrounding area. I get a hands-on approach that taught me more than a simple textbook would. To be able to hear peoples' stories then document and preserve them gave me such a new take on things. Everything and everyone has a story, we just need to listen and preserve it with our own stories, writings and artwork.

July 27

2009-07-29T14:48:00.001-04:00

From Bryant, age 13

Today we spent the whole day in groups trying to create our exhibit. The first thing we did was decide if we wanted to blow up any of our other photos from our site visits on Day 4. Then once we had all of our blown-up photos we decided our top 10 photos. Then we lined them up across the floor for our group members to decide which 5 photos they liked and thought were the best for the exhibit of the top 10. Once everyone voted we placed the photos across the floor and pulled out or brainstorming sheet of all the ideas we wanted to display with the photos. For every idea we wanted one or two photos that would explain it in the exhibit. After we picked out the best photos that would represent an idea we came back upstairs from the Great Hall to have lunch.

After lunch, our team separated into groups to come up with ideas for: 1) which interviews we were going to use, what interactives, 2)what interactives we wanted the visitors to participate in, and 3) what kind of designs and layous we wanted to use for our wall. Finally, after we finished with our groups we shared our ideas with the team

July 27

2009-07-29T14:43:00.000-04:00

From Jasmine, age 13

Today we picked our photos and title and theme. We looked at interview videos to see the ones we wanted the most. We had so much fun and we even have the next day planned.

A Look Back at Week 3!

2009-07-28T08:12:00.001-04:00

July 22

2009-07-23T14:02:00.000-04:00

From Cheyenne, age 15

Day 8 was filled with brainstorming for our exhibit and getting feedback from a curator from the National Museum of African American History and Culture. His name was Paul. Then he went to each group for 20 minutes to help us along with our exhibit. This showed us examples of how our interactives [interactive elements] could be. Then the Columbia Heights neighborhood group went to the gallery where our exhibit will be. After lunch, we went to the American History Museum to look at another exhibit so we could get more ideas for ours. After that. we came back and discussed how we could use interactions in our Columbia Heights exhibit.

July 22

2009-07-23T12:14:00.001-04:00

From Sarah, age 14

Today we focused on the design of our exhibit. The Take Home Design Challenge from the night before had been to list themes that are in our neighborhood. We used these themes today to brainstorm potential titles for each neihborhood group's part of the exhibit. We also spoke with a curator from the National Musuem of African American Culture and History, Paul Gardullo. He went to each group and talked to each of us about the design of our exhibit. After lunch each neighborhood group went to a different musuem and looked at the design of some exhibitions. We answered questions about the exhibits and then talked about them in our neighborhood groups. Our Take Home Design Challenge for today is to answer and list things about the museums we visited today.

July 21

2009-07-22T14:39:00.000-04:00

From Marcellus, age 15

Day 7 was a fun-filled day! It was the day of our last site visit in Columbia Heights. We took the final round of pictures and our goal was to include the residents. We also took pictures of the landmarks and historic buildings of the neighborhood. I learned that Columbia Heights is very diverse when it comes to race and language. I also learned that a lot of construction is taking place there. This lets us know that the city is changing and growing.

When we got back, our team brainstormed our final thoughts of the site visit. One of the aspects that we pondered were the culture, creativity, art, and change of Columbia Heights. I can't wait for Day 8 because we are going to begin planning the make-up and theme of the exhibition that will be showcased at the museum soon!

July 21

2009-07-22T11:42:00.000-04:00

From Niara, age 13

This is the seventh day of the program. These past two weeks have been very educating for me in order to learn more. In Columbia Heights, I learned a lot about how the environment has changed. Since the Tivoli Theatre was out of business or changed to something else such as the Gala, this is a very diverse place to be.

I learned a lot about the neighborhood I remember when Girard Park wasn't there. I also remember when the shops were not on 14th Street. Columbia Heights has changed a lot since a couple of years ago- it has become diverse, and that is good for the younger children that are being raised in the area so they will learn to get along with other races.

July 16

2009-07-21T18:10:00.000-04:00

From Claire, age 14

On Thursday, July 16 we did interviews. While at the Building Museum we practiced interviews. We put together introductions and 3 main questions that we would ask the interviewees. We (the U Street Team) then metro'd on the green line to U Street. We brought our cameras so we could video people during the interviews (the ones that would allow us to record them, at least).

When we got to U Street, we split into 5 groups of 2. One partner asked the questions and the other could video or take notes. Each partner got to do each job. We got 9 interviews total (yes, we were missing one). I think this was pretty good. I realized that guys who live, work, or chillax in the U Street area are more likely to accept your request to interview than girls. Just a note!

When we got back to the National Building Museum, we did 3 writing exercises with Jess. Jess used to be a team leader during summer 08 at IWWL. My favorite pieces of writing that I wrote was a poem about U-Street. First we came up with 20 words about the neigbhorhood we were investigating. Next, we arranged them into a poem. Even though mine did not make much sense, I still think it turned out to be pretty interesting

Poem:

Interesting murals food loud love
Hidden friendship singing power
Casual happenings city within a city
Nice peace change think neutral
Homey work diverse

July 16

2009-07-21T15:03:00.000-04:00

From Olivia, age 14

Hi! I am a student with IWWL. My name is Olivia. The past week has been fun. We visited neighborhoods, did interviews, learned, and took pictures. This week my design challenge was to tell about a pictures with a poem.

