By Grassroots DC, on February 14th, 2014 
Cross-posted from Sociology in My Neighborhood: DC Ward Six by Johanna Bockman
Back in December 2012, I took a look at the Wikipedia page for Potomac Gardens public housing at 13th and Pennsylvania Ave, SE. At that time, I was surprised by what I read:
The existing [Wikipedia] page surprised me because it focused exclusively on 1) the potential replacement of the buildings either with Marine barracks or mixed-income housing and 2) crime in the area (under the only category of “Incidents”). There was no discussion of what life might be like in Potomac Gardens, as well as no mention of people important to the community, significant sites within the property, or important events or activities. There was also no discussion of how life in Potomac Gardens may have changed over time. In general, the page seemed to be written from the point of view of people unconnected with those living in Potomac Gardens. Yes, those living inside and outside Potomac Gardens have a great interest in the potential redevelopment plans, but the page does not capture much about Potomac Gardens. Without knowledge of the life within Potomac Gardens, it becomes very easy to argue that Potomac Gardens should be dismantled, since it appears to have no value or significance.
In that post, you can see what the original Wikipedia page looked like. I made some additions to try to expand the perspective of the page. Others have since revised it further. However, I knew that those living in Potomac Gardens would be the ideal editors of the Potomac Gardens Wikipedia page.
A couple of weeks ago, I got to visit Grassroots DC‘s Wednesday evening computer class in Potomac Gardens. The computer class had seven adult students learning how to use computers to do email, explore the internet, write letters, resumes, produce documents, etc. Earlier the class had written a letter to Councilmember Tommy Wells, asking for help with the former recreation center in Potomac Gardens. This meeting, we were going to update the Potomac Gardens Wikipedia page!
I handed out this guide, which anyone can use:
After they logged into Wikipedia at their computers, there was an immediate debate about whether Potomac Gardens ever had the nickname “Magic City.” Someone told me that it had been called this, and months ago I had added it in the Wikipedia page. While one person vaguely remember this name, everyone agreed that Potomac Gardens had only one nickname: “The Gardens.” So, two of the students changed that on two different parts of the page.
A discussion broke out about how anyone could update the page. Someone suggested that the history on the page must therefore be false. Someone else referred to a fact about Potomac Gardens that was true. Another asked, how do you know that? She said, I know it from the Wikipedia page. I admitted that I had written most of the page. One person turned to me quite surprised: but you don’t live here. How do you know this information? Another student said, you did research? I then asked, how can we get information about the history of Potomac Gardens, how can we get historical information? Some said that they could ask some older residents. Others said that one could Google for more information. I said that there was almost no information on the web about Potomac Gardens’ history. So, they would have to research and write it themselves.
The discussion was a professor’s dream discussion. The class became incredibly loud as the very nature of history was debated along with the topics and details they each wanted to include in the page. It was agreed that a section called “Community Life” would be added. A student added this section, while other students wrote up different paragraphs in Word, which they then posted to the new section. Actually, more correctly, most of them wrote up their parts in beautiful handwriting and then typed it up in Word. The non-profit organizations operating on “Community Row” in Potomac Gardens and the old recreation center came to life. One of the senior residents revealed the pride and joy of the senior building — the greeter system they had implemented themselves (see the page for details).
So, it was a fantastic time. The experience made very clear how history writing reflects one’s perspective. The glorious University of Maryland, College Park, sociologist Patricia Hill Collins has contributed her work on “intersectionality” to feminist standpoint theory, which is valuable when thinking about how one’s . . . → Read More: Writing History with Potomac Gardens Residents
By Grassroots DC, on January 15th, 2014 
Cross-posted from Sociology In My Neighborhood: DC Ward Six Written by Johanna Bockman
In 1974, the Washington Metropolitan Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) published its architectural guidebook with “Twenty Walking and Motoring tours of Washington and the Vicinity.” Within its Southeast Washington tour, you could start at the Navy Yard and Marine Barracks, go by the Maples (the old Friendship House), St. Mark’s Church [as well as other sites], Eastern Market, Philadelphia Row, Potomac Gardens, and finish up at the Congressional Cemetery.
Yes, along with Eastern Market, Philadelphia Row, and the Congressional Cemetery, Potomac Gardens public housing project is worth a visit for the architecturally interested:
The text reads:
Potomac Gardens Apartments 1225 G Street, S.E., 1967 — Metcalf and Associates. There are 352 low-rent apartments in 14 buildings; 144 of the units were designed especially for the elderly. The project includes recreational, administrative and geriatric facilities.
In fact, in 1971, the Greater Washington Board of Trade, the regional business association, gave its Award for Excellence in Architecture to the builder, Edward M. Crough, Inc., and the architectural firm, Metcalf and Associates, of Potomac Gardens. The Edward M. Crough Center for Architectural Studies at Catholic University is named after Potomac Gardens’ builder.[1]
Maybe we can return to the 1974 perspective and take a new look at Potomac Gardens as an architectural asset.
P.S. Thanks to our neighbors Sandy and Barry for finding this book and its reference to 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 . . . → Read More: Senior Residents Speak About Life in Potomac Gardens
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