On April 16, 2012 LoMA students and neighborhood residents gathered at the Seward Park Library to exchange ideas, stories and perceptions of the Lower East Side. At the meeting were representatives of various LES communities: Long time residents; preservationists; journalists and photographers, and artists, all of whom had strong personal connections to the area. Students and residents discussed such topics as neighborhood change, immigration and gentrification, and shared ideas for what they felt is the “greater good” for the area. The event was rewarding for all participants, and left the students feeling informed, connected and prepared to share their insights with others.
I met with many of these students after this event and was impressed by how moved they were by the stories of their interviewees.