Green wishes
Happy Calm
Pictures

July 16

2009-07-21T14:58:00.000-04:00

From Emily, age 14

On Thursday, during our site visit, we got to do interviews. At first the idea of talking to a complete stranger was a little weird and I did not want them to say “No, I can’t do an interview.” I found out it was easier than it seemed. I found out some interesting information about U Street. I think these interviews really will help with our exhibit. I’m glad we did them. After our site visit, we had to make a poem out of twenty words during a creative writing workshop.

My Poem:

Many people thrive, diverse community
Colorful sights, smells
Helping friends, social
Chili, shops, busy work
Historical, live integration
Happy play, independent

A Look Back at Week 1 & Week 2!

2009-07-17T16:13:00.000-04:00

Collaborative Poem Exercise

2009-07-16T14:33:00.000-04:00

From an "exquisite corpse" writing exercise today:

Columbia Heights

Columbia Heights is a mishmash of loud and quiet, sun and shade, old and new
Street art pops up out of nowhere
Kind and mean people walk the streets
A very diverse neighborhood with plenty of different races
There are historic buildings mixed with the new.

July 15

2009-07-16T10:35:00.000-04:00

From Amira, Age 13

Yesterday the Columbia Heights group went around the northern part of the neighborhood. We saw many row houses. Each row house has a front yard. All the owners had personalized theirs with wind mills, fountains, garden gnomes, and especially flowers (or weeds). As we walked further south the houses seem to increase in size. Further West buildings became more commercial. I took a picture of a street sign that I really like because it shows the downtown part of Columbia Heights.

July 14

2009-07-15T14:42:00.000-04:00

From: London, age 12

My first week in the IWWL program was great. I had a lot of fun catching up with my old friends and making new ones. I remember the day we got our cameras, we all took so many wonderful pictures of Shaw and each other. We went on our first site visit last Thursday in Shaw and I had a blast. This program is full of exciting people, Jamee is a big help to everone and my neighborhood leader, Brian is funny and he keeps me going. I love this program and I had a great week.

July 14

2009-07-15T12:27:00.000-04:00

From: Giovanni, age 13

On July14 we did many things. For example we went over some different types of buildings and identified different aspects. Also we went around the National Building Museum and outside to complete a scavenger hunt. We took pictures of different types of materials and sites. We went over some architectural and building vocabulary words to understand what they mean. For support of this we made 3d buildings out of boxes and different things. In conclusion we went over our Take Home Design Challenge and saw ideas that were related to houses and homes.

Groundhog Day

2009-07-14T17:07:00.000-04:00

From: James Brown

I must admit the training and first day the students arrived seemed like the rewind of a bad 80s movie. It was all the same as the year before and the year before that. Every exercise and activity mirrored those I had already done up until the point when people started to participate. This made me think of the uniqueness of the National Building Museum and its outreach programs that have no competitors in the museum education world. There are no other institutions in this area that offer the programs this museum offers, they don’t come close to what NBM has done with reaching out into the community and educating children.
Completing the Investigating Where We Live program two prior times, once as a participant and the other as my existing teen assistant position, has been the most fulfilling summer activity I have ever done. The program has and is continuing to expand my awareness and understanding of the individuality and similarities of different DC neighborhoods. The skills such as discussion leading and communication that I have learned throughout my partaking in this program have h elped in just about every area of my life. My photographic sense has also been heightened due to the way IWWL helps me look at things in a different perspective than I normally would. My hopes for the program this summer are already through the roof and climbing everyday as I interact with the students. I am grateful to go through this photographic exhibition making process again.

Our First Week

2009-07-12T20:25:00.000-04:00

From: Alex Brown:

In my first week as a Teen Assistant in the Investigating Where We Live summer program, I have observed a lot. First and most important, in the last couple of weeks I've gained a substantial amount of knowledge about the neighborhood of Shaw-Howard University. Being a previous resident of Shaw it surprised me how much I didn't know about the community. Being in this program I am also developing leadership and communication with those younger than me. My personal goal for this summer is to interact and get to know as much as I can regarding each student, have a wonderful time, and make certain that our students acquire as much information as possible about their surrounding neighborhoods. In addition, all of the students are magnificent, eager to learn, and a lot of them seem to have a particular attachment to photography.

IWWL is the BEST!!!!

(above photo of the historic Howard Theatre was taken by Alex on an initial site visit to Shaw)

Reflections on the First Week

2009-07-08T22:21:00.000-04:00

From: Antoina Wynn:

As a Teen Assistant for IWWL, the first day with the students was an exciting learning experience. The students are great, they all have individual qualities that when put together can create a wonderful exhibit. I have noticed that many of them are starting to form close bonds and friendships that everyone can benefit from.

My goal for the summer with IWWL as a Teen Assistant is to build upon the relationship I have with some of the students and to help them have a fun meaningful summer. I also would like to improve my knowledge of photography and the Columbia Heights neighborhood because I believe that I am always learning no matter where I am.

The lessons this week, “Learning to Look” and “Photography 101,” made me realize just how much more I needed to know and wanted to know. I now understand the reason why the museum looks the way it does and the interesting frieze around the building. Just by looking a little close I realized what the museum was used for in the past. Photography 101 made me realize just how much I love to take pictures and try to make sure that they are perfect in my eyes. The lighting and composition must be just right in order for me to be happy with my photos. I even have a new favorite photographer, Henri Cartier-Bresson. Being a Teen Assistant for IWWL is a great way to spend the summer!