bX marks the spot

Halloween costumes have faded into memories; Macy's Thanksgiving parade rapidly approaching; Christmas decorations adorn the store fronts; and already two and a half months of my volunteer year are behind me. The brevity of this year hits me each time I sit down to update this.

I think each of my roommates can attest to the realization that the novelty of being a tourist in New York has begun to wear off. The hustle and bustle of the streets is a nice distraction from the chilly weather. The noise of ambulances and fire trucks have become common place, as has the constant car horns of taxis. The ‘anything goes’ attitude of the men catcalling me has become more of a running joke then an annoyance. Driving to the grocery store once a week has transitioned into an obstacle course. The transit lines that used to overwhelm me have become routine, gracing me with Independence. Even the greeting from the #11 bus driver who picks me up each morning has become a familiar routine. This wild crazy city is our home.

The individuals who reach for a free amtoday newspaper out of the little red box on Fordham Road on are our peers. The line of faces that circles around the church on Wednesday mornings waiting for a warm meal from the food pantry is full are the aged faces of the children who used to run through the streets of our neighborhood; individuals who are just down on a little luck. We each felt the pain our neighbors felt when the news came in yesterday that a street away from our home a 13-hour standoff occurred as a man stood on a ledge outside his apartment - threatening to jump because he had stabbed his girlfriend to death. The children shouting OBAMA in the school yard are our students. That crisp fall wind that chills our bones also chills the homeless men occupying the benches up the street - Angel, Rios and Julian. This wild crazy city is our home.

Despite all that I have become familiar with, gotten accustom to, and experienced I still find myself encountering situations I have never dreamed of. Two weeks ago I had the privilege of joining my boss and a few other individuals from the local community in celebrating a welcome home party for a mother and daughter.

Mother and daughter had lived in the same apartment for the last 40 years, receiving state aid due to mental illness. It was the responsibility of Adult Protective Services to make sure the landlord was maintaining suitable living conditions for the women; something they failed to do.

Before Sister Lauria, a woman I work with came in contact with the women who are incapable of taking care of themselves on their own living in an apartment overcome with neglect. The smell seeping from under their front door was nauseating; the bathroom and kitchen – unusable do to neglect. The conditions inhumane; the women forgotten about by a system set in place to better their lives. The landlord, a scumbag who had fallen prey to the perks he could gain with gentrification purposely let the apartment fall to pieces to try and persuade the women to move out so he could fix the place up and rent it to individuals for more money. The conditions he enabled them to live in were criminal.





The day I went to the newly renovated and beautifully furnished apartment marked the 100th day the pair had been out of their home. After Sister Lauria and a few other individuals fought long and hard for the rights of the women insisting that their apartment was in need of essential renovations, APS had no other option then agreeing. They placed the Mother and daughter in a local hospital as temporary housing, conveniently using taxpayer’s funds to cover the cost of the 100 day stay.

The homecoming party was one of the most moving experiences I have ever taken part in. The two women were greeted with a new, safe, clean and beautiful home as well as furnishings, a delicious meal and were surrounded by individuals who cared for them. Some of their neighbors were present, as were their new case manager and home aide. The senator and representatives from local government offices, as well as the local news station were among the well wishers. ( I had a lil debut on the channel 12 news, waiting for some agents to call me…)



Pictured Sister Lauria, One of the neighbors who helped the women, the mother, the senator and the daughter.

When the women walked into their new home their eyes, and everyone else’s in the room welled up with tears. The whole afternoon that we were there they couldn’t stop thanking and praising the efforts of Sister Lauria. Every time I looked at them their eyes were glazed over and they were staring from room to room, hardwood floor to ceiling in awe of the generosity and love that they had been shown. It made me realize how acutely aware we as a culture are to the needs of those in our own neighborhoods. If you saw the apartment before it was renovated you probably would have thought that the women were slobs, judging unjustly their inabilities and true need for assistance.

I had goose bumps the whole afternoon, and left feeling like I had witnessed one of those purist acts of generosity that are rarely seen these days.

