• 8.5” x 11”

• Framed

• 11 layers of cut colored cardstock

The East Village, now a popular and ultra-gentrified area of New York, was once a neighborhood of decaying buildings. It was solely due to the tireless efforts of community organizing that this neighborhood flourished. The government was essentially giving away these buildings in the late 70s and early 80s because they did not want to deal with them. Individuals and community organizations repaired these abandoned buildings brick by brick and transformed them into affordable housing where people had the opportunity to build a life for themselves without the burden of exorbitant living expenses. Many of these buildings became co-ops, which essentially meant that the members of the building acted as their own landlords.

To me, the tenement building is an icon of hope, community, and independence. It is a symbol of investing in people so that they can create the life they want for themselves, instead of a life they are forced into just to survive.