Grassroots DC

Senior Residents Speak About Life in Potomac Gardens

By Grassroots DC, on December 30th, 2013

Cross-Posted from Sociology in My Neighborhood: DC Ward Six
Written By Johanna Bockman

Today in the Anacostia Community Museum Archives, I found photos of a museum exhibition put together by senior citizens living in Potomac Gardens public housing in 1994. Potomac Gardens is bordered by G and I Streets between 12th and 13th Streets, SE.The exhibit was based on the fascinating video, “In Search of Common Ground,” produced with funds from the DC Humanities Council. (You can see the entire video below. It is just 14 minutes long.)

These residents went on to testify before Congress in support of National Endowment for the Humanities funding. Here is part of the text from one of the placards in the exhibit. The quotations from the residents are particularly interesting.

The Potomac Gardens Community

Life in Washington has presented a variety of opportunities and challenges. Changes in marital status, shifts in earning power, and dispersion of family members has led many people to public housing developments. Communities such as Potomac Gardens were conceived as environments that would encourage social networks. In the 1950s these developments were seen as points of transition to improved rental housing and homeownership. In the late 1960s, however, the perception of public housing and those who lived in developments began to change. Some members of the Senior Resident Council began their relationship with public housing just as it was beginning to face enormous challenges.

Members of the Senior Resident Council are all vibrant, active people who care deeply for the community in which they live. While aware of their own advancing age and the limitations of a fixed income, they are rediscovering the joys of life and community-supported independence. They are concerned about their children and grandchildren. They volunteer. They travel. They speak up about crime and the physical condition of their residence. They are fulfilling lifelong dreams and creating new roles for themselves. They do not live in the past. They allow the objects and photographs from the past to inform and inspire their current activities. Their life’s journeys have been filled with faith.

“My whole life has changed since I’ve been here at Potomac Gardens. I wasn’t able to win nothing, but since I’ve been here everything has opened up for me.

Everything that ever happened to me would always make me stronger…The Lord is my Shepherd. I shall not want. I am one that knows that I don’t need, don’t want for nothing. He makes a way for me all the time.”
–Barbara Davis

“When we first came to live here in 1986, it really wasn’t a good place to live. It was crime ridden. Now, since they put up the fence [in 1992], it cut down on the running back and forth. The manager that we had, Mr. Taylor, calmed down a lot of the crime by talking to the kids. Then it got so we felt good to go outside and sit.

If it’s a bus, a train, or wheel barrel with a top on it — I’m gone. I’ve been to St. Louis, Atlanta, Atlantic City, Canada, Florida. I just enjoy life because I don’t have all that worry, and the thing of keeping busy all day long is like adrenaline, flowing through your body.

I was baptized a an early age, but I never stayed in church like I was supposed to. But I knew the rights and wrongs of things…but as far as having a spiritual thing, I didn’t. I’ve grown more spiritual in the past four years that Johnny’s been gone…It was like something had been taken from me because I never been taken care of the way he took he took care of me…I had to realized, ‘Girl, you’re on your own,’…and it was like a breath of fresh air…

After that I’ve been in more things since he died…Now that he’s gone I have my nose in everything just like I did at eight.”
–Thelma Russell

“Before I moved to Potomac Gardens I was living in Minnesota for eight or nine months with my son. I lost my youngest brother, and it took a total loss on me…I went out there to get peace of mind for a while, and then my sister got sick, I came back because she had cancer. She died in 1991, so I came back here.

I always wanted to be involved in community work…Being a worker for Friendship House, I like talking to people…I like counseling and mingling with people. Lots of times you learn a lot from people older than you…I never knew my parents, so I love to listen to what seniors have to say. I just does something for me.”
–Wilma Gregory

“I had a dog that would eat you up; her name was Whitey. That was Larry’s dog — Larry got killed. My son Willie got hit by a car. All this horrible stuff that’s going on in the city…that’s all you hear…nothin’ I can do about it but pray about it…I don’t watch the news that much because I don’t want to hear. I’ve got children that were killed–can’t deal with it. Too much pressure.