Halloween was the next big eye opening experience here. Memories of Halloween as a child include my Mother making my costume (always amazingly creative), rushing through dinner so we could get an early start on the night and then running throughout our neighborhood visiting each house to receive a piece of candy, only after taking a picture with the family, all of whom were family friends. Here all schools are let out early 1:00 or 1:30 so kids could go trick-or-treating before the sun set, before it got too dangerous.

Apparently October 31st is the day the gang the Blood’s have initiation. Apparently 31 white women are their intended targets – slashing their faces with knifes. Now now now, I’m sure if you are reading this you are scared for my life, and my face (nana!) but don’t you worry, my roommates and I opted for a safe little Halloween. Instead of attending the local Halloween parade in the Village we went to Kim’s house to watch friends, eat Chinese food and play board games.

Before we went over to Kims – Katie and I sat on our stoop and handed out candy to the little kids. Ironically enough, although there are millions of little kids running throughout the streets looking for candy – apartment buildings such as our own are not places they trick-or-treat. The stores lining Fordham Road are mobbed because they are the only places that hand out candy. Katie and I, dressed in black dress pants and a black pea coat and a black dress with a beaded orange belt and an orange bow as a hair tie respectively looked like the whitest, creepiest, out of place girls ever. We literally had to lure the children over, waving candy and saying uhh are you trick-or-treating. Once they (mostly their parents) realized our intentions were good they were appreciative, but it took a few moments and a couple of dirty questioning looks.



When we ran out of candy we walked up to the local Rite Aid to buy more and could not get through the doors it was so packed with children


The Thursday before Halloween I hosted a Halloween party at Siena House, where I work. My four roommates offered to come help run games, set up food and take pictures. The party was a HUGE SUCCESS. Every women that was signed into the house was downstairs at the party instead of sitting in their bedrooms. The next day my boss, staff members and the women could not stop talking about how much they and the babies loved it – how there was no drama – no fights – how everything was perfect and how it was the most successful party they have ever had. Some days at work I feel like I could be doing more – persuading the women to fix their resumes, or get a job or look into housing. Helping to council them on their problems within and outside the confines of Siena walls, but on that Friday morning I felt wonderful knowing that I had provided a safe, exciting and fun environment for the women to interact with each other and their babies. A Christmas party is already in the works :)

The women and babies playing Halloween bingo that I created, probably the most successful part of the party!


my lil cuties all dressed up!

This past week has been just as extreme – a trip with my roommates and 15 women from Siena House to Madison Square Garden to see Cirque De Soelil’s “Wintuk” performance (also a huge hit), a visit to Fordham Law School to listen to a lecture given by a Boston College professor on "The just and the good". One of the priests from next door invited all of us, but Katie and I were the only ones able to go. The talk was really interesting, it discussed the relation of constitutional law with topics such as abortion, marriage, casual sex, physician assisted suicide, and advertising. After the talk Fr.Bill took us out to dinner and to walk around Lincoln center. We ended up walking all over the city seeing many tourist hot spots, finally ending at Rockefeller Center location of the Christmas tree and the skating rink.

The conclusion of this week has been historical with Obama’s win. I can honestly say that there is no other place I would have wanted to be when the numbers came in. Our street erupted with applause, cheers, crying, whooping, fireworks, and dancing. And in true Bronx fashion, blasting the song “Our president is a black man” will the bass turned up as loud as possible. The next day on my way to work people were making eye contact with one another and nodding their heads. A common gesture in some areas of our country is something that is a rarity around these parts. I could feel the excitement, passion, and satisfaction emanating from those I passed. It was a very humbling 24 hour period.

All in all everything is going marvelously - I still love my roomies and our silly evenings together after a long day at work (note: bowling down our hallway turned into handstand land I had nooooothing to do with initiating that one hehe) I have gotten to see Kim a daybreak friend almost every weekend, and also Brian my best guy friend from High school lives in Manhattan so I see him as often as possible. This weekend we are heading to Atlantic City with the roomies and two of the Bronx girls from last year’s community. Here’s to enjoying each day I have left here and booking my flight home for Christmas (dec 20th!!)