Code,955038,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Subject,Gloria Ferris,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Date,7/20/2017,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Interviewer,Sarah Nemeth,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Abstract,"Gloria Ferris is a vocal and action oriented member of Brooklyn Centre. She relates the rewards and challenges of community activism in the twenty-first century. After coming back into the realm of community engagement, Ferris cultivated a group of individuals to form the Brooklyn Centre Naturalists. From the efforts of this group, Ferris and others were able to create a backyard habitat community action-oriented initiative. Ferris goes into great detail of how the community has benefited from active engagement from residents. ",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Tags,"Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD), Brooklyn Centre, interstate system, Brooklyn Centre Naturalists, National Wildlife Federation",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Special Notes,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
minutes:,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
0,"Sarah Nemeth introduces the interview. Born 1950, from Shreve, Ohio. Moved to Cleveland area in 1973.",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
1,Graduated from Bowling Green. English teacher. The school year used to start around Labor Day. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
2,First position was at the old West High  which by this time was West Junior High. Later renamed Gallagher. All the old high school sites became junior highs. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
3,"Stayed with the CMSD for 5 years, left 1978. Provides the reasons why she left CMSD. ",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
4,"Decided not to have someone else decide her destiny. Although she came from a rural upbringing, her student teaching was completed in urban school systems. ",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
5,Describes her first day on the job. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
6,There was a great group of staff that became her mentors. Shares a story about how one such mentor taught Ferris how to control a room. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
7,Continues to share the story about a lesson she learned from a mentor. She taught her that sometimes saying nothing goes farther then talking.,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
8,Her thoughts on how to successfully control a room. The junior high was 70% white. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
9,The remaining percentage of students were a 30% mix of African Americans and Puerto Rican students. A distinct socio-economic mix. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
10,Although there was diversity at the school there were hardly any issues. The issues were usually within the particular race or socio-economic group. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
11,The issues between groups started because of the end to neighborhood schools. Thoughts on the desegregation of CMSD.,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
12,Thoughts on the desegregation of CMSD. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
13,Desegregation would have been more successfully is allowed to happen organically. In 1978 faculty were breifed on the integration efforts to take place.,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
14,The faculty was to be integrated first. Residents would have sorted themselves out through natural city migrations naturally. Thoughts on natural urban migration. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
15,Fear results in bad decisions.Urban renewal/the interstate system changed the city before the school desegregation order. Brooklyn Centre was cut in half by I-71.,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
16,"A woman that lived in Brooklyn Centre said that people called I-71 scar, but she believed it was ""an open gaping wound that will never heal.""",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
17,"Many of the other neighborhood districts cut in half by a highway have pedestrian bridges, Brooklyn Centre does not. First lived in Maple Heights.",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
18,"Moved to the Detroit Shoreway area, then moved around. Moved to Brooklyn Centre in 1981.",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
19,Describes the Brooklyn Centre community when she first moved to the area. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
20,Exposed to neighbohood history through interactions with her neighbor. Over the years many of the long time homeowners started to leave the area. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
21,A transition occurred when the homes occupied by 3rd generation owners started being turned over by different families at a rapid rate. Bought 1st home.,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
22,"She bought her house by taking advantage of the first time homeowners program. Her husband was a real estate agent, specializing in preservation and restoration. ",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
23,Today the community is made up of more renters than homeowners. An additional problem is that there are a lot of mismanaged landlords.  ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
24,"Thoughts on property management and landlords. Mentions the housing crash of 2008, but notes in her community it started earlier. ",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
25,Remarks that Brooklyn Centre is perfect for young homeowners because other surrounding communities are too expensive. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
26,Brooklyn Centre is nestled in the middle of trendy communities and other amenities. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
27,"She hopes that her community does not ""pop"" like Tremont. However, hopes that people visiting spend money in the community. Comments on the zoo. ",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
28,They finally got bike lanes on Denison. Some have complained because they lost street parking. The bike lanes have slowed down traffic. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
29,Her thoughts on an ideal community. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
30,Her house payments were low enough that she could send her children to private catholic school. But it is not that easy for families to do anymore. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
31,"Her community is next in line for a new school, the education piece is currently missing in Brooklyn Centre. Many residents come from CWRU and CSU. ",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
32,The difficulties of not having a neighborhood school for K-8. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
33,On the east side of Brooklyn Centre there is a group called Southwest Citizens Association. The group is over 70 years old. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
34,"On the west side, Brooklyn Centre Community Association was started in 1978. When she was younger she was very involved in her community. ",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
35,Her community engagement tapered off once she had children. Got back in touch with the community when children left. Thoughts on community engagement. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
36,The rewards and challenges of community engagement. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
37,Rewards and challenges of engagement. Group of retired professionals are blocked by those in power from joining the conversation about community issues.  ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
38,Those in power try to discourage the retired professionals group from joining the conversation by keepingpublic meetings quite.,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
39,The power of community activism. Mentions the app NextDoor Neighbor.,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
40,Thoughts on online communication versus face-to-face interaction. Starts to describe Brooklyn Centre's Bicentennial. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
41,Continues to describe Brooklyn Centre's Bicentennial. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
42,Explains how she started to get involved in her community again. Mentions Neighborhood Wildlife Community. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
43,"Held a meeting with friends and discussed the Neighborhood Wildlife program. Started the Brooklyn Centre Naturalists, which is an action oriented group. ",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
44,"Received a couple Neighborhood Connection Grants. Worked with children as well. Has won multiple awards from the city, county, and state. ",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
45,"Mentions La Placita. Thoughts on where community engagement is going, which is more action oriented. ",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
46,Thoughts on how to bring people together that have diverse perspectives. Importance of face-to-face interaction. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
47,Started writing for The Old Brooklyn News because of the Brooklyn Centre Naturalists. Mentions which topics she covered in her writings. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
48,As the paper went to a quarterly they kept Ferris. Thoughts on spending money upfront for optimal success in the long run. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
49,Thoughts how society measures success through short term wins. The difficulties of signing residents up as having a certified backyard habitat.,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
50,Discusses some of the symposiums the Naturalists and Big Creek Connects present. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
51,"Expresses her hope that a younger group of community residents will come in and take over. Even if the direction changes, the purpose is to just do something. ",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
52,Explains what is/how to become a Backyard Habitat. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
53,Explains what is/how to become a Backyard Habitat. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
54,Explains what is/how to become a Backyard Habitat. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
55,Explains what is/how to become a Backyard Habitat. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
56,Explains what is/how to become a Backyard Habitat. Explains what is a Backyard Habitat Community. The interview ends. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
57,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
58,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
59,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
60,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
61,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
62,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
63,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
64,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
65,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
66,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
67,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
68,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
69,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
70,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
71,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
72,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
73,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
74,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
75,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
76,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
77,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
78,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
79,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
80,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
81,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
82,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
83,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
84,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
85,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
86,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
87,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
88,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
89,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
90,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
91,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
92,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
93,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
94,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
95,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
96,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
97,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
98,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
99,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
100,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
101,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
102,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
103,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
104,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
105,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
106,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
107,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
108,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
109,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
110,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
111,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
112,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
113,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
114,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,