I ain’t got time.”
–Emma Johnson

Grassroots DC Recognizes DCHA Award Recipient, Aquarius Vann-Ghasri

By Liane Scott, on December 13th, 2013

Iris McLauren-Southall and Commissioner Aquarius Vann-Ghasri

We would like to congratulate Grassroots DC member and DC Housing Authority Commissioner Aquarius Vann-Ghasri who was awarded DCHA’s “Excellence in Resident-Driven Leadership for outstanding performance and lasting contributions to Resident Council Leadership.” The award was presented on December 12,2013. Vann-Ghasri currently serves as the Vice President of the Potomac Gardens Resident Council and is on the Executive Board of the DCHA Citywide Advisory Board. She also works with many nonprofit organizations throughout the metropolitan area and holds several certificates for nonprofit leadership.

Commissioner Aquarius Vann-Ghasri’s latest award.

Commissioner and Resident Council President Vann-Ghasri would like to thank the following residents who her interpretation of Title 24 of the Code of Federal Regulations (which governs the resident input into HUD governance) and her vision of the Potomac Gardens Family as a model for public housing: Tomasia Moore, Tina Hawkins, Shirley Marshall, Shonda, Ann Brown, Mrs. Brown, Quaina, Melinda, Shane, Carolyn Johnson, Ms. Lu, Mitchell, Ditesha, Larry Johnson, Tim Tim, Lorraine Leonard, Ms. Betty,Vernita Abney, Marry, Terry, Cortney, Carolyn Proctor and Bridget. “I thank you all. This is our award!”

Ms. Vann-Ghasri studied to become a paralegal at the Antioch School of Law, Urban Law Institute. She graduated with honors from the DCHA Community Monitoring Program. She served for two years with AmeriCorp Vista, and has worked with local groups such as Community Vision, Inc., National People Action, United Public Housing, DC Justice for Youth and the National Coalition for Homelessness. It is thanks to her support that Grassroots DC has a home at the Potomac Gardens Public Housing Complex. Our work here is fast becoming an integral part of Vann-Ghasri’s resident-driven leadership vision for public housing.

Potomac Gardens’ Graduates 2013

By Liane Scott, on December 3rd, 2013

Every year, the Potomac Gardens Resident Council, under the leadership of Council President Aquarius Vann-Ghasri, recognizes students from the public housing complex who graduate from school. The Resident Council doesn’t discriminate; Students graduating from elementary, middle, high school and college are given an award. This year the celebration took place on July 19 and was videotaped by 3 talented and ambitious young Potomac Gardens’ residents–Larry Jackson, Alexander Ross and Lenwood Ward. Other obligations kept me from editing this footage until now, but you can expect to see more from the young people of Potomac Gardens in 2014. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jozBwk4ni8w

Author’s Night at Potomac Gardens Featuring Nissa Harper

By Liane Scott, on November 18th, 2013

On October 23, 2013, the Potomac Gardens Resident Council (under the leadership of Council president Aquarius Vann Ghasri) hosted author Nissa Harper for a discussion of her first book “Confessions of a Crazy Baby Mama,” which she admits is a title designed to catch a reader’s attention. Ms. Harper is not only a published author, she is also a public housing resident and advocate who works to keep public housing safe and affordable. She never misses the opportunity to remind her audiences that public housing residents are working people who want nothing more than to raise their children in a safe environment.

At the Potomac Gardens Author’s Night, a number of residents spoke about their own efforts to maintain and care for the Potomac Gardens community. The video was shot and edited by filmmaker and Grassroots DC contributor Brenda Hayes. Portions of the video may be included in the future documentary “Potomac Gardens: Inside and Out.” Stay tuned to this channel for more information on that project.

Beat Club at Potomac Gardens

By Ben King, on September 14th, 2013

Young residents of Potomac Gardens teamed up with Beat Club founder Barrett Jones for a beat-making session at Potomac Gardens. The Beat Club is part of Grassroots DC’s efforts to teach radio and audio production skills. Video shot and edited by Carlton Moxley.