Here are some Over-the-Rhine (OTR) websites, particularly for those of you who are considering focusing on this community for your research methodology paper:
My OTR Website: http://www.nku.edu/~issues/rhine/Over-the-Rhine-MainPage.htm
Irhine.com Web-site: http://irhine.com/
Drop Inn Center Website: http://www.dropinn.org/Default.aspx
Website linking to OTR nonprofit organizations: http://www.overtherhine.org/
The Miami University Cemter for Community Engagement in Over-the-Rhine: http://www.fna.muohio.edu/cce/
Rebirth of Over-the-Rhine (documentary currently being made): http://www.over-the-rhine-movie.com/
On this blog posting, I encourage you to comment and share your responses and thoughts concerning any of these websites and OTR in general. Next week in class, let's have a discussion about OTR and the community literacy work going on there.
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3 comments:
I think it was helpful to browse through the websites on Over the Rhine because much of what I found are concrete, real-world examples of the terms and concepts that we are reading about in class. I was very impressed with the Drop Inn Center's website. I have never been there and the website provides a good depiction of the Center and its mission. I think I remember earlier this year that there was a lot of talk about closing the Drop Inn Center and creating a "one-stop shop" for services in downtown Cincinnati, and as a result, much public outcry followed. There has been talk about doing the same thing in Covington and removing the social service agencies (Parish Kitchen, Welcome House) off of Pike St. - an area that the city is trying to revitalize. I understand the need for revitalizing the urban core and increasing the economic vitality of a city, but you cannot just up and move these institutions that have been vital to community for decades. To keep displacing people and the services they need is not the answer to ending chronic homelessness and poverty. It's a balancing act that too often goes the wrong way.
I disagree.
I may not be familiar with the Over-the-Rhine movement, outcry, and "injustices" --- but as for Covington, I think I can share my two cents as a life-long resident.
I am a Covington resident, born and raised. Hell, I bought the house I grew up in from my mother. I am proud to say I am from Covington -- so much that if I had a son, his name would be "Covington" (I'm a sucker for city names, but I think it carries a "strong" vibe with it). However, I would sooooo wish for the Parish Kitchen to close up and the Welcome House/Fair Haven to move.
I live close to Pike; I am a west sider and I have attended Mother of God Church and even have worked at the Parish Kitchen as a small boy. As far as my take, it's a nice idea to help, but move 'em, really. No home owner wants to live next door to that nor the folks who "drop in" there.
It's easy to say it's a "good and decent place" when your zip code isn't 41011 or when you you aren't the one who jogs those streets each morning. I don't want that mentality or lifestyle in my 'hood. I drive, walk, and run past those places frequently, daily, and I don't want to see the drug deals, prostitution, or garbage associated with it. Who wants to go for a walk in the neighborhood and see some bum with his "thing" out pissing in the streets? Or to be questioned (or hounded) for "change" simply walking by intoxicated others sitting on curbs.
Think about where you live. What would you think about a place opening up a block or two away that housed such people. Sure, they have rights -- but don't I? Am I wrong for watning a nice house, nice things, and a nice neighborhood? So I ask, "How far does that giving hand reach?"
I'm all for such places, but move 'em away from here. Let them do their "good deeds" in places like: Fort Thomas, Fort Mitchell, Park Hills, Crestview Hills, Burlington, Independence (Look at the stink a new jail raised when proposed out in Independence).
As Ben Franklin said, "Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day; teach a man to fish and he will eat for a lifetime." It seems as if Covington has handed out too many fish dinners here. I, for one, can't see those new condos be built fast enough.
Again, I don't know what exactly what is going on across the river, but if it is similar to this situation, I think I might not agree with many in the class.
I too, in fact, am a lifelong resident of Covington. I'm not saying that it is desirable to have places like these right next door but these services are needed in our community. Sentiments like those that you have expressed are not going to end the problems exist. Isn't the purpose of this class partly to put aside our own individualistic views about what we deserve and question the underlying systemic issues that causes these problems in the first place and seek to change them?
If Covington wants any chance of revitalization, we have to address the many social issues that exist in our community, i.e. education, poverty, homelessness. Simply building new, expensive market-rate condos isn't going to revitalize the city.